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Posted on Thursday, December 13, 2012 2:49 PM
As you are planning your wedding for next year, let’s talk
about outdoor weddings. New England is spectacular in the summer and fall, and
occasionally in the spring with many, many beautiful outdoor venues suitable
for spectacular wedding ceremonies. With mild weather and a soft, cooling
breeze, outdoor venues provide stunning settings for your wedding.
However, we live in New England about which Mark Twain said,
“If you don’t like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes. |
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Stoddard: Posted on Saturday, October 27, 2012 9:06 AM
Earlier I wrote about buying my own sound system so that I
would no longer be dependent upon venues or DJ's to make certain that
ceremonies would be heard by everyone. I have now used the system in multiple
venues throughout the summer and fall, both inside and out and with wedding as large as 300 guests. I have been
truly pleased with its performance.
I love the system for many reasons: It is completely portable and
rechargeable – no need to worry about power supplies or long, intrusive extension
cords. |
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Stoddard: Posted on Thursday, June 28, 2012 6:41 AM
We all know that weddings are expensive and I am always
looking for ways to help couples save money.
As I have mentioned before, hiring a vendor who is just starting out can
be a terrific money saver. In my experience, people starting out take extra
care to make certain that you are satisfied with their service and you will pay
a fraction of the price with no loss in quality. My friend Phil and his wife Lorena have started their own
baking business, Dulce Amor Cakes. They take extreme pride in their work and
have received rave reviews. |
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Posted on Thursday, May 31, 2012 7:50 AM
I have become frustrated recently doing beautiful outdoor
weddings that many of the guests do not hear. For most outdoor weddings a sound
system is necessary, usually provided by the venue or the DJ. But many venues
either do not have a system or if they do, can only offer a microphone on a
stand and only the best DJ's offer wireless lapel mikes.
I finally decided to buy my own system ensuring that your
beautiful wedding will be heard by all your guests. And the best thing about
the system is that it will not be visible in any of your wedding pictures. |
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Stoddard: Posted on Sunday, December 04, 2011 5:57 PM
Looking for an unusual, distinctive venue for your wedding?
Check out the Methuen Memorial Music Hall, www.mmmh.org The building houses “The Great Organ”,
once the largest organ in the country and is truly spectacular. The hall was
designed by the English architect Henry Vaughan, who began the Washington
Cathedral, and will impart dignity and grace to your ceremony.
I officiated at a wedding there in October. The acoustics
are fabulous and the staff of volunteers does a wonderful job. Your guests are
certain to be wowed by the surroundings and having an organist playing for them
is special. |
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Stoddard: Posted on Thursday, September 22, 2011 1:01 PM
I often get asked whether rehearsals are necessary. They are certainly not necessary for me. I am comfortable walking into any venue and performing a wedding.as is often the case for the small, intimate weddings where I meet the couple for the first time. Earlier this week I performed a lovely wedding at a beautiful horse barn -- no bridal party and with a simple, beautiful ceremony, no rehearsal was necessary.
But for larger weddings I love to have a rehearsal. The rehearsal allows us to accomplish many things, but most importantly, everyone involved is much calmer for the wedding as all know where to go and how to stand. |
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Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 1:43 PM
I hate to say no, but it seems that I am saying that a lot
these days. “I’m sorry, but no, I am not available for that date.”
I am often asked how
soon one should book a Justice of the Peace. The simple answer is as soon as
you have selected a date and determined a venue. Too often the JP is the last
person booked, behind the photographer, DJ, caterer, and even the florist. Yet
the person who is marrying you is keystone in your wedding ceremony. Don’t you
want to have the person who is your first choice rather than the person you
have to take? |
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Stoddard: Posted on Wednesday, June 08, 2011 11:37 AM
To be successful, your wedding does not have to be in the
swankiest, and most expensive, hotel in Boston. Thankfully, there are many
beautiful venues throughout Massachusetts, some free, to hold your wedding. Following,
in no particular order, are a few of my favorite non hotel venues, some well-known,
some not, some geared for large ceremonies, some only for small, some
expensive, some inexpensive or free. Most can be seen on my website on the FAQ page
The Fruitlands Museum, Harvard – gorgeous views of the
Nashoba Valley |
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Stoddard: Posted on Thursday, March 24, 2011 8:57 AM
The best part of a meeting for me comes at the end. That is when I'll find out about you and your relationship. I'll learn about the journey that has brought you to this exciting time in your lives. I'll try to find out what makes your relationship unique and learn some of the special stories that characterize your relationship. These stories could be about your how you met, your first date, an interesting proposal, or something funny or important that has happened to you together.
I particularly enjoy this aspect of being a Justice of the Peace, for it takes me back to my roots as a counselor, learning and understanding about people. |
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Posted on Tuesday, March 08, 2011 1:09 PM
I usually meet with couples at our home in Littleton. In
warm weather we sit outside in the gazebo overlooking our waterfall and ponds,
accompanied by a greyhound or two if you are comfortable with dogs; in cold
weather we sit indoors in our living room.
I start by finding out your wedding plans. Normally I’ll
know the date and location, but I’ll want to learn the specifics – the time,
whether you are planning a rehearsal, the size and makeup of the wedding party,
the anticipated number of guests, and anything special that you are planning such as the mentioning of important people in your lives who will not be there. |
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