Maureen Thomson

Slip Up's That Can Spoil Your Wedding Ceremony - The Musician Plays at the Wrong Times

by Maureen Thomson Picture this. The music starts. The officiant has everyone stand. Exactly on cue, you glide down the aisle on your father's arm. Your hair and makeup are stunning, your bouquet held at a perfect angle. You reach the front, kiss Dad g... Read >

Planning The Elopement Ceremony

by Maureen Thomson An elopement ceremony doesn't take much planning. Still, there are a few things to consider so your simple and romantic wedding celebration stays that way. Be selective in your choice of a location. You've chosen to have an intimate... Read >

Are You a Cheap or Frugal Bride?

by Maureen Thomson Quick! What's the difference between being frugal and being cheap? One who is frugal looks for the best value for their money. One who is cheap will consider paying only the rock-bottom price for anything, regardless of the qualit... Read >

10 Tips For a Memorable Ceremony

by Maureen Thomson Many brides are reluctant to follow through on their secret desire to elope, for fear of regretting it later. However, I've never talked to one bride who actually eloped who wished she did it any differently (unless, of course, the c... Read >

Slip Up's That Can Spoil Your Wedding Ceremony - The Fidgety Flower Girl

By Maureen Thomson Let's face it, the only reason we have little kids in our ceremonies is for the cute affect. Three year old Lilly Mae doesn't even know why she's being asked to prance down the aisle tossing flower petals on the ground and the adorab... Read >

A Dozen Signs That Your Future Marriage May Be (No--Definitely Is) Doomed

by Maureen Thomson of Lyssabeth's Wedding Officiants WARNING! The following is an intervention directed at you. Yes--YOU! You with the bridal magazine in your hands. If more than one of the following applies, then you might want to rethink your upcomin... Read >

The Grinch's Guide to Wedding Planning

by Maureen Thomson of Lyssabeth's Wedding Officiants “And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow, Stood puzzling and puzzling: ‘How could it be so? It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!’ ... Read >

The Art of "No"

by Maureen Thomson of Lyssabeth's Wedding Officiants I chose to tell a family member "no" this week. I felt we had to, for this person (as much as we adore her) requested of me something that--after much soul-searching and introspection--I felt we coul... Read >

Plan Your Wedding As If It Were a Shotgun Affair

by Maureen Thomson of Lyssabeth's Wedding Officiants So, I’ve been thinking about Shotgun Weddings. Do they even call them that anymore? In spite of how many couples are postponing marriage until after they have kids, there is still a significant numbe... Read >

Giving a Nod to a Higher Power (or not)

by Maureen Thomson of Lyssabeth's Wedding Officiants One of the stresses that many couples face in planning their wedding ceremony is when their religious beliefs (or lack thereof) conflict with those of their parents or grandparents. Gone are the days... Read >

Breaking Rules

by Maureen Thomson of Lyssabeth's Wedding Officiants While walking the beach one drizzly Oregon day, I happened upon a little girl--perhaps five or six. She was wearing a pink jacket with multi-colored legwarmers, a green skirt, purple hat, yellow glov... Read >

A Dozen Signs That Your Future Marriage May Be (No--Definitely Is) Doomed

WARNING! The following is an intervention directed at you. Yes--YOU! You with the bridal magazine in your hands. If more than one of the following applies, then you might want to rethink your upcoming nuptials: All you focus on is the wedding. You don't ... Read >

10 Free or Close to Free Places to Hold Your Small Ceremony

I just received yet another email from a hopeful California bride wanting to get married at dusk at any beautiful outdoor location with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge on the most popular wedding date of 2011 with 50 guests and oh-by-the-way, she wants i... Read >

The Benefits of Hiring a Wedding Professional

The Benefits of Hiring a Wedding Professional By Maureen Thomson If you're a bride-to-be, then you are very much aware of the current trend toward DIY (Do It Yourself) weddings. Whether it be from the economic downturn or simply a resurgence of frugalit... Read >

Fostering a Sense of Intimacy in Your Wedding Ceremony

Fostering a sense of Intimacy in Your Wedding Ceremony by Maureen Thomson The word intimate means different things to different people. To some couples, proclaiming their love before anything less than 100 people would be considered an intimate occu... Read >