Perfect Sounds to the rescue

Joseph and Feliza had been planning their dream wedding for quite some time, and today was The Big Day!

I arrived at Lake Natoma Inn 30 minutes before the 5:00 p.m. ceremony -- and found the groom's mother in tears. The DJ they had hired had not shown up yet. (He/They should have already been there and set up.)

Erin, the Event Coordinator at Lake Natoma Inn, called the DJ company in question, and was told that they were on their way . . . from Stockton. There was absolutely no way they would arrive in time to have the music ready for the ceremony.

So Erin called Raymond at Perfect Sounds in Folsom, explained the situation, and he came to the rescue. Within minutes -- literally -- he was setting up his sound system, putting microphones on the groom and the officiant (me), and playing soothing background music while guests were seated.

With minimal instruction, he not only played the perfect music for the processional, but also surprised us with some lovely background music as Joseph and Feliza presented their mothers with a surprise gift of roses.

The "tardy" DJs showed up at 6:00 p.m., and were setting up their equipment when I left. (I'll post their company name in a future blog, called "Buyer beware." Sometimes "cheap" is just that.)

Raymond, you were our savior this evening. And you do deliver the Perfect Sounds!

In gratitude,
Rev. Jeri Murphy

PS: Congratulations, Joseph and Feliza!!!

Promises and Vows

The wedding ceremonies I write usually include "promises" and "vows." Periodically I've been asked to explain the difference; I've given a sufficient response.

However, I found the following explanation in Caroline Myss' book, "Entering the Castle" and I really like it.

She's talking to her 13-year old niece, Rachel, who asked about the difference between promises and vows.

Caroline says, " ... promises are agreements that [you] as a person make between [yourself] and [your] friends and family. They are agreements of honor. When you break a promise, the part of you that lets you known you've broken your word is called your conscience.

"Unlike a promise ... a vow is an agreement that your soul makes with God. You make a vow when you are ready to make a commitment to live your life a certain way. Even in cases where you make a vow to another person, you are also making an agreement with God, so a vow is sacred and therefore has cosmic consequences that promises do not. Vows are so powerful ... that most people can live up to the demands of only one or two vows at the most over the course of their entire lives. When and if the time came for [Rachel] to make a vow, she would have to make certain that her soul was in complete agreement with all that the vows would require of her."

(Photo by Bakari, Lifetime Photography)

Rev. Jeri

Field trip to Loomis

Today I went on a field trip!

Joined by two favorite wedding girlfriends, Diana Miller of Diana Miller Photography and Anna Hernandez of Whitebird Ceremonial Dove Releases, I visited The Flower Farm Inn, a delightful B&B in Loomis.

We had lunch at the little cafe, then strolled the grounds enjoying the whimsical garden sculptures, the plants -- those currently in bloom and others still hibernating -- and the Gypsy Chicks!

We're planning a return trip in March, when more of the flowers are bloomin'.

Care to meet us there?

Rev. Jeri

New Year's Resolution - 2010

"Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor... Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.

Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting."

-- Mother Teresa