Sarah Hall Wedding Ceremonies

Could these two be any sweeter?

On the first date (seven years ago) one of these two was so nervous that he just offered to pay for half (wasn't sure of the rules)... so the other literally stayed on the bus and followed the other one off...just to ask...

"excuse me, I enjoyed the date, but I really have to ask... are you CHEAP"?

😂😂😂

Well, he wasn't, but learned very quickly that if one person picks up the dinner, the other person picks up movie and popcorn (which is as expensive as dinner these days)...

A little ceremini (aka a Sarahmini) in their new home. I wish these two humans a wonderful life together.

A glorious day yesterday. Not too muggy, but were still quite warm in the chapel.

Together almost ten years.. and now getting things prepared to begin a family. From marriage prep classes to vow writing, these two have put in true effort. We talked long and hard about the kind of partner they want to be, how they wish to care for their parents in years to come, how they imagine raising their kids.. some really hard topics that sound anything but romantic. Because I gotta tell ya folks, being in love doesn't make a marriage. Any fool can fall in love.

But the ceremony...

One of the traditions that came from being colonizated by Spain and the Catholic church is Las Arras Matrimoniales.. the exchange of coins, and comes from the idea of wishing for prosperity. Historically, thirteen coins (representing Jesus and his disciples) are the groom's promise to provide for his new or as family and the bride's trust in the groom's promise for provision, and her promise to protect and take care of said treasure.

How it's done more modernly is the promises are made in both directions. First he promises to provide and she agrees to protect the treasure, and then she promises to provide while agrees to protect.. symbolizing their unity.

What's always moving to me is the sponsors. Filipino sponsors are kinda the eqivilant of godparents... and are often elders, or prominent figures of their community...

The Ninongs and Ninangs (godparents) are APLENTY! In all of the Filipino ceremonies I've been so blessed to oversee, there are anywhere from three to ten sets of sponsors! And these are not the symbolic godparents of the west. These folks take their roles seriously, and couples have all of these bonus parents. Yep.. lots of nosy advice, lots of food and laughter. Lots of love.

Of course, there are other elements, like the veil and cord that are draped over the couple prior to signing; the unity candle etc.. but I thought I would share this much tonight. Good night all.

It was so humid last week, and the rains... so so sticky!

My bride and her maids were soaked. We had to blowdry them before the big walk down the aisle...

And not a single drop of rain during the ceremony!!!

It’s that time of year again….

Twenty five wedding since January… and twenty five in the next five weeks.

It feels so good to be in service again!

What will you do with your one wild and precious life?

A beautiful ceremony overlooking the vineyard.

It’s near impossible not to fall in love with my couples, and some, they will never leave my heart.

These two humans.. well, I should have paid them.

What an honour!

And thank you Graham Sanders for coming to the rescue and teaching me to pronounce the groom’s Chinese name.. in Mandarin. So many months with his Canadian name, and I wanted to learn it properly.

Graham made me a recording saying Zhengran over and over, and I played it all the way to the ceremony!

I nailed it! So proud and couldn’t have done it without you Graham.

I also learned how to say congratulations on both Mandarin and Bengali.

My beautiful teacher Stephen once told me that courtship was learning the language of the one you love.

Most of us know this as seduction. But seduction is thievery. It’s learning something to get something. Courtship is truly for the love and it’s facing in the same direction, and loving what they love.

In this case it was their families, their elders, their ancestors. And damn, if they weren’t already speaking my language.. the least I could do was learn a little of theirs.

恭喜 ( gōng xǐ ) and অভিনন্দন
(abhinandana)

Congratulations!

Ps if you have not visited this gem of a place.. please go! It’s so beautiful!!!

I am proud to announce that I am now a WE!

A lovely day with a gorgeous couple, followed by Sabrage (opening champagne with a saber). I had no idea that this was made popular by Napoleon.

“I cannot live without champagne. In victory, one deserves it. In defeat, one needs it.” -Napoleon Bonaparte Champagnerie Montreal - La Champagnerie Bar à Sabrage.