Years ago, I thought there was “one way” to officiate a ceremony. A couple would host a wedding—however that might look—and the individual conducting the ceremony signed the license. Alas, especially in a place like New York, that is not the case. There are numerous permutations that are appropriate for couples having different needs.

Legal Ceremonies in NYC with Destination Weddings Elsewhere. I have worked with numerous couples who are planning lavish weddings in other countries. In some cases, either the bride or groom may be a non-US citizen and wants to have the wedding “at home.” In other instances, couples simply select a lavish location that will be appealing to family and friends. The prospect of securing a marriage license in another country is daunting. So to simplify the process, a legal ceremony is held here in New York, with the grand celebration to follow. And, in many , if not most cases, the guests are unaware of this set-up. Just last weekend, I conducted a Central Park wedding for an American groom and his Central American bride. They will have a traditional Catholic ceremony in Mexico City later in the summer. It turned out that about 20 of their closest friends and family members attended the private wedding, and it was a very special day, in its own right.

Marriages in advance of the big wedding. In modern America, there are clear advantages offered to married partners, such as access to health insurance. So, sometimes couples will have a legal ceremony well in advance of the Big Day. I am happy to oblige. I have worked with a number of couples who face strict immigration requirements for non-US citizens. They have been privately married (no one knows!) for some time, yet I conduct a ceremony that is as “real” as any wedding that I officiate.

Elopement followed by a wedding on an anniversary. Some couples regret not having a wedding that includes family and friends. One option to address the initial decision is to have a larger vow renewal on a subsequent anniversary that will include loved ones. Although there is no legal implications associated with the second ceremony, vow renewal parties can be every bit as special as a wedding. About a week ago, I was contacted by a bride who was approaching the first anniversary of her elopement. As a new homeowner and with a blended family, she felt that this was the time to have a public function to celebrate all of these events.

Ceremonies written and delivered by different individuals. Anyone scanning the weekly “style” section will notice situations where a friend or family member is “ordained” online to officiate the wedding. While each state has its own requirements regarding the legalities and registration of such individuals, a consulting celebrant may function as a ghostwriter for the script. After all, it is a tall order for a newcomer to write a ceremony from scratch. A couple of years ago, I worked with a couple who wanted the bride’s brother to deliver the ceremony, and he was overwhelmed by the idea of writing the script. I wrote the ceremony and “officially” married the couple in a private Central Park Ceremony. More recently a bride contacted me about a similar arrangement. Her uncle, a minister in another state, did not wish to pursue the process of registering as a NY wedding officiant. So, I will attend the fancy wedding ceremony, entirely written and conducted by the uncle, and will sign the license privately, with witnesses after the public event. A couple choosing this option should be careful to check out the particulars of the ordination process of the local and state governments. In New York, one may visit the City Clerk’s website or call 212-669-2208.)

At the end of the day, one size does not fit all when it comes to hosting the wedding of your dreams and securing the marriage license. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and speak with an officiant to make your wishes know.

It has been an exciting year! I offer a heartfelt congratulations to all of my brides and grooms. I have had the honor of marrying over 100 couples in 2010. Most of my weddings have been in New York City, but I have officiated ceremonies in the entire Tri-state area–from Connecticut to New Jersey to Westchester. And I have seen what feels like every inch of New York’s very “long” Long Island. As New York has become one of the most popular spots for Destination Weddings, I have been happy to serve brides and grooms from many American states (Ohio, California, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Texas, and Indiana, to name a few) as well as folks from England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Australia, Germany, Denmark, Dubai, the Netherlands, and Scotland. I thank you all for sharing your special day with me and look forward to staying in touch.

The following slide show, prepared by my young colleague Noemie, includes photos of most of my couples. And, the couple at the beginning of this post is Rebekah and Matthew, a lovely bride and groom from Edmonton, Alberta. With the historic blizzard of the past week, they rearranged their simple flight to NYC, flying instead to Toronto and taking the “Maple Leaf” Amtrak down to the City. Their journey was over 30 hours in length. Meanwhile, their dedicated officiant (that would be me!), made her way from Budapest, Hungary to Prague, Czech Republic, to NYC’s Upper East Side. We had a lovely, sweet romantic ceremony on the Gapstow Bridge in Central Park. Many tourists stopped by to watch and savor the romance, on a sparkling winter’s day. So Congratulations, one and all. Peace and all good things in 2011!

One of the great things about a Celebrant-led wedding is that the ceremony can be breathtaking and spectacular in unexpected ways. Lately, it seems, there is an emerging interest in so-called theme weddings. The possibilities for these gatherings are only limited by the imagination. Whether a costume ball for a Halloween wedding or an outdoor ceremony reflecting the bride and groom’s fascination with Medieval history, theme weddings can be a breath of fresh air for the couple, guests, and even the officiant.

I was fortunate enough to participate in a themed-type event on Christmas Eve. For those who haven’t been to New York City during the holidays, it is hard to convey just how magical it is. Even during the challenging days of the recession, the retailers, city officials and others, bring out the finest holiday decorations, as they have for so many years. Fifth Avenue, a world class shopping area, has absolutely spectacular decorations from the window displays at Saks Fifth Avenue to the Cartier Jewelry Store, festively wrapped as a package. For blocks and blocks, one will see lights and adornments that, as far as I know, are simply unmatched in other grand cities around the world. Walking north on Fifth Avenue, one will eventually bump into Central Park—always lovely—is especially stunning when blanketed in snow. The crown jewel of the holiday decorations is most certainly Rockefeller Plaza, perfectly placed in midtown Manhattan. With the enormous Christmas tree, skating rink, life-sized nutcrackers, and 50+ waving flags in red, green and gold, the Plaza will turn even the most hardened holiday scrooge into a jolly soul.

On Christmas Eve, Karina and Nick, a lovely young couple from Ohio, harnassed the holiday exuberance at Rockefeller Plaza into a late afternoon wedding ceremony. It was a real delight. Karina, a naturally pretty woman, looked like a winter princess. She wore a beautifully designed strapless white wedding dress with all of the beading and sparkles of a new bride. On her head sat a crystal tiara that would do the Swarovski Company proud. Draped around her shoulders was a custom-made hooded holiday cape—cherry red with white fur trimming. Her bouquet, made in England, included a bundle of winter berries. Even the groom sported a blazing red shirt under his black suit. I was in the spirit with my own red dress.

While the couple planned a private ceremony at the Plaza promenade, with the tree prominently in the background, I knew it would be anything but “private.” Passers-by love to see weddings—always, anytime, and anywhere. And for tourists lucky enough to be in New York for the holiday, a romantic wedding in front of the world’s most famous Christmas Tree is a feast for the eyes and the heart. Those in the area gathered around to be a part of “our” wedding. I could literally see the twinkle in a number of eyes. No doubt these were people renewing their own wedding vows, privately in their hearts. At the end of our sweet ceremony, a tourist and police officer served as our witnesses. The bride and groom were swept away to take photographs at landmarks including St. Patrick’s Cathedral. They completed their evening with a carriage ride around Central Park and dinner at the famed Tavern on the Green. Our couple has returned to family and friends in Ohio, but I know they will cherish their fairy tale wedding for the rest of their lives.

Photograph courtesy of Laura Pennace Photography.

Several years ago, dreaded news was delivered to many American women when HBO announced that the groundbreaking program “Sex and the City” (SATC) would end production. In a retrospective of the show’s success, actress Sarah Jessica Parker and program creator Darren Star speculated about the elements that distinguished SATC from other series. They argued that beyond the witty repartee, it was the City of New York that partly explained the show’s enormous popularity. New York was, in fact, the fifth leading lady of the show, along with Samantha, Miranda, Charlotte, and Carrie. SATC devotees, like my pal Denise, know that Sex and the City shined a light on all that we love about the Big Apple, from famed landmarks to obscure local haunts. As a Celebrant, I have come to consider our heroine NYC as a most important backdrop—or guest, if you will—at destination weddings, large and small.

Lately I have been working with couples travelling to New York for their own special wedding ceremonies, casting iconic New York images as important elements of the wedding. Thanks to the generosity of Cheryl Fielding-LoPalo of Cheryl J. Weddings & Events, I was able to work with Matt and Sherri, a young couple from suburban Washington,D.C. Along with their closest family members, Sherri and Matt wed in Rockefeller Plaza. There is a sweet garden tucked in the middle of Manhattan—602 Loft & Garden, part of the famous “Top of the Rock.” This perfect wedding space is nestled in the bustling midtown area with a manicured garden, reflecting pool, and spectacular landscaping. And in every direction we were surrounded by breathtaking views of NYC’s cityscape. The photo in this posting is our stunning couple poised before St. Patrick’s Cathedral, one of New York’s most important religious institutions.

As I finished up this blog posting, I was on the Facebook page of my friend Christina Buzzetta who (lucky girl) works at TheKnot.com. I smiled when I noticed her profile picture caption was a famous line uttered by our friend Carrie Bradshaw on Sex and the City: “If you only get one great love, then New York may just be mine.” I think a lot of brides, in New York and beyond, feel just the same way.