15th anniversary!♡

By Rev. Yareni Alvarado

​This weekend I celebrated my fifteen anniversary as a wedding officiant. I am so used to celebrating others that I didn’t even know how to act! I had the greatest of time laughing and conversating with my family and friends. The joy and laughter of my family and friends having a great time meant everything to me.
 
I reminisced about performing my very first wedding ceremony and the hundreds of wedding ceremonies that I have performed throughout fifteen years. The many lives that I have touched and impacted by performing wedding ceremonies. How word of mouth has played such a big part in my success as a wedding officiant. The constant referrals that I have received from past couples to marry their family and friends that has led to lifelong friendships.
 
The love of performing wedding ceremonies comes from being in a constant state of love and gratitude. From a very young age, my mom was heavily involved in weddings. Brides would hire my mom to iron out their dresses, alterations, catering, decorations, and my mom would even read scripture during mass for their wedding ceremonies. I fell in love with weddings as a child. I gained so much knowledge from watching the behind the scenes and all aspects of what it takes to make a wedding possible.

I always wanted to be like my mom. She was so talented at everything! She inspired me to be a wedding officiant and to create something for myself. I always wanted to be different and stand out from the crowd. My mom was my number one supporter of all things wedding officiant etc. I miss my mom with all of my being. However, I know that she wanted me to be happy and thriving. I will continue to do just that.

Through my work, I not only get to officiate weddings but I also get to spread love everywhere I go. My mom taught me to always treat people with the utmost kindness, respect, and to be non-judgmental. She was so adamant for me to perform weddings like it was my first performance because your first performance is your best performance and people deserve your best performance.

I will forever hold my mom's words of wisdom near and dear to my heart.

Being a wedding officiant was once just a dream. The fact that I’ve been performing wedding ceremonies this long is an astonishing accomplishment for myself and I am so proud of myself!

I am so grateful for those that love and support me throughout all the phases of life.
 
Cheers to the next fifteen years!

I wanted a simple white cake with florals. My brother David did an amazing job decorating my cake! I absolutely loved it!

It was a must for me to have plant based soaps from Sage & Elm Apothecary as thank you party favors! My dear friend Krystle did an exceptional job!
So grateful for her products. If you're into plant based soaps checkout her website for more info:​
www.sageandelmapothecary.com/

Brittany of B-Sweet knocked it out of the park with the number 15 anniversary cake!

Check out her facebook page here:
m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091944387953

The cake table was magical!

The dessert table was top tier! There was plenty of fresh fruit along with some sourdough mini conchas and full sized conchas that I made. With the help of my brother David, we were able to make over 60 mini cheese cake bites for our family and friends. Everyone loved the dessert table and even got some to go!

Checkout my new sourdough baking business: ​www.instagram.com/botonsbakery/

Picture by: Tonya Little ​

My sweet friends Chef Bryan Lindsay of Sacred Chef & Co and his fiancé Krystle Robinson-Hershey did an amazing job catering the event. Chef Bryan's food is made with so much love and flavor. I hope everyone in OKC and beyond gets to taste his food! 

Chef Bryan Lindsay's instagram:
www.instagram.com/sacredchefnyc/
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Picture by: Tonya Little 

Chef Bryan Lindsay made me a rack of lamb that melted in my mouth. The meat was so juicy and full of flavor. The sauce! Can we talk about the sauce?! The sauce was everything! The citrus and herb combo was top notch and like nothing I have tasted before.

A huge thank you to Vicky for being able to provide her services last minute! The celebration wouldn't have been the same without you! Thank you for being you!

La Vicky Bartending Services

Picture by: Tonya Little

My bestie Christie is the sweetest friend a girl could ever ask for! We have been friends since the first grade and this woman has supported me through everything! 

Christie, her husband Tito, and myself. Love you both!

My bff Rosa and her daughter Alynna. So happy they were both able to attend the celebration!

Myself and my bff Rosa! I've known Rosa since high school and we've been supportive of each other ever since. Thank you for contributing to the event! You're a life saver!

If you're expecting and looking for an ultrasound checkout her business Little Peanut 4D Ultrasound: 
​littlepeanutultrasound.com/

My friend Tonya is one of the most kindest souls I've ever met! This woman is an entrepreneur, go getter, and has been the biggest supporter of all my business and creative adventures.

If you're looking to unwind and relax check out her business Float OKC:​
​www.floatokc.com/

Oscar and Nelly are one of the past couples that I have married at Lake Hefner in 2019. They are my favorite Mexican and Belizean couple!

Anahi, her husband Jesus, and their daughters. Anahi is my childhood friend and neighbor. We have so many shared memories together and still keep in touch throughout our milestones.

Anahi runs her parents snowcone business check them out here:
​ www.instagram.com/laplacitasnowcones/

My sweetest of godparents! I got so lucky to have Abel and Angelina Angeles as my godparents!

​They were the first entrepreneurs that I knew as a kid and always inspired me to accomplish great things in life. They own a snow cone business in South OKC in the Capitol Hill district. As a teen, my very first job was working at their snow cone stand. Working there taught me a lot about customer service, active listening, responsibility, the importance of having a schedule, and these are just a few of the learned skills that I apply to my own business.

I am so grateful for the their love and support of all my milestones.

Abel and Angelina are owners of La Placita Snowcones check them out here:
www.instagram.com/laplacitasnowcones/

The dream team! My brother David and I met Krystle at her booth at ScissorTail Park last year. She was selling her soaps from her business Sage & Elm Apothecary. We loved them so much that we kept going back for more! We've created such a strong friendship with Krystle and her fiancé Bryan that we plan on creating big things together!

My brother David, myself, and Krystle.

I am so grateful to have crossed paths with my dear friend Krystle. She is light and keeps me grounded. Krystle not only motivates me but also inspires me that great things are possible regardless of what my circumstances are.

​I love this woman so much!

My youngest brother David has been supportive of all my endeavors. He's always been with me through my journey as a wedding officiant and is only a phone call away. This event wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for David's event coordinating skills. I am so grateful for him and loved unconditionally by this amazing man that I get to call my little brother!

Bryan and Krystle noticed my talents and skills since we met. These two amazing souls have not only watered me but also planted seeds in me. We have so many great things planned for the near future and I am so excited to see how the future unfolds!

I am so grateful that the universe brought us all together!
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​Love you both so much!

Lastly, my brother David gifted me a bouquet of red roses in honor of our mother. Red roses were our mom's favorite flowers.
​
My mom would have been so proud of what her kids have accomplished.

I wholeheartedly am grateful to everyone that came out to celebrate my 15th year anniversary!

Cheers to love, laughter, and happily ever after!

With profound gratitude,

​Rev. Yareni Alvarado