L'Auberge, Del Mar Wedding

This wedding was last month at L'Auberge~Del Mar. The couple and the attendants were from Las Vegas and are entertainers. It was a blast and very beautifully decorated!

To See or Not to See: Should You Have a “First Look”

Here is a short and sweet guest post from So Eventful.

The tradition of the bride and groom waiting to see each other at their wedding until the walk down the aisle is just that- a tradition! It's one that started many years ago and for some, has either remained a tradition or has turned into a superstition. However, a “First Look” is a special few moments before the ceremony during which the bride and groom see each other for the first time. Many people choose not to have a first look because of a superstition that seeing each other before the ceremony will bring upon bad luck to the couple.

However, the tradition of a first look came along way before this fear of bad luck. In fact, the superstition stemmed from tradition which began because of arranged marriages. Men and women were set up in arranged marriages before ever meeting or seeing each other. This was to ensure that the groom would not run away after seeing his future bride; hence the veil to cover the woman’s face. Traditionally the bride wore a veil over her face from the beginning of the ceremony, through their vows, up until they were officially married and the groom would finally lift the veil to kiss his bride. Nowadays things have changed. Marriages are no longer arranged and traditions are not always being withheld. Couples are changing things up and now instead of waiting until the end of the ceremony for the reveal, they are having a First Look and enjoy a few special moments together alone.

So Eventful is a professional, full service company that does everything from weddings, social events and everything in between. www.so-eventful.com for more details.

Beautiful Couple

"Laura and I are so blessed to have had you perform our ceremony. You really helped make our special day perfect" - Joshua

Sip, Surf, and Say "I Do"

There's a new adventure in the La Jolla wedding scene! Thanks to Paige Nordeen for sending us this custom crafted message for you guys, announcing the new package.

If soon-to-be brides and grooms are looking to celebrate an over-the-top wedding in La Jolla, a newly released adventure, ‘Sip, Surf and Say ‘I do,’ will definitely fit the bill. We wait our entire lives for this one day, so why not indulge?

As if the beautiful beaches of La Jolla and high-end boutiques aren’t enough to satisfy couples, Kimpton’s Hotel La Jolla has added a few additional perks to celebrate matrimonial bliss in style. Helicopter rides, Rolls Royce cruising and surf classes, oh my! The Southern California wedding package, designed to complement the special day, offers newly-to-be-weds unique adventure elements while keeping things upscale. The best part? A perpetual anniversary, where married couples can return to the hotel every year to celebrate their anniversary in a deluxe suite. This will take the worry (and cost) out of planning future romantic getaways to celebrate the day the couple said ‘I do.’

An intimate rehearsal dinner for up to 30 people with views of the Pacific Ocean is also included. The wedding party can dine on delectable bites on the hotel’s 11^th-floor Starlight Ballroom and pop a little bubbly to toast the bride and groom. Ever taken a surf class? Well, why not start days before your ‘I do’s’ with the included lessons from Surf Diva for two at La Jolla Shores Beach. Hanging ten with your honey will offer a new and fun way to connect, and what better place to do so than La Jolla Shores. After a little action, couples will be delighted to take off in a scenic helicopter ride and two-hour wine tour to enjoy before or after the wedding. Making things even more special for the two, a full day of Rolls Royce transportation is included as needed.

Surf Diva Photo

Guests will also find fun amenities stocked in their rooms like champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries and a personalized gift, to keep the pair smiling during their stay. Also, perfect for the out-of-towners celebrating the two, the hotel offers special rates. The coastal chic town of La Jolla is a romantic wonderland where couples can enjoy moonlit strolls along the coast, dine at exceptional restaurants and peruse countless art galleries featuring internationally acclaimed artists. So if soon-to-be brides and grooms are looking for something over the top, keep the ‘Sip, Surf and ‘Say I do’’ package in mind.

Contact 858.551.3627 for bookings and information.

Wedding Workbook Giveaway

I am currently giving away a copy of my spiral bound workbook The Romance of the Wedding Ceremony!  Enter to win here.

It's a 130 page collection of memorable ceremonies, unique exchanges, readings, prayers, promises and traditions from over 4000 weddings performed by myself in beautiful Southern California and beyond.

This book gives couples a focus on the words and promises for their wedding ceremony with a step by step guide to compose a personal ceremony.

Use this collection and your imagination to create your perfect ceremony! Check it out on amazon here.

Recipes for Lovers: Baked Orange French Toast

The recipe for lovers series provides a fun and easy activity for newlyweds to do together, or for each other as a nice gift... tested and tried, straight from the Powers' Kitchen!

Baked Orange French Toast

Prepare the night before and just cook bacon in the morning!

8- Slices French Bread cut ¾ to 1 inch thick

6- Eggs

Grated rind of 1 large Orange

2/3- cup of orange juice

1/3- cup of orange liqueur-we use Grand Marnier!

1-cup half & half

3-tablespoon sugar

Image from floridasnatural.com

Optional: 4Tablespoon butter
Butter a 9” square pan LAY BREAD SLICES evenly in pan
Combine eggs, orange rind, orange juice, liqueur, half &half and sugar. Pour over bread dot with butter if desired. Refrigerate overnight.
In the morning preheat oven to 350degrees Bake 30-35 minutes or until puffed and set.

Serve with powdered sugar or a mixture of marmalade and melted butter mixed together.

*I many times double this for larger groups

Kids will like this too-the alcohol evaporates during cooking and they love it –we have four little taste testers and they always ask for more! Enjoy!

Passion and Promises

Well, we have passed Champagne on silver platters and enjoyed the splendor of "Summer wedding season".  Now with Autumn on the mend, it is time for reflection and vision ahead for holidays and Christmas cheer and a new year before us with untold promises.

 
Passion and Promises! That's what life is about. In reflection, two days ago, while San Diego was experiencing our first "winter storm", of high winds and rain, I enjoyed an invigorating and vitalizing experience of officiating a "Power Filled" wedding on the beach and in the surf on my
10' 0"Stewart surfboard out at 11th Street in Del Mar. 

In another two weeks, as the Vickor for the Santa Fe Hunt, I shall once again present the traditional "Blessing of the Hounds at the hunt" at the annual first hunt of the season, held at the Garner Valley Ranch, an actual working cattle ranch. This is my 20th season, many times I have "ridden to The Hounds" A blessings in itself for yours truly as I am surrounded by 50 -100 baying bloodhounds, on a chilly November morning, sometimes in a driving rain, snow flurries, or peaceful sunrise; blessing rider, hound, and land we are privileged to use.

In addition to the passion for the ministry God has called me to which possess my spirit, I also embrace another passion; Formula One motor racing. I have been a fan for more than three decades. If you want a taste of F1, may I suggest you see "Rush" a recently released film produced and directed my Ron Howard. It is a must and very authentic in content. 

 
Next month, I shall sojourn once again to Austin, Texas for the second United States Grand Prix to be held at this venue. Last year was the inaugural race for this magnificent venue. Spent a week in Austin, visiting the Long Horn university and of course BBQ and an outrageous Willie Nelson concert, ahh yes, another favorite....Willie Nelson. A true gypsy troubadour, one of a kind and a legend. God bless Willie!! 

When I return from Austin, it almost be Thanksgiving, then another month and Christmas. Christmas, we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. This is a special time for our family, as we enjoy the blessings of being together in a snow covered chalet in Mammoth. Last year we enjoyed over 10' of snow as it was the "worst" blizzard in a decade. What a blast!! More snow and conditions you would absolutely not believe!

So here are my passions and promises for just a few of God's blessings for which I am so abundantly grateful and very thankful.

The Lord tells us in the beautiful Psalm of Thanksgiving; Psalm:100 to be thankful to Him and bless His name;further we are told in 1 Thessalonians 5, in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
However, one of the Lords promises which was penned by King David,
Psalm 37;1&3 says it very clear for me; "Do not fret & Trust in the Lord and do good." Simple instructions and directions to follow.

Living in an attitude of gratitude ~ enjoy the changing of the seasons and ignite the passion of Gods promises!