Creative Weddings in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, NC

Congratulations to Melissa and Ryan and Their Photographer, Hilton Pittman. Their Wedding is Featured in the Spring / Summer 2012 Issue of The Knot North Carolina Magazine

2012-01-23T18:38:00.001-05:00

I had the privilege of ministering Melissa and Ryan’s wedding at The Sutherland Estate and Gardens in Wake Forest and I am thrilled to announce that their beautiful wedding is being featured in the Spring / Summer 2012 issue of The Knot North Carolina magazine. Long recognized as a leader in online wedding resources, and now also having moved into localized print magazines, The Knot is a powerhouse of wedding information and it is a huge honor to be included in their publications.

Melissa and Ryan’s photographer was the very talented Hilton Pittman, of Hilton Pittman Photography, and he did a wonderful job of catching the fun, the emotions, the attention to detail and the beautiful colors of the day. To read the full article (and check out all the other great tidbits in the magazine) pick up a copy at any of our local magazine stands. Melissa and Ryan’s wedding and reception, showcased by Hilton’s photos, can be found starting on page 40. Love all that cheery yellow they used!

If you would like to read the earlier blog posts I did about Melissa and Ryan’s fun engagement photos and their very special DIY wedding, here are the links;

engagement photos wedding and reception

Melissa and Ryan, I am so happy for you that your wedding has received such a nice accolade and Hilton, congratulations to you again for your photographic artistry.

___

Carolyn and Mike Have an Intimate Ceremony at the Garden House in Fearrington Village

2012-01-12T15:06:00.007-05:00

Carolyn and Mike have known each other for many years, having met through their work, but about two years ago their friendship took a new turn when they began to train together as running partners. It was during their training for the Charleston Half Marathon that the friendship deepened and blossomed into a romance.

Running is such an important part of who they are that I wrote their wedding ceremony with a comparison of how training for marathons can correspond to living a life and creating a marriage. There really are many similarities, when you think about it.

Their wedding took place in the first week of January but you would have never known it by how beautiful the day dawned. Bright sunshine and temperatures in the 50s made it feel more like a spring day than the middle of winter. Indeed, as I was walking into the courtyard where the ceremony was to take place, I noticed one little daffodil was blooming already. In January?! I took that as a most auspicious omen for this marriage and the cherub sitting nearby seemed just as perfect.

The ceremony took place in the lovely little Garden House in Fearrington Village. I love this little cottage with all the sunlight that streams through the windows, but it was the first time I had ever done a wedding there. Fearrington Village has many beautiful settings for a wedding but for an intimate ceremony, I must say this is my favorite.

When I arrived, two grandmothers were waiting on one side of the Garden House for the ceremony to begin and the musicians from North Carolina Wedding Music were playing the Prelude music on the other side.

North Carolina Wedding Music always adds an elegant, professional feel to the ceremony and they are first rate musicians. I love working with them.

Carolyn and her mother had taken a trip the previous year to walk in the footsteps of St. Paul and one of the cities they had visited in Greece was Corinth. Paul had written letters to the Corinthians - what we now know as First and Second Corinthians in the New Testament - so those books of the Bible have an even greater meaning to Carolyn and her mom. Carolyn’s sister, Elizabeth, who was the Matron of Honor, read from First Corinthians.

Carolyn and Mike also wanted to include the Wine Ceremony, where love letters are written to each other and sealed in a box, unread, with a bottle of wine - to be opened and read on their first anniversary. In their case, though, Carolyn and Mike plan to write new letters and place new bottles of wine in the box every year on their anniversary, thereby creating a beautiful time-capsule of love through the years. What a special touch this is going to add to their anniversaries!

Mike’s father had already made a beautiful box for them and they decided to use it for this purpose, not letting Mike’s dad know this until it was shown at the wedding. You could tell he was deeply touched they had honored his gift in such a special way. Unfortunately, I did not get any photos of the box but when the photographer’s photos are online, I will be sure to add one.

Speaking of which, their photographer for the event was Krystal Kast of Krystal Kast Photography. She was all over the place taking what are sure to be stupendous photos. Can’t wait to see them!

Carolyn’s dress was simple and elegant, just like she is, and her bouquet was simple elegance as well.

Here are Carolyn and her sister, Elizabeth, chatting after the wedding.

I had married Elizabeth and Scott a few years ago and it was great to see them again and to meet their adorable little daughter, Alexa.

Soon it was time for lunch over at The Granary, also in Fearrington Village. They have a lovely room downstairs for intimate receptions and it is also full of light, with a great, inviting feel.

Here is their beautiful wedding cake, provided by Fearrington Village. So elegant.

Carolyn and Mike had set up three photos on the cake table, two were their parents’ wedding photos and one was an engagement photo of them. It was perfect.

To start off the reception, Carolyn’s mom gave a beautiful and touching speech. Carolyn’s dad had passed away the previous year and her mom had found the speech he had written for Elizabeth and Scott’s wedding so many years ago. She used those words to welcome Mike into the family and it was touching beyond words. Later, Mike’s dad gave another speech welcoming Carolyn into the family and it was equally touching. Their parents could go on the speaking circuit!

Fearrington Village did a wonderful job of creating an excellent feast for the reception. Their wedding coordinators, Cheryl-Ann and Gilda, made sure the whole day went off as planned.

Carolyn and Mike made their rounds to the various tables, welcoming the guests and sharing stories. Here is Carolyn with the Junior Bridesmaid. Mike’s brother and sister-in-law are in the foreground and a young cousin is behind. The kids all had a table to themselves, which they LOVED.

Here is Mike speaking to his brother and sister-in-law, while their photographer, Krystal, is being a photo ninja. She was everywhere and managed to seem invisible, which is why I am sure the photos are going to be fantastic.

The guest favors were a chocolate bar with a cute wrapper, “The Perfect Fit.” Yes they are.

Carolyn and Mike, you are such a special couple and I know your perfect fit will be with you forever. I wish you many happy days, running your marathons and triathlons and living your lives to the fullest. You are best friends, running partners and partners in life. It just doesn’t get any better than that... until the children come along. (Just look at Elizabeth and Scott!)

Have a wonderful life together.
___

Southern Bride and Groom Celebrates Its 25th Year of Publication!

2012-01-11T13:31:00.000-05:00

In our area of North Carolina we are blessed with so many talented and caring wedding professionals. One case in point is our venerable local publication, Southern Bride & Groom.

Donna Parks started this premiere wedding magazine out of her kitchen 25 years ago and has worked hard to see it grow into the number one rated wedding resource it has become. Her daughter, Jenna, joined her in this endeavor a few years ago and with their amazing all-female staff they have risen most deservedly to the top.

You can find Southern Bride & Groom at all the local wedding venues and bridal shops and I can heartily recommend you go by and pick up the latest edition. You will be VERY glad you did. It is a useful tool for wedding planning and it is always beautifully produced. With lots of information about all things wedding-related, and beautiful photographs from local photographers, you just can’t go wrong,

While you are looking through the magazine, check out page 126. Jenna married Shawn in 2011 and there is a great write-up about their “ultimate SB&G wedding.” Congratulations, Jenna and Shawn!

And congratulations, Donna, Jenna, Patricia, Denise and Victoria on your silver anniversary!
___

Annie and Paul Celebrate a Christmas Wedding Miracle at The Arrowhead Inn in Durham

2011-12-30T09:30:00.003-05:00

Annie and Paul wanted a quiet, intimate wedding and they came from Virginia with three friends to create a wonderful, private celebration of their love. It almost didn’t happen, though, because in August Annie had been thrown from a horse and had broken her back. She worked hard to regain all her functions and Paul had been there with her, helping her all the way. When the wedding day dawned, Annie gamely decided to dispense with her back brace and stand alone for the wedding. She even managed to complete their first dance after the ceremony! (The old-fashioned words pluck and spunk come to mind.)

They chose the lovely Arrowhead Inn for the ceremony and they could not have chosen a more perfect place for their wedding. Intimate, charming and tucked off the highway, it is a lovely little B&B in Durham. The main house has a beautiful parlor and the owners, Gloria and Phil, always have the most beautiful Christmas decorations. The room is beautiful any time of the year but at Christmas it takes on a special glow.

Paul had put together an iPod playlist for the ceremony music and Annie walked in to John Denver’s, “Annie’s Song,” escorted by her friend and Maid of Honor. Annie was looking beautiful in her lovely white gown and, knowing how brave she had been to get to this day, it touched everyone’s hearts. There were tears in all our eyes as she entered, especially Paul’s.

We stood in front of the beautiful fireplace for the ceremony and when the ceremony was finished we all took photos of ourselves together.

The lady in the white sweater in the photo above is the wife of the Best man and she was the photographer for the event. I’m the lady on the far left.

After the photos were finished, the happy couple took their first dance together in the parlor in front of the Christmas tree to Frank Sinatra’s version of “The Way You Look Tonight.” We were all loving what we were seeing; a miracle of medicine, determination and answered prayers was dancing right in front of our eyes.

After the dance, they headed to the dining room for the meal that Phil had been preparing. Not sure what they were having, but it did smell delicious! Here is the lovely little wedding cake Gloria and Phil had provided for them. Bet it tasted every bit as wonderful as it looked.

Annie and Paul, I so enjoyed getting to know you and being a part of your Christmas wedding miracle. You will always be in my heart.
___

Amanda and Bart Exchange Vows at the Beautiful Sunset Lake Lodge in Holly Springs

2011-12-16T15:47:00.004-05:00

Amanda and Bart decided to marry on November 11, 2011. For those of you not familiar with numerology, eleven is a very powerful number of high energy and elevated partnership. From this perspective, their wedding date bodes well for a strong, productive life to come.

Their wedding day dawned absolutely glorious and, as you can see in their photo to the left, it was a perfect day for a wedding.

When I arrived and went to find Amanda, I noticed that Amanda’s sister and best friend, who were also her Bridesmaids, had embroidered the wedding date on the bottom of Amanda’s dress. Of course, I couldn’t resist getting a photo of this, along with one of Amanda and her Bridesmaids in their gorgeous red dresses.

Amanda and Bart had chosen the beautiful Sunset Lake Lodge in Holly Springs as the location for their wedding. This is absolutely one of my favorite venues for smaller weddings as it has so many really nice places to hold a wedding on the grounds. The woods surrounding the house and the lake are lovely any time of year and the lake creates a wonderful, serene ambience. Every wedding I have ever done there has integrated this element of natural beauty and it has been a great asset every time.

The ceremony was held on the sidewalk down by the water and this was the view of the wedding guests. Stunning!

Amanda’s Dad surprised her by wearing his military uniform and I would have loved to have seen her face when she first saw him! Here they are awaiting their cue to enter and then coming down the sidewalk to the aisle.

Amanda and Bart wanted to include a Sand Ceremony and here is a shot of the Sand table after the wedding was over. I love the interesting vase they chose for the sand and how the table is sparkling with the reflections of the sunshine and the lake in the background.

Eventually it was time for the wedding kiss and to recess out the aisle, heading for photos.

With such beautiful grounds, there were so many places to go to create memorable photographs.

___

Others on hand to help make things so perfect for Amanda and Bart;

Their family members who oversaw everything getting set up properly.

Photographer - Jamie and Sheila Gardner - JOG Photography

Reception DJ - David Price

___

At the end of the evening, Amanda and Bart made their exit through the uplifted sparklers of their family and friends. This is such a grand way to make an exit and so festive for a couple beginning a new life together as husband and wife.

Amanda and Bart, I know you are going to have a great life together. You are both such dynamic people and it is written in your wedding date what is to come. May every bit of it be fun to live and a joy to share with others.
___

Stacey and Len Marry at 1705 Prime in Raleigh

2011-12-11T14:20:00.003-05:00

Stacey and Len are such a charming couple, as you can so plainly see in all these photos. They laugh a lot together and their wedding day proved to be bright, sunny and breezy, which seemed a perfect compliment to their temperaments and their style.

The wedding took place by the big tree in the front of 1705 Prime in Raleigh. Their design color was purple and, if you are thinking of using purple (or any other color) for your wedding, notice how they used its many shades to create beautiful effects throughout the decorations. They started with purple lanterns hung in the tree where the ceremony took place. Gently swaying in the breeze, this created a very nice touch.

The purple shades were incorporated beautifully everywhere you turned. The aisle flowers were lovely and the Bouquets with the Bridesmaid dresses were exquisite.

They even had pretty wrist corsages for their mothers and grandmother.

In honor of their last name they had these flower Ts on the front doors.

Len and his Groomsmen wore handsome grey suits and sported purple ties, which looked wonderful as they entered with the Bridesmaids.

Even the table favors picked up the fun and cheery color.

I always love seeing the faces of the couples as they are saying their vows and Stacey and Len’s photographer, Bridget McEnaney of Bridget McEnaney Photography, got some beautiful shots of them during their vows.

She also got a sweet one of the Maid of Honor watching the vows.

Stacey and Len took their first kiss as husband and wife to cheers from their guests and happy tears from their moms.

Stacey and Len, it was such a joy to get to know you and to be a part of your sweet wedding. I hope all the love and happiness you had on your wedding day will stay with you always and those wedding kisses remain a daily part of your lives.

___

My thanks to photographer Bridget McEnaney for the use of her beautiful photos.
___

Amy and Michelle Celebrate Becoming Committed Life Partners at The Barn at Valhalla in Chapel Hill

2011-12-08T17:19:00.002-05:00

Amy and Michelle have been together over 20 years, starting as best friends back in junior high in Michigan. They share so many mutual enjoyments, but chief among them is a love of travel, particularly out in nature. Their careers have brought them south to our area and I was so pleased when they told me they would like to work with me to create a very special commitment ceremony. They wanted their celebration to be about their love for each other, for their very supportive family and friends, and their love of Nature. With a love as special as this one, you can bet they had some beautiful ideas to incorporate. This was to be a romantic, casual affair and that approach fit both of them perfectly.

They chose The Barn at Valhalla as their wedding location because it is so beautifully placed in nature. Rustic and easily accessible out Hwy 54 past Chapel Hill, it is a wonderfully serene location for a wedding. Quiet woods surround the barn and its adjacent pond, with all sorts of nature’s creatures scampering about. The Barn itself has a large deck that wraps around it and includes a long, wooden walkway through the woods out to another large deck with a great stone fireplace.

When the ceremony began, we all entered down the long walkway and took our places in front of the fireplace, followed by Amy and Michelle entering together.

There were some special moments during the ceremony and lots of happy, emotional tears were shed.

Amy’s sister was her Maid of Honor and Michelle’s brother was her Best Man. Our reader was Aeryc (“Eric”), the Best Man’s Life Partner. Aeryc offered a beautiful Apache Blessing.

Amy and Michelle each chose their own vows to read to each other before putting on their rings. The rings were engraved inside with the simple words, “Soul Mates.”

After the vows and the ring exchange came the Handfasting Ceremony, with a beautiful cord of symbols made by Amy and Michelle. They had placed all their hopes and dreams for their future into the cord before the ceremony. During the ring exchange we had a silent prayer and asked all the guests to send out their best wishes and prayers to Amy and Michelle. The loving energies of those prayers also went into the handfasting cord, making it an even more powerful symbol of love.

You can see in the photos above that the cord is hanging from my ceremony notebook. What you cannot see well is from what the cord was made;

blue ribbon for water

brown ribbon for earth

white ribbon for air

a tree for nature

a leaf for the changing seasons

a sea turtle for the ocean

2 petosky stones, the state stone of Michigan

a car for their love of travel

It was one of the loveliest handfasting cords I have ever seen. (If you enlarge this photo you can see the cord around their hands and hanging down.)

Right after the Handfasting, Amy and Michelle were pronounced officially committed Life Partners and someone got this shot right as they turned toward their guests. Look at that look on Michelle’s face!

Before the ceremony began, we noticed the sun was getting low but luckily we were able to get everything finished before it got dark. The Sun gifted us with a beautiful sunset that became part of the ceremony.

Back inside the Barn for refreshments, everyone was gearing up for one heck of a good party. This was a relationship whose wedding was a long time coming and all assembled were so happy to be there and sharing in such a special celebration.

Durham Catering provided the buffet and the food was just delicious. Here is the dessert table all set up.

A Family Tree done with fingerprints has become quite popular lately and this one was especially nice. With Amy and Michelle’s love of Nature and its spiritual side, it was a most fitting choice. Here are photos of the tree;

The Handfasting Cord is wrapped around the branches of the tree. You can now see all the elements Amy and Michelle wove into it that made it so special.

Here someone is adding their fingerprint (after dipping their finger into a paint pot). Other fingerprints have already been added.

And finally, after all the fingerprints have been added, Amy and Michelle’s wedding-ringed hands are wrapped with their Handfasting Cord and placed on the tree. (I love this shot. It speaks volumes about who they are. Kudos to the photographer.)

Amy and Michelle, I wish you grand adventures roaming the world, walking and hiking through Nature, hand in hand, laughing all the way, enjoying life for all the joys it brings to those who love. May all your dreams come true for you in amazing, remarkable ways. Your rings say you are Soul Mates.

So Mote It Be.
___

Reverend Barbara Lodge is Chosen to Receive The Knot Best of Weddings Award for 2012

2011-11-21T15:29:00.003-05:00

I have just received word from The Knot that I have been chosen as a 2012 pick for their “Best of Weddings” award.

Wow - what an honor!

The winners for The Knot’s “Best of Weddings” are chosen by wedding couples registered on theknot.com. This award is given to wedding professionals whose clients have taken the time to write reviews and have sent referrals through The Knot’s chat communities to other wedding couples looking for help with their weddings.

I am so thrilled to be receiving this award, especially as it comes as a result of the kindness of couples whose weddings have all been so special to me.

Thank you so much to everyone who has put in a good word for me. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your caring and support.

At the end of January 2012, all the “Best of Weddings” winners will be listed on the knot website but, golly, I just can’t hold it in until the end of January!

Thanks again to all of you who made this happen!
___

Chris and Taylor Become Husband and Wife on a Brilliant Autumn Day at MacGregor Downs Country Club in Cary

2011-11-13T14:49:00.003-05:00

The day was brisk and sunny and everything in nature was sparkling. It was a beautiful backdrop for the happiness in the hearts and on the faces of everyone there - an absolutely perfect day for a wedding!

Taylor and Chris are a great compliment to each other except for one thing - he loves going camping and rock climbing but she would rather be at home, surrounded by her modern life. Over the years they have been together, she has learned to go with the flow for Chris and can now enjoy being out in the glory of nature - but firmly planted on terra firma, please. She brought that up in her vows and everyone laughed. It was a fun moment.

Taylor and Chris chose to marry at MacGregor Downs Country Club in Cary. The very capable Event Coordinator there is Makeda (“mah-KAY-dah”) Pride and she did a wonderful job of making sure everything was in order for this happy celebration. I love doing weddings at MacGregor Downs because of the feel of the clubhouse and the radiant beauty of the grounds. On this particular day, radiant was the operative word, with the sun shining on the bright green grass of the golf course behind us and bouncing off MacGregor Lake, making the glow of the day even more intense. It was magical.

Makeda told the photographers, Carolyn and Geoff, of Carolyn Scott Photography, about a hidden area of beautiful pink grasses across the green and this resulted in some very special photos. When I first saw these particular photos I thought they must have been Photoshopped, but no, they are the actual photos. So romantic! Kudos to Carolyn and Geoff for their skill and to Makeda for letting them know this marvelous place existed.

By the way, all the photos in this post have been contributed by Carolyn and Geoff. If you would like to see more of their photos from the wedding, here is a link to their blog post about it. Thanks for the use of your photos, Carolyn and Geoff. Your work is totally awesome, as always.

Carolyn and Geoff are a husband and wife team and this particular day was also their first anniversary. I had been the minister for their wedding and it was great to be able to share their anniversary with them. It made for an even more magical day as all of us celebrated two very happy love stories.

Some fun things Taylor and Chris did for their wedding;

One of Taylor’s nephews was Sign Boy and entered with this great sign announcing Taylor’s entrance. He was followed by another nephew who was the Leaf Boy and dispersed leaves down the aisle. Leaf Boy’s red hair really set off those autumn leaves.

Taylor and Chris had also asked if we could do the Chinese Finger Ceremony that represents how couples are meant to be together. I had never seen this done before and was very glad they brought it to my attention.

The Chinese believe that all the fingers on the hand represent our relationships with our families and that they show by their very capabilities how partners in life are meant to remain together;

the thumb represents our parents

the index finger represents our siblings

the middle finger represents ourselves

the ring finger represents our spouse

the pinky finger represents our children

Here is how it works; you put your palms together, not quite touching, and bend down your middle fingers (that represents yourself) so they are touching at the second knuckle. Then you put all the other finger tips together. You will find that you can separate all the finger tips except your spouse finger because your parents, siblings and children are meant to go from you in their lives. Only your spouse is meant to stay with you and, indeed, you cannot separate your ring fingers from each other when your hands are held this way. I had everyone join in as I was showing them what to do and explaining the symbolism as I went. There was a very powerful shared moment as all the guests came to realize this amazing symbol of love and commitment we each carry in our own hands.

When it came time for the wedding kiss and the recessional, a pair of Canadian geese flew over the aisle from the lake. Canadian geese mate for life and those geese seemed an apt symbol of the deep and abiding love and commitment Taylor and Chris have for each other. Yes, it truly was a perfect day for a wedding.

Taylor and Chris, may you always have the glorious life together that your wedding day portends.

___

Becky and Jeff Marry at Historic Crenshaw Hall Surrounded by Omens of Love and Luck

2011-11-05T13:55:00.008-04:00

Becky and Jeff had a halting start to their relationship. Friends set them up and on their first date but there wasn’t a lot of talking. Hmm. A couple of months later they went to a Journey concert but still not a lot of talking going on so they figured it wasn’t a good fit. Luckily for them both, Jeff looked her up again a year later and asked her out. She said yes and they have been together ever since.

The wedding day was expected to be rainy, as it had been for the rehearsal, so everyone was enlisted to visualize the wedding day as sunny - preferably with a slight breeze, thank you very much. Well, all those prayers and visualizations worked in spades for there were positive omens everywhere you looked on the wedding day.

Talking with the radiant Bride before the ceremony began, she told me TWO four-leaf clovers had been found out in the grass by a nephew and one of them she had tucked into a lily in her beautiful bouquet. I thought that was rather impressive and got a shot of it right then and there.

Although there was no rain, the sky was definitely overcast but, as we were all so thankful there was no rain, that was fine with us. However, as I began talking about Becky and Jeff in the Address portion of the ceremony, the sun came out and shined directly on all of us, but especially on Becky and Jeff. It was remarkable. Becky’s veil was glowing in the sunshine, making it look like she had a halo around her head. It made their vows even more poignant.

When the ceremony was over and I was walking over to chat with Becky and Jeff before their photos began, I saw four bald eagles flying overhead. Not only do you seldom see a bald eagle, but four together? HIGHLY unusual. Among other very positive attributes, eagles are ancient symbols of spiritual protection, wisdom, courage, strength, great power, balance, dignity with grace. How appropriate for this special couple who are all about love for each other and their families.

I would say that with all the prayers and best wishes going up from all of us for that wedding, The Universe was stepping in to answer all of them. Becky and Jeff are sure to have an incredible life to come!

The ceremony was held at the lovely Historic Crenshaw Hall in Wake Forest. Nestled out in the countryside and off the beaten path, it is a lovely wedding and reception location, adaptable for large or small groups. Christie Fernandez is the Owner and Manager and she knows exactly how to use this charming venue to best effect. It was great working with her and getting to see how she works. She is very efficient.

Here is the intimate wedding garden.

And the huge terrace beside the house, perfect for the cocktail hour and dancing under the stars later. A tent was set up in case of rain which, luckily, was not necessary in the end.

Also on hand to help Becky and Jeff create their wonderful day was Courtney Scholl of Parties by Bash. With two such capable ladies, there was no chance of anything going wrong at all. And besides, luck was completely on the side of Becky and Jeff.

The musicians were Scott Laird on violin, Elena Evans on flute and Jamie Walker on cello (hope to have Jamie’s contact link soon). Their music was superb and fit beautifully with the feel of the celebration and the environment itself.

Sitting on a china cabinet inside the Hall was this little sign with a great saying, “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” With everything I saw in action for this wedding, I would say this is the most perfect decoration they could have had - besides their love, Mother Nature and The Universe, of course.

Becky and Jeff, may all your amazing omens of love and luck remain as abundant in your life to come as they were on your wedding day!

___

Christina and Dan Have a Happy Wedding and Share Their Students’ Words About Why They Should Marry

2011-10-30T15:55:00.004-04:00

Christina and Dan met four years ago when both were teaching at the same elementary school. Dan says they were “like magnetic forces that couldn’t be pulled apart” and as I have gotten to know them, I can see how this must have been true. They are still magnets for each other and love is truly at the core of their lives.

This fun-loving couple, who were so happy to be married they literally danced out the aisle at the end of the ceremony, had a great idea for something special to include in their wedding. They wanted to use the answers their students (3rd and 4th graders) gave to two writing assignments;

1. You should get married because...

2. You should marry Ms. Burton / Mr. Gross because...

Here, in the words and spelling of their students, are the astute and fun responses to the assignment. Out of the mouths of babes...

Dan started it this way; Obviously the best part about our jobs is the children. Sometimes they have a way of looking at things that is so simple it makes everything clear and puts everything in perspective. We asked them to complete two statements about marriage, and despite their young age, their thoughts on love and marriage were surprising, heartwarming, caring, and sometimes just downright hilarious.

You should get married because….

… you will never be lonely and you will always have someone by your side.

…your life will be better and you will be happy.

…you love that person.

… you can live a happy life with the person you love.

… you make a good couple.

… you could live a happy life with your prince charming and you’ll have someone to yell at when you do something wrong.

…you will not be lonely and you don’t have to pay all the bills on your own.

…you are old, and you just need to.

…I DON’T KNOW!

Dan continued; Sometimes kids can see things that adults would miss on a day to day basis. Here are the things that we love about each other in the words of our students.

You should marry Ms. Burton or Mr. Gross because… (read, alternating, by Dan and Christina)

I should marry Ms. Burton because…she is funny, pretty, smart, amazing, awesome, cool and she is pretty good for me.

I should marry Mr. Gross because…he is nice, hansom, he loves mountain dew and Twinkies, he likes dogs, he wants kids, that’s all.

I should marry Ms. Burton because… she is very beautiful, smart, and she is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G

I should marry Mr. Gross because… he is entertaining, and HOT!

I should marry Ms. Burton because… Why would I not!?, she is awesome, smart, funny and always happy.

I should marry Mr. Gross because… He can rock out on Guitar Hero!

I should marry Ms. Burton because… she is a wonderful person, she loves kids, she is down to earth and a heart warming person.

I should marry Mr. Gross because… He is FRICKIN AWESOME!

Christina’s closing words; We hope that we can always see each other as clearly and lovingly as a child sees someone that they care about and that we can always find things that we adore about each other that others may not see.
___

This charming addition to their ceremony speaks volumes about the heart of this couple. Not only were they laughing as they read, but so were all their guests. It was great fun. All through the wedding, Christina and Dan were laughing and giggling and their guests were right there with them. Weddings should be happy celebrations and this one certainly was.

The ceremony and reception were held at the serenely beautiful Pine Lake Pavilion in Mebane. This is a wonderful wedding location for large or small weddings and I always enjoy being there. It is simply beautiful, with a a great, positive energy.

On hand to make sure this fun-loving couple and their guests had a great time and a great celebration was Jennifer Ball, the Events Manager of the Pavilion. Her fun energy was pitch-perfect for this happy group and she certainly added to the success of this event.

Also on hand was their DJ, Chris May, of Big Boy Productions. He was a lot of fun, too, very professional and, with a twinkle in his eye, you could tell he was going to be an asset for this event as well. Here he is with his tech assistant, whose name I did not get, unfortunately, but he was a great help for Chris to be sure.

The photographers were McDorman Photography. Comprised of the husband and wife team of Rob and Aimee McDorman, they were all over the place taking photos from every angle and not missing any of the special moments. I can’t wait to see their photos when they are online - they are sure to be spectacular!

Despite the sunshine, the day was very cold, but it had rained all the day before and into the wedding day morning, so none of us were complaining. Obviously Mother Nature was on board and contributing her part.

Christina and Dan, to paraphrase the reading your friend did from Dr. Seuss, “You’re off to great places, you’re off on your way. And will you succeed? Yes you will - 98 and ¾ percent guaranteed! Kids, you’ll move mountains, today is your day, your mountain is waiting so get on your way!”

Your students are mighty lucky to have teachers like you.
___

Update 10/30/11 - Just got an email from Christina and Dan with a link to a video of their first dance as husband and wife. They are one fun couple and their surprise first dance certainly reflects their personalities. Here is the link. Enjoy!
___

Reva and Michelle Commit Their Lives Together at Preston-Woodall House in Benson, NC

2011-10-30T10:56:00.009-04:00

It was a gorgeous day for a wedding. The Brides were glowing, nature was glowing, there was so much happiness around you could feel it everywhere you turned. This day was a culmination of a love that had started two years ago for two very lovely women and I was so happy to have a part in the beginning of the next phase of their lives.

Reva and Michelle chose the Preston-Woodall House in Benson as the location for their very special celebration. With everything overseen by the friendly and capable Events Manager, Diane Seymour, (who I learned is planning herself to marry in Feb 2012 - congratulations, Diane!) it was sure to be a very special day.

They chose black, white and hot pink as their colors and used this glorious combination to great effect throughout the event, starting with the bouquets and the aisle decorations, right down to the shoes of the Bridesmaids and the socks of the Groomsmen. Love those wedding ring accents in the bouquets.

That cheery hot pink color was a great accent that added a perfect compliment to the glowing Brides and the happiness of the day.

Inside the ballroom, the decor picked up more of the black and white elements, from the seating chart to the tables and the cake.

The cake was provided by Sweet Memories Bakery and sported a simple pink and white orchid topper.

Their DJ for the day was the very kind and fun Lenny Fritts of A Touch of Class DJ. His company is aptly named for indeed he is class all the way. I love working with him. Unfortunately I didn’t manage to get a good shot of Lenny that day, but here is one of him from his website.

___

Other wedding professionals who helped Reva and Michelle create their beautiful day;

Florals - Dutch Iris Florist

Photographer - Ted Salamone - 20/20 Photo Video

___

Reva’s wedding ring was her grandmother’s wedding ring. I wear my grandmother’s wedding ring all the time on my right hand, but to wear your grandmother’s ring as a wedding ring that reminds you of a love from your past and now another love from your present and future - she will be surrounded by love! Her grandmother would have been so proud. It makes my heart smile just to think of it.

This wonderful photo of Reva and Michelle was displayed at the reception with a sign under it that says, “Our Life, Our Story.” I was so happy to have played a small part in the story of these two beautiful Brides. As they begin the next chapter of their story, I hope all the sweet, wonderful things that all of us in their lives wish for them will come true many times over.

___

The Most Romantic Honeymoon Cities in the World

2011-10-28T14:32:00.014-04:00

photo by Jérémy of Deviant Art

Someone recently sent me a note thanking me for all the helpful information she had found on this blog and my website when she and her fiancé (now-husband) were planning their wedding. She told me they had used a lot of the ideas and resources she had found there and, since a lot of what I do with my sites is designed to help people create beautiful weddings, it was a nice compliment to learn the sites had been so helpful for them.

Emily said her husband, Eric, had also surprised her with the honeymoon of her dreams and she was deeply touched that he had gone to so much effort to surprise her with something so spectacular. We ladies LOVE those romantic proposals and honeymoons because they tell us how much our fella cares about us. Who hasn’t dreamed about walking hand-in-hand in some romantic city of the world with the man you love so dearly?

Emily told me that when she asked Eric how he had come up with such a great honeymoon plan, he told her about a web page he had found called “The History of the Most Romantic Cities of the World.” It is an excellent resource for those planning destination weddings and/or romantic getaways, complete with extensive information about the history of the areas, what to see and do and where to stay. The city choices are, of course, subjective, and the list includes many of the cities one would naturally assume, but it also contains some less obvious additions that might surprise you. It is a well-rounded list and is certainly worth the read.

The page is on a dating website, datehookup.com, and they have a lot of other interesting articles there about travel as well as all the general dating information one might expect to find. Kudos to the site for being so broadly helpful to its readers.

Honeymoon planning is filled with fun and excitement, anticipation, curiosity and learning about the many amazing places in our world. I have used Paris photos here because I envision myself and my husband, Bill, holding hands at the Eiffel Tower someday, but the world is filled with an unending supply of romantic locales to explore and enjoy.

Thanks, Emily, for sending the link that Eric used to plan your beautiful honeymoon. I could tell from your words it was beyond all you had ever dreamed and I really appreciate your extending yourself to help others create their own romantic honeymoons.

___

Danielle and Adam - The Fairy Tale Love Comes True at Last

2011-10-24T14:18:00.010-04:00

...and the Prince and Princess were married at last (after 18 years!) to live happily ever after. The Prince was so happy that he kissed his Bride for a long, long, long time.

But I am getting ahead of myself.

Once upon a time, in a land far away, there lived a beautiful young girl named Danielle and a handsome young boy named Adam. Danielle and Adam met and fell in love in high school and Adam even told Danielle he would marry her someday. But, alas, it seemed that was not to be. A magic spell called Danielle and Adam to different quests in life and their paths took them away from each other. Occasionally over the years they would see each other again but they were each on their own path and were not to be deterred. Eventually Danielle had a bright and charming little son.

Then one day the spell was broken. A way to stay in contact was found and their old bond became a kind and helpful friendship - albeit in different kingdoms. As good friend do, they helped each other through tough times and one day Adam’s path was pointing to a move to Danielle’s kingdom. The ladylove that he had never stopped loving was now on his horizon at last.

As their friendship grew and deepened through the next year, they began to think of themselves as a little family and with delighted happiness their own families cheered when they one day told them they were planning to marry.

So here we are, back to where this post began - Danielle and Adam beginning their happily ever after.
___

They chose for the setting of this magical celebration The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary. Ami Wheeler, the Social Catering Manager, was on hand to make sure this wonderful fairy tale had a splendiferous castle for a backdrop. She is a real delight to work with - very caring, efficient and knowledgeable and one of the best in her field. Great job as always, Ami.

Because family is THE most important thing to this couple, Danielle was escorted down the aisle by both her father and her son.

Danielle and Adam wrote a letter to their mothers that was touching beyond words and then gave them each a book and roses. Adam’s father did a reading about love and Danielle’s father wrote his reading about bringing family together.

Both were very touching.

After her father’s reading, Danielle, Adam and Joshua then braided a rope as a wonderful symbol of family unity and that rope will be proudly displayed in their home. This will be a very sweet memento.

Danielle and Adam each wrote something special to the other that they read during the ceremony. Eighteen years of life and emotion were encapsulated in those words and it was very moving.

At the end of the ceremony came the breaking of the glass - but with a twist. There were three glasses tied together (as you saw in one of the photos above) and Adam, Danielle and Joshua all stepped on them at the same time, breaking three individual glasses. This was followed by my introducing them as husband, wife and family and an immediate giant cheer from all the guests.

So the fairy tale had come true at last. Love triumphs over all.

Other wedding professionals on hand to celebrate this love story;

Music for the ceremony - an Arioso Strings duet with Ed on guitar and Craig on violin - superb as ever

Music for the reception - Joe Bunn - Joe Bunn DJ Company - first class style all the way

Photographer - Shane Snider and his assistant, Lindsey Wachter - Shane Snider Photography - I love his work and his happy smile! (Many thanks to Shane for the use of his photos in this post.)

Videographer - Joshua on his Flip video camera

___

Danielle and Adam, since I was a little girl I have always loved fairy tales. Thank you for allowing me to participate in one as beautiful as yours.

___

The Siena Hotel in Chapel Hill is a Wonderful Venue for Intimate Weddings

2011-10-20T22:43:00.003-04:00

I recently had the very distinct pleasure of meeting Ari Bobbitt, the new Catering Manager of The Siena Hotel in Chapel Hill. Ari has established herself as a fine manager at other hotels and is planning to build up the wedding business at The Siena. I am so glad to see this happening because this little gem of a hotel has lain dormant for weddings for far too long.

Ari tells me they specialize in weddings of up to 100 guests and they have their own renowned chef, pastry chef and an amazing wine cellar to provide scrumptious delights. Indeed, the lunch I had there was absolutely delicious.

The staff was wonderful. You could not ask for better service or more friendly, helpful people. I was most impressed with everyone there, from the doorman who opened my door before I even got to it, to those at the front desk and all the wait staff at the restaurant. Top notch from beginning to end. Ari has a goal to make every wedding couple feel special from the moment they arrive for an initial chat with her through the end of their wedding and reception experience - and I can sense from her personality and that of her staff that she must be very successful in this.

As you pull into the parking lot of the hotel, a statue of a stallion is there to greet you. There is a famous horse race in Siena, Italy, called the Palio and it is for this that The Siena’s restaurant, “Il Palio,” is named.

Once inside the hotel, you are greeted with lush, Italian ambience and that friendly southern hospitality. This makes for a great combination.

If you are looking for a special location for your wedding, reception or any other event of 100 guests or less, you should definitely contact Ari Bobbitt by phone (919-918-2544) or email at The Siena Hotel. You will be very glad you did.
___

Jim and Karen Marry in Polynesian Style

2011-10-15T13:00:00.006-04:00

Karen and Jim are avid sailors and travelers and for their fun wedding they wanted to give a nod to their upcoming honeymoon to Tahiti and Bora Bora. Complete with hula and fire dancers provided by South Sea Dancers - who also doubled as the DJ - it was a unique celebration of love and life. Their neighbors had very graciously offered the use of their back yard for the event and the pool and decorations created a Polynesian ambience that was perfect for the luau theme. The full moon above was an added gift from Mother Nature.

You entered through this gate into a Polynesian luau setting and everyone received a beautiful lei.

Jim and I did some last minute planning and he wasn’t yet aware of the nice surprise Karen had for him.

I was to await the appointed moment and when it came, he and I entered to take our places while this lovely young friend of the family began to sing to him. Jim got all teary-eyed.

She continued to sing as Karen made her entrance, carrying her beautiful, tropical bouquet by The Flower Cupboard.

The pool and Polynesian decorations created a lovely backdrop for this happy celebration.

Jim’s dad, in his 80s, and Karen’s 94 year old grandmother were happily watching the ceremony and, as you will see later, were fully immersed in the festivities of the night. Age? Bah! Their hearts and their spirits are as young as ever!

After the ceremony and the delicious luau dinner came the official cake cutting moment. This stunning cake was created by Donna Ford of Sweet Memories and it was almost too beautiful to cut.

After that, the DJ had everyone out on the dance floor all around the pool. Leading the fun were Jim’s dad and Karen’s grandmother. I think they pretty much out-danced everyone!

There was a big dance performance in store for all of us, starting with the hula dancers,

and ending with a fire dancer. What a great show!

South Sea Dancers is a Hawaiian family now living in North Carolina and they do know how to do it right. I recommend them highly.

After the dancers performed, then came the hula lessons! Quite a few brave souls got up to join in and many hearty laughs ensued. It was great fun.

Mahalo (thank you in Hawaiian) to the many people whose photos Karen and Jim posted on Facebook and I have used here. And mahalo to Karen and Jim for including me in your sweet, beautiful wedding. I was transported back to Hawaii for a few hours, starting with your hula girl greeters and the leis.

It is believed by many that wishing on a full moon means wishes are fulfilled more quickly. I hope you made a special wish on your wedding moon.

Aloha!
___

Laurie and John Christen their Daughter, Molly, at Shelley Lake Park in Raleigh

2011-10-12T15:58:00.005-04:00

It was a bright, sunny day and Laurie and John had chosen Shelley Lake Park as the beautiful location for their daughter’s christening. Located in Raleigh, the park is nestled in quiet woods along the banks of a serene little lake. Surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, we held a sweet christening ceremony for Molly in a shady corner of the walkway over the lake.

I love this shot. Look at Laurie and Molly’s faces and the tender way John is holding Molly’s hand.

Molly was so curious about everything and she didn’t cry at all when I christened her. That curiosity made it hard for me to christen her on her forehead, though. I had to get her on the top of her head instead.

I always ask the parents to bring water in which they have placed their prayers, hopes and dreams for their child and to provide a special bowl for it that means something to them. What better way to have blessed water for a christening than to have it include the prayers and energies of the parents’ love for their child? Laurie and John had brought a simple, white scalloped bowl and a white stand to place it on. It was perfect.

After the ceremony, we naturally took turns taking photos with our little cutie. She was dressed in the same christening dress that her mommy had worn when she was christened. I love the continuity in that.

Notice Molly’s little boy cousin holding her hand here.

And offering her his prized piece of pine straw here. There is nothing bigger than the heart of a child.

And, of course, I got to be in a photo, too.

Here is the whole family - such happy faces on a beautiful, happy day.

The circle of Life grows ever wider and it is always a gift to be a part of it. Thank you, Laurie and John, for including me in such a special time in the life of your family.
___

Joanna and Garnetta Celebrate their Rainbow Love with a Heartfelt Commitment Ceremony

2011-10-10T00:11:00.010-04:00

You would be hard-pressed to find a happier couple, or one with more joie de vivre than Joanna and Garnetta. They met five years ago when Joanna attended a karaoke show and Garnetta was the DJ. Their mutual interest was immediate and a friendship began that quickly became a deepening love. Within a few months, they were a couple and they have been happily together ever since.

I was so pleased when they decided to work with me for their wedding. I could tell they were going to put their hearts into their ceremony so it was going to be very special - and a lot of fun. I was right on both counts. There are so many things to share about them but I would need a book instead of the space of a blog post, so I am going to have to touch on only the highlights. All the photos here are from their talented photographer, Steve Rubin, of Steve Rubin Photography, who has graciously allowed the use of his photos. He is a kind and caring man and he took a lot of pleasure in capturing for them the true emotions of the event. If you would like to see more of his photos from Joanna and Garnetta’s commitment ceremony, here is a link.

The ceremony and reception took place in their home and, because the weather was rainy all weekend, they had to put up a tent in the yard. As much as they had wanted the ceremony to be under the stars, the weather just wouldn’t cooperate, but it turned out that the tent added a sense of intimacy they hadn’t expected. It was like all the love got bounced back down from the ceiling of the tent and just made everything more.

Joanna’s father had passed away, sadly, so her brother came to town to walk her down the aisle.

She still had her father with her, though, because she carried a small urn containing some of his ashes. I have never seen another bride do this before and it was very touching.

During the ceremony, Joanna and Garnetta included a Memorial Candle to honor Joanna’s father and Garnetta’s grandmother, who would have been 100 years old that day. She was the reason they had chosen to have their ceremony on that particular date and in their home they have a grandmother clock that never runs anymore, being set at the time she passed. The Memorial Candle was beautifully embossed with the names of the loved ones.

Both ladies wrote their vows to each other and read them from cards. Happily, Steve got some shots of their faces as they were listening to the other read their vows.

They also wanted to include a Sand Ceremony, which is a beautiful symbol of lives joined together. The sand was all set up in beautiful vases, awaiting the proper time in the ceremony.

But something none of us had thought about was how sand holds moisture - and that sand had been sitting out in the damp air for a few hours waiting for the ceremony to begin. As they began to pour and some of the sands started to blend into a lovely pattern, most of the sand was damp and became stuck in the vases - and would not pour! Eventually, after determined perseverance, they got all the sand out but it made for a few funny minutes while they worked together to make it happen.

There were multiple musical interludes for songs that are special to Joanna and Garnetta. Through every one of them, Garnetta sang quietly along and Joanna and all of us were charmed by such an honest and sincere display of love.

Eventually it was time for the ring exchange and the kiss.

Joanna was quick to wipe off her lipstick smudge. Very thoughtful.

After the ceremony, as the guests were lining up to blow bubbles around them for their first dance, they hid out beside the house, away from the guests, for a few private moments and some photos.

I came to join them for photos and Steve took this wonderful shot of the three of us together. What happy faces! I really love this photo.

Then they went out on the dance floor for their first dances. I say dances because they actually did two first dances - the second was to an Elvis Presley song that Joanna’s father had recorded before he passed. Deeply moving.

From that point on, the partying began and they put on one heck of a fun party. Garnetta had chosen the whole playlist of wonderful tunes for eating, dancing and having a great time in general. With Garnetta’s expertise as a DJ and she and Joanna’s shared love of music, you can bet they are going to have a grand musical backdrop for the rest of their lives.

Here is a picture of the Best Man making a toast. Check out the expressions on their faces - you can see already the kind of celebration that was coming.

Because this was a commitment ceremony, Rainbow Pride was in the decorations. Joanna made the Flower Girl basket and the Ring Bearer pillow,

the napkins were printed with the rainbow,

and the adorable guest favors were these cute bubble gum machines with hand made tags. “Taste the Rainbow” is a great tag line!

Joanna’s garter was even the rainbow.

On the table by the guest book sat these beautiful wedding goblets and this lovely engagement photo, taken by Steve.

Speaking of the guest book, I have never seen one like this before... it was perfect for a fairy tale wedding.

There were so many fun moments between them and their guests, not to mention everyone thoroughly enjoying themselves out on the dance floor. Here are a couple cute shots with the Flower Girl and Ring Bearer.

And this is a photo of the happy couple with Garnetta’s children. A very nice family, indeed.

Before I left, Steve was tapping guests to help him with a photographic experiment. He had Joanna and Garnetta stand together and lined four of us up to their left. Then he gave the four of us small flashlights and told us to make a specific letter in the air, but make it backwards. (Huh?) We did what we were told, and this is the amazing result - WOW! (I was the E.)

Their beautiful wedding cake was made by Once In A Blue Moon Bakery in Cary. (Don’t you just love that name!) It tasted every bit as good as it looked, which is unusual for so many wedding cakes.

Joanna and Garnetta, thank you so much for your happy, caring approach to life. It is infectious and fun, touching and unforgettable! I LOVE the beautiful, engraved bookmark you gave me and it will be with me forever. Every time I look at it - which will be all the time because I am a big reader - I will think of you and your giant hearts. You deserve all the grand things Life is sure to hold in store. May all your dreams come true in unique and wonderful ways.

___

Stephanie, Chuck and Brooke Become an Official Family in a Sweet Wedding Ceremony

2011-10-09T20:17:00.002-04:00

For Stephanie and Chuck, it is all about their love and support for each other and their becoming a family with Stephanie’s daughter, Brooke. This thoughtful wedding was to be about the mutual love that surrounds and supports them all and they did so many sweet things to let everyone know how happy they were that their guests could come and share such a special day with them.

For starters, they had goodie bags for all the children so they would have something special for themselves and it wouldn’t be all about just the adults.

There were colorful tissues on each seat when the guests arrived and I saw more than a few people taking advantage of them during the ceremony - and not just the ladies, either.

Those family members who had already passed on were prominently remembered with photos and memorial candles that the guests could see immediately when they entered. Another way they were honored was that, in lieu of guest favors, Stephanie and Chuck had made a donation to the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

Their wonderfully different programs had a wedding crossword puzzle on the back that they had cleverly created. “Across” and “Down” were built upon things like the following;

Groom’s favorite sports team

2012 vacation destination with Brooke

Honeymoon cruise line

Bride’s eye color

Groom’s middle name
Bride’s alum university

Grade Brooke is in school

There were 17 questions and at the bottom of the program, under the crossword puzzle, a note said the answer key was to be displayed at the reception. I’ll bet more than a few people took their programs over there to see how they had done!

During the ceremony, Brooke was included all the way through. She was the Flower Girl, she invited everyone to stand as her mother entered down the aisle (and she wielded that mic with some real maturity and presence!), she had a candle of her own for the Family Unity Candle Ceremony,

and in a special presentation to her, Stephanie and Chuck gave her a ring and necklace to commemorate the happy day they all were married. Playing in the background was the Keith Urban song, Making Memories of Us, and it was all I could do to keep from getting so choked up I wouldn’t be able to continue the ceremony.

This trio love each other dearly and Brooke had been saying for months that after the wedding she was going to be able to call Chuck, “Stepdad.” That was a big thing to her and it was touching to see her calling him Stepdad right after the ceremony. Knowing how important that was to all three of them, it couldn’t help but melt your heart when you heard it. Included in the program was a beautiful poem Stephanie and Chuck had written to Brooke and they had signed it, “All Our Love, Your Mommy and Stepdad.”

Brooke was clearly excited about everything and she was totally captivated by the ceremony. I love these photos showing her looking and listening so intently during the ceremony and speaking animatedly with her Great-Grandmother. She was just adorable.

___

Others on hand to help make the day such a happy event for Stephanie and Chuck;

Wedding Planner - Nicole McMillan - Premiere Party Planners
DJ - Steve Lillmars - Complete Music and Video
Wedding Location - Chef’s Palette Restaurant and Bar in Cary
___

Stephanie and Chuck, I know you are going to have the most wonderful life, loving each other, having each other’s backs, and raising your charming little Brooke. I’ll be watching your Facebook page for all the photos and updates on your life. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the official beginning of your family.

___

Alyssa and Alex Celebrate Love of Family at Their Wedding in Greystone Inn of Durham

2011-10-06T04:29:00.004-04:00

So how do two Ph.D students manage to find time to meet, much less marry? They used the scientific method - Match.com! And they do seem excellently matched.

They met in 2006, while they were still in school in Pittsburgh, and have been together ever since. Schooling has taken up most of their time as they worked through their studies at colleges around the nation, so wedding planning had to take a back seat until now.

They chose as their wedding location the stately Greystone Inn and Conference Center. Once the home of the venerable Washington Duke family, it is now owned and lovingly kept by Leslie Brame, who has restored it and furnished it with period pieces. It is fun to walk through the rooms imagining what it must have been like to have lived there.

Alyssa and Alex wisely chose Elana Walker of Savoir Faire - Event Planning and Management as their wedding planner. Because they currently live in California, wedding planning was doubly challenging from so far away and Elana was a very capable go-to person to make sure everything went off as planned. She certainly did a beautiful job of it and I will be looking forward to our working together again.

Alyssa and Alex wanted to have a green wedding and they did everything they could to make it a reality. They used Green Planet Catering of Raleigh because they use crops grown by NC State students as well as other eco-minded local growers. Their motto is “Saving the planet, one plate at a time.”

Alyssa and Alex would not use flowers because of the pesticides so Alyssa made bouquets for she and her Maid of Honor from family heirloom brooches, filled out with other old brooches she had found at yard sales. The bouquets were amazing.

They made their own pomander decorations from recycled paper and used them to good effect at the altar and on the aisle chairs.

Because it was important to Alyssa and Alex that the ceremony be about the work and commitment that sustains a marriage and the love and support of their family, there were a lot of sentimental touches. Their parents and grandparents had set fine examples of love and marriage and the family who were no longer with them were remembered with photos set up along the edges of the front porch of the Inn, where the ceremony took place.

Alyssa was wearing her tributes, not only in the family heirloom bouquet but also in her veil and jewelry;

pearl bracelet - from her Great Aunt, handed down to her Aunt, and borrowed for the wedding

pearl necklace - from Alex’s grandmother

veil - her mother’s wedding veil

She looked like a bride from the 1920s and it all went together beautifully. Her dress, hair and make-up were of that period and it suited her soft, quiet manner perfectly. Greystone Inn was the elegant backdrop that looked like Hollywood casting.

The DJ for the day was Brian Fore of DJ B4. He is shown here on the right and he sure kept things going musically. Also in this photo are Elana and her excellent assistants, Joella, shown on the left and Donnell, standing next to her. It was great working with all of them. Nice job, everyone. Very nice job.

The videographers for the event were the amazing husband and wife team, Philip and Mackenzie Henry of Ink Spot Crow Films. I have worked with them before and can’t wait to see how this video turns out. There are a few videographers whose work I can’t stop watching over and over again when I see it and this is one of them. Excellent work always. .

(Update 10/7/11 - Just got an email from Mackenzie that the wedding highlights video is now online. It is a great video that really catches the personalities of Alyssa and Alex. It is also a perfect example of why it is such an asset to have professional videographers for your wedding. Here is the link, if you would like to check it out. Love those Krispy Kreme hats!)

Their photographer for the day was Beatrice Yaxley, of Beatrice Yaxley Photography. I have never worked with her before, but judging from her website, she is quite a talent. Looking forward to seeing the photos when they are online.

Alyssa and Alex, I enjoyed meeting you and working with you to create such a charming and heartfelt wedding. I hope your future together is filled with the bounty of nature and all the good things that come from caring about and giving back to the earth.

____

I Get to Pronounce Elena and Mark as Husband and Wife - in Russian

2011-10-05T15:03:00.013-04:00

Elena and Mark married on a beautiful sunny day at the home of his mother, surrounded by family and friends from NC. Most of Elena’s family and friends were not able to attend the wedding because they live in Russia, Elena’s native country. The only one at the wedding from her circle of people was her beautiful daughter, Ally, a teenage carbon copy of her mom. Ally was the Bridesmaid.

Before the ceremony began, Elena and her daughter were on Skype with their family and friends in Russia who had gathered together to celebrate this special day. Isn’t it wonderful that technology can bring families together like that, despite such distances. After the ceremony was over, the happy Bride and Groom were planning to call Russia again and Skype with everyone - but this time as husband and wife.

The ceremony took place on a broad expanse of lush, green lawn, within a beautiful arbor and plants that had been set up by Mark’s sisters. It was a perfect setting for celebrating the love that was so strong it had brought Elena and her daughter from Russia to North Carolina.

Providing the music for the ceremony were Mark’s friends, David Langham on acoustic guitar and Nancy Maeder on vocals. They were terrific and I learned after the ceremony that they also sing and play professionally with The Road Home Band. They don’t yet have a website, but you can reach them by phone and email;

Nancy - 919-428-1542 email

David - 919-943-0589 email

Before the ceremony, Mark had asked me if I would pronounce them husband and wife in Russian, as a surprise for Elena. A bit daunted by this, I told him I would be happy to if he would coach me on how to say it properly. This prompted a phone call that would have made anyone laugh if they had heard my halting attempts. But in the end, I must have said it properly because when the time came for me to pronounce them husband and wife and I started speaking Russian, Elena’s eyes got HUGE with surprise and she went from a timid smile to a giant, happy one. Her surprised eyes and smile touched my heart and I was very glad I had worked so hard to get the pronunciation correct. Thank you, Mark, for helping me make your wedding even more special than it already was.

I also noticed a little tear running down Mark’s cheek shortly after the ceremony began, way before we ever got to the vows or the pronouncement. There was a lot of love there that day and it was a gift to me to have been a part of it.
___

Mikki and Hector Create a Beautiful Celebration of Love at Preston-Woodall House in Benson, NC

2011-09-29T20:59:00.010-04:00

Mikki and Hector have a wonderful love story. Hector is originally from San Salvador and when he came to America he went to work for Mikki’s father in the construction business. Mikki worked there, too, and her dad asked Hector to watch over her when she was at job sites. Hector was dutiful to this assignment and eventually (7 years later!) the two of them started noticing each other as more than just coworkers. Through many long conversations over Coca-Colas, a friendship grew that eventually deepened into love.

They decided to marry at the stately Preston-Woodall House in Benson, NC. Presided over by the Special Events Manager, Diane Seymore, it was the perfect choice for the completely heartfelt and DIY wedding they had put together.

Mikki has her own drywall business these days and can put up drywall with the best of them - but she is also quite a handy lady on many other levels, too, with a lot of creative ideas and the know-how for implementation!

For starters, she made all the Bridesmaid jewelry, as well as jewelry for herself and the Flower Girl.

Notice the touches of crystal she added to the lovely vines that decorated the pillars of the pergola where the ceremony took place.

This interesting family tree was created by Mikki and Hector. The way the family added themselves to the tree was to dip their fingers in a pot of paint and then put their fingerprint somewhere on a tree branch. I would have loved to have seen that all filled in by the end of the night!

Birds were the theme of the event and they were everywhere on display... especially lovebirds. This very clever tree of birds was the seating chart - you found your bird hanging from a branch and the bird had your name and table assignment.

The table names were named for towns in both their countries. The names were written on a small chalkboard, edged in moss, and they stood next to an arrangement of flowers. Each floral vase stood on a beautiful slice of wood that Hector had cut and sanded. He had needed to heat the wood prior to all this to make sure he got out any bugs that might have been inside the wood. Big job, Hector!

On their table, Mikki and Hector had written “Mr. and Mrs.” and they had two lovebirds sitting there with another bird perched atop the chalkboard.

The rings were carried in by the very handsome Ring Bearer, Hector’s nephew, and he carried them in the same moss used on the tables. They looked beautiful in that moss and he handled them so carefully.

For the ceremony they had chosen some very special moments to share between themselves. Mikki had lost a sister and Hector his father and they chose a very unique way to honor them during the ceremony. They had each written letters to their loved one and during the ceremony they tied those letters to balloons and sent them aloft.

They also had special signs for the chairs where the person would have been sitting had they been there. It was all very touching and as those balloons went up, it was all I could do to stop the tears from welling up in my eyes and throat.

They also added an Anniversary Box ceremony to the wedding. They had written secret love letters to each other, to be placed inside a box with a couple of bottles of Coke (remember those long early talks over Cokes mentioned earlier?). On their first anniversary they plan to open the box, read the letters and share the Cokes. Very sweet.

Their beloved dog, Boudreaux was also there, wearing his own tux and looking pretty happy to be included.

This beautiful wedding cake, made by Cinda’s Creative Cakes, was topped with its own pair of lovebirds and sat on one of Hector’s wooden slabs. What a unique cake plate it made!

Their DJ was the fun DJ Richie, of RJ Entertainment, who always knows how to keep a party hopping. He was the perfect choice for Mikki and Hector‘s fun, high energy!

___

Other wedding professionals who helped Mikki and Hector create their wonderful wedding;

Photographer - Jamie Blow - J and J Photography
Videographer - Phil McInnis - Twenty-One Films
Flowers - Tracy Huntley - Springwell Gardens
___

(Update 10/21/11 - I have just learned their photographer has put up a blog post with the photos from the wedding. Great collection - and they captured the letters on the balloons. So happy to see that special moment again.)
___

Mikki and Hector, it was a real treat to get to know you and to be a part of such a special wedding. As long as I live, I will never forget your sending your love and prayers to your father and sister on those balloons. I still get choked up every time I think about it.
___

Marrying on September 9 Continues a Century-long Tradition in This Family

2011-09-21T17:51:00.000-04:00

Staff Sgt. Kyle Ray and his lovely bride, Angelynn, were married in Cincinnati on September 9, taking their place in a long line of family generations who have also married on that date. For a hundred years, Angelynn’s family has had a tradition of marrying on September 9 and because of that, some of her family in attendance were celebrating their own anniversaries that day. What a day of happy celebration that must have been for everyone and how proud the older generations must have been as they watched with pride while the next generation followed in their footsteps.

It was important to Kyle and Angelynn that they be a part of this honored tradition and they both say they hope their children (when they come along) will decide to marry on September 9 as well. What a unique and special family tradition!

Here is a great article about it from The Cincinnati Enquirer, sent to me by my daughter, Sarah. Thanks, Sarah. It’s a heartwarming story and I would have never known about it had you not sent me the link.
___

Stephanie and Lindsay Begin Their Married Life at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary

2011-09-13T22:12:00.007-04:00

Stephanie and Lindsay are a couple who have dedicated their lives to living life in a positive and caring manner and to keeping God at the core of their relationship. Everything about them reflects this approach to life and you can feel what special people they are when you are around them. Before the ceremony began, Stephanie and her Bridesmaids all gathered together, holding hands, and said a prayer for Stephanie and Lindsay’s marriage to come. Witnessing this special moment touched me deeply and it is something I will never forget.

The wedding and reception took place at the elegantly beautiful Prestonwood Country Club in Cary. I love doing weddings there for so many reasons, not the least of which is all the light streaming into the rooms through the giant windows. The staff there is always caring and accommodating and it makes for a great event all the way around.

The photo above is of Stephanie and Lindsay standing on the elegant stairway in the ballroom where the ceremony took place. Quite often, Prestonwood places the wedding cake on display on the landing just behind where the happy couple is standing in the photo and it makes for a wonderful presentation - plus some great photo ops when it comes time to cut the cake.

Here is a photo of Stephanie and her mom - doesn’t she look like her mother!

And what an amazing photo of Stephanie looking out the window with that soft light on her face. Kudos to the photographer.

There was so much heart in this wedding and it was perfect for this loving couple. Notice the looks on Stephanie and Lindsay’s faces when they were first introduced as husband and wife.

And the happy faces of one of the Bridesmaids with her husband and adorable little son in his tux, taken right after the wedding.

One of the wonderful things that Lindsay did for their wedding was to adapt some of the writings of William Shakespeare “for the modern ear,” as he put it. The piece was quite remarkable and it was made all the more memorable by Lindsay’s father reading it to the wedding couple during the ceremony.

Here is Mr. Shakespeare’s very sound advice from the 16th century, as adapted by Lindsay in the 21st century. It is remarkable how good advice will always remain apropos;

From my heart, you have my blessing; and remember these few ideas,

for they represent your character.

Give your words much thought, and act only after wise counsel and careful reflection.

Be honest, but by no means brutally so. The friends that have stood next to you

through life’s trials, hold closely to their bond.

Beware of entrance into an argument, that you choose your battles carefully;

But once involved; show others the wisdom of your reason.

Listen to all, but save your voice for when your experience has meaning.

Take note to the advice of others, but save your criticism, as the tongue can

sting.

Budget your account diligently, and avoid the trap of fancy clothes and fair.

Hold yourself honorably in quality presence, for appearance often proclaims the man.

Neither a borrower, nor a lender be; for debt can cause undue strain in marriage.

This above all; to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night follows the day, you cannot then be dishonest to any other.

I wish you both joy, to be blessed in a new life.

______________________

At the end of the evening’s celebration, Stephanie and Lindsay departed in a shower of bubbles from their guests. I cannot think of a happier or more appropriate way for them to make their exit, surrounded by the love and good wishes of all those who care so much for them.

Stephanie and Lindsay, I am so happy that you have found each other. You are sure to have a rich and full married life and, as you keep your love for each other and your commitment to God at the core of your lives, you will continue to build the firm foundation from which all your dreams can be realized.

Ana Lucia and Jeff Overcome Living in Two Countries to Marry at the Washington Duke Inn in Durham

2011-09-05T18:25:00.001-04:00

Ana Lucia lived in Guatemala and Jeff lives in North Carolina. They met online through a shared love of music and before you know it, emails and phone calls were going strong and Jeff decided to go visit Ana Lucia in Guatemala. That was it for both of them. From that point onward, they knew they were meant to be together and Ana Lucia eventually moved to be with Jeff this past spring.

But where to have the wedding with so many family and friends in two countries? They decided to have two weddings - one here this summer and one next spring in Guatemala. Luckily, Ana Lucia’s parents and a favorite Aunt were able to be here for this wedding.

Ana Lucia’s parents and Aunt speak English as a second language, but Ana Lucia and Jeff thought it would be so much easier for them if the ceremony was spoken in Spanish, so they hired a wonderful Spanish Interpreter I know, Crystal Reyes. I have worked with Crystal before for weddings and she takes the ceremony and translates it into Spanish. We then take turns speaking each paragraph so both the English and Spanish are spoken. It made for a very special intimacy to the ceremony and a very thoughtful surprise for Ana Lucia’s family.

For the vows, they each spoke their own vows in Spanish and English and it was very touching. Here is Jeff speaking his vows as his parents proudly look on.

By the way, most of the photos used in this blog post were taken by Ana Lucia and Jeff’s photographer, Joe Payne, of Joe Payne Photography. As you can see, he has a discerning eye and loves to add creative accents to his photos. New to the area himself, I will be looking forward to working with him again. He also speaks Spanish, which will surely be an asset for him. Thanks, Joe, for the use of your photos.

Ana Lucia and Jeff chose to have their ceremony at the elegant Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club in Durham. The Wedding Coordinator there on staff was Chantel Jordan, who did a marvelous job of making sure everything was perfect. You could tell she really cared about everything she did.

Because it was so hot outside, they wisely chose to have the ceremony indoors in a beautiful, round, sunlit room. I had never done a wedding in this room before and I hope there will be many more to come. It was perfect for the small, intimate ceremony and absolutely magnificent with the sun streaming in the giant windows, the beautiful carpet and furnishings, and the trellis mural on the ceiling.

Ana Lucia entered on the arm of her father, down the long hallway just outside the rotunda room. The hallway is full of windows and the light was beautiful on her as she entered, beaming, with her dad.

During the ceremony, Ana Lucia and Jeff decided to add a Unity Candle ceremony, a reading by her Aunt and, because it is a custom in Guatemala that the signing of the license be a part of the actual wedding ceremony and not take place afterwards, we included the signing of the license. I don’t know why we don’t do that here as well. It makes for a very special moment in the ceremony.

Here are Ana Lucia and Jeff as they light their Unity Candle.

And here is Ana Lucia’s mother signing the license as we all look on. Jeff’s father had already signed. Parents are always so flattered to be asked to sign the marriage license.

As Ana Lucia and Jeff recessed out the aisle, they waited at the door to greet their parents and guests. Here, Joe caught this touching photo of them hugging her parents.

This wedding was so special on so many levels and I was very honored to be a part of it. I know their next wedding ceremony in Guatemala will be every bit as touching for they are very kind people who love each other and their families deeply and continually think of ways to show that they do.

Information On Premarital Counseling from Guest Writer, Dr. Nicole Imbraguglio

2011-08-26T16:31:00.006-04:00

This is the first time I have ever had a guest writer for a blog post. The subject is so important I thought you might like to hear what a professional counselor has to say about the merits of premarital counseling. She and I were both trained with the Prepare/Enrich training program and it is indeed a wonderful technique that allows the counselor to assess a couple’s areas of conflict and to help them find effective ways to address them.

Here is Dr. Imbraguglio’s insightful post;

Sometimes hearing about “premarital counseling” can feel like a four-letter word when you’re in the midst of wedding planning. This is supposed to be the happiest time of your life right?! Why would anyone need any counseling prior to their wedding when the expectation of engaged couples is that they are super excited ALL THE TIME about getting married? (Really, how many times has someone asked you “Are you excited?!” about your upcoming wedding?) Isn’t counseling supposed to be for people who are in the depths of despair or for couples who are on the brink of a break-up?

The truth is being engaged is not all peaches and cream as far as feelings go and it probably is not the happiest you have ever been in your relationship with your fiancé. Most people feel some degree of fear, loneliness, stress, and some even feel doubt that they are making the right decision. What can be the most difficult about experiencing these feelings is that most people do not feel they are supposed to be feeling that way and never talk about it as a result. Because counselors know how to listen and help with unpleasant feelings, many engaged and newly married people find it easier to talk about the more
difficult parts of getting married with counselors than other people in their life who may not understand.

Sometimes it just feels good to talk about how you’ve been feeling to someone who has nothing to do with the wedding. Counselors have no opinion about what color the bridesmaids’ dresses should be or whether or not you should wear a veil. They are there just for you.

Another way counselors specializing in premarital or newly-married issues can be helpful is to assist you and your fiancé in laying a great foundation for your marriage. A great tool to help with this is the assessment offered by the PREPARE/ENRICH program (www.prepare-enrich.com). With the help of a counselor trained in the program, this assessment gives you EXACTLY the areas you and your partner should work on to have a satisfying long-lasting marriage. Even couples who already report having good relationships find a few premarital sessions further strengthening their relationship to be very helpful. With all the stress related to planning a wedding, wouldn’t it be nice to not have to worry at all about your upcoming marriage? Premarital counseling can give you just that.

My thanks to Dr. Nicole Imbraguglio for taking the time to write this post. You can read more about Dr. Imbraguglio and the other types of personal and family counseling she offers through this link to her website or you can contact her by email or phone; 919-572-0000.
___

Penny and Aric Christen Their Son, Jackson, at Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Durham

2011-08-12T13:42:00.002-04:00

I had the wonderful opportunity of marrying Penny and Aric in a lovely ceremony in January of 2010. (Here’s a link to the blog post I wrote about it.) They were the first couple I had ever seen who had only children in their bridal party. Because they did not yet have any children of their own, the children were of their family and friends and this made for a truly adorable bridal party.

Obviously, children are important to Penny and Aric and they planned to start having children as soon as possible. In March 2011 they became the proud parents of an adorable little boy they named Jackson.

I was overjoyed to learn of Jackson’s arrival and to later be asked by Penny and Aric to preside over his christening. On July 16, 2011, we gathered at Penny’s mother’s church, Pilgrim United Church of Christ, for an intimate christening ceremony with Penny and Aric, their mothers, and their friend, Robin Lin.

Penny is a professional photographer (Penny Noell Photography) and their friend, Robin Lin, is as well (Robin Lin Photography). Both ladies are renowned photographers in the local wedding industry and both brought their cameras along. All the photos used here were taken by Robin, except for the one of Robin, taken by Penny. Thanks for letting me use your sweet photos, ladies.

After the ceremony, we all took photos of ourselves with the little man of the hour;

Jackson with his proud mommy, Penny

the beaming parents, Penny and Aric, with me holding their adorable little Jackson

a group shot with everyone except Robin, who was behind the camera

Robin with Jackson

me with Jackson

The intimacy of the ceremony was very touching and perfect for the special moment we were commemorating. After the ceremony and photos were completed, we all went to lunch together and continued the happy camaraderie. Jackson decided to take a nap for a while - he had had a full morning.

It was a beautiful day, a beautiful ceremony, and a special moment in the life of this family. Penny hinted at more babies to come and I can’t wait to be a part of all their christenings as well. Watching families grow from love will always touch my heart.
___

Make A Rosary From Your Bridal Bouquet Flowers or From Any Flowers That Are Special To You

2011-08-07T12:49:00.003-04:00

photo courtesy of KeepsakeRosaries.com

Jessica, a lovely bride whose wedding I ministered yesterday, carried a beautiful rosary down the aisle with her bouquet. When I asked about it, she told me that it had been a gift from her mother and was made of the flowers from her beloved grandmother’s funeral. Jessica’s grandmother had not lived to be a part of her wedding but Jessica was making sure she was there with her all the same with a quietly beautiful and heartfelt showing of her love. Even more touching was the fact that her grandmother had known her funeral flowers were to be made into a memorial rosary and that Jessica would be carrying it with her when she married.

I was so incredibly touched by that rosary that I wanted to share it here with others. I was not even aware that one could make beads from flowers, much less turn flowers into a beautiful rosary, so I went online later that night to see what I could learn about it.

It turns out that there are a few companies online that do this sort of work and the flowers can be any flowers - wedding flowers, christening flowers, funeral flowers - any flowers that have been special to you. The bead colors matched the colors of the flowers used and all sorts of flowers were used, not just roses. What a beautiful and touching gift this would be for yourself or for anyone else you care about and what a wonderful keepsake it would be to commemorate those special moments and connections in a life.

The photo shown above is not of Jessica’s rosary, although it is very similar. Her beads must have been made from deep red roses as they were a deeper red than are shown here. When the wedding photos are posted, I will include a photo of Jessica and her rosary.

If this is something you might like to research further, here are some websites of companies that specialize in turning flowers into rosaries and keepsake jewelry;

Rosaries From Flowers
Keepsake Rosaries
Floral Rosary
Heaven Sent Rosaries
Rosary Shop
Heart Keepsakes
___

Carmen and Tim Marry at The Highgrove Estate in Fuquay-Varina

2011-08-05T12:53:00.001-04:00

Carmen and Tim are a quiet couple who really live life to the fullest, enjoying everything that comes their way. They have a great slant on the world and are sure to have a wonderful time together as husband and wife. They have a black cat they got on Halloween and named “Thirteen.” They took swing dance lessons to surprise everyone for their first dance at the reception. And Tim surprised Carmen by proposing to her at a Hurricanes hockey game, complete with the full proposal photographed on the jumbo tron and the team’s mascot, Stormy, standing beside him. The audience was cheering for her to say, “yes” and her parents were hidden in the stands, making a video of the whole thing. (I wrote a blog post about it and you can read it here.) Yes, I’d say this is a couple who intend to have a rich, full life.

During their ceremony, they wanted to honor Tim’s dad, who had passed, and they did a beautiful Candle of Remembrance for him, with a globe that had been engraved with his father’s name and a memorium. It was beautiful and very touching.

They also included a Unity Candle during the ceremony to indicate the combining of not only their lives, but also their families. Their Unity Candle was very unique in that it appeared to be stones of rock that were actually stones of wax, layered in a black and white pattern. Very pretty.

Because it was a hot summer day in July, the Groomsmen all wore lightweight tan suits - which surely must have been a Godsend to them in that heat - and the Bridesmaids wore these lovely purple, polka dot dresses. First time I’d ever seen polka dots used for Bridesmaid dresses but they were perfect for the day and the ladies will surely be able to wear them for many more special occasions to come. Great choice, Carmen!

The ceremony took place under the pergola in the back of the wonderful Highgrove Estate in Fuquay-Varina. All of us who do weddings in the area are in love with Highgrove and their staff. It’s a great location for weddings and other celebrations and the staff and food are always first rate. They have their own wedding planners there and for Carmen and Tim’s wedding, Angela Wright was at the helm. I always enjoy working with Angela and know she will make sure everything goes perfectly for the couple. (I also learned that Angela is expecting her first child in November of this year. How exciting! My hearty congratulations - motherhood is the best job in the world.)

Here are the front of Highgrove’s main house and the brick patio in the back. The pillars are the front entrance to the new ballroom.

This is the entrance to the new ballroom with its neat chandelier in the front and the equally charming post light that leads down the stairs to the pergola.

Inside the ballroom, where the reception was to be held, everything was in readiness for the celebration to come.

Unfortunately, I was not able to stay and see Carmen and Tim’s first dance but I am sure they must have wowed their guests with their swing dance routine.

As I was leaving, I noticed the sun shining on the gift table in the front dining room of the main house and couldn’t resist getting a photo of it. It struck me that it perfectly matched the feel of the happy, sunny wedding and the hopes and dreams of this special couple for their future.

Others on hand to help make this wedding day so special for Carmen and Tim;

DJ - Aaron Kinne of Anything Music
Photographer - Dustin Naderhoff of Halo Photography
___

Carmen and Tim had a great idea for their wedding programs; they included a Celtic design entitled, “What Tree Did You Fall From?” and it showed the name of the tree for each birthday and the symbolism of that tree. I, of course, had to look up myself and all my family members to see if it was accurate and it was - uncannily so.

Carmen and Tim’s wedding date was symbolized by a fir tree and in reading the meaning of it, I found this;

“extraordinary taste and dignity, sophisticated, loves anything beautiful, cares for those close to them, rather modest, very ambitious, talented, industrious, many friends, very reliable”

Yes, I’d say that about covers it.

Carmen and Tim, I loved being a part of your wedding day and know you are going to have a fun and amazing life together.
___

Lauren and Chris Begin Their Married Life Under A Marine Corps Arch of Sabers

2011-07-27T22:59:00.005-04:00

Lauren and Chris are a likable, easy-going couple who live in New Bern, NC. Lauren is a landscaper who loves animals and Chris is a Harrier pilot in the Marine Corps. They met in 2008 through mutual friends and have been together ever since. Despite many months of separation while Chris is stationed overseas - which is often the life of military families - this couple is devoted to each other and to creating a life for themselves within the military world.

After the wedding ceremony was finished inside the hotel, all of the guests gathered outside to watch the newlyweds walk through the traditional Arch of Sabers. The Saber Detail was comprised of Chris’ friends, colleagues and Groomsmen and they looked very handsome as they stood in formation. We were all so excited to get a chance to witness this time-honored tradition.

The ceremony starts with the Marines lined up, sabers down, awaiting the arrival of the newlyweds.

The lead officer lifts his saber to indicate things are about to begin.

As the couple approaches, the lead officer lowers his saber as a signal

and all the sabers are immediately raised in the couple’s honor.

But half way through, the exit is blocked - the couple must kiss before they can pass further.

Of course the Captain and his lady are happy to oblige.

As the blocking sabers are raised to let them pass, the Bride is traditionally tapped on the back by one of the sabers as a formal welcoming gesture by the Marine Corps. (If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you can see the sword at her back.)

A triumphant exit

and beaming smiles,

followed by another kiss for good measure.

It was all so beautiful and romantic and every one of us out on the sidewalk was thrilled to have witnessed something so special. With all of our cameras and cell phones, we became their paparazzi and took turns taking photos of ourselves with the glowing newlyweds. Here are Lauren and her mom.

And me with the handsome Bride and Groom.

_______

Others on hand to make Lauren and Chris’ wedding day so special;

Clarion Raleigh Hotel State Capital

Their photographers were Kristel Wilder and Gail Whitson of Klear Reflection Photography. Can’t wait to see their photos when they are online!

Their DJ was Dan of Danamare Productions - an excellent DJ and very nice man.

A dear family friend who loaned her blue-embroidered hankie to Lauren to carry with her bouquet.

_______

I grew up as a child of a Navy man and saw first hand what the military can accomplish and the sacrifices they and their families make in the service of our nation. They are truly the unsung heroes of our country and there dwells within me an undying love and respect for all those in uniform who steadfastly protect and defend. My sincere thanks and gratitude to every one of them.

Captain and Lauren, you are following in a fine, honorable tradition and I wish you a wonderful life together.

Semper Fi

(Always Faithful)

_______

Melissa and Ryan Have a Sunny Wedding at The Sutherland in Wake Forest

2011-07-20T13:58:00.007-04:00

So how do you know for sure that your fiancé loves you? There are many signs, obviously, but for Melissa, her fisherman fiancé showed her by selling his beloved bass boat to buy her an engagement ring. For those of you with avid fishermen in your lives, you will fully understand how huge this is. Ryan wanted her to know how much he loved her and what better way than to sell a prized possession to buy something for her.

Both Melissa and Ryan have had wonderful examples of long, loving marriages in their families so it was not too hard for Ryan to know how to show his love. Ryan’s parents have been married for 28 years,

photo by Brian Anderson

Melissa’s parents have been married for 27 years,

photo by Brian Anderson

and Melissa’s grandparents have been married for 61 years!

photo by Brian Anderson

Ryan and Melissa have some mighty big footsteps to follow! During the ceremony they wanted to make sure their parents and grandparents were honored for the great examples they had set for them, followed by Melissa and Ryan surprising them all with roses for their moms and grandmother. Many tears were seen as they presented the roses. Such a touching moment.

photo by Brian Anderson

Melissa and Ryan chose as their wedding location the beautiful The Sutherland Estate and Gardens in Wake Forest. What a wonderful location this is for a wedding. Tucked off the highway, it is all enclosed and private and they include skilled wedding planners in their packages. Ashlee Adams was in charge of making sure everything went well for Melissa and Ryan and she was certainly a professional in all she did. It was great working with her.

Here are some shots of this most impressive wedding and event venue;

the main house where the Bride and her Bridesmaids dress and the Settler’s Cottage where the Groom and Groomsmen dress

photo by Brian Anderson

the brick area where the ceremonies take place, the wedding garden lawn as it extends back toward the house, and the large brick patio behind the house, perfectly suited for setting up a large dance floor

photo by Brian Anderson

the rustic dining room that leads into the bright, airy anteroom where the cake and some of the refreshments were served

Melissa’s beautiful wedding dress had been copied by her Grandmother for one of Melissa’s childhood Barbie dolls and I couldn’t resist getting a photo of Melissa and Barbie together.

Barbie also had a place of honor down in the traditional dining room where the gift table was set up and she later joined the revelry out by the dance floor in the evening.

photo by Brian Anderson

The accent colors for the wedding were aqua and yellow and what a happy, cheery combination that is. Melissa and Ryan used it to perfect effect for the Bridesmaid dresses, the bouquets and boutonnieres,

the pomanders they made for the aisle chairs,

the table settings and centerpieces under the reception tent,

the jelly beans they made themselves (!!) for guest favors,

the wedding cake and table,

even Melissa’s wedding shoes were a cheery shade of yellow!

Their gifts for their Bridal Party were engraved beer mugs for the men and yellow and aqua polka dot glasses for the ladies.

Here you see Melissa’s brother and Ryan’s best man with the polka dot glasses in hand, no doubt going to get refreshments for the ladies.

photo by Brian Anderson

It was a sunny day with sunny decorations and it all matched perfectly the sunny dispositions of this happy couple and their families and guests. It was quite a special event and I know everyone there was having a marvelous time. Even Barbie herself, who must have been privy to some special moments in Melissa’s childhood, must have been enjoying every moment.

The photographer for the wedding was Hilton Pitman, of Hilton Pitman Photography. Some of his wonderful photos are included here with his watermark embossed. (Thanks, Hilton) He also did some wonderful engagement photos of Melissa and Ryan and I wrote a blog post about it a few months ago. Here’s a link to that post if you’d like to read it.

My thanks also to Melissa’s cousin, Brian Anderson, who provided most of the photos used here.

Melissa and Ryan, it was such a joy to get to know you and to be a part of such a special day in your lives. Thank you again for the beautiful birthday flowers and sweet card you gave me on my birthday. I was so touched by your thoughtfulness. (My birthday was on their rehearsal date and they gave me flowers and a card signed by everyone at the rehearsal.)

May all your dreams come true in unique and wonderful ways - and may Ryan’s new bass boat (when it comes along) be a joy for you both.

Update 9/1/11- I have just learned that Melissa and Ryan’s wedding will be featured in the Spring / Summer 2012 issue of The Knot North Carolina, which will be on sale in stores starting Dec. 27, 2011. Can’t wait to read it!

___

Update 1/23/12 - Here is the link to the blog post I wrote when their wedding was featured in The Knot North Carolina magazine.

___

Jo Ann and Donald Marry in an Emotion-Filled Ceremony at the Hilton Durham Near Duke University

2011-07-04T16:00:00.006-04:00

Meet Jo Ann and Donald, known to their friends as “The DonJo Show.” Being in each other’s lives is a direct result of prayer on both sides and you can tell when you are around them how important this deeper spiritual element is in their lives. It is evident in everything about them, from their kindnesses to each other and their friends to how they look at each other and instinctively reach out to hold hands. I love this photo of them; they look so regal and it fits them perfectly.

This photo and most of the ones used in this post were taken by Dajuan Jones of In His Image Photography. I had never worked with Dajuan before but hope to work with him again - and often. He is a huge photographic talent and a really nice guy and that makes for one heck of a good professional. You can easily see why they chose him when you look at his photos here and on his website. Thanks, Dajuan, for allowing me to use your wonderful photos for my blog.

When I arrived early for the wedding, Dajuan, Donald and all the groomsmen were still taking pictures while the ladies were getting ready elsewhere. This little alcove with all the chairs was a perfect photo op for the guys and Dajuan even added me into the mix.

Jo Ann and Donald chose as their wedding location the recently renovated Hilton Durham Near Duke University. What a perfect location and the staff, to a person, was very friendly and accommodating. I can’t recommend them highly enough.

During the ceremony, Dajuan was apparently all over the place, judging from his photos, but I was never aware of it. An invisible ninja style is a nice skill for a photographer to have.

Look at the happiness on Donald’s face as he watched Jo Ann enter with her dad .

What a tender look to each other once they were standing together in front of me.

Donald wiping a tear from Jo Ann’s face during the ceremony.

The ballroom where the ceremony took place was elegant in its simplicity and was the perfect backdrop to the striking coral pink Bridesmaid dresses and other accents, like the rose petals strewn along the aisle.

They had ordered an aisle runner with their names and wedding date beautifully displayed on it. A very nice touch.

JoAnn and Donald wanted to include a Unity Cross, which they had found online. I had never seen this before and when they showed it to me, I was so impressed. The cross signifies the man and woman becoming one and God as the bond that holds them together. It is a beautiful symbolism with a beautiful sculpture they can keep in their home as a remembrance of their wedding and the true meaning of their marriage.

For the Unity Cross ceremony, as the minister speaks about the symbolism of each portion, the Groom inserts the empty cross into the stand, the Bride fills it with the scroll-worked cross, and the minister then pins it all together with three golden pegs, signifying that The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the true bond of the marriage.

In our planning for the ceremony, Jo Ann and Donald had asked if I included the traditional line in the ceremony about anyone objecting to this union and, assuming they would not want this included, I assured them I did not. However, to my surprise, they did want to include it. A bit skeptical, I said I would, and during the ceremony I was to learn why they wanted this. When I came to that part of the ceremony, I was to pause to allow anyone to speak and as I paused, they both turned from looking at each other to looking at all their guests with a funny, defiant look, that sent ripples of laughter through the room. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud myself. What a fun and unexpected moment!

Then came the pronouncement of marriage and the kiss - and another funny comment from them.

After the ceremony, they all left with Dajuan for the formal photographs and that gave me some time to take some photos of their decorations outside the reception ballroom. So much attention to detail - and in such a clever and elegant way; a poster of them designed like a movie poster, a photo of their hands holding, done as an oil portrait, pink lollipops by the guest book and CDs with pink labels of their favorite songs for all their guests, sealed with a monogram. It was all very nicely done.

While I was taking these photos, Lisa and Quentin came over to say, “Hi.” I had married them in 2006 and they are now neighbors of Jo Ann and Donald and were attending the wedding. They had very kindly recommended me to Jo Ann and Donald and I had a chance to thank them in person as well as catch up on their lives. Lisa and Quentin are still blissfully happy and it was great fun reconnecting. Here is a photo Quentin took of Lisa and me. Isn’t she just beautiful!

Looking at the photos Dajuan took the rest of the evening, it appears there were wonderful things in store for the guests, like this first dance together as husband and wife. They were out there strutting their stuff in style and style is something they have plenty of!

Jo Ann and Donald, I know you will continue to go through life looking at the world in that special way you share. With your deep faith in God and each other, Life is sure to hold great things in store for you

Michelle and Chris Have a Glowing Wedding Day at Caffé Luna in Raleigh

2011-07-01T12:34:00.005-04:00

Chris and Michelle met when they both attended the same college, as did Michelle’s older brother. Chris was Michelle’s brother’s roommate and Chris says the first time he ever saw Michelle he was watching through a window as she was yelling at her brother. Not the most auspicious of starts to a relationship, but he was soon to learn about Michelle’s many strengths and as they got to know each other better, eventually their friendship flowered into something deeper. This has turned into a very good match indeed.

Michelle and Chris wanted their ceremony to reflect their relationship with each other and I wrote it based on what they had told me about themselves. To them, love and marriage are about real partnership and commitment. Those themes ran throughout the ceremony and are sure to be a powerful foundation in their life to come.

The wedding day was extremely hot but luckily Michelle and Chris had chosen to have their ceremony indoors in the light, airy and air-conditioned interior of the Caffé Luna in Raleigh. They are such a lovely couple and this bright and cheery setting for their happy wedding was perfect for them.

The photographers for the event were the husband and wife team of Sarah and Josh Barnett of Carolina MediaStar. All of the photos used in this post are by them and you can see more of their skills on display on their website and blog. Thanks, Sarah and Josh, for allowing me to use your photos here.

There was a sweet resonance throughout the room during the wedding and Sarah and Josh have captured it beautifully in their photos. I love photos that catch the heart as well as the activities of the day and you can definitely see all the love on display in these photos.

Notice the way they are looking at each other in this photo.

This is one of my favorites. Proud grandparents always touch my heart.

After the ceremony, Michelle, Chris and the Bridal Party headed outside for some photos in the park across the street and in some of the urban environs nearby. Despite the heat, everyone was still glowing all day.

Back inside Caffé Luna, the guests were enjoying the hors d’oeuvres and the cool air and awaiting the bridal couple’s return from the photos.

This beautiful wedding cake was created by Once in a Blue Moon Bakery and Cafe in Cary.

___

Other wedding professionals on hand to make Michelle and Chris’ wedding day so special;

DJ - Phil Crowson of A+ DJ Services
Flowers - North Raleigh Florist
___

Michelle and Chris, you are a great team and your partnership is sure to provide lots of fun, laughter and creative problem-solving. I can see you in my mind’s eye, forever holding hands and facing the world together. Your happy, glowing faces will be with me always.

Through the Rabbit Hole with Fairuz and Connor

2011-06-16T22:18:00.020-04:00

Imagine, if you will, that you are standing in a garden of roses, nestled in a quiet ravine, away from the hustle and bustle of Raleigh. And then imagine that you notice things are a bit different here... not quite right and yet still somehow familiar. You notice there is a different feel to the air; a feel of something about to happen... something really big. Like Alice, you have ventured into a rabbit hole and the world here is completely different, turned upside down and sideways. You have entered the world of Fairuz and Connor and you will never ever forget it.

This is a magical world of whimsy and fun, love of life, love of family, love of living life to the fullest - and having a heck of a time doing it.

Fairuz met Connor when he came to work at her parents’ family restaurant, Neomonde Baking Company. Connor was smitten with her right away but, poor guy, she just wasn’t interested. It took him forever, but eventually she did agree to go out with him and their relationship took off immediately from there. They learned they have the same unusual way of looking at the world, with many similar tastes, and they do indeed seem to be a perfect match.

So back to the rabbit hole.

Fairuz and Connor are big Tim Burton fans and decided to create an Alice in Wonderland themed wedding. With a nod to Mr. Burton’s movie version in their color scheme of red, white and black, they still included the old traditional drawings from the original book by Lewis Carroll and the Disney animated movie. Pretty much the whole cast of characters is here - not to mention the characters of Fairuz and Connor and their bridal party. It was a fun day, a great party and a wedding to remember. I can honestly say I have never seen an Alice in Wonderland wedding before. What fun!

The ceremony took place in the Raleigh Little Theater Rose Garden. This was a perfect setting, filled with hundreds of roses. With red and white roses figuring so prominently in the Alice story, you will see this particular detail throughout the upcoming photos.

When I arrived, the Mad Hatter was already there, greeting guests, overseeing the final arrangements and looking rather spiffy, too, if I might add. Check out the detail in Connor’s top hat. Johnny Depp would be proud.

His groomsmen included a lady groomsman and they were all appropriately attired in their black tuxes and, in the case of Lady Groomsman, a snazzy black dress.

It all started for Alice with a rabbit with a stopwatch and what a great way for Fairuz to include this important detail.

It was important to Fairuz and Connor that we honor all the religions and beliefs of their families and guests, which was quite an extensive list that also included Pagans. The ceremony was written with this in mind and Fairuz’s family priest, Father Kamil, said a beautiful prayer in Arabic about dedicating our lives to God, from Abraham on down, and how we are all a Family. We also included a Unity Candle ceremony and a very elaborate handfasting ceremony that involved 5 cords being wrapped around the couple’s hands. Each cord represented a promise they were making to each other as a vow and when all the vows were made, I tied the cords under their clasped hands with a prayer. It was the first time I had ever performed this type of handfasting and the symbolism was truly beautiful. They kept the tied cords as a keepsake for their home to remind them always of the promises they made to each other that day.

Here are some photos of the handfasting ceremony and of the tied cords sitting on the Unity Candle table after the wedding.

Connor’s spirit animal is the wolf and they found online an amazing ring of wolves kissing. It was so perfect for them that they chose it for their wedding rings. Everyone was most impressed with those rings. Notice Fairuz’ red and black nail polish as well. The complete attention to detail was phenomenal in their planning.

The photographers for the event were Leigh Moose and Jeri Hernandez of Side Yard Studios Photography. A few of their photos have come out so far and I can’t wait to see them all when they are finally online. Some are used here and you can tell which are theirs by their watermark. (Update 6/26/11 - they now have a great slideshow up with some amazing photos that show how fun this wedding was on so many levels. Here’s the link. Enjoy!)

The reception was held in downtown Raleigh at The Stockroom at 230. I had never been to this location before and what a fun place it is. With an intimate, urban feel, it could be adapted for almost any decorating scheme and it lent itself perfectly to the Alice in Wonderland design.

When you entered the building, signs of warning were placed before you. Should you dare to go further?

Even the elevator had a sign!

Once you reached Wonderland, all was lost. Wonderland had you in her grasp.

Fairuz and Connor had even found a china tea set with the original Alice in Wonderland artwork on it and those pieces were used for the Bride and Groom’s table, with the teapot later doubling as a vase for Fairuz’s bouquet. They looked great set upon the black and white checkered tablecloth with red rose petals strewn about.

Shutter Booth was there and had set up a photo booth for the guests - complete with their own set of mad hats - and the guests were having a great time taking advantage of this fun addition. Everyone was getting into the spirit of the day.

Fairuz and Connor made their grand entrance after all the guests had arrived. The lovely bride had changed from her birdcage veil and white bolero jacket that she had worn for the wedding into a very stylish, red, mad hatter hat of her own and a red bolero jacket. What an entrance they made!

As they were introduced, they went immediately to the dance floor and began their first dance as husband and wife. No sedate slow dance here! The energy level of the room increased a hundred fold as they started to dance.

These notes were attached to the guest favors, inviting the guests to have a tea-rrific time. By all accounts, they definitely did!

___

Others on hand to help make Wonderland a wonder;

Wedding planner - Courtney Scholl of Parties by Bash
Caterer - Neomonde Baking Company
Ceremony Musicians / String Trio - David Oh on Cello, Lisa Malcolm and Eric McCracken on violins
Cupcakes - Gigi’s Cupcakes
Wedding Cake - made by Connor’s mom
Flowers - Fallon’s Flowers
___

Fairuz and Connor, your wedding was truly one of a kind and it matched your happy, one of a kind personalities. Thanks so much for allowing me to be a part of all the love, fun and celebration. I know you are going to go through life with smiles on your faces and adventure in your hearts.

Andrea and Warren Celebrate Their Love at Their Raleigh Home

2011-06-16T16:13:00.009-04:00

Andrea and Warren wanted their wedding to be a fun, casual celebration at their home, surrounded by their family and friends. They both have a great sense of humor and that was going to come out in the celebration for sure... starting with the wedding entrance music. Warren is a member of a Barbershop Chorale group and many of the other members were guests, so the wedding processional was an a capella rendition of “Here Comes the Bride,” or as Andrea describes it, “the dum-dum-de-dum” version. I knew right away I was in for a fun time at their wedding.

They have a lovely home with a lush yard and the ceremony took place out in the yard under an arbor decorated with flowers and ribbons. Tables and chairs were set up in another part of the lawn and as I was leaving later, I noticed kids playing in yet another area. It was all very sweet and Norman Rockwell-ish and it was wonderful being a part of it all.

After the ceremony, Andrea and Warren had a very nice welcome for their guests, followed by a toast.

After the toast, and as all the mingling began, there were some photo ops over by the arbor. Here’s one of me taken with the happy couple.

Over by their deck was a display of plastic pink flamingoes. I grew up in Florida, where plastic flamingoes are common, but in NC? And not even by the beach? I had to ask. Turns out that the flamingoes are an inside family joke that relates to Warren’s mom, who has now passed on, and the flamingoes were there in her honor. I’ll bet she would have LOVED that.

Before the wedding was to take place, some renovation work was going on at their home and it was supposed to have been completed by the wedding date but, of course, it began to look doubtful as the wedding date got closer. The workmen, God love ‘em, worked almost around the clock to get the walls up and painted and things finished enough to have the festivities take place in the addition, but there were some nail-biting moments to be sure for Andrea and Warren. I loved getting Andrea’s update emails about the progress. She could write a humorist’s column, she is so witty.

Inside that dining room renovation was laid out a splendid buffet of all kinds of delicious treats. Overseeing this sumptuous feast was the Chef, Kevin Ingram, of KSI Catering, proudly and ably being assisted by his son, Gregor. What you see here was just the beginning. Much more was to come later but I was not able to stay and see what that was to be. It was sure to be just as amazing, though.

Their absolutely beautiful cake was created by Simply Cakes and with that pedigree, I am sure it tasted every bit as good as it looked.

In a corner of their living room sat this magnificent old jade tree. For those who don’t know about jade trees, they can live to a very ripe old age with care and this particular one is very old. When I asked about it, the tree had belonged to Warren’s mother and they had taken it into their home to love and care for it when she passed. How touching that is.

Andrea and Warren, I wish you all the many special years you see ahead for yourselves. May your family jade tree be a perfect harbinger of the friendship, luck and prosperity it portends and may your love thrive as well as has this tree.

Top Five Reasons NOT to Elope

2011-06-16T11:32:00.001-04:00

While meeting with Trisha and Rob, who recently signed with me to do their wedding, we got to talking about elopements and Trisha told me about a recent blog post she had read on OneWed.com about why NOT to elope. She said it had mentioned a lot of things she had never thought about and when she later sent me the link and I read the article, I agreed with her completely. There is a lot of insight there.

So if you are wondering if all the extra activity and worry that go into planning a wedding are really worth it, you might find this blog post very interesting.

Thanks, Trisha, for bringing this viewpoint to my attention so I could share it with others who might not have seen it or who might be in the throes of making just this kind of a decision.

And Trisha and Rob, I am SO looking forward to your wedding next April. Glad you decided not to elope!
___

The clever artwork used at the top of this post is found in another interesting article about an elopement, taken from The Hindu, India’s national newspaper.
___

Renee and Jon Celebrate Their Love and Their World Travels with a Wedding at The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill

2011-06-08T14:29:00.003-04:00

Renee and Jon are natural givers - she is a pediatric nurse at UNC and Jon is a policeman. You can tell when you meet them that they are warm and caring people and their choice of careers bears this out as well. They are also world travelers and adventurers and their love of travel has taken them all over the globe. For their honeymoon they planned a trip to Tahiti, where they had never yet been, and it was sure to be a trip of a lifetime, even for these intrepid travelers.

They are so in tune with each other that unbeknownst to the other, each had chosen the same vow from the list of vow ideas I provide. Because they wanted their vows to be secret from each other, neither knew of the other’s choice and I just couldn’t wait for the look of surprise on their faces when it came time for their vows during the ceremony. It was priceless! I have only had one other couple do that in all the years I have been doing weddings.

They chose as their wedding location the historic Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill. The wedding was held in the intimate Bryan Courtyard and the reception took place in the wonderful Old Well Room that has also entertained the likes of the young Queen Elizabeth of England. Perfect company for this globe-trotting couple, I’d say.

For their decorations, they had petals lining the aisle in the thickest edging I have ever seen and it was beautiful. The colors for the wedding were shades of purple and lavender and the petals picked this up perfectly, as did the bouquets, boutonnieres and table florals, all created by Watered Garden Florist.

photo by DJ - Randy Bennett

The ceremony took place under the large tree that is a focal point of the courtyard and the tree was strewn with lavender paper lanterns.

The Bridesmaid dresses were a lovely shade of lavender. The dresses were stunning and you can see they looked great on each of the Bridesmaids. Here is a photo that includes me, taken after the ceremony.

During the ceremony, Renee and Jon wanted to add a symbolic touch about joining their lives together and they chose a Blending of the Waters ceremony to symbolize this. They had purchased an engraved glass vial to pour the waters into and when they poured their red and blue waters together they created purple. This is a special ceremony that is not often done, unfortunately, but as the new color is created from two others, it makes for a very dramatic moment. Guests always love it, especially since so few have ever seen this before.

Their wedding planner was the very capable Rebecca Dunn of laFete, shown here with her assistant, Carly Abernathy. They were quite the dynamic duo and things went off perfectly for this very special wedding. Rebecca’s the lady on the left. Don’t they look like sisters!

The DJ for the wedding and reception was the wonderful Randy Bennett of Joe Bunn DJ Company and he was his usual friendly, kind and professional self. He is a superb DJ and I always look forward to working with him at weddings.

Their wedding cake was a fun decoration by Simply Cakes, complete with a sparkly monogram topper. Sorry my photos don’t do it the justice it deserves. It had such a happy feel to it.

As I mentioned earlier, Renee and Jon are great travelers so they naturally used that as the theme for their reception. Look at the cute suitcase box they created for the gift cards from the guests. Placed on the gift table by the photographic guest book, it made a very clever presentation and suited these world travelers perfectly.

The table names were the most fun of all. Each table was the name of one of their trip locations, with a photo of them taken at each locale. So far they have traveled to Grand Cayman, Honduras, Belize, Italy, Curacao, Greece, Mexico and Malta (whew!) and they were planning to honeymoon in Tahiti, which was the table name on the Bride and Groom’s table.

It was a beautiful wedding day, a fun celebration of their love and a great start to what is sure to be a grand adventure for the rest of their lives. What a treat to get to know a couple so full of life and love. My best to both of you, Renee and Jon. I hope you keep posting your travel photos so we can all continue to see the world through your adventurous eyes.

Lora and Mike Wed at the Historic Matthews House in Cary

2011-06-06T16:33:00.000-04:00

Lora and Mike are a lovely couple. I so enjoyed meeting them and being a part of their wedding day. Their wedding was about their love for each other and their families, not overlooking those who have passed on. Lora carried her beloved grandmother's locket on her bouquet and they included a Candle of Remembrance for all the family members on both sides who could not be with them. Love remains forever in our hearts and it was touching that Lora and Mike wanted to acknowledge that. During the ceremony their friends, Rob and Joanna Watson, sang the Patty Griffin tune, Heavenly Day, which was a very sweet touch.

The day was beautiful and sunny and they couldn’t have chosen a more lovely location for the festivities. The Matthews House is a stately Greek revival mansion in the historic area of Cary and Susie McPherson, their in-house wedding coordinator, was on hand to make sure everything went off perfectly. Susie is great to work with and I always know with her at the helm that the wedding plans are in good hands.

The flowers for the wedding day were provided by Gregg Kennedy of Brides and Bouquets. Known for his elegant designs, he certainly outdid himself for Lora and Mike’s simple, elegant wedding plans.

The clothing of the Bridal Party was simple and elegant, too. The Bridesmaids had on lovely dresses that picked up on the spring-like feel of the day and the Flower Girl and Ring Bearer were perfect accents to the adults.

The Matthews House has a unique approach to a gift table; they line the gifts up at the entrance to the house, which makes a lovely presentation as the guests arrive. This particular day there were a lot of silver-wrapped gifts and they were beautiful shining in the sun.

Lora and Mike had planned their wedding down to the last detail, including the matching invitations and seating chart. Very nicely done.

Inside the ballroom adjacent to The Matthews House, everything was set up in readiness for the guests, including the beautiful cake and the delicious-looking buffet.

The photographers for the day were Ashley and Shawn of Wake Forest Portrait Shoppe. Here they are, wrangling all of us for photos. They were very good at their jobs and got through all the photographs quickly and efficiently, which was great for the family in that hot sun. They also organized a group photo right after the ceremony with all the guests and they did it with fun and humor.

Also on hand to provide the musical backdrop was the talented DJ, Patrick Cook, of PC Productions. First class all the way.

Lora and Mike, your wedding was very thoughtful and touching and I am so glad I got to be a part of it. I join with all your family and friends in wishing you the wonderful life together that you both so richly deserve.

Lora, Mike and all their guests - photo by Wake Forest Portrait Shoppe

Of Dads and Love and a Wedding Golf Cart

2011-05-22T17:30:00.000-04:00

The handsome man you see sitting inside this tricked out golf cart is the very proud and happy dad of a bride I married yesterday. Ally and Glenn were married at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary and Ally’s dad is the golf pro there. I was able to linger a bit after the wedding before having to go to another commitment and while sitting in my car, getting all my files ready for the next wedding, I looked up and saw Ally’s dad heading across the parking lot with a camera hanging from his shoulder. I thought that odd since the cocktail hour was still going on inside but figured maybe the photo-taking had moved outside and he was heading over with is own camera to get some nice shots. A few minutes later I heard a honk and looked up to see Mr. Conner, with a HUGE smile on his face, sitting in this beautifully decorated cart in front of my car.

It turned out that he had planned all along to surprise the happy couple with a decorated cart for after the wedding and he had even done the flower decorations himself. One of his artistic staff had made the sign for him, which included pink peonies to match the peonies Ally had carried in her bouquet. Ally and Glenn knew nothing of this wonderful surprise and what luck that I had not yet left so I could share this happy moment with him as he drove his amazing get-away car up to the door of the Club for the newlyweds to find later. I would have loved to have seen the looks on their faces when they saw it. They must have been so touched.

Weddings are generally put together by the ladies in the families and the grooms and other male family members tend to take a back seat, letting the ladies lead. But that doesn’t mean the dads aren’t every bit as proud of their sons and daughters who are marrying as the mothers. Often dads add much more than just their wallets and best wishes to the festivities. Many provide a special touch of their own to let their children know how much they love them and Mr. Conner’s sweet surprise is a perfect example of that love in action. The love one sees at weddings will warm your heart forever.

Let’s hear it for all the dads out there who steadfastly support their families from the background. I am so glad I was able to share in the joy this dad took in creating something very special for his daughter and her new husband on their wedding day.
___