My Tucson Wedding

Outdoor weddings present a unique audio challenge in helping your guests hear the important vows you will be stating to each other. It is important, especially with larger audiences to have a sound system that evenly spreads the sound to everyone, not just the front row. Having speakers located only in front will blast the front row, leaving the back row possibly not  hearing what is being said.  At Saguaro Buttes instead of one or two front speakers, we have speakers surrounding the ceremony site. This allows everyone to hear at the same volume. At Saguaro Buttes we use wireless microphones, both for the pastor and the Bridegroom, (the bride will be heard through the grooms mic) and additional mics for any other readers, musicians, etc.  It is important to have wind guards over the microphones to eliminate any wind noise that may occur. Also, the location of the sound technician and sound board is important. At Saguaro Buttes the audio equipment is located at the rear of the ceremony site, this allows the sound technician to be able to monitor more accurately what people are hearing. He also controls the CD’s playing, and any other music being played during the processional and recessional, so it is important for them to be in a position to see the whole ceremony site.  There are many things that go into making for beautiful ceremony, sound is one of them. After all the preparation and work that has been put into the ceremony, you want people to hear it. Make sure that your outdoor location has a good sound system. 

Adding a little levity to your wedding with a fun cake topper can be easy. There are literally hundreds of different toppers to choose from these days. The one pictured to the right was used at a recent wedding at Saguaro Buttes, and reflected the interest of the bride and groom as they were both ball payers. If you want to have some fun, check out the different wedding toppers at www.funweddingthings.com.

Weddings should be fun. It is a time of celebration and great joy. After the ceremony, pictures, and dinner, it is time for dancing. Choosing the right music and songs to get the party off to great start is important. One nice way to check out music today is through itunes, where you can play 30 second clips of any song. It is good to try and play a variety of music, to consider both young and older people. Pick songs that are fun to dance to.  Remember that this is a wedding, so don’t pick songs about breaking up, broken hearts, ex wives, etc. Here are some of my favorites.

• Twist and Shout, The Beatles
• Great Balls of Fire, Jerry Lee Lewis
• Tutti Frutti, Little Richard
• Livin’ La Vida Loca or She Bangs, Ricky Martin
• Y.M.C.A., The Village People
• Play that Funky Music, Wild Cherry
• Straight Up, Paula Abdul
• Garth Brooks– Friends in Low Places
• Gloria Gaynor– I Will Survive
• Kenny Loggins– Footloose
• Can’t Get You Out of My Head, Kylie Minogue–
• Get the Party Started, Pink
• It’s the End of the World as We Know It, REM
• Super Freak, Rick James
• Push It, Salt n Pepa
• Chattanooga Choo-Choo, Glenn Miller
• Hound Dog or Don’t Be Cruel, Elvis Presley
• Come Fly With Me, Frank Sinatra
• La Bamba, Ritchie Valens
• Who Let the Dogs Out?, Baha Men
• Stayin’ Alive, Bee Gees
• Kung Fu Fighting, Carl Douglas
• Shake Your Booty, KC and the Sunshine Band
• Copa Cabana, Barry Manilow
• Dancing Queen, Abba
• Love Shack, The B-52’s
• Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In, The Fifth Dimension
• Respect, Aretha Franklin

Recently I had the honor of performing a Coin Ceremony at a wedding. I like the symbolism, and it’s history.  This tradition is usually associated with Hispanic weddings, and originated in Spain. Thirteen (13) coins (either gold or silver) represent Christ and his 12 apostles. It is a simple ceremony where the Bridegroom gives the Bride these coins to represent his responsibility as a provider, and his trust in his Bride with his material possessions. Usually a few words or vows are exchanged. Her reception of the coins symbolizes her dedication and responsibility in looking after these possessions.

The wording goes something like this:

Minister

May these coins be a symbol of Bridegroom and Bride’s mutual love, fidelity and trust.

Bridegroom

I (Bridegroom) give you (Bride) these 13 coins as a symbol of my unquestionable trust and confidence I place in you as my beloved wife. As we united our lives today I share all material responsibility with you.

Bride

I (Bride) accept these coins and assure you of my total love and dedication in looking after you, your possessions and my unconditional love.

The Coins

The coins can also represent different values that the couple want to share between themselves as pictures on these gold coins:   ~:~ Love ~:~ Harmony ~:~ Cooperation ~:~ Commitment ~:~ Peace ~:~ Happiness ~:~ Trust ~:~ Respect ~:~ Caring ~:~ Wisdom ~:~ Joy ~:~ Wholeness ~:~ Nurturing.

On average, couples that live in Tucson, AZ will spend between $11,933 and $19,888 for their weddings, according to recent surveys. This does not include the cost for a honeymoon or an engagement ring. This figure is below the US average of $20,398, however the majority of couples throughout the US spend between $15,299 and $25,498. In these economic times it is important to find the best value for your wedding dollars. Wedding packages are a great way to save money, but it is important when calculating the cost of your wedding to include taxes and gratuity. In many instances this can be over 20 percent of the total bill,  but at Saguaro Buttes we include it in the package so there are no surprises.  So, when setting your budget and checking out locations be sure to calculate all the costs.

Where should the ring bearer and flower girl stand during the ceremony?  This is an excellent question and one that I am asked quite often. I usually suggest that if they are under 5 years of age that they be seated during the ceremony. It is much easier because the children have a hard time standing still for 20 to 30 minutes.  If they are older, they will usually do just fine, and I suggest having them stand at the end next the last groomsman. Sometimes a couple will want them to stand next to the best man or maid of honor. The Ring Bearer and Flower girl make some of the cutest pictures in the wedding.

What to play at your wedding can be quite a chore with so many songs to choose from. Here is a list complied of the top 30 love songs.

Top 10

At Last - Etta James (#1)
 From This Moment - Shania Twain/Bryan White (#2)
 Amazed - Lonestar (#3)
 Unchained Melody - Righteous Bros. (#4)
 I Cross My Heart - George Strait (#5)
 I’ll Be - Edwin McCain (#6)
 Valentine - Martina McBride/Jim Brickman (#7)
 I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston (#8)
 Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton (#9)
 I Finally Found Someone - B. Streisand/B. Adams (#10) 

Top 20

After All - Cher/Peter Cetera (#11)
 Always & Forever - Heatwave (#12)
 Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion (#13)
 Can’t Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley (#14)
 What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong (#15)
 Always - Atlantic Starr (#16)
 If You Say My Eyes Are Beautiful - W. Houston/J. Jackson (#17)
 Keeper Of The Stars - Tracy Byrd (#18)
 Have I Told You Lately - Van Morrison (#19)
 Endless Love - Diana Ross/Lionel Richie (#20) 

Top 30

I’ll Always Love You - Taylor Dane (#21)
 Everything I Do - Bryan Adams (#22)
 True Companion - Marc Cohn (#23)
 Power Of Love - Celine Dion (#24)
 By Your Side - Sade (#25)
 Spend My Life With You - Eric Benet/Tamia (#26)
 Beautiful In My Eyes - Joshua Kadison (#27)
 All My Life - Linda Rondstadt/Aaron Neville (#28)
 The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra (#29)
 Love Of A Lifetime - Firehouse (#30)

If you are the Best Man, you will probably be asked to propose a Wedding Toast, and many times the Maid of Honor will also be asked to say a few words. Others in the Bridal party or in the audience may also want to be included in the toast. Public speaking can be a fearful thing for many people, but here are a few tips and suggestions to make it easier.

Suggestions for Toasting

• Keep it to 1 to 3 minutes. Don’t go too long, try to say more with less. Brevity is the soul of wit. It is better to leave them expecting more, then to go to long and wishing that you had said less.
• Fill the glasses. Before the Toast make sure that the DJ has announced that the Toast is about to take place and give the audience 4 or 5 minutes to fill their glasses.
• Stand when you give the toast using your right hand for holding the glass and left had for the mic if needed. After the toast click the glass before sipping.
• Begin with a personal story. How you met, your first memories of the person, etc. A quote or a funny line also works.
• Be careful on your use of humor, making sure it is in good taste. It’s okay to poke fun at the wedding couple, but remember to show some restraint.
• Be natural with hand gestures and voice inflections. They want to hear you, and sometimes these gestures and inflections can be distracting.
• Practice makes perfect. It is always good to go over your toast a few times beforehand.
• Eye contact is good. Look at the people you are talking to. Sometimes out of shyness people look down at the ground or off in the distance. It is much more effect to look people in their eyes.
• Speak at an even pace, breath deep, and don’t rush what you have to say.
• Finish your toast with a blessing or congratulations, or a wish for the new couple.

Some Things to Avoid

• Don’t drink too much before the toast. It will only make you look foolish.
• Don’t swear or lie.
• Never apologize for not being a good speaker.
• Don’t bring up former relationships, past marriages. It could be embarrassing.
• Keep it PG. Remember there are kids and Grand parents in the audience.

At a recent wedding at Saguaro Buttes, Katherine Byrnes and Nate Jasensky performed wonderfully during the Sand ceremony. Katherine Byrnes is a jazz vocalist based in Tucson, Arizona. She is the second featured artist on the Park Avenue Records label. Reminiscent of the big band singers of the thirties, Katherine brings a style to singing that is all her own.  If you are interested in more information or having them sing at your wedding, they are very reasonable in price.  Katherine’s web site is www.katherinebyrnes.com and her contact phone number is 917-621-7309.  Nate is a musician and teacher currently based in Tucson, Arizona. He has experience with performing many styles of guitar, composing, singing, live sound, and recording. Music is his life, and his passion. His phone number is 520-490-4754. His web page is click here.

This was another beautiful March sunset at Saguaro Buttes, which took place on March 21st. If you look, you can see the photographer working hard on capturing the bride and groom against the beautiful backdrop with the saguaro cactus.

Here is a picture from the wedding of Ron and Cindy Carter on March 20th. 2009, at Saguaro Buttes.

They had a beautiful sunset and a perfect spot to see it. 

Find some creative ways to infuse your ceremony with elements that are distinctly you.  Hey – it’s all about you; take back your ceremony! It is a ritual – time honored and sacred – but that does not mean your wedding ceremony has to be like every other.

My Favorite Ceremony Ideas

Offer refreshments, welcome and refresh your guests by serving lemonade, iced tea or water when the arrive for the wedding ceremony. It’s a nice touch, and your guests will appreciate the gesture.

Personalized Pew/Row Decorations

Instead of floral row makers, how about framed photos of the bride and groom tied with ribbons at the end of the row. The picture to the right shows pom poms were given to each of the guest, for a sports theme used for the wedding.

Customize your Wedding Programs

In Tucson how about a program in the shape of a fan during the Summer. Or a program that gives bios of the bridesmaids and groomsman. Or a story about the bride and groom.

The Grand Entrance

Ride in on a horse or motorcycle, or be escorted by both parents. Something different than, “Here Comes the Bride”
. There is no reason why you can’t come down the isle to one of your favorite tunes that mean something to both the bride and groom.

Mix up the Bridal Party

Who says your maid of honor must be a “maid?” If your best pal happens to be a guy, have a “man of honor.” Same goes for the best man; there’s no reason why there can’t be a “best woman.”

Try the Sand Ceremony

Instead, combine sand into a beautiful bowl or vase. The sand can be of two colors, creating a visual representation of the joining of two families and something you can keep and cherish forever.

Write your own Wedding Vows, or Readings

One way to make it more personalized is to write something personal, that you read to each other or have the officiant read. Writing your own vows is also another way, but some couples don’t feel as comfortable doing this. These spoken words expose your mind and your heart to each other and to your audience.

Unity Sand has become more popular for outdoor weddings over the last few years. Unity candles blow out, or are difficult to light and stay lit, but unity sand has none of these problems. It is really a simple ceremony with great significance. It is a visible way to show two individuals becoming one. I usually say words to this effect, ” Just as the sand, once poured and mixed, literally become impossible to separate, so your lives are inseparably joined together.”

Couples with children have a wonderful option to include them in this ceremony. Using different colors and giving each child their separate vase to pour into the center vase makes the children feel not only a part of the ceremony, but a part of the family.

Another option couples have chosen, is to have the Pastor pour the first vase of sand for the base, to represent God as the foundation of their relationship. Then on top of the base, the couples pour their two colors together.  This is great symbolism of the marriage taking place.

At a recent wedding at Saguaro Buttes the Bride and Groom rented a pool table to use during the reception. The pool table was rented from a local company for the day, who delivered the table and then picked it up the following day.  Some of your wedding guests may not enjoy dancing but would enjoy playing pool instead.

Bold colors of black and red with gold charger plates can make a stunning table design. Napkins in the wine glass and rose peddles spread on the table, give the table some flair. These tables can seat up to 10 guests with our slightly larger tables that can seat up to 12 guests.

Ron and Cindy were married at Saguaro Buttes at 5:00 PM on March 20th, 2009. Their wedding guest came from Ohio, Oregon, California, Idaho, and Minnesota and enjoyed the beautiful sunset that evening. Ron is a fireman and Cindy works for a Charter School.  They met for the first time on December 17th, 2007. 

Travis and Nicole were married at 5:15 pm on April 4th, 2009 at Saguaro Buttes. They had guests from Illinois, South Dakota, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland among other places. They met for the first time in 2001 as they both worked at the University of Arizona, where Travis continues to work. Nicole is a fourth grade teacher for TUSD.

At a recent wedding at Saguaro Buttes the Bride and Groom had a sports theme. The sign in table, pictured to the right, used instead of the usual sign in book or a photo, a football and a basketball with the colors and insignia of their favorite teams. Guest were encouraged to sign either the Buckeyes football or the Wildcats basketball. How cool is that?

It is the moment that every bride anticipates and dreams about; when the bride makes her grand entrance down the stairs, alongside the cascading waterfall, with all eyes on her. She is escorted down the aisle on the arm of her beloved father or a family loved one to meet her future groom. This is a walk she will never forget.

At a recent wedding at Saguaro Buttes white linens were used with different color napkins to make the dining room very festive.

Not all wedding cakes are the same. Some are more festive than others and some even add some humor. Here is a colorful cake with an unusual topper at a recent wedding at Saguaro Buttes. The story goes that the bride and groom, after they first met, were spending a lot of time together, but denying that they were a couple. One of their relatives made the statement, “if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck” inferring that they were really a couple. So ducks came to have a special and humorous symbolism in their relationship. The wonderful cakes were made by “Ambrosia of Tucson”.

Ben and Erin were married at Saguaro Buttes on April 11th, 2009 at 5:00 pm.  They met for the first time on November 20th, 2004, and Ben proposed to Erin on November 11th, 2007. They have wedding guests coming from Texas, California, Indiana, Florida among other places.

Leticia and Daniel married on September 25th. 2009 at Saguaro Buttes. They met very serendipitously in Tucson at a local establishment Salsa dancing. Over time they were both transferred to the Seattle area by their respective employers. They were obviously meant to be.

At a recent wedding at Saguaro Buttes, a Photo Booth was set up by PhotoFunBooth.com and it was a lot of fun. During the wedding your guests have their picture taken, then select one or two of the best pictures,      write a few encouraging words, and it becomes a photo book for the Bride and Groom to take home that evening. The pictures are also uploaded to the web so your guests can purchase them later. PhotoFunBooth.com advertises the following. “Photo Fun Booth is the hot new trend in event entertainment and memorabilia. This is not just our old fashion photo booth, this is the new age digital photo booth that allows you to customize and capture your special day.”  For more information you can call 520-275-1PIC or check out their web site.

There are a plethora of table design options that face a bride and groom when planning their wedding. It is fun to see the different ideas they come up with. Here at a recent wedding at Saguaro Buttes this center piece was used, pictured to the right. As you can see it had a beta fish swimming in the water filled vase, with  decorative marbles and a nice plant that guests were encouraged to take home after the wedding.  Jelly beans were scattered over the table for the guests and as well as their favors; a bag of assorted candy.  A camera was also provided for guests to take their own candid pictures for the bride and groom to enjoy after the wedding.