COUPLES OPTING FOR QUICK, CHEAP WEDDINGS
The
Miami Herald- Miami, FL
By TANYA WRAGG
September 14, 2003
When Francois and Ava Johnson decided to marry earlier this year,
the couple faced a dilemma.
They hoped to share their special day with family in Jamaica,
but they were not financially prepared to hold an elaborate wedding
and purchase a new home.
The couple, who live in New Jersey, turned to the Internet for
help. After typing in the "wedding'' and "Miami,'' they found
a solution in Bal Harbour.
"It stuck out because it was just so simple and so straightforward,''
Ava Johnson said of Forever In Love, a Web-based business run
by Bal Harbour resident Linda Guaida that offers small wedding
ceremonies on the beach.
"It's great if you don't want any frills,'' she said. "I don't
have a big family and since people don't want to fly nowadays,
it was a good way to get everybody off the hook.''
Guaida, a notary public, married the Johnsons on Miami Beach
on June 8 in a small ceremony composed of the coupl! e and Ava's
mother.
Guaida's husband, Francisco, served as the photographer.
"It was nice,'' Johnson recalled. "It had rained and it was
little overcast, but still it was a beautiful day. It wasn't even
five minutes away from our hotel.''
After an exchange of vows, a photo session and a popping of the
champagne, the couple was on its way.
"It's shocking that it was just so simple,'' she said. "It's
just the way I wanted it to be. I have no regrets
.''That's the type of response Guaida was aiming for when she
started Forever In Love in January. Her plan was to provide a
low-cost yet memorable alternative to large, expensive weddings.
Packages for weddings and vow-renewal ceremonies run from $100
(for the "I Do Package'' that includes vows and a marriage certificate)
to $399 - for the "True Love Package,'' which includes champagne,
prerecorded music and pictures.
The scenery compensates for the lack of frills.
"I always thought it would be really beautiful t o get married
on the beach,'' said Guaida. "[Couples] can get married and have
their honeymoon at the same time.''
The idea for Forever In Love came to Guaida while reminiscing
about her wedding, which took place six years ago.
The couple spent months - and thousands of dollars - planning
a ceremony that lasted only a few hours. Even worse: Now they
don't remember half of what happened.
"It went by so fast,'' she said.
Forever In Love's ceremonies are memorable, Guaida said, because
couples have the freedom to be creative.
Several couples have been married in bathing suits, and most
choose to write their own vows.
In one of Guaida's favorite ceremonies, a couple decided to deliver
"spontaneous vows,'' she recalled.
"They cried like there was no tomorrow,'' Guaida said. "They
said, `We're going to speak from the heart.'
"He started crying, and then she started crying, and then I
started crying.''
Since launching the company, which gets most of its business
through word-of-mouth and the Internet, Guaida has married about
30 couples.
Like the Johnsons, Pittsburgh residents Shawn and Melanie Smith
came across Forever In Love's website while searching for "alternative
weddings'' on the Internet. The couple married on Fort Lauderdale
beach in July.
"I would recommend it to anybody, especially if you want
something small,'' said Shawn Smith, 29. "We wanted something
small. Plus, [the wedding location] was close to a restaurant,
and that's always a plus.''
After the Smiths married, onlookers cheered and whistled.
The couple then traded their wedding gown and tuxedo for a pair
of beach trousers and a bikini and went for a swim.
"We definitely had a good time,'' he said.
There are perks for Guaida as well: "It's such a nice industry
to be in. [The couples] are so happy and excited about starting!
their new life together.''
Caption:
PLEDGING TO STAY FOREVER IN LOVE RONNA GRADUS/FOR THE HERALD Caroline
Davis beams as she marries Joel Nichols in a beachside ceremony
in August performed by Bal Harbour notary public Linda Guaida.
Guaida started Forever In Love for couples who wanted no-frills
oceanside weddings. Celebrating with the couple are, from left,
Diane Davis, the bride's mother; Heather Haslam; Moriah Nichols
(holding daughter McKayla), Joel's sister-in-law; Christine Mattingly;
Rosanne Maudi; and Heather Reier. Story, 3.
PHOTOS BY RONNA GRADUS/FOR THE HERALD THEY DO: Shawn Smith places
a ring on Melanie's finger during their wedding ceremony on Fort
Lauderdale beach in July. Bal Harbour notary Linda Guaida, who
owns Forever In Love, performs the ceremony.
RONNA GRADUS/FOR THE HERALD FAMILY AFFAIR: Joel and Caroline Nichols,
right, celebrate with their wedding with Joel's twin, Kris, and
Kris' wife Moriah and daughter McKayla.photo: Shawn Smith and
Linda Guaida and Melanie Guaida (A), Linda Guaida (A), Joel Nichols
and Caroline Nichols and Kris and Moriah and McKayla (A)
Copyright (c) 2003 The Miami Herald
