Creative Commitment Ceremonies now serves Chicagoland

Wedding Officiant & Licensed Minister, Molly Lyons, has recently relocated to Evanston, IL and now serves the greater Chicagoland area for unique wedding ceremonies.
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Creative Wedding Invitation!

I encourage you to be creative in all you do to express your pending nuptials.
Here is one cool way:
Dinner and Dancing and Eternity to follow: the best wedding invitation ever.

Real Brides' Worst Wedding Guest Stories

From "funny" pranks gone really wrong, to frisky bridal party members, to parents verbally inviting everyone they know, real-life brides reveal some of the worst guest behaviors they've ever encountered.

By Tia Albright

It goes without saying: A wedding is a special time, but it's the family, friends, and crazy occurrences that can make it even more memorable ... not always for the better! Check out these horror stories from brides on TheKnot.com. We've left off the names to protect the innocent (and the guilty).

"My fiance's family loves to pull pranks. At his aunt's wedding, all of the guys rigged the getaway car so that every time the groom hit the brakes, the horn would beep. Unfortunately, they damaged the brake line. As the bride and groom were driving away from the reception, they couldn't brake and crashed the car."

"My mother-in-law (who isn't contributing to the wedding) photocopied our save-the-dates and sent them out to a few people not on the invite list."

"During the tribute section of our video, a married couple in our wedding party said, 'We're glad we could be here for your wedding day. We'll be there for you when you get divorced.' We don't believe they were kidding and haven't spoken to them since."

"One of our groomsmen dropped out two weeks before our wedding to attend a family reunion — the same guy that said he was glad he had an excuse to miss the reunion when we asked him to be in the wedding. I spent three days covering up his name on the programs."

"My father verbally invited six of his friends that are currently (and will remain) on our B-list."

"One of the bridesmaids took off with a groomsman and proceeded to get frisky in the bridal suite. In the midst of their fun, they accidentally knocked over a candle and ended up setting the curtains on fire."

"The judge that married us called my husband by the wrong name at least three times!"

"When I got married, one of my husband's friends grabbed a disposable camera off of a table and took explicit photos of him and his girlfriend in the bathroom during the reception. My mom was shocked when she got all of the pictures printed for us as a gift."

"Our 11- and 12-year-old junior bridesmaids made off with an expensive bottle of champagne, hid in the bathroom, and got trashed."

"One of our guests brought a guy who my husband and I can't stand (we went to high school with him). He got really drunk and inappropriately grabbed my husband's aunt. All hell broke loose at that point because my mother-in-law went over and slapped him."

"My husband was in a wedding last year where the bride got trashed, did a little dance on the altar, spilled a rum and Coke down her dress, and did a face-plant on the dance floor. It was memorable ... but not in a good way."

"My aunt and my mother's boyfriend got into a fight at the reception, and they both stormed off, leaving us stranded (my mom's boyfriend was supposed to take us home after the wedding)."

© 2009 The Knot Inc. All rights reserved.

Wedding Disasters - Let's have a laugh everyone!

MSNBC.com
Oh no! 13 wedding disasters that really happened! Could anyone imagine that bridal bliss could turn as sour as these nuptial tales gone awry? Wrecked dresses, arrested grooms and massive brawls, oh my!

Many women spend their entire lifetimes dreaming about their wedding day. But could anyone ever imagine that bridal bliss could turn this sour?

We’ve found tales of women vomiting onto their wedding dresses, being catapulted out of horse-drawn carriages, swallowing their engagement rings and tangling with the police. One bride even got hauled off to jail and had her mug shot taken — in her wedding gown.

Here are 13 — that’s right, 13 — eye-popping tales of nuptials gone awry.

Now that's a mug shot
And yes, the person in the mug shot is wearing a wedding dress. Meet Adrienne Samen, a Connecticut bride who had quite the wedding night back in August 2003.
Several things went wrong: First, she apparently got intoxicated. Second, she yelled obscenities and threw cake and vases at her new husband. Third, witnesses told police that she “flipped out” when the bar at the reception stopped serving drinks for the night.
And then there was the obscene gesture at the police, the attempt to bite an officer who put her in the back of a police car and the moment when she kicked a police-car window out of its track.
Charges: breach of peace and criminal mischief. Fine: $90.

Get me off this island!
Like many couples, British citizens Simmone Edwards and Samuel Hibberd thought a destination wedding in the Dominican Republic would be romantic and memorable. But because the couple had been given incorrect information about the Dominican Republic’s wedding waiting period, they had no choice but to wed three days earlier than planned without any of their guests present.
Then on the day of the reception, the bride, groom and many guests got food poisoning. “I was so ill ... that I vomited outside the restaurant where we were eating three times and almost fainted,” the bride told the UK’s Evening Post. “It completely ruined what was supposed to be the best day of my life.”

Horse ran roughshod over her big day
Sophie Clarke, 29, of England spent three years planning a fairy-tale wedding that included a $3,000 dress, handmade invitations and a horse-drawn carriage. But during the carriage ride to the church with her father, Clarke almost lost her life.
The horse got spooked and bolted, throwing the driver and his assistant from the carriage and leaving no one at the helm. As the horse sped into the pathway of an oncoming truck, Clarke’s father pushed his daughter from the carriage and jumped out after her. Clarke was left badly injured with a concussion and covered with blood.
In January, six weeks after the accident, she eventually married her fiancé in a much more intimate ceremony. “I had a life-changing experience,” Clarke told the Daily Mail. “It put into perspective for me that all of the fancy things, the posh invites and parties are not important. The only important thing is becoming Karl’s wife.”

What happened to my dress?!
Fay McCahill had a lovely wedding in Cyprus last year, and then planned to throw a reception for all the friends and family members who weren’t able to attend after she returned home to England.
She brought her dress to the dry cleaners to have it freshened up before the reception. When she went to pick it up, she said she was horrified to find a large hole “you could put your finger through” in the beaded bodice.
“They’ve ruined the dress for me,” McCahill told the Bristol Evening Post. “They didn’t even clean it properly — it was all muddied at the bottom. It was beautiful — strapless with a corset top with ruched detailing.”

Gimme those conga drums
Fabiana Reyes and her husband, Elmo Jesus Fernandez, thought it would be nice to renew their wedding vows last year — in a church this time, since they didn’t have a church wedding the first time around.
Everything went fine until the reception, when the band stopped playing to give the DJ a turn. Reyes got so frustrated that she “knocked over and damaged the band’s conga drums valued at $600, a speaker valued at $350 and other equipment,” according to the New York newspaper The Journal News. A fight ultimately erupted between police and Reyes, her husband and their 21-year-old daughter. All three family members went to jail.

You may not touch the bride
Sure, the bride and the groom had endured their share of troubles. They had even been married once before, and she had once gotten an order of protection against him. But should that really stand in the way of their second wedding?
Well, when the pair tried to tie the knot in New York last summer, groom Timothy Cole was arrested and charged with first-degree criminal contempt for being too close to the bride. The arrest probably wouldn’t have happened if Cole hadn’t quarreled with one of the wedding guests. When police arrived, they recognized Cole from his previous arrests and his past clashes with the bride.

Massive brawl wrecks lesbian wedding
When firefighter Vanessa Mayo married her partner, Gail Hines, at a civil partnership ceremony in England in 2006, she never imagined that the reception would turn so violent.
A male relative made a comment that got the people around him all riled up, and within minutes, about 20 guests were embroiled in a full-on melee. Mayo wound up with a black eye, and the reception abruptly came to a halt. She left sobbing as she headed off for her honeymoon in Turkey.

Wedding wasn't 'real'?
Irish pop star Brian McFadden and former Atomic Kitten member Kerry Katona married in 2004, stayed together for 2 1/2 years and had two children together. Sounds pretty serious, right?
After the fact, McFadden shared these details with British publication Reveal: “It wasn’t a real wedding. We were getting married to have a big party and get loads of money for it and to appear showbiz.”
He added that he and Katona didn’t spend their wedding night together, and they were mostly excited about having the event covered by Hello! magazine.

One of Hollywood's shortest marriages
Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds had a lavish — and non-legally binding — wedding ceremony on a French Polynesian island on New Year’s Day in 2008. The ceremony, part of a multiday occasion rumored to have cost $500,000, happened at sunset and was the stuff of fairy tales.
A mere 14 days later, the couple split. Rocky relations between Edmonds and Murphy’s mom were said to have contributed to the speedy breakup.

Gulp! I swallowed the ring!
Reed Harris put a lot of thought into how he would pop the question to the love of his life, Kaitlin Whipple. In the end, he decided to hide the engagement ring in a Wendy’s Frosty milk shake and let her discover it.
She reached the end of the milk shake, and — uh-oh. No ring. It took an X-ray to make Whipple believe Harris’ urgent story about what had happened. Once Whipple was in possession of the X-ray image of the ring inside her, Harris dropped to one knee and proposed.
Yes, Whipple did manage to retrieve the ring, clean it and wear it.

What would you do if you learned your fiance was cheating?
How about if you received this news mere weeks before your elaborately planned wedding day?
Here’s what Kyle Paxman decided to do: She went ahead with her Vermont reception anyway and turned it into a charity benefit to honor strong women. Money raised from the 2006 event went to the Vermont Children’s Aid Society and CARE USA.
Yay, Kyle!
Kyle Paxman (right) and her mother, Patricia Carbee.

A proposal to remember
Don Walling wanted to propose to Gina Pellicani in one of the most memorable settings imaginable: on the pedestrian walkway above the Brooklyn Bridge, with a sweeping view of New York before them.
Walling took Pellicani to the perfect spot earlier this year for the big moment. “I got on a knee, said, ‘Will you marry me?’ opened the box, and it flew out,” Walling told TODAY.
He watched the ring fall to the roadway below, and then he acted fast by climbing down the bridge’s superstructure. This sparked a suicide-jumper alert, but he managed to make police believe that he had no plans to jump.
After all that, he did retrieve the ring.

Those stone crabs can really get you
Mary McPhail of Ohio has one of those legendary wedding-day horror stories.
"We had our rehearsal dinner at the restaurant where my husband and I met, and as a surprise gift, they gave us this big, beautiful tray of stone crabs,” McPhail told LifeWire. “The next day, I had a very upset stomach but just attributed it to nerves.”
It turned out that she had food poisoning. At some point during her lengthy ceremony, she clamped her hand over her mouth. The priest quickly wound things up and sent the couple back up the aisle.
“We got to the back of the church and I just lost it all over my gown,” McPhail recalled. “It was a really small wedding, and everybody knew. I was mortified, but it was the highlight of everyone’s day.”

By Laura Coffey, TODAY contributor
Updated: 4:33 p.m. ET May 20, 2009© 2009 MSNBC.com
URL: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/30847787/?GT1=43001&pg=14#Today_WeddingDisasters

Tis the Season: Planning An Outdoor Wedding

Whether you're planning a backyard bash at your parent's house, your local park or a picturesque setting by a lake or river - remember it's more complicated to host a wedding outdoors.Here are some things to keep in mind...
• Before anything - figure out the best time to wed. It's pretty rainy here till mid-July sometimes - and then it can be blistering hot! We have the luxury of a beautiful fall season - just keep in mind those home football games that might conflict with schedules of your bridal party.
• Put a tent in your budget and keep in mind fans, air conditioning or heat lamps cost extra, as do sidewalls and lighting.
• If you're in a backyard, several months before the wedding, have the yard evaluated. You may need a landscaper to fill in uneven ground and plant grass seed or lay sod.
• Meet with your Wedding Coordinator to go over the best places for an aisle - which you can create with rose petals, potted plants or large stones.
• Think of where you want to say your vows…perhaps a terrace, a majestic tree or mom's prize rosebushes. Let your florist know where you are getting married and supply them with photos - they will have suggestions of what you can use from wedding to reception.
• Don’t forget to inform neighbors ahead of time about your event, ask the police about any noise ordinances or curfews. Remember neighbors can be guests too… unless you want them mowing the lawn during the ceremony!
• Look into a local hotel to hold your guests. Your parents house can hold only so many people and it’s best to have extra space so you don’t feel overwhelmed.
• Don’t let anyone that comes to the house early park in the driveway – keep that area clear for deliveries.
• Hire a professional valet service (remember “Father of the Bride”?)
• Find out when trash day is and call them to find out about special pick-ups.
• If you’re in someone’s backyard, think about how guests will access the yard without traipsing through the home.
• Don’t block the street – depending upon the neighborhood, you may need a special permit from the local police precinct or city/county office to allow so many cars to park on the street. Consider having guests park at a local school or community center and hire a shuttle service.
• Remember those pesky bugs (mosquitoes love dusk) and if you're by water, they can reak havoc - so plan ahead with hidden bee traps, keep the food close to the house or facility so the catering staff can keep on top of keeping them away.
• Allergies - pollen peaks in early Spring and late Summer.
• Suggested list of "must haves" for a backyard wedding - tables, chairs, linens (that drop to the ground to cover the legs), portable restrooms if there's only one or two on-site, dance floor, generator, speakers, lighting, microphones, a tent.
• If you're working with a facility with an outdoor space - check to see which items they have on-site and which ones need to be rented.
• Ask your caterer for suggestions with the warm weather. Remember that cold, crisp food works well, but try to stay away from anything in heavy cream, mayonnaise dressing, cheese displays, heavy or braised meats or cake frosted in buttercream.

Biggest Wedding Regrets

Brides reveal their 'shoulda, coulda, woulda' moments.

By Charli Penn

What bride doesn't want her wedding day to go exactly as she planned with a minimal amount of drama? The truth is you can plan your heart out, but things may not always work the way you hoped they would. We asked newly married brides to be up-front and honest about their biggest preparation regrets so others could learn from their mistakes. Here's what they had to say.

About Receptions
"I would not have combined a chocolate fountain at our wedding reception with six flower girls. Thank goodness for Shout Wipes -- they were the only thing that managed to save my dress."
Tip: Even if you aren't having small children or messy foods at your reception, pack a bridal emergency kit. Items like aspirin, clear nail polish (for stocking runs), and a miniature sewing kit are musts. If you're worried you'll forget it, ask your maid of honor to be in charge of gathering the little things you might need.

"I would have ordered three times more shrimp. My brothers-in-law and a few of the other guests thought we were offering an all-you-can-eat shrimp buffet."
Tip: After sitting through the ceremony and waiting for the wedding party to arrive, many guests will work up an appetite. Beautifully prepared appetizers may not always be the most filling. If you have big eaters on the guest list, you may want to add to your food budget or plan a meal with lots of options, especially if you're having an evening reception. At dinnertime, guests expect dinner-sized portions.

"I would have driven the route to the reception myself instead of just going by an online map. A lot of people got really lost on the way, and I'm still hearing about it to this day."
Tip: If your ceremony and reception sites are not the same, include directions in the invitations. Don't rely on online resources because there can be glitches. If guests get lost and frustrated, it's likely to show in your photos. Map the route yourself and then have a family member on hand with a cell phone for anyone who's lost and may need clarification.

About Being the Bride
"I would have lost weight. After all, I had the time and the equipment."
Tip: If you're gown shopping and you're not thrilled with the figure you see in the mirror, it's the perfect indication that you might want to begin a pre-wedding workout routine. While you don't have to lose weight to be a beautiful bride, it's important you feel comfortable and at your best that day. You'll love your pictures so much more if you're not obsessed with the little flaws. Most weddings are at least a year away, which gives you plenty of time to improve on body issues.

"I would have searched the dress shop on the Internet before putting down a deposit. When I went to the designer's website and found two stores in my area, I should have checked on them both. The Better Business Bureau would have shown me the complaints made against the one I chose."
Tip: When you're spending major cash at a bridal salon, check references. Impulsive purchases very often don't work out well when it comes to wedding planning.

"I would have taken pictures of my bustle at my final dress fitting. When I was 'bustling up' before the reception, we couldn't quite figure out how to get it right."
Tip: Arranging the bustle is indeed a not-so-easy task. Bring a member of your bridal party with you to the bridal salon when you go for your last fitting. She can learn precisely what needs to be done for the wedding.

"I would not have worn those ghastly fake eyelashes. They work on some people, but I'm not one of them."
Tip: Try out new beauty products a few times before the wedding day. It's better to know how they work and what you can expect.

About the Wedding Party
"I wouldn't have worried about what everyone was wearing. Instead, I would have given the maids and moms a swatch of fabric and said, 'Don't clash with this.' I'm glad they chose their own dresses, but having to coordinate colors between three different designers was more stress than I needed."
Tip: Always remember that when dealing with bridesmaid attire, being flexible comes with a price. Allowing the ladies to pick something that works for them won't always work for you. If you insist they have options, find a designer that offers multiple dress styles in the same color: You won't have nightmares about clashing colors, and they'll get a style in which they feel comfortable.

"I wouldn't have jumped so quickly to choose my bridal party. I would have taken more time and given it more thought since I hurt quite a few people in the process. I realize now that out of sheer excitement, I hastily selected the people who were closest to me at that time, neglecting the people that were with me for many years before."
Tip: When it comes to picking your bridal party members, give it some time before you contact anyone. There may be conflicts between who you'd like to ask and who expects you to ask them. You'll want to identify those problems before you make any announcements. In most cases, it's inevitable that you'll have to do some damage control, but you'll most likely feel better if you ask after having thought long and hard about your choices.

About the Planning
"We wouldn't have done DIY invitations. The amount of money we saved just wasn't worth the time it took us to make them."
Tip: It's important to understand the nature of the projects that you're taking on before you or your loved ones commit to something you ultimately just won't want to finish.

"I would have hired a day-of coordinator. It got irritating when people would ask questions like, 'Where should I put the extra programs?' after the ceremony."
Tip: The one thing most brides don't get on their wedding day is a break. If you want to enjoy individual moments more and deal with questions and disasters less, hiring day-of help should be a high priority on your to-do list. The quality time you'll gain is well worth the fee.

Photo: Meghan Doll Photography

© 2008 The Knot Inc. All rights reserved.

Wedding Anxiety Overwhelming You? Here are some tips to get you through this...

· First, take a deep breath. Then create a "wedding space" where you can keep everything in one area that makes you feel great about the person you are going to marry and the wedding you are planning.

· Take time out to do something at least once a week that is NOT wedding related - this will help keep you sane, believe it or not.

· Create a wedding "to do" timeline which will help you prioritize what needs to get done when.

· Deciding what is most important in your planning will help keep you flexible when those tough decisions have to be made.

· Organize your thoughts into a Wedding Organizer/Planner - filled with checklists, timelines, helpful hints, places to hold fabric swatches, etc.

· Hire a professional Wedding Consultant/Planner. It may seem like more money in the beginning, but they can save you not only time AND money - but your sanity too.