Celebrant Alisa Tongg Awarded "The Knot Best of Weddings 2015", Couples Want Their Love To Shine

The More We See Photography

Four years ago, I studied and trained to become a Life-Cycle Celebrant with the intention of helping people mark the important milestone moments in their life with meaningful celebrations and authentic ceremonies. And even though each couple I have the privilege of working with has their own expectations and family dynamics to navigate, they all have something in common.

 


All of my couples, no matter their age or background, can’t imagine themselves “just going through the motions” and saying “I do” in a cookie-cutter ceremony. Instead, they say it’s important for their “love story to give context to all that is said and done throughout their wedding.” "We wanted something personal and memorable, something unique to us. We want our ceremony to be about us. Something that shows our guests how much love we have for each other.”

Often, couples feel that “a standard religious ceremony would not adequately express their unique relationship and hopes for the future.” They want their wedding ceremony to be about them and not a particular religion. Alternatively, many of my couples come from different faith and/or cultural traditions, and they want to “weave important themes and elements from their heritage into a broader story that celebrates them as a couple.”

Without a doubt, all of my couples feel that the ceremony is the most important part of the wedding day, “the reason why all our friends and family are coming together…” They want their ceremony to create an “experience that makes a lasting impression on everyone in attendance.” They want their guests “to have a great time”, “to be included”, to feel “the warmth, love and spiritual nature of their commitment.” They want their guests “to leave the ceremony feeling inspired and with big smiles on their faces.”

This year was filled with the moments my couples (and their families) dreamt about and through their generosity (by writing glowing reviews and telling their friends and co-workers about their experience working with me), I’ve been awarded for the second year in a row The Knot Best of Weddings 2015. This distinction is given to the top 1% of all wedding professionals nationally in every category. 

I continue to feel honored and privileged to have shared in so many unique and genuine expressions of love this year and to have made so many new friends. Thank you for making this possible, thank you for allowing me to share your story!

Here are a few highlights from this amazing year…

Amity + Jesse used chocolate to demonstrate "for better or worse" and invited all their guests to partake as well. Emily Wren Photography

Prayer Flag blessings. Emily Wren Photography

Even after the ceremony, guests waved their custom prayer flags to wish Amity + Jesse well on the road ahead. Emily Wren Photography

I became an enthusiastic member of the Philly Love Club (founded by Sara Murray of Confetti & Co.). Here I am with hand-letter artist Ashley Wrenn-Peterson, New Old Fashioned's Anna DeMarco-Mills and Ink & Mortar Design's Sharon McCullen who, like a shark, is owning the bottom left corner of this photo booth by Love Me Do Photography.

Shannon Collins wanted to make sure I had my couple's portrait with Ben. Shannon Collins Photography at Philadelphia's Franklin Institute.

My first wedding at the Franklin Institute's Fells Planetarium was out of this world! Shannon Collins Photography

Christian promised to be Michael's "Player 2 for life" and Xbox tweeted their congratulations.

Solemn promises were made. DeLorenzo Photography

After meeting as teenagers, Erin + Brent became husband and wife. DeLorenzo Photography

Fellow celebrant Lois Heckman and I hosted a Pop-Up Nuptials event at the Hotel Fauchere to celebrate Marriage Equality in Pennsylvania. Susie Forrester Photography

Newlywed Ean, signs the hand-lettered Pop -Up Nuptials Event poster created by Ashley Wrenn-Peterson. Susie Forrester Photography

Parents were reminded of their own wedding days. DeLorenzo Photography

Lori + Erman's love story was told in the style of a fairytale and their guests loved every moment. Douglas Benedict Photography

Tears were wiped away. Douglas Benedict Photography

There were fireworks and lots of kissing. Richard Suter Photography

There was some crying. I love how prepared Kyle is here! Richard Suter Photography

Okay, there might have been a lot of crying. DeLorenzo Photography

Terrain at Styers' rain location is a terrarium. Joyeuse Photography

Kelly and Richard prepare to finish their ceremony with a honey kiss. Joyeuse Photography

Wedded Kiss! Joyeuse Photography

The nerds won. Joyeuse Photography

Brittany and Kyle had a drone at their spectacular Skytop wedding. Richard Suter Photography

Erin loves this picture of her laughing and crying as we prepare for the ring exchange. DeLorenzo Photography

What did Lori's brother say as he delivered the rings? Only the four of us will know! Douglas Benedict Photography

The gorgeous ballroom at The Pierre Hotel for the Martha Stewart Weddings party.

Friends and family waved their ribbon wands and rung their bells to wish Erin and Brent well. DeLorenzo Photography

Rachael + Ed take their Seven Steps into the Sunset. DeLorenzo Photography

There were high-fives. Duca Studio

 

Linda + Jeremy tapped a keg during their wedding ceremony. With Love and Embers

I saw some amazing fashion. Here's a soon-to-be classic pairing: quipao + galoshes. Joyeuse Photography

As a Starbucks barista, Robin used to make her favorite customer, Alex, hot chocolate three times a day until he finally asked her out. The More We See.

Parents cheered! Douglas Benedict Photography

Singer song-writer, Robin Young serenades her husband in their Terrain at Styers wedding ceremony. The More We See

Linda and Jeremy drank from the "stein of life"--their special wedding beer out of a glass Jeremy saved from their travels through Germany for Oktoberfest. With Love and Embers

Photographer's featured
DeLorenzo Photography
Douglas Benedict Photography
Duca Studio
Emily Wren Photography
Joyeuse Photography
Love Me Do Photography
Richard Suter Photography
Shannon Collins Photography
Susie Forrester Photography

The More We See
With Love and Embers

Wedding Ceremony Unity Ritual Spotlight: Chocolate Tasting + Sharing

Charles Schulz wrote, “All you need is love – but a little chocolate now and then never hurt!”

At the end of their first date, Jesse surprised Amity by handing her a bag of homemade chocolate chip cookies. Sharing chocolate remained a theme for this couple when Amity, to celebrate their first anniversary, presented Jesse with a special box of Moonstruck handcrafted chocolate truffles.

“Besides being good for the heart, chocolate brings to it a complexity of flavor—it is inherently sweet and bitter. By sharing in this chocolate, you are showing that you will share in every happiness together. Every joy and every sadness. And together you will face the hardships and adversities of life, always confident that the good will return.”—Alisa Tongg, Celebrant

Inspired by Jesse’s connoisseur passion, this couple used chocolate in their wedding ceremony to illustrate the traditional promise to love “for better or worse”. Amity and Jesse’s chocolate tasting ritual served as a promise not only of the years to come, but also a reminder of the times they have already shared. 

In their generous and inclusive style, Amity and Jesse then invited their family and friends to also partake in their special wedding chocolate.

For the future they hope life will bring many occasions to celebrate their passion for each other as well as for exquisite chocolates. Amity and Jesse honeymooned in Portland, Oregon, the home of Moonstruck.

“As you have shared in these chocolates, may you find your life's joys heightened, it's bitterness sweetened and all of life enriched by your love for each other.”—Alisa Tongg, Celebrant

Emily Wren Photography http://emilywren.com/
Moonstruck Chocolate http://www.moonstruckchocolate.com/
The Manor House at Prophecy Creek http://www.prophecycreekmanor.com/
Two Little Birds Planning http://twolittlebirdsplan.com/
Robertson’s Flowers http://www.robertsonsflowers.com/

Rachael + Ed, With A Little Help From Their Friends

Rachael + Ed set their promises in stone at the Mountain Springs Lake Resort on a perfect May day. Their wedding ceremony involved thoughtful physical participation, involved many senses and will not soon be forgotten by their family and friends.

Rachael's Aunts and Uncles who usually play for family weddings, serenaded the guests with a moving performance of "Sunrise, Sunset" as the wedding party processed up the aisle.

The sun shines on Ed as Rachael arrives.

 

"Today two families and a great group of friends are coming together for Rachael and Ed. In this spirit of love and unity, we will now participate in passing the sign of Peace..." Alisa Tongg, Celebrant

Ring Blessing: Rachael + Ed's rings were passed through the crowd, giving friends a chance to add their own silent prayers, wishes, hopes and dreams for the couple and their marriage, before the couple exchanged them later in the service.

 “This is the man whose generous heart and quick wit never fail to bring laughter to those around him wherever he goes.” Alisa Tongg, Celebrant

Ed proposed to Rachael at the foot of a bridge in Central Park (his groomsman Pat was hiding in the bushes taking pictures). To honor their love story, they brought a stone from that same spot to be used as an oathing stone during their ceremony. The Celts had a custom when making agreements, they believed that words spoken near stones would get set into them, therefore making agreements more binding. When Ed and Rachael exchanged vows, they placed their hands on their oathing stone, setting their promises directly into it.

Rachael and Ed set their promises in this oathing stone harvested from Central Park, from the foot of the bridge where they got engaged.

After Ed and Rachael's first kiss, they finished their ceremony with my Seven Steps into the Sunset, that's where seven friends each bestow a blessing upon the couple as the couple takes symbolic steps back down the aisle. For this couple, who were surrounded by the most supportive and loving family and friends, this was a particularly beautiful moment to behold. When I asked Ed what his hopes were for the future, he said, “we hope to have a strong family and strong marriage. We’re looking forward to the next part of our journey as our love continues to grow…”

"May you choose to see beauty in the world and find the courage in your partnership to pursue your dreams together."-Alisa Tongg, Celebrant

These beautiful and soulful moments were captured by none other than the talented Jessica DeLorenzo of DeLorenzo Photography