Well OK, it was a great wedding weekend in Cincinnati. My first was at the Oasis Country Club and Conference Center in Loveland. Justin and Adrianne had a huge wedding party and the back drop was the 18th hole of the course. The weather was perfect, the Bride was stunning and her Groom was outstanding.

The second wedding was at Ault Park in Mt. Lookout. Again a great event with a very formal flair. Justin and Alison are both from the Anderson Township area and now live in Atlanta. They are such a handsome couple. They did a Unity Sand Ceremony that included a reading about the meaning of the ceremony. I have listed it below as well as a very nice reading called "Eskimo Love Song" Both very good readings that I highly recommend.

• 
  Sand Ceremony
  Alison and Justin, today you join your separate lives together. The two separate bottles of sand symbolize your separate lives, separate families and separate sets of friends. They represent all that you are and all that you'll ever be as an individual. They also represent your lives before today. As these two containers of sand are poured into the third container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one.
  Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be.
  



• 
  “Eskimo Love Song” Author Unknown
  You are my husband, you are my wifeMy feet shall run because of youMy feet dance because of youMy heart shall beat because of youMy eyes see because of youMy mind thinks because of youAnd I shall love because of you.

Good Luck and God Bless..........Rev. BB

Yesterday I performed the wedding of Joe and Melissa at the Country Club of the North in Beavercreek, Ohio. WHAT A GREAT PLACE!!! To start with the club is only about two years old and it is spectacular. It almost has an Art Deco Style with lots of natural finished wood and stone. Very elegant and every detail was attended to. The landscaping is perfect, the tables set with fine white bone china and the silver service was superb.

The ceremony was held in the rear of the club on a grassy knoll surrounded by perennial flowers and under the shade. The bride made her grand entrance from the side of the building which is about a 50 foot walk to the ceremony area. She was stunning in a flowing white gown with a vale of lace that was trailing behind her in the gentle breeze. The groom was dressed in formal black with a white brocade vest and tie and the look on his face when he saw his Bride for the first time included a smile that stretched from ear to ear.

The "I do's" said and the rings exchanged the Bride and Groom were off on a decorated golf cart to take some pictures on the 9th hole.

Good Luck and God Bless.... Rev. BB

Hello All,

I had a final meeting with a couple yesterday for their wedding in July. They had decided to have the Groom's Dad do a verse from the bible and the Bride's Grandmother is going to read something that was read at her wedding many years ago. I thought that was so cool that I could not wait to share it with you. I am not sure what the reading will include but it will probably make for some "teary eyed" folks in the group!

So again it is OK to do what ever you want in your ceremony, maybe a reading by a family member; this reading can be anything that you want. Words of a poem, words of a song, something written by a close friend or even have a close friend get up and share their words from the heart about the couple.

If I can help you with ideas please call me at 513-633-2352 or email me at doyouido@hotmail.com.

God Luck and God Bless...Rev. BB

Hello All,

Lets talk tonight about who I highly recommend to help with your wedding.

PHOTOGRAPHERS:

• Michael Bambino http://www.michaelbambino.com/



• Essenza Studio http://www.essenzastudio.com/



• Craycroft Studios http://www.craycroftstudios.com/

These are my top three that I have worked with. Each has their own wonderful tips of the trade that will make your day special.

VIDEO

• Butterfly Productions http://www.butterflyproductions.tv/
  

Mike has a way with the video that will make your day's memories last forever on a DVD.

OUTDOOR VENUES

• Drees Pavilion http://www.dreespavilion.com/



• Ault Park http://www.aultparkac.org/



• Alms Park http://dynamic.cinci-parks.org/cgi-bin/parks.cgi/park_desc?park_id=49



• Oasis Country Club http://www.oasisconferencecenter.com/meetings.htm



• Cincinnati Nature Center http://www.cincynature.org/index2.asp
  

These spots along with about twenty million others are great.

INDOOR VENUES

• Cincinnati Union Terminal http://www.cincymuseum.org/



• Syndicate in Newport http://www.newportsyndicate.com/splash.html



• Prima Vista http://www.pvista.com/



• Omni Netherland http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/CVGNPHF-Hilton-Cincinnati-Netherland-Plaza-Ohio/index.do



• Cincinnati Art Museum http://www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org/



• Bell Event Center http://www.belleventcentre.com/asp/index.asp
  

These are several that I have performed ceremonies in and they are the best.

Remember that you need to book early as some venues and vendors are full. I still have several dates available to perform your wedding so give us a call at 513-633-2352 to book a date or to get a recommendation on your vendors. I have worked with many, many people over the years and I would be happy to talk with you about any of them.

Good Luck and God Bless.... Rev. BB

Hello All, So lets get some ideas together for your ceremony. I have so many couples that ask what they are "allowed" to do and my answer is very simple, "Anything that you want to!"

The State of Ohio laws are very clear, you must have a valid marriage license and a registered wedding officiant to pronounce you husband and wife. The Commonwealth of Kentucky is the same but you must also have two witnesses.

So now we know the laws lets get to work on your wedding. The ceremony can include any things you want. Some wedding officiants have a "set" way to do things but my ministry is one that we will do what ever you want. The only things I do not like are large farm animals and big fires. Otherwise the sky is the limit.

Some things you may want to do:

• Unity Ceremony either candle or sand.


• Groom to walk his mom down the aisle.


• Roses presented to the families.


• Handfasting Ceremony.


• Sealing a wine bottle and glasses in a wooden box to be opened on your 25th wedding anniversary.


• Groom sing a song to his bride in the ceremony.


• Jump over a broom.


• Break glasses at the end.


• Sign the wedding certificate in the ceremony.


• Toast each other after the ring ceremony.


• If it is a blended family have the kids place their hands on the couples hand as they are pronounced husband and wife.

Be creative with your ceremony, enjoy the day because it is truly your day.

Good Luck and God Bless.....Rev. BB

Hello All,

No weddings this weekend but next is a great weekend wedding wise. I have a wedding at the Country Club of the North in Beavercreek. I have never been to this venue but it supposed to be a very nice place. The wedding will be in the gazebo next to the lake. I will give a full report after the wedding.

I also wanted to tell you that I am expanding my company to include wedding and event planning. So if you come across a friend or relative that is planning an event in the future give them my number. I can help a little or a lot with just some consultation all the way up to a hands on in all of the planning and execution of the event.

Good luck and God Bless........Rev. BB

Reverend Ben Brauer 513-633-2352

http://www.willowwoodweddings.com/

Hand Fasting Ceremony

From time to time I have couples ask me what is a Handfasting Ceremony? So I have posted the Handfasting Ceremony that I like to use. It, basically, is calling on all of the powers of the universe to bless the couple as they pledge their hearts to one another. I ask a series of questions - such as -"Will you promise love and comfort each other?" and after the couple replies with "We do" I drape a ribbon over their hands. After five or six questions with ribbons I tie all of the ribbons together as I pronounce them Husband and Wife. Take a look and maybe incorporate the ceremony into your wedding.

Good Luck and God Bless.......Rev. BB

Daniel and Debbie have chosen to incorporate the ancient ritual of Hand-fasting into their wedding ceremony today. Traditionally it was performed to invoke the energies of the four natural elements to create a sacred circle in which the couple are joined as embodiments of god and goddess. Handfasting is a very powerful declaration of intent, where bride and groom clearly state that they are marrying of their own free will.Daniel and Debbie, now before you go further, that since your lives have crossed in this life, you have formed eternal and sacred bonds.And as you enter this marriage, know that within this circle you are not only declaring your intent to be handfasted before your friends and family, but you speak that intent also to your creative higher powers.

Daniel and Debbie, I bid you look into each other's eyes.

*****Will you honor and respect one another, and seek to never break that honor?We will...[First cord is draped over the couples' hands]And so the first binding is made.

*****Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it?We will...[Second cord is draped over the couples' hands]And so the second binding is made.

*****Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this union?We will...[Third cord is draped over the couples' hands]And so the third binding is made.

*****Will you share each other's laughter, and look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other?We will...[Fourth cord is draped over the couples' hands]And so the fourth binding is made.

*****Will you share your warmth so that neither of you are cold?We will. [Fifth cord is draped over the couples' hands]And so the fifth binding is made.

*****Will you seek understanding and peace amongst you both at all times?(Sixth Cord is draped over the hands)We will and so the sixth binding is made.

TIE CORDS TOGETHER)Daniel and Debbie, as your hands are bound together now, so your lives and spirits are joined in a union of love and trust. Above you are the stars and below you is the earth. Like the stars your love should be a constant source of light, and like the earth, a firm foundation from which to grow.

Pronouncement: Dan and Debbie - By the power vested in me by the great State of Ohio I now pronounce that you are Husband and Wife.

Mr and Mrs Daniel

You may kiss your bride

Hello All,

Well here we go! What a weekend for weddings. I performed four ceremonies this week end at locations from down town to Hyde Park.

The first was on Friday night at The Omni Netherland Hotel in the Continental Room. This hotel is so opulent and over the top in class and decorations. There is none better. Michael and Christie actually live in Australia but, Christie is from Ohio originally so Cincinnati was selected as the spot for the wedding. It was very classy, very formal and very nice.

The second wedding was Saturday at 1:30 in the afternoon at McFarlin Woods which is part of the Mt. Airy Park area. It was held in the Maple Ridge Lodge which is a rustic type lodge that was a perfect background for the simple nature oriented ceremony that the Bride and Groom had requested.

The third wedding was at the home of a close friend whose daughter and new Son-In-Law were married by me. Heather and Cris make a cute couple. Jimmy and Missy, the Dad and Mom, held the wedding their back yard under a white gazebo decorated with white tool cloth. After the ceremony we were all under the big tent sitting at the tables and Mother Nature opened up the sky with rain and hale. But not to worry the food and guests all moved indoors and a great time was had by all.

My fourth wedding was back at Ault Park on the patio. Brady and Jayme's wedding was outdoors and after the rain it had cooled off and there was a fabulous breeze. This couple were very easy to work with and wanted to include nature into their ceremony as well. I loved the Groom's expression when I pronounced that they were husband wife - you could see that he was genuinely happy!

Good luck and God Bless.... Rev. BB