I had this idea last year of #elopenotbroke. You see, I'm big on not going into debt for well, anything. And anything includes your wedding. Don't get me wrong I love a big wedding with all the fanfare and you can totally have that if you desire, but save and spend wisely and don't go into debt. Moreover, you can have a lovely small intimate wedding for much less an investment. 

There are so many great ways to host your wedding nowadays and so many labels for it, intimate wedding, micro wedding, elopement, small wedding, tiny wedding, you get the idea. 

The idea is that you can keep your guest count small - think 20 or less and still have amazing venue, food, music and flowers and not go broke or completely stress out over the idea of planning this big large wedding. 

I love the idea of small weddings so much that I've pivoted the focus of my business to just that...small weddings. 

My ceremonies can still include all the personal and lovely details you like. We can create a wedding ceremony that is filled with laughter, love and shines a light on your love story, or we can keep it simple and more streamlined. 

Whatever your desire for your wedding ceremony, I can meet it! 

A true elopement used to mean running away with your beloved to secretly get married. Today many couples have adapted the word to simply mean a quick small gathering to get married. Elopements usually are a stress free way to get married, you keep it simple as they are planned in a short time frame. 

Intimate weddings often have the same fanfare of a larger wedding, think DJ, floral, catering but on a smaller scale. 

Today we are allowed to have outdoor events of 100 or less and indoor events of 10 or less - these numbers also include your vendor and venue headcount as well. So, shifting to a smaller guest list is simply what we must do to continue to get married. 

I specialize in performing small, intimate and elopement ceremonies. I've been known to get a call today and perform a wedding the same day! You can make your small wedding whatever you like, wear your wedding dress or suite or keep it causal and wear your best summer outfit. Bring flowers, balloons and even a cake or don't, it's all okay in my eyes. 

Whatever the size of your wedding, the thing to remember is to keep your love the center of attention. Let your love for each other shine and lead the way. 

Email me today to discuss the best option for your wedding day. 

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Michigan Governor issued a clarification on 7.2.2020 to the guidelines for what is allowed for weddings. 

Here's the short version: 

Indoor wedding - you are allowed to have 10 people present and all must wear a mask
Outdoor wedding - you are allowed to have 100 people present 

Please remember your wedding vendors and professionals and the venue staff all count as people, we are present. So, the two of you plus me and we're up to 3, add on your two required witnesses and now we've got 5. 

I know it's jarring to think of only having 10 people present at your indoor wedding but hey, a few months ago you couldn't get a marriage license! 

If I participate in a wedding that does not follow the guidelines I can be fined or have my  credentials revoked. As this is my passion and my livelihood I must ask that each and every couple adhere to this state mandated Executive Order, 

Here is the exact wording from the Michigan.gov website; 

The most up-to-date guidance on these and other mitigation strategies is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus.
This matter is rapidly evolving and MDHHS may provide updated guidance.
Executive Order, 2020-110
Temporary restrictions on certain events, gatherings, and businesses - Rescission of Executive Orders 2020-69 and 2020-96
Q: What are the guest limits for weddings, receptions, or other social events held at a restaurant/banquet hall?

 
A: These events are subject to the limitations in sections 5 and 6 of Executive Order 2020-110, if the event takes place in Region 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7.  Accordingly, if the event is outdoors and among people not part of the same household, it may not exceed 100 people; if the event is indoors and among people not part of the same household, it may not exceed 10 people.  In all cases, people not part of the same household must maintain six feet of distance from one another during the event.
 
If the event takes place in Region 6 or 8, the event is subject to the limitations of section 7(a) of Executive Order 2020-115.  Accordingly, if the event is outdoors and among people not part of the same household, it may not exceed 250 people; if the event is indoors and among people not part of the same household, it may not exceed 50 people.  In all cases, people not part of the same household must maintain six feet of distance from one another during the event.
 
The separate capacity limits applicable to restaurants, food courts, cafes, coffeehouses, bars, taverns, brew pubs, breweries, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries, tasting rooms, special licensees, clubs, and like places do not allow for larger social gatherings or events to take place by reason of the fact that they are held at such venues. A central risk of a large social gathering or event is that the people who have congregated for that gathering or event will interact with one another over a long period of time. That same level of risk is not present among people who happen to be in the same establishment and are seated at different tables.

Hello my lovely wedding couples! Today I am writing to introduce you to one of the most efficient, stress free and beautiful ways to send your wedding invitations and thank you notes as well as build your wedding website, drum roll please....Basic Invite! 

Not only do I love Basic Invite, but I'm a customer, I recently ordered my son's high school open house invitation's from Basic Invite and I could not be more pleased to offer you a personal insight into their offerings. 

Let's dig in. Everyone knows a wedding website is where it's at, it's a one stop shop for your guests to gather information about your day, you as a couple and plan their stay for your wedding. Basic Invite offers free wedding website templates that are completely customizable! They're mobile friendly and super easy to use. You can instantly upload all of your wedding details, along with images, and a convenient map with directions for your guests. Choose from 180 custom colors, and a design suite to match your wedding invitations!

​Let's talk about their seal and send wedding invitations - these wedding invitations are an all-in-one wedding invitation with a tear-off RSVP postcard included! The Seal & Send is their newest collection and couples and LOVING them. Currently, they offer them in over 30 designs including the ever-popular foil options, and, like other products, they are customizable. What's special about the Seal & Sends is that guest's addresses are printed on the front of each invitation so no envelope is necessary! All you have to do is share a link, collect guest addresses, and upload them onto your design. Once you receive your order all you have to do is add postage, fold your invites, and secure them with a sticker! Simple and easy.

Rest assured Basic Invite has the perfect wedding invitation suite for you. They have over 900 wedding invitation sets to choose from . They have all the wedding stationery you need, like save the dates, wedding invitations, enclosure cards, wedding menus, wedding programs, and even personalized thank you cards!

Oh and one more little gem that I found personally amazing, Basic Invite, also offers to help send out your wedding invitations, they offer a free guest list - you can gather up all your addresses and input them into their address book or better yet...you can provide your wedding guests a link to directly input their own address for you! 

Guys, I'm telling you from my personal experience working with Basic Invite was a breeze, not only was I able to create a personalized invitation and use their link to gather all the addresses for my guests, I also chose to have them mail the invitations for me! My guests raved about the quality of the invitation and were so impressed. 

Leave your guests impressed from wedding website to thank you note, use Basic Invite! 

Where to find Basic Invite: Facebook.  Pinterest. Instagram. Twitter

Small wedding, intimate wedding, elopement, they all kind of mean the same thing nowadays...A gathering of your closest people you love, a short and sweet wedding ceremony and signing your license to make it legal. 

I have recommended some locations here as you will see I have 3 great outdoor locations that are free to use as they are public space. I also have listed a few venues that offer small wedding packages that are wonderful for a all in one...location and reception for your small wedding. I will go anywhere within the Holly, Fenton and Clarkston areas, so if you have a preferred location, let's use it! 

As long as you are flexible with the time of your ceremony I can usually accommodate any day. I often recommend a sunset weekday though as the outdoor locations surely are not as busy and the sunset will make for fantastic pictures. 

Speaking of pictures, any wedding needs to be captured! I have some great photographers to recommend, but if cost is tight, I suggest at least dedicating one of your guest to capture the day for you. 

For the ceremony, the wedding ceremony is sweet and simple under 10 minutes and includes exchanging vows and rings (if you like). 

My small wedding's typically do not have a wedding party (groomsmen, bridesmaids) as it's a less formal event. Should you wish to have a wedding party you absolutely can, just please be aware of arriving on time and organizing yourselves so we may begin on time. 

The day of your wedding I will arrive 15 minutes before our start time, I will meet with you to review the ceremony and collect the marriage license, I will then direct guests to take their place along with me. You are welcome to "walk down the aisle" or casually gather with us. We will perform the ceremony, once I pronounce you as married, you can greet your guests for congratulations and then we will sign the license. Remember you will need two witnesses to be over 18 as they must sign the marriage license with us. 

And there you have it, small, intimate, elopement weddings are simple and beautiful. 

Right now, things are changing, slowly and rapidly and as soon as I think I've got my wedding's rescheduled and figured out, a new wave of couples are contacting me to move dates and I support all of them. 

Sometimes when you choose that new wedding date you may find it difficult to locate a professional Officiant on short notice so you make the choice to ask a family member or friend to help you out, I support this to! It's how I got my start after all. But asking that special person to write a ceremony, or taking on the task of writing your own ceremony can create undo stress. That's where I come in and save the day. 

I can draft a wedding ceremony for you, we will discuss the details of your day and once drafted I will email the wedding ceremony to you for review, at that point we can do a phone call or exchange emails to continue to edit the wedding ceremony until it is perfect for you. 

On top of writing your wedding ceremony I offer a consultation with your new Officiant. I can walk them through becoming legally ordained in the state of Michigan and offer tips on how to best perform your wedding ceremony and how to sign the license. 

Performing a wedding ceremony is no simple feat, I always suggest hiring a professional to be with you on your day, but when that's simply not an option I am here to help. 

I've contacted my local county clerk offices and most are issuing marriage licenses by mail - each has their own process in placer so please call your clerk's office or visit their website for their specific directions. 

Michigan is currently under a stay at home order and we are only to leave for critical essential duties. That being said, if they are issuing licenses you will need someone to make it legal. 

I can do a very limited wedding "ceremony" at this time. Email me for details. 

It's difficult knowing that there are so many loving couples out there who simply want to be married and are just stuck in a holding pattern, left wondering and waiting. 

I am here with you, I'm standing with you also wondering when and where and what it will look like when were able to get back to the happy place of weddings again. 

I love talking about everything wedding and that has not changed. If you need to talk about your wedding day, if you just need to vent to talk about the loss of what has not happened or talk through how to postpone, how best to move forward I am here. You can contact me and we can talk it through, we can make a plan, we can cry together or just be quiet together. 

The thing is, we can do it together - whatever the it  is that you need right now. 

Nichole Bertucci 
nicholebert@gmail.com