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lizraeweddings

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I'm not going to lie - I'll be the first to knock a traditional wedding element for a ceremony. If you approach me wanting a sand ceremony, I'm definitely going to make sure it's something you love and that you're not doing it because that's what you've seen at another wedding. ⁠
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Even though I talk poop about traditional elements, there are plenty of occasions where adding something has been done before is beautiful. You could have traditional vows in your ceremony because you want to honor your parents and grandparents who said the same words before you. Or maybe you want to add a unity candle to reflect your religious backgrounds. ⁠
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We're so used to seeing insanely, and sometimes weird, custom elements to a ceremony that we forget that a wedding ceremony can be wonderful just by being simple. ⁠
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And if you're looking for the master of hand-tying ceremonies, look no further than Mark, who somehow makes it special every. Single. Time. ⁠
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Photo: @studio220photography⁠
Awesome Couple: @betsyfhagen and @njhagen⁠
Officiant: @josquin88 from @lizraeweddings⁠
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#officiant #wedding #celebrant #weddingcelebrant #mspweddings #weddingday #weddingofficiant #weddinginspo #midwestwedding #midwestbride #weddinginspiration #mnwedding #indoorwedding #minnesotabride #twincitiesbride #mnbride #weddingplanning #planningawedding #belovedstories #ceremonyinspiration #chicagobride #nycwedding #nycbride #chicagowedding #ceremonyideas #handfasting #handfastingceremony #handfastingcord #nycweddingplanner #nycweddingphotographer

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I know I should be a pro with words and creating captions shouldn't be hard, but my goodness, sometimes they really are difficult to write. How do you find the right words to explain how people change your life? In my case, that happens to me every single weekend at a wedding. ⁠
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To be 100% honest, I really did not like weddings when I started this business. I actually tried to avoid going if I was invited. 😂 But I started the business because I felt I could make a change in the industry and write ceremonies, 100% from scratch, with specific depth related to what a couple had experienced in their lives together instead of some generic words about love. ⁠
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Every weekend, a couple teaches me something new about love and life and happiness and marriage that makes doing this job all the worthwhile. Every time I think back to Terri and Michelle's ceremony, I'm reminded of the pureness of love, the dedication it takes, and the simple beauties of enjoying life together without making it complicated. ⁠
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Michelle and Terri, thank you. Thank you for being wonderful humans, staying in contact with me, and moving around the country more often than I do, which is saying a lot considering my constant change of location. 😂⁠
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Photo: @charnelltimmsphotography⁠
Ceremony Venue: @trellis.weddings⁠
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#nycofficiant⁠ #offbeatbride #nycwedding #nycbride #mnwedding #minnesotabride #minnesotawedding #radlovestories #nyofficiant #manhattanbride #moderncelebrant #gaywedding #nycweddingofficiant #nycweddingplanning #lgtqwedding #gayweddingideas #gayweddingplanner #lesbianwedding #mspwedding #minnesotaweddingvenue #twobrides #twobridesarebetterthanone #chicagowedding #chicagobride #intimatewedding⁠ #weddinginspo #weddingiplanningadvice #elopement #ceremonyinspiration #ceremonyadvice⁠

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I just first want to say that after a brief (few months) hiatus, our favorite vendor directory is BACK! YAS! ⁠
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I'm still putting all of the vendors we love up there, but to celebrate me finally getting this damn part of the site rebuilt, I wanted to share a bit about Amber and her company, Lady Vamp Artistry. ⁠
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I met Amber while officiating my friend Mary's wedding last year, and while I'm positive she doesn't remember me (this was way back when I was too afraid to introduce myself to other vendors), I absolutely remember her!⁠
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When I contacted Amber a long, long time ago, she was just about to have a baby. I’m positive that there isn’t anyone more of a boss than Amber because she juggles multiple weddings with multiple artists every weekend and somehow raises children throughout all of this. She also responds to my emails faster than almost every other vendor I know. Even I can't respond that quickly, and I'm literally sitting at my computer 90% of the day. ⁠
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I would highly recommend reading my little expose about Amber, her company, and how she manages a team of (last I checked) 12 artists, mom life, and answering all 100000 emails I send her. Link in bio!⁠
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PS - All of the vendors we love are LGBTQ-friendly and are vendors we've worked with or interacted with before. ⁠
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Photo: @jessicaholleque⁠
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#officiant #wedding #celebrant #weddingcelebrant #mspweddings #weddingofficiant #midwestwedding #midwestbride #mnwedding #mnbride #minnesotabride #weddingceremonyideas #weddingceremonyinspiration #ceremonyideas #mnweddingvenue #twincitiesbride #nycwedding #nycbride #northernweddings #chicagowedding #chicagobride #mspwedding #weddingdaymakeup #weddingmakeup #weddingmakeupartist #weddingmakeuplook #weddingmakeupandhair #weddinglipstick #weddinghair #weddingstyleideas

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You know what the absolute best part of being an officiant is? ⁠
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Surprisingly, it's not the writing (though it's a close second).⁠
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I have to know a ridiculous amount of information about a couple to write a ceremony about them. I learn about rough parts of their pasts, beautifully quiet moments at home, and their hopes for the future. Most of this information doesn't get written into the ceremony, but I honestly never forget the notes I took about all of those details.⁠
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When that couple has a baby, moves across the world, or goes through something tragic, I'll be the first person (vendor) to pull up my notes, send a text or try to find a way to meetup. I hate one-time relationships, and I hope that all of the couples I've worked with know that I'll be there for anything I can (given I'm in their country). And that, that is absolutely the best part. ⁠
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Mary was my friend in college when we worked alongside one another, and it's such a blessing to have been a part of their wedding. Catching up with them every time they're in the states reminds me of why I do this, why I love this, why it's worth all of the difficult moments. ⁠
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Mary and Anthony, thank you for making the move to Brisbane soon so I can visit you easier. I'm definitely going to try that 17-hour direct flight from Chicago, if only to grab a beer with you both. ⁠
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#officiant #wedding #celebrant #weddingcelebrant #mspweddings #weddingofficiant #midwestwedding #midwestbride #mnwedding #mnbride #minnesotabride #weddingceremonyideas #weddingceremonyinspiration #ceremonyideas #mnweddingvenue #twincitiesbride #nycwedding #nycbride #aussiewedding #northernweddings #chicagowedding #chicagobride #manhattanwedding #mspwedding #ceremonyideas #destinationwedding #destinationbride #elopement #eloping #elopementideas

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Here to spice up your Monday with letting you know that today is National Cheese Lover's Day (NOT to be confused with National Cheese Day, which is in June). ⁠
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Don't like cake? Be like Laura and Alan and just have a cheese cake instead! Also not to be confused with cheesecake. ⁠
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Hope this gives some inspiration to all you engaged couples out there! And if you have a cheese cake at your wedding, can I be invited? 😂⁠
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Planning & Rental @wilder_weddings_france⁠
Catering⁠
@bonapp74⁠
Location Domain du Baron⁠
@montriond74110⁠
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#cheese #cheeseaddict #weddingsinmorzine #lovemorzine #montriond #montriondlake #lacmontriond #frenchwedding #frenchweddingplanner #destinationwedding #chicagobride #chicagowedding #destinationweddingphotographer #destinationweddingplanner #weddingofficiant #weddingcelebrant #bespokewedding #bespokeweddingceremony #gaywedding #destinationweddingofficiant #cheesecake #weddingcakeideas #intimatewedding #elopementwedding #microwedding #frenchcelebrant #frenchofficiant #pariswedding #parisbride #pariselopement

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Toni is joining all the way over in Paris!⁠
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I genuinely don't know where my life would be if I hadn't met Toni in Paris last year. I feel incredibly lucky to know her, and I'm not just saying that because I'm posting this on social media. Toni has overcome a lot of nonsense in her life and is one of the most inspiring people that I've met. Even though a lot of our conversations occur through Facebook Video (when I'm not in France) and usually focus on complaining about dating in France, she has inspired me to push myself in my writing and in business. ⁠
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Toni was born in California and spent much of her life traveling and/or living throughout the USA. So, it was no surprise that she followed her heart to one of the most romantic countries on the planet. ⁠
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She has been living in France for 8 years. Her first year was spent in the charming bucolic city of Bordeaux, with the scent of honeysuckle and warm crushed grapes filling the air. The past 7 years has found Toni being ever-inspired in the city of Paris with its ooh la la’s and warm croissants. ⁠
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If she is not comfortably set in front of some type of keyboard with an almond milk cappuccino writing her book or writing for your up-coming wedding you will find her butt in the gym… so she can eat all the carbs she wants. Carbs are life. She also likes to spend her free time learning new plant-based recipes, spending time with friends dancing the night away or singing in a café with some fellow musicians. ⁠
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#pariswedding #pariselopement #destinationwedding #destinationweddingparis #chicagobride #chicagowedding #destinationweddingphotographer #destinationweddingplanner #weddingofficiant #weddingcelebrant #parisofficiant #pariscelebrant #lovewins #engayged #weddingdress #bespokewedding #bespokeweddingceremony #gaywedding #destinationweddingofficiant #parisbride #weddinggoals #lgbtwedding #lgbtqwedding #filmphotography #weddingparty #intimatewedding #elopementwedding #microwedding #gayweddingideas #nycwedding⁠

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I really never, ever thought I'd be the person who would love Paris. I've traveled to Paris approximately 7-10 times before 2019, and not one single time did I ever get that, "I love it here!" feeling. ⁠
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Until 2019. ⁠
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When I traveled off the beaten paths of Paris - the streets tourists usually hate because the shop owners don't speak English and will despise you if you don't either - that's when I really fell in love. The dusty stores with used books from years past, the old French barman that screamed (in French) to me from the windows if I didn't buy coffee from him in the morning, being forced into a language I never expected to learn is what made me understand France on an entirely new level. ⁠
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So as I've enrolled in French at the University of Toronto, I don't think this comes at a better time than to say that we’ve got Paris on our list of cities that we offer services at. My good friend Toni will be working alongside me, ⁠
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When you book a wedding with us in Paris, we'll donate 10% to @centrelgbtparisidf. ⁠
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This is the first city we're fully offering service for outside the USA, and it brings us one step closer to helping us create an inclusive space for all engaged couples. For the first time in a very, very long time, I feel 100% like Liz Rae Weddings can make a massive impact on the world. ⁠
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#pariswedding #pariselopement #destinationwedding #destinationweddingparis #chicagobride #chicagowedding #destinationweddingphotographer #destinationweddingplanner #weddingofficiant #weddingcelebrant #parisofficiant #pariscelebrant #lovewins #engayged #weddingdress #bespokewedding #bespokeweddingceremony #gaywedding #destinationweddingofficiant #parisbride #weddinggoals #lgbtwedding #lgbtqwedding #filmphotography #weddingparty #intimatewedding #elopementwedding #microwedding #gayweddingideas #nycwedding⁠
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Hi, happy Wednesday. Are you following us over at @vowswelltraveled?⁠
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If not, you should. Because I've got something to share there next week - something that I really never, ever in my life expected to be doing, and I'll be you never guessed so either. 😏😏😏😏😏⁠
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In the meantime, enjoy this beautiful London shop view. 😍⁠
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#officiant #elopement #elopementphotographer #intimatewedding #destinationwedding #loveinternationally #belovedstories #europeanwedding #europewedding #radlovestories #wanderlust #realelopement #adventureelopement #adventurewedding #elopementlocation #weddinglocation #elopementplanning #elopementinspo #adventurouswedding #elopementinspiration #adventurouswedding #adventurouselopement #smallwedding #smallweddingplanner #smallweddingvenue #smallweddingideas #destinationwedding #marryabroad #londonwedding #londonbride

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