This song can “wake up” a dementia patient.

New wedding at Vintage Villas!

Hello -- it's been a while!

Fourteen years from the very first wedding I ministered at Vintage Villas, I was delighted to join Nicole & Zach Swindall in marriage today.  As always, the Vintage Villas staff did a stellar job with the wedding coordination, and delicious food.

The groom was a bit nervous, but that settled down once we got started.  The bride was lovely, and it could not have been a more perfect day.  With all the rain we have had here in Austin over the last several weeks, the grass was an almost electric green.  The ceremony was held overlooking Lake Travis -- even though we wish it was more full, the lake is still beautiful.

Here is a photo of the happy couple, who laughed and smiled at each other throughout.  (Even the groom's big, burly father said he was in tears during the wedding!)

And here's a fun selfie I took with them when the ceremony was over.

Thank you, too, to their families and friends who made me feel so welcome at the wedding and reception!

blessings,

John

Rev. John Connor

www.ReverendConnor.com

Vintage Villas with Veronica and Joseph Bird

I was delighted to minister at the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Bird at Vintage Villas last Friday, September 26, 2014.  Joseph and Veronica were surrounded by the love of their families and friends, and the beauty of the Vintage Villas venue.  Outdoors overlooking the serenity of Lake Travis -- can't beat it.  I didn't get a chance to have someone get a cell phone photo, but I hope to get a shot from their wonderful wedding photographer, Ron Parks.

International Wedding -- Mexico

At the end of January, I ministered the wedding of Katie and Matt Trevino on the beach in Cancun, Mexico.  The resort was the Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa (http://www.dreamsresorts.com/riviera-cancun), and it's beautiful.  It was Bonnie's and my first time staying at an "all inclusive" resort, and we liked it -- it was great to never consider the cost of food or drinks when picking an item at the restaurants and bars.  You just choose what you want.

There's a kind of gazebo on the beach, and an on-site wedding coordinator, photographer, and DJ -- everything you need.  (Secret tip: skip the very expensive massages at the spa -- like, $170 -- and walk a few yards down the beach for a breezy massage under an ocean-front tent for $45.)

The resort did a wonderful job with the rehearsal dinner, the wedding, and reception.  The photographer ended up taking too many photos of food, and not as many of the  guests and wedding party, so be sure to make your desires known on this ahead of time, wherever you get married.

After a terrific afternoon of beach volleyball…. (the minister has fallen, and can't get up!)

 we had the wedding.

Katie and I work together at Gentiva Hospice in Austin, where she is a nurse and I am a chaplain.  It was a joy (and a fun vacation) to minister her wedding to Matt.  They are in the process of living Happily Ever After!

blessings,

John

Rev. John Connor

Austin, Texas

Destination Weddings -- IMPORTANT TIP

Hey gang,

It's been several months since my last blog post.  I continue to enjoy ministering at weddings around the Austin area -- particularly in south and west Austin, and surrounding towns.

(Mr. and Mrs. Casey & Michelle West, and me)

Next month I will officiate at my first INTERNATIONAL destination wedding -- just outside Cancun, Mexico. A nurse that I work with at Odyssey/Gentiva Hospice is marrying her fiancé, and Bonnie and I will fly down and combine some sunny vacation time, with a wedding for a great couple.  (Photos from that wedding should have a lovely beach theme.)

Important tip!  If you are going to do a destination wedding outside the US, check with your local County Clerk's office to see what rules there are about how the wedding is legally recognized in the US.  In some cases, there are so many hoops to jump through -- signing sworn affidavits after your return, and never being granted a true "marriage license" -- that you may want to have a quiet ceremony beforehand with a US officiant.  Then, it doesn't matter what forms (and credentials of the minister at the foreign destination) are used, because you are already legally married in America.

Email me or call with any questions -- and more information about my wedding services are available at http://www.ReverendConnor.com

blessings,
John

Lovely old church for an Austin wedding

I was happy to bring together in marriage CJ & Lauren Geoffroy on Friday, March 29, 2013.  They are a sweet and loving couple, and all of their friends and family were thrilled for them.

Here is a photo of the new husband and wife, with me in the middle:

If you want more information about Hyde Park Presbyterian Church, at the corner of 40th and Avenue B in Austin,  their site is at http://www.hydeparkaustin.org

You can reach me at John@ReverendConnor.com, and the page for my wedding officiant services is:  http://www.ReverendConnor.com

blessings,
John

Last weekend I ministered a wedding at the Stephen F. Austin/Intercontinental Hotel.  It's beautiful and historic, and right on Congress and 7th Street.  A member of the wedding party got this shot for me after the ceremony with the happy couple, Brian and Kari Rothenthaler.

Here are some photos of the hotel, from their website:
http://www.intercontinental.com/intercontinental/en/gb/locations/AUSHA?sicreative=9244672980&dp=true&sicontent=0&sitrackingid=211306197&cm_mmc=Google-PS-InterContinental-_-G%20B-Americas-Top-TX-Austin-_-TX-Austin-Stephen%2BF-_-stephen%20f.%20austin%20hotel&siclientid=1911

A wedding at a downtown hotel can be fun, because after the Rehearsal, (or the wedding) your friends can walk right out of the hotel into the entertainment district and get a taste of Austin.  The staff at the Stephen F. Austin were very accommodating and eager to help.

That's the blog for today, now I'm going to see what's happening at the Olympics!

blessings,
John
Rev. John Connor