A special thank you ...

Sometimes I get the nicest surprises in my email inbox:

7/26/10

Hello Reverend Jeri,

I am Rachael's father and I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful wedding ceremony you conducted. I didn't have the chance on the day of the wedding to thank you as they swooshed us off to take pictures and by the time that was done you had already left, no doubt to cool down!

Your ceremony was unique and touched my wife and myself as to how important and sacred the wedding vows are.

Thank you again for your efforts,

Don

Thank you for taking the time to write, Don. It was my delight and honor to perform Rachael and Christopher's ceremony!

Rev. Jeri

Just Married!

"The love story of Jeff and Jessica began almost three years ago, on a blind date coordinated by Jessica’s friend, Melissa. It was a group excursion to the California State Fair, and they obviously hit it off well because Jeff talked the whole time – which is very unusual for him!"

And thus began the first chapter of Jeff and Jessica's life together.

Yesterday, they exchanged their vows at Berghold Estate Winery in Lodi and later, by the light of the full moon, celebrated their marriage with family and dear friends.

Capturing their joy were Jim and David, videographers with Sheffield Multimedia. Floral beauty was provided by Cheryl Sage of Accents by Sage Floral Design. Wow! Who knew teal and orange was so Beautiful together!

And Julia, coordinator at Berghold, made sure every detail was attended to.

Congratulations, Jessica and Jeff! May you enjoy many, many years of love and happiness!

Rev. Jeri

Gold WeddingWire Rating - 2010

Rev. Jeri Murphy is now WeddingWire Rated for 2010

Sacramento, CA) – (July 7, 2010) - WeddingWire, the nation's leading site for wedding reviews, just announced that Rev. Jeri Murphy is WeddingWire Rated 2010 for Wedding Officiant. WeddingWire Rated is an annual award program for wedding professionals based on hundreds of thousands of recent wedding reviews.

WeddingWire Rated, the industry's first formalized review program, is the most recognized and trusted brand among engaged couples looking to locate wedding businesses. The award program recognizes wedding professionals across the country, like Rev. Jeri Murphy, who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to service.

Rev. Jeri Murphy has 26 reviews on WeddingWire. These reviews have been written by past clients of Rev. Jeri, and include detailed ratings and insightful descriptions of the newlyweds' experience. From quality of service to overall level of professionalism, these reviews showcase the high level of service newly engaged couples can expect from Rev. Jeri.

"We are excited to unveil WeddingWire Rated, now in its fourth year, as a way to recognize wedding professionals for their commitment to service," said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire's CEO. "WeddingWire Rated allows wedding businesses to clearly differentiate themselves in their market, while providing engaged couples an easy way to find the best services for their wedding."

Rev. Jeri would like to thank her past clients for sharing reviews of their weddings on WeddingWire. Reviews for Rev. Jeri Murphy can be found across the entire WeddingWire Network, which includes WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee.

For more information, please visit Rev. Jeri Murphy on WeddingWire at Rev. Jeri Murphy’s Storefront.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire, the nation's leading technology company serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 100,000 local wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives local businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. Businesses that join the WeddingWire Network appear on WeddingWire.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com, ProjectWedding.com and Weddingbee.com (both part of eHarmony), and Celebrations.com (part of the 1-800-Flowers family of brands).

(Photo by True Love Photo)

Une célébration merveilleuse!

(That's French for "A wonderful celebration!")

While working toward a degree in French, Katie spent a year studying in the south of France. She says, "This was a big adventure for me, and taught me so much about myself." During every school break, she explored France as well as many neighboring countries, and her wanderlust took root.

When she and Brandon met, they discovered their shared love of travel was only one of many common interests, including backpacking, home improvement projects, fine dining, and wine tasting. Over time, they became best friends and life partners, which led -- naturally -- to their wedding celebration on July 3rd!

Choosing their wedding venue was easy; both love rich, fruity red wines and they fell in love with Avio Winery in Sutter Creek, not only for the wine but also for the beautiful and intimate setting for their ceremony.

Working closely with their fabulous wedding planner, Shelley Larkin of Pizzazz! Event Planning, Brandon and Katie transformed the courtyard at Avio to represent "the South of France" -- allowing them to celebrate with family and dear friends without the jet lag of international flight!

Their ceremony included a non-traditional wedding party: Katie's brother, Jon, was one of her attendants, calling himself the "Bride Squire," and Brandon's sister, Kiersten, brought an extra touch of beauty as one of the groom's attendants.

Katie and Brandon surprised their mothers with a special presentation of roses ... they held back tears as they listened to the hands blessing ("These are the hands that, even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours; still giving you that same unspoken tenderness with just a touch") ... and they sipped both a dry and a sweet wine, symbolizing their commitment to share both challenges and happiness in marriage.

All in all, it was "une célébration merveilleuse!" Congratulations, Katie and Brandon!

Avec l'amour et les bons souhaits!
Rev. Jeri

A "Must-Read" for Any Emotional Bride

A few years ago, while planning her wedding, one of my colleagues told me of a great resource she found. No, it wasn’t about table décor, or finding the perfect dress, or creating a signature drink for the reception.

It was about the crazy and stressful array of emotions she was feeling – and finding out that her confusion, anxiety and “negative” feelings were all normal.

Sheryl Nissinen wrote “The Conscious Bride” after polling brides of all ages and finding that, like her, their journey down the aisle – and the months before and after – was filled with much more than joy, excitement and everlasting love.


“There are few occasions in life more beautiful and awe-inspiring than a wedding. When two people decide to solidify their commitment, they begin the sacred journey of marriage, which begins with the engagement and continues through the rest of their lives.

. . .

“For some, their engagement is a joyous time filled with planning and animated discussion about their wedding day and future life together. For most, however, the engagement is a combination of excitement, stress, bliss and confusion.

…

“The road that leads to and from the wedding day is not always smooth. … the engagement, wedding, and first months of marriage can be a difficult time where one person in the partnership [usually the bride] feels overwhelmed by emotions and forces that she has never experienced and does not understand.

…

Through reading this book you will explore the reasons behind the common tendency for women to ‘freak out’ at some point during their engagement, wedding, and/or first year of marriage. ….”

I would highly recommend this book to any bride, whether she’s newly-engaged, recently-married, or approaching her first wedding anniversary. (And grooms, you might want to read it too; you may be able to understand your beloved’s behavior a little better.)

PS: You can find this book at the library; I did!

Soulmates

"A soulmate is someone who has locks that fit our keys, and keys to fit our locks ... Our soulmate is the one who makes life come to life." (Excerpted from "The Bridge Across Forever" by Richard Bach)

Chris and Kellie met three years ago, when they were introduced by a mutual friend. There was an immediate spark of attraction, as they found they share many interests, values and goals. Both are friendly, fun and witty; they enjoy going to movies, plays and concerts, playing softball or Scrabble, and traveling. Although they tend to be homebodies, they enjoy spending time with friends, and both place a high priority on family.

So yesterday afternoon their dear friends and family gathered to witness their wedding ceremony, held at a private residence situated on the banks of the Truckee River. Chris and Kellie honored their parents by presenting roses to their mothers. Chris's sister, Katy, presented a reading from "The Bridge Across Forever," and Kellie's brother, Shawn, read the Irish Wedding Blessing.

Family and friends enthusiastically promised to support the happiness and success of Chris and Kellie's union, through the highs and lows of their life together.

And since the candles would not stay lit during the Unity Candle Lighting, we acknowledged Mother Nature's playfulness and used our imagination to pretend that the candles were glowing. Of course, the inner light of Chris and Kellie's love was clearly aflame!

The wind also challenged their DJ, Matthew Strong, by blowing over the wireless amps. However, Matt and his team quickly and smoothly resolved the problem; they are true professionals. And rumor has it that the river-side party continued well into the night!

Congratulations, Chris and Kellie! Enjoy your fabulous Hawaiian honeymoon, and thank you for letting me be a part of your wonderful wedding celebration!

Blessings,
Rev. Jeri

Glitz and Glamour!

"In 1893, George Washington Scribner, being lured into farming by the rich, deep soils of the Sacramento River Delta, settled along what is now called Scribner Bend. The river bend became a vital shipping point, picking up produce, mail and passengers by steam boat.

"The Scribner family ranch runs along the Sacramento Delta where the family has farmed for over 100 years. Their most recent addition is their Scribner Bend Vineyards.

"The original barn built in 1918 was featured in Sunset Magazine’s March issue “Winter Roaming along the Sacramento River” in 2002. Today the barn has been completely renovated and transformed into a unique tasting experience that includes the new Tuscan indoor venue room, tasting room and event for weddings, picnics, birthdays, reunions and more."

I have had the pleasure of performing many wedding ceremonies at Scribner Bend, most recently last Friday (May 7th). The weather was warm, the breeze was minimal, the ambiance was welcoming, and the ceremony was personalized and perfect for Alex and Laura.

On Sunday, May 23rd, from noon to 5:00 p.m., Scribner Bend Vineyards will be showcasing some of the finest wedding professionals in the Sacramento area. I'll be there, and I hope you'll come visit this beautiful wedding venue, enjoy some wonderful wine or champagne, and meet some of the best people in the wedding business!

PS: Tickets are $15 at the door. However, the first five brides who contact me can get in for free as my guest!