Minister Michael, Wedding Officiant

09/05/2024

Thanks to everyone that shared my post from yesterday regarding Alisha Mena being missing. My friend's wife just tweeted out that Alisha was found this morning deceased.

08/05/2024

Hey friends in the Utah County/Provo area. This is a family member of a friend of mine. If you have any information or even think you might have seen her at some point, please contact Provo City Police with anything you might have.

13/04/2024

If this isn't true:

Her: Where do you want to eat?
Him: I don’t care, you pick.
Her: ….
Him: Do you want me to care?
Her: Yes
Him: Okay, let’s go to Cafe Rio
Her: ….okay
Him: What?
Her: I really wanted Apollo Burger
Him: Okay let’s go to Apollo Burger
Her: Are you sure that’s okay?
Him: Yeah, it is
Her: But you *said* you wanted to go to Cafe Rio
Him: Cafe Rio is good but Apollo Burger is too
Her: So you really *do* want to go to Cafe Rio
Him: No, Apollo Burger sounds really good
Her: You're just saying that, you really don't mean it.

28/08/2023

One of the things that is non-negotiable when I officiate a wedding is that there *will* be a Mr. Rogers quote in the ceremony somewhere. One of the most popular is one where he was accepting a daytime Emmy. I admit, I do paraphrase it. And I don't intentionally do it but most couples have told me that I slip into a Fred Rogers voice. Here's my paraphrase that I use if the couple wants it.

So many people have helped you to come to this place. Some of them are here. Some are far away. Some are no longer with us. All of us have special ones who have loved us into being.

Would the two of you - no, would everyone - in the audience just take along with me 10 seconds to think of the people who have helped you become who you are - those who have cared about you and wanted what was best for you in life?

::PAUSE::

Whomever you've been thinking about -- how pleased they must be to know the difference you feel they've made.

27/03/2023

Hi all,

Just a quick note to let people know that I am no longer scheduling ceremonies in Utah going forward. We are relocating to the Valley of the Sun. I look forward to re-establishing my services there when the dust settles from moving. Whenever that may be.

Thank you to the brides and grooms that have made me a part of your day.

Michael

08/01/2023

Did a quick elopement in Park City today. Wilhelmina and Stuart who a month or so ago decided to add their wedding into their ski trip to Utah. Since they know no one here to be witnesses we offered to provide them. Well, we contacted some of the people we have had witness in the past and no one was available. So on to Plan B.

The original venue they wanted was going to be the big white barn on the way into town but the road to it isn't maintained in the winter other than the hiking trail. So we decided on the Miners' Hospital. We asked a couple in the parking lot if they would be witnesses and did the ceremony in the parking lot.

Congratulations to the couple and thank you, Alex & Anjali Padikken visiting from Tampa for your time and celebrating the happy couple's special day. And the snowman too.

28/09/2022

It's been a pretty busy summer with weddings, becoming a grandparent looming and a whole bunch of things going on, including Covid last week. Luckily it was a very mild case that only lasted a couple of days. I realized yesterday that I haven't really written anything in quite a while, and I intend to take the next few days to correct that.

Most everyone in the bridal party has designated roles. But there's always one person that you have to decide how to get down the aisle. The mother of the bride. Your bride's dad's role is extremely defined. But mom? That's another question. The old tradition is for the best man to walk mom in after the groom's parents, then leave, and come back with the Maid of Honor and that's OK. The bride's mother can also be walked in by a family member or can walk in by herself but here's an idea I really like. I think it reinforces that two families are becoming one. Quick disclaimer: the families have to get along and, let's face it, that doesn't always happen. But here we go.

I'm not going to claim that a lot of what I write is original. I'm the first to admit that I steal ideas from couples all of the time, so I'll give Alex & Micheala credit for this. Here is how their walk proceeded.

Alex walked his mother down the aisle, gave her a quick kiss at the altar and escorted her to her seat. Then he took his position at the altar.
The Best Man and Maid of Honor walked down the aisle.
The attendants walked after that.
Typical, so far. Then here's what I think is cool. Alex's father walked Micheala's mother down the aisle just ahead of Micheala and her dad. They said a couple of words to each other at the altar then took their seats.

Obviously, Micheala and her dad stole the day. And the old cowboy that said he wasn't going to cry did. But the one thing that I loved was Alex's dad and Micheala's mom walking together. It was the perfect symbolism of joining two families as one.

Will this work for your wedding? Maybe, maybe not. But it's certainly worth considering.

14/08/2022

Tonight, I had an opportunity to unite these two people as a married couple. And I know that there are some friends that are going to like this, and I know that there are some that won't. And we're still all friends every bit as much as we were before.

Two absolutely brilliant people. Dan, on the left is just finishing his residency in Neurology and Jack on the right who is a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force who can only say that he is a "Linguist". It was interesting that Dan's family said that Jack's Chinese is nearly perfect. Then Jack's father tells me that Jack doesn't just speak Chinese, He speaks 7 languages fluently, around double that conversationally. There's more to Dan that he asked me not to share but I can say that I love the path he wants to take in his practice. I don't think he'd mind if I ask the question, is diabetes an issue of the pancreas or is it an issue with the brain? As many of you know, both of my parents died of complications of diabetes.

It was an amazing ceremony; both had their sisters as their attendants and if you've never considered Tracy Aviary for your venue, definitely do it. We were in the Chase Mill amphitheater just on the chance we had to move into the mill if there was rain, but it held off.
https://tracyaviary.org/blog/the-chase-mill

04/08/2022

Also, I have to say that it was a pleasure working with Lou King from Off Road Studios. They may not have been in the area for long, but they know their stuff. I let Aneese know about the basics of the process of filing the license (which I do as a courtesy), and Lou took right over talking about all of the different places that will need a *certified* copy of your license. A very knowledgeable and impressive photographer. Looking forward to sharing some of her work in a couple of weeks.

17/07/2022

Glad to be able to step in to help this couple out, Jason & Sayde. Not a lot of fun being in the sun in a black suit in 100+ degree temperatures and 40% humidity. (Yes, Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana family, that's high for us that are normally around 15%) Jason is a USAF C-130 mechanic. It would have been fun to have him wear his uniform but he chose not to as they are apparently not the most comfortable thing to wear when it's hot.

I think it's the glare on my glasses that makes it look like my eyes are closed. It's hard to believe that every shot Cris took has my eyes closed in it.

06/07/2022

Not a lot of traffic but a fun evening at the Memorial House Wedding Vendor open house in Memory Grove. Really enjoyed and am looking forward to working with Eden and West Events. Thanks for sprucing up our table with some fresh greenery, White Fox Floral. Your display was very nicely done.

22/05/2022

Another fun day at a new to me venue. The absolutely beautiful Grand Victorian. It was my pleasure to be a part of Ashley and John's special day. If you're looking for a wedding or event venue in the Layton area, I *definitely* recommend that you talk with Melissa and her staff at the Grand Victorian.

02/05/2022

21/04/2022

I've been privileged to do ceremonies in a lot of beautiful places. Palmer Barn, Louland Falls, Millcreek Inn, White Memorial, First Baptist, the St. George Elk's lodge, homes and backyards here and there including ours. It's always a wonderful day when two people pledge their lives to each other.

That being said, I don't know that there is a more beautifu setting than the Utah State Capitol buiding. Yes, you have to work with the Office of Capitol Preservation but they are amazing to work with. Thanks, Jillise and Reagan. These two crazies decided to get married on a Sunday, called me on Monday and we did the ceremony on Wednesday. Their photographer was one witness, Reagan's best friend was the other.

Eclipsed Lindsey & Eldon's wedding as the smallest ever. Lindsey and Eldon had nine, ten if you count the guy walking through the park that decided to sit down and watch. This one was Cris, me, the bride & groom, the groom's friend and the photographer. We needed somewhere to sign the license so we borrowed Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson's office which is temporarily under construction.

21/03/2022

It's been an interesting week behind the altar this week and a day. Maria and Randy on the 12th at the U of U Alumni House. Maria's 9 bridesmaids made sure that the walk was almost as long as the rest of the ceremony. I had to glance to the right and count bridesmaids to make sure I had everyone stand at the right time.

Then, on Wednesday, a couple who gave the OK to use their picture but not their names until they can tell a few more people about their elopement. Talk about a whirlwind. They decided to get married on the 13th, called me on Monday the 14th and eloped to a ceremony at the Utah State Capital on Wednesday. Speaking of which, the capitol is an amazing venue. Whether the Hall of Governors or the rotunda where we were, it's an amazing venue. Big, big thanks to Mike Mower from Governor Spencer Cox's office for his help.

Then today, Kervi and Abdarahim. Had I known what we were in for, I probably would have done the ceremony in trade for the food. Kervi, her sister, mom and aunt are all from Peru. Abdarahim is Morroccan, then throw in Kervi's dad Cedric who's South African and - well - you can only imagine. Big thanks to Kervi's sister and brother-in-law for hosting the wedding at their house after snow made their outdoor wedding not feasible.

Saturday Night Live may have its "Five-Time Host" club. Two of the three brides now join the "Five-Names Club". Maria Concepcion Irazu Chap-Quintana and Kervi Kasura Coquinche Salas Rahouch.

17/03/2022

Wow, incredible day yesterday with Jillise and Regan who eloped to the Utah State Capitol. An amazing venue with tons of natural light.

15/03/2022

I often kiddingly refer to whatever wedding venue I'm working at as "my office". Well, look where my office is going to be tomorrow. Thanks to a couple of friends who shall remain nameless for helping pull this off on short notice.

12/02/2022

Took some time off but totally thrilled to be back at the altar for , the wedding of Maria & Randy!

19/12/2021

Since I started doing weddings years ago, I've thought it would be cool to do a ceremony at White Memorial Chapel just across the street from the Capitol. I got that chance today thanks to Mel & Dylan. Congratulations to them and also, again, no structural damage or fire at the venue.

06/11/2021

What a wonderful day. I hadn't officiated a religious ceremony in quite some time. Thanks to Ashley & AJ for letting me be a part of their day. And also, so glad to work with Dennis McCracken, the wedding coordinator and church administrator at First Baptist Church. Having Dennis's 40 years of planning and coordination experience made the day so easy. Great venue!

25/10/2021

The look on Heather's face and that beautiful smile reminded me why we - and despite her denials, Cris is a part of this - do this. Heather hasn't had the easiest road to her day. She gave me the OK to say that much. If you look at her smile... That's all you need to know.

24/10/2021

Another one in the books! THANK YOU to Heather and Austin for letting me be part of your day. And thanks to Morgan Palmer and Palmer Barn for some amazing planning & coordinating.