Big Sur Wedding Ceremony
Big Sur Wedding Ceremony
With Tara and Chris it was love at first sight, and not just for them, but for the three of us too! They hired me one the spot for their Big Sur wedding ceremony. Here's how the bride described it: “From the moment I found Naomi on WeddingWire, I knew she was the officiant for us. I showed her to Chris, and he immediately agreed. She was meant for us. Chris and I were both anxious and excited to have an in-person meeting with her to see if she would be a good fit for our ceremony. From the moment we sat down together, I felt such a strong connection. She has such a presence about her... she is honest and true, strong but gentle, and has a way of asking questions that makes you feel so comfortable telling her your life story.”
Chris and Tara have a way of adopting people, and making them feel warm and welcome. They certainly made me feel that way. They included me on their wedding signage, got me a corsage, and invited me to stay on for their wedding reception.
Early on in their ceremony, which took place at the Big Sur River Inn, I invited everyone to greet each other with a hug, hand shake or high five so that everyone could feel cohesive and connected as a community. Old friends reunited, new connections were established, and an environment of inclusivity and camaraderie was instantly created. I later told their particular hero/heroine journey, from how they met, got pregnant, had a baby, broke up, and got back together. I also shared about the loving, affectionate, respectful, and laughter-filled home they'd since created together.
Tara and Chris both agreed that the best thing they’s ever done was bringing their now 2 year old daughter Rose into this world, and so before they made their vows to one another, they made some special vows to Rose (who by the way really stole the show.)
To close the ceremony, I offered blessings to Tara and Chris and to their family. At their request, I included this excerpt from an Apache marriage blessing: “Treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves. When frustration, difficulty and fear assail your relationship – as they threaten all relationships at one time or another – remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong. In this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives – remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there. And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight.”
“Naomi was my beacon of peace on the wedding day. She showed up early, officiated a beautiful ceremony, and even stayed for a while after to congratulate us and love on us. There was not a single dry eye in the audience as Naomi told our love story. She was honest, she was loving, and she made sure to tell our REAL love story. There were times in our relationship where Chris and I stumbled. I appreciated that Naomi shared that with our loved ones, because no love story is perfect. There will always be difficult times and it meant so much that she showed how love always prevails. I will never ever forget Naomi and the amazing gift she gave us. Ceremonies are usually overlooked, but I know ours will be forever celebrated. Thank you Naomi for giving us such an amazing gift. I cannot wait for the day you get to bless a new addition to the Nishimoto famly! Thank you again!”
Photos by Maria Newman Photography.