This is maripoza's Orange Wedding!

Hi girls,
I've been away for months very busy with work and enjoying married life with my lovely husband. Brad is the love of my life and I feel so lucky to be his wife. He is such a supportive, romantic and loving husband. We've been married for 5 months, 2 weeks and 6 days. Remembering the wedding day and looking at our photos fill my eyes with tears of joy.

As we approach the holiday season, I wanted to express my best wishes to all the newlyweds and brides-to-be on this blog. I hope this holiday season is full of happy and wonderful times with family and friends.

Our wedding 6 month "anniversary" is coming soon and we are traveling to my husband's hometown in Oregon. My always loving and gracious mother-in-law has organized a dinner party for us and the family at a local hotel in Portland. We are so excited and grateful that she has taken the time to plan such an event for us. I have very little knowledge of the details. (I wish I knew more) I've been asked to bring my wedding gown and accessories! No problem there because the dress still fits like it did back in June. Yay! I love the idea of wearing my wedding attire again.

Anyway, I'm so looking forward to our trip to Portland and spending time with my husband's family. We will have the opportunity to stay at a cabin and go do some winter wonderland activities.

Hi girls
Here's a beauty treatment I strongly recommend for great glowing skin. I first heard about this treatment from Eva Mendes on the The Tonight Show a few months ago. I was curious but wedding projects became the priority so I didn't do any research about the treatment she suggested for beautiful skin. I'm talking about the spa treatment known as the "Korean scrub" and it consists of a full body scrub that leaves your skin soft and glowing.
My Maid of Honor, being a beauty treatment trend setter suggested we must try the treatment before the end of summer. We called about three places and found the best service in our city. All spas didn't offer the service in a private room so that made it difficult to book because we are super shy about having others see us naked as someone scrubs our whole body. Anyway, yesterday night we booked my husband for a swedish massage and ourselves for a "Korean scrub" and massage treatment at the Wi Spa. This place was great! A floor for women, for men and one for the whole family.
My friend and I purposely booked our appointments at different times to avoid seeing each other in the collective treatment room. It will definitely become part of my beauty treatment routine.

Anyway, brides-to-be I strongly suggest the scrub treatment to you all. I don't promise you'll feel pampered and comfortable all the time but your skin will be glowing.You'll have gorgeous soft skin for your wedding day and honeymoon. I wish I had done this treatment at least twice before my wedding.

Have any WBC girls done this treatment before? I'd love to hear your story.

My last one of three photo videos using the professional pictures. The wedding day went by so fast. : ( Our wedding vision became a beautiful reality, our first dance, the toasts, the party, the food, the cake, and the table setting just the way we pictured it.

Here is the photo video of our wedding ceremony. We worked with
our officiant to create something that represented our values.
The result is a ceremony that is simple and spiritual. Brad and
I had tears of joy during the readings and held hands most
of the time. I have included the text of our bilingual ceremony below.
The song that you'll hear is the song Brad selected for the bridal party and groom processional. I hope you enjoy it!





Wedding Ceremony
Gladys & Brad

Lee Marie Sanchez ~ Officiant
Unitarian Universalist Church of Anaheim

INVOCATION

Throughout the ages and within all cultures and religions,
when two people have chosen one another as lovers and
partners, they have sought a way and a custom to share their
love and commitment publicly; to seek the blessing and
support of those present and to remember those loved ones in absence;
to be reminded of the ideals that they seek and frailties
they face now together; and to be connected to that spirit of life
that flows through all expressions of love and devotion.

Just as the soft rains fill the streams,
pour into the rivers, and join together in the oceans,
so may the power of every moment of your goodness
flow forth to awaken and heal all beings--
those here now, those gone before, those yet to come.

By the power of every moment of your goodness,
may your heart's wishes be soon fulfilled
as completely shining as the bright full moon,
as magically as by a wish-fulfilling gem.

By the power of every moment of your goodness,
may all dangers be averted and all disease be gone.
May no obstacle come across your way.
May you enjoy fulfillment and long life.

For all in whose heart dwells respect,
who follow the wisdom and compassion, of the Way,
may your life prosper in the four blessings
of old age, beauty, happiness and strength.

(Traditional Buddhist Chant)

OPENING WORDS

Dearly beloved, we are gathered together to witness the
joining of GLADYS and BRAD in marriage. To each other
shall be made a vow by these two, loving and loved,
testifying before us of the blending of their ways,
and the wedding of their hearts. Before us
they shall come together into that estate of marriage
which has been treasured by faithful keeping, and in
which the secrets of all hearts are disclosed, and they
enter reverently, discreetly, soberly, and with the
joy that comes to those who truly love.

To be true, this outward ceremony must be but a symbol of that
which is inner and real; a union of hearts, which religion may
bless and the state make legal, but which neither can create.
Marriage partakes of the mystery of creation.

AFFIRMATION OF INTENTIONS

Do you, BRAD take GLADYS to be your wedded wife,
to live together in marriage? Will you love her, cherish her,
honor and keep her, in sickness and in health,
in adversity and prosperity, in sorrow and in joy,
give her understanding and comfort in whatever the future
may bring, forsaking all others so long as you both shall live,
in confidence that together you are responsible for your destiny?

If so, please repeat after me, I do

(BRAD) I do

¿GLADYS, aceptas a BRAD como tu esposo,
para vivir juntos en matrimonio? ¿prometes amarlo, apreciarlo,
honorarlo y mantenerlo, en la enfermedad y en salud,
en adversidad y prosperidad, en tristeza y alegría,
darle comprensión y consuelo por el resto de sus vidas,
confiando en que juntos ustedes son responsables por su destino?

If so, please repeat after me, I do


(GLADYS) I do

BLESSINGS BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS

GLADYS & BRAD have asked you to share this day with them,
as friends and family, you have the power to bless their
relationship. You have all taught them to give and to value
the love and the commitment that they now offer to each other.

If you are willing, in the days and years ahead, to continue
that example, to support them, individually and together,
with your love and affection, in their efforts to increase that
honesty and deepen that trust, will you rejoice with them,
as they discover love’s deepening happiness,
so that their love may be a blessing and a radiance
among all those it touches?


If so, please respond, We will –

(ALL) We Will

VOWS
BRAD, please repeat after me

I, BRAD take you, GLADYS to be no other than yourself.
Loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not yet know,
with respect for your integrity and faith in your abiding love
for me, through all our years, and in all that life may bring us.
I take you to be my wife, to share the joys and sorrows of life
together, to honor your integrity, and in trust and understanding
to love you.

GLADYS, Please repeat after me,

I, GLADYS take you, BRAD, to be no other than yourself.
Loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not yet know,
with respect for your integrity and faith in your abiding love
for me, through all our years, and in all that life may bring us.
I take you to be my husband, to share the joys and sorrows
of life together, to honor your integrity, and in trust and
understanding to love you.

RINGS BLESSING

The circle is a symbol of the sun and the earth and the universe.
It is a symbol of holiness and of perfection and peace. In these
rings it is a symbol of unity, in which your two lives are now joined
in one unbroken circle, in which, wherever you go,
you will always return unto one another to your togetherness.

EXCHANGE OF RINGS

BRAD, please repeat after me

My beloved GLADYS, I give you this ring as a sign and symbol of our union.


GLADYS, Por favor, repita después de mí

Mi amado BRAD, te entrego este anillo como un simbolo de nuestra union.

WINE CEREMONY

The years of life are as wine poured out for you to drink.
This wine contains within it sweet happiness, joy, hope,
and delight. The same wine, at times, holds bitter
disappointment, sorrow, grief and despair. Those who drink
deeply of life invite this full range of experience into their beings.
This wine is symbolic of the pledges you have made to each
other to share together the fullness of life. To symbolize and
celebrate the blending of your two lives into one, I invite you to
perform the Wine Ceremony.

[BRAD and GLADYS combine white and red wine to form Rosé.
BRAD pours wine into a glass and presents it to the audience.]

As you drink from this wine, you acknowledge that your lives
now become one vessel, into which all your sorrows and joys,
all your hopes and fears will be poured and from which you will
find mutual sustenance. Many days you will sit at the same table
and eat and drink together. Drink now, and may the cup of your
lives be sweet and full to overflowing.
[BRAD gives glass to GLADYS to drink from. Then reverse.]

PRONOUNCEMENT

Before this gathering BRAD and GLADYS have promised
each other their love and have given each other rings to wear
as a sign of their deep commitment. Therefore I declare that
they are now married.

Ante todos nosotros BRAD y GLADYS han declarado su amor
y entregado anillos que simbolizan su union y por eso los
declaro unidos en matrimonio.

CLOSING BENEDICTION

Let us conclude this ceremony with a blessing:

May you feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter to the other.
May you feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.
May there be no loneliness for you. Now you are two bodies,
but there is one life before you. May the love in your hearts give
you joy. May the greatness of life bring you peace.Go now to
your home, enter into the days of your togetherness and
may your days be good and long upon this earth.



KISS You may kiss!

Hi girls,
Sorting out my professional wedding pictures has become a huge project for me and I finally have something to share with you all.
Here's one of my three Animoto video photo creations using my professional wedding pictures. This one focuses on the early part of the day when Brad and I were getting ready for the photo session with the groomsmen and bridesmaids. I organized the pictures to play with one of our ceremony songs. I hope you enjoy it! : )

Hi WBC brides
I've been working on organizing my professional wedding photo digital files and I found a great slide show/photo video creator program. I came across Animoto's program for $30 year membership you can create full length professional quality photo videos using pictures from your computer, photobucket or any other site that stores your pictures. I think it's a great option you can use to share pictures of your wedding events. I'm using Animoto to organize my wedding pictures to share with our friends and family.
I highly recommend it for brides that are planning anything from engagement party- reception slide show or like me organizing/sharing wedding photos. I will probably post one of my three animoto videos on the blog later.

www.animoto.com

p.s. you can create short videos without having to pay for the membership fee

We <3 our photographer!
Our photographer posted the following pictures on his blog!
I love them all and can't wait to get lots of pictures next week. : )
Visit his site listed below for more

www.aobrienphotography.com/2010/ponte-winery-temecula-ca-brad-and-gladys/

Thanks for stopping by and happy planning
G+B

I'm so happy!!
I got these 7 pictures from our photographer, Austin O'Brien.
I can't wait to see more. : ) We love his work and highly recommend him.

Brad and I wanted to create a romantic and peaceful mood to go along with our Vineyard Romance theme. We structured our music choices in a few categories: pre-ceremony, ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner music, important songs/dances, and party dancing.
I hope you like the list of songs we selected. We chose songs that we both liked and found meaningful to our story.

Pre-ceremony 5:00-5:30
All from The String Quartet
Caribbean Blue
I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
Something (Beatles)
I'll Stand By You
I'm Yours
Wouldn't It Be Nice
Take My Breath Away
Orinoco Flow
Yellow
From This Moment On
Ordinary World
Only Time

Ceremony 5:00- 5:30
Canon in D Acoustic Guitar by Mark Magnuson (announced beginning)
Let it Grow by Eric Clapton (Groom and bridal party processional)
Air on a G String by Societas Musica Chamber Orchestra
(Jr. bms+ Bride processional)
Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer (recessional)

Cocktail hour 6:00-7:00 guests were treated to appetizers and drinks while we took pictures
L-O-V-E , Nat "King" Cole
Caribbean Blue, Enya
A New Day Has Come, Celine Dion
When I Fall In Love, Nat "King" Cole
Put Your Records On, Corinne Bailey Rae
New York, New York, Frank Sinatra
The Best is Yet to Come, Tonny Bennet
The Way you Look tonight, Frank Sinatra
Unforgettable, Nat "King" Cole
Can't Take My Eyes Off of You, Lauryn Hill

Important songs:
Grand entrance: DJ selection...loved it but can't remember it : )
First dance: Bendita Tu Luz, Mana
Bride & Father-in-law: Moonlight Serenade, The Glenn Miller Orchestra
Groom & Mother: same combined dances
Cake cutting: Sugar, Sugar The Archies
Bouquet toss: Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Cyndi Lauper
Last song: Me Enamora, Juanes (mom's fav. song)

Dinner music: DJ played pleasant dinner music

Latin Dance music: (got most guests dancing)
La Duena del Swing, Hermanos Rosario
La Vida es un Carnaval, Celia Cruz
La Bomba, Ricky Martin
Guallando, Fulanito
A Pedir Su Mano, Juan Luis Guerra
Rie y Llora, Celia Cruz
Rhythm Divine, Enrique Iglesias
Ven Bailalo, Angel y Khriz
Si No Me Ama, Omega

Groom's special request songs:
Y.M.C.A., Village People (ymca members both)
Stayin Alive, Bee Gees ( both love how the movie Saturday Night Fever starts with Tony walking the streets of Brooklyn)
Kokomo Song, The Beach Boys
A Little Less Conersation, Elvis Presley
Meet Me Halfway, Black Eyed Peas
I Gotta Feeling, Black Eyed Peas
Something, George Harrison
I'm Yours, Jason Mraz
Don't Stop, Michael Jackson

We had so much fun dancing with our guests! We learned from a friend's beautiful/fun wedding last year that if the newlyweds want a fun party they have to be the life of the party and get on the dance floor.

Couples Negril in Jamaica was the perfect location for our honeymoon. We arrived so exhausted from the long long trip! But we will travel any distance to get to beautiful Negril again! It was so lovely! It was so amazing. A true paradise with so many yellow, white and green butterflies fluttering around everywhere I looked. I'm renaming the area of Negril as butterfly land. : )
I'll come back soon to post more details.

p.s.most pictures were taken with a camera phone. I also took some short videos that I'll try to post later.