Ordained as a Southern Baptist minister in 1991, Chris Castle never dreamed that his life’s journey would take him to the Inn at Little Washington, where he’s a senior waiter as well as adjunct minister for weddings. “Not only will I marry the couple, but I will pour their Champagne and then serve their dinner,” Chris says. “It is quite a stunning contrast to your average minister.”

While the ceremony can be the most intimate and moving part of a wedding, it’s often the area couples know least about. Having officiated at 85 weddings in his career, Chris is, well, a ceremony expert! On Thursday, he popped in to The Washingtonian to answer your questions about what has to happen, what could happen, and what should happen at the wedding ceremony. If you missed the chat, catch Chris’s advice on everything from merging faiths to marriage licenses lost in the mail to his favorite story for excerpting at the ceremony. (We love The Velveteen Rabbit, too!) Read the chat transcript here.


Bridal Party’s live chat is taking a week off. But don’t worry! We’ll be back in two weeks on July 17 with wedding planner Maria Cooke. More information to come, but start submitting questions now and Maria will answer them Thursday, July 17, at 11.

Want more Washingtonian.com online chats? Check out past Q&As with everyone from bartenders to other wedding pros, and submit questions to upcoming chats.

Make the happiest day of you and your new hubby's life a happy day for others, too. [via always a bridesmaid]

With food and gas prices on the rise, there's less in the piggy bank for weddings.

The bonus of being a bridesman? No dress.

Better late than never? Bette Midler gets her wedding photos . . . 23 years later.

Straight from the woman who knows: Mindy Weiss's new wedding book. [via Bridalwave]

The Slice is heading away on vacation. We'll be back on Tuesday, July 15 with your next installment of gossip, news, and wedding buzz. Happy Independence Day!

Have bridal news to share? E-mail lshallcross@washingtonian.com.

Emily gets a pre-wedding touchup from her stylist, Alex.

In less than two months, my name will be Emily Bratcher, not Halonen, and I’ll go from fiancée to wife.

As the wedding quickly approaches, my planner—not BlackBerry (I’m old school)—is becoming increasingly filled with appointments, parties, and meetings.

For instance, last weekend I visited my trusty stylist at Aveda for a much-needed haircut and highlight. I hadn’t gotten either since November. And for the wedding I want hair that looks good but not too done, you know? Alex (she’s the amazing stylist photographed here) advised me to come see her for a touchup a couple of weeks before the wedding.

A shortcut to the perfect dress. [via The Wedding Chicks] 

You're invited . . . to this wedding webcast.

The prettiest wrapping paper won't win any prizes at a "man-shower."

Running around multiple stores with a registry gun might be exhausting, but you guests will appreciate it. [via Wedding Dish]

Have bridal news to share? E-mail lshallcross@washingtonian.com.

Washingtonian contributor Cathy Alter and her husband, Karl Feldman, were married at the Artists Inn Residence in Dupont Circle.

What woman hasn’t grazed the magazine racks at Borders, spied a glossy cover of Cosmo adorned with a gorgeous, airbrushed celebrity, and wondered if, in exchange for forking over a few bucks, she really could rid herself of underarm jiggle and make men melt at her feet? Is anyone reading this raising her hand right now? I didn’t think so. We all wonder if those captivating cover lines can really work. Washingtonian contributor Cathy Alter spent a year finding out—and along the way, found and married the man of her dreams.

At 37, Alter’s list of accomplishments included a failed marriage, a taboo office romance, a less-than-thrilling writing career, and more cigarettes and alcohol than a convenience store stocks. Her wakeup call came when a close friend told her she was too destructive to be around anymore. So Alter sat down and wrote a wish list of what her life would look like in a perfect world. And when she did, the list bore a stunning resemblance to all the things Allure and Glamour offered—to be loved and successful, to stay looking young, to save money.

"Welcome to Weddings. Can I take your order?"

Who needs a cake when you can have cupcakes? [via DC Nearlyweds]

When you put your wedding on an auction block, you never know what you'll get. (Hint: Dr Pepper and Snapple.)

A yummy start to your Tuesday morning. [via bon mariage!]

Two birds, 10 dresses. [via The Bridal Bar]

Have bridal news to share? E-mail lshallcross@washingtonian.com.

“A wedding is often the culmination of a lifetime of dreams compressed into a flickering moment that will be etched into people’s memories for years to come,” says Reverend Chris Castle. But hey, no pressure, right? Don’t worry—if you’ve got the party planned but the ceremony has you a little bewildered, Chris is here to help. Not only is he an ordained minister who has officiated at more than 85 weddings in his 16-year career, he also happens to be senior waiter and manager of retail concepts at one of the area’s most romantic spots for weddings, the Inn at Little Washington. “Not only will I marry the couple, but I will pour their champagne and then serve their dinner. It is quite a stunning contrast to your average minister,” Chris says.

After graduating from Tennesee Temple University and Seminary in Chattanooga, Chris spent more than 14 years as a pastor in Southern Baptist churches. When an opportunity presented itself at the Inn at Little Washington, Chris left the congregation behind and began ministering to first-class restaurant-goers. At the Inn he watched wedding after wedding take place, officiated by a Justice of the Peace or another minister, before he finally he spoke up. “By the way, I am an ordained minister and I do weddings, if you ever need someone.” That was 73 weddings ago. Having done weddings as small as two people to as large as 500, Chris says couples tend to focus a lot of attention on the music, the flowers, and the attire—but they’re stumped when it comes to the ceremony.

From what’s required to what’s expected to what’s unique, Chris has answers to almost every question. Submit your questions now, and he’ll answer them from 11 to noon on Thursday.

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