Dallas and Allison at Delightful Inspirations

On October 24th, Allison and Dallas got married at Delightful Inspirations in Raleigh! (Dallas and Allison chose Delightful Inspirations partly because it everything could be in one spot and they provided the catering, too. Thanks to Anne Caspar there for all her help that day.) It's hard to believe that it's been almost 4 months. I'm so glad Allison sent me these pictures so that I can relive their wonderful day.

It turned out to be one of those October weekends where the rain comes and goes. The ceremony was meant to be outside and the weather held even through the rehearsal. But as so often happens in October, we had to go to Plan B. Luckily, we had rehearsed for that possibility, too.

I was glad because it freed them to just celebrate. And there was much to celebrate. Allison and Dallas' love developed slowly while partnering together on long shifts as they became friends who could count on each other through thick or thin. And that support has been important. During these years Dallas had learned how to be attentive and romantic, and Allison had learned how to accept and appreciate Dallas' playfulness and easy going way.

Allison and her father were piped in by bagpiper, Robert J. White, who is a US Army Special Forces Retired Sergeant 1st Class. (919-772-4231, apiper1@nc.rr.com). We all felt especially grateful that Allison's father could walk her down the aisle on her wedding day. And it was an especially special moment for him, too. Now both she and her sister, Carolyn, her Matron of Honor, would be married to good men that he knew.

We honored this in the classic way of honoring a father's closeness to his daughter and his peace knowing she has a husband and partner she can rely on. I asked him, 'Who gives this woman to be married to this man?' And he answered, 'Her mother and I do.'

Dallas' playful manner was evident in their ceremony, as Dallas interjected soft playful kidding all through the ceremony. You'll see it in the twinkle in both their eyes.


Family and friends were in abundance, with even a cousin of Allison's coming all the way from Glasgow, Scotland to be at their ceremony. Another wonderful note of her Scot's heritage.

Thanks To Annie Harrison of Annie Harrison Photography for all these great pictures. They had another light touches in their ceremony with the short Ogden Nash poem 'To Keep Your Marriage Brimming,' which goes: 'To keep your marriage brimming, with love in the loving cup, whenever you're wrong admit it, whenever you're right shut up.'

These light moments were joined by with the deeper heartfelt moments in which we thanked Dallas and Allison's parents for their unstinting support, and in which we honored the way that Allison and Dallas had grown their love through the daily choice they had made to prioritize their love for each other and to find the sustenance within it to grow as individuals and partners.

They had a sand ceremony within their wedding ceremony to symbolize the inextricable joining of their lives.

Then I got to offer the Scottish Wedding Prayer in their names, Lord, help us to remember when we first met and the strong love that grew between us. To work that love into practical things so that nothing can divide us. We ask for words both kind and loving, and hearts always ready to ask forgiveness as well as to forgive. Dear Lord, we put our marriage into your hands.

And of course, we can't forget the kiss.














And the joy in their eyes as they recessed with just the partying ahead of them. After having eaten well, they all partied well into the night with the help of Jason Eder of Complete Music Disk Jocky Service.


I wish them tremendous happiness! This is a couple who have helped and encouraged each other to grow in love, confidence, courage, and generosity of spirit. It's shown itself in their professional lives and in all they touch.

They witness to the power of love in their own and in our lives. Blessings to them all ways and always!