Michelle and Don Have a Glorious Sunny Wedding at Crenshaw Hall

 It was so much fun marrying Michelle and Don!  Don liked to joke and being in formal attire and standing up in front of everyone was not how he felt most relaxed.  He and Michelle wanted a simple, elegant ceremony with nothing fancy.  We were so blessed to have such a gorgeous day in mid-October.  I'm glad because it was a day Don and Michelle had looked forward to for a long time.  Michelle and Don worked together at the same place, then Don went into the army, and afterward they worked together, too.  They have known each other for seven years.   I was so pleased that after the ceremony Don told me that he actually had a good time.  Thank you to Gil and Christy Rosado of RGB Photography for these wonderful photos.   Crenshaw Hall  and Christy, their coordinator there, were wonderful to work with, too.

Bradley Junell or Raleigh Event DJ was their DJ for the ceremony, too.  I love working with Brad.  His work is always perfect, he always knows the plan, and he has backups if you need them.  One especially sweet touch that Don and Michelle had was their music.  They had the DJ play 'What a Wonderful World' for the grandmothers to enter, 'Here Comes the Sun' for the mothers to enter, 'A Thousand Years' for the wedding party, and "Make you Feel My Love' for Michelle to enter.  And 'Good Life' by One Republic, and 'Don't Stop Believing' by Vitamin String Quartet for the recessional.  Each piece seemed especially appropriate, fun, and considered.

The music set the tone and their wedding was a joy throughout.  And Michelle told me later that I was right when I said that it would go really fast.

Their florist was James May at the Harris Teeter in Wake Forest.  I've seen him get lovely reviews from other brides, and I'm so glad he is so good..  It was an especially lovely wedding,  to which I give all the credit to the Michelle and Don.  They are delightful in their exuberance and let themselves have a really good time!  I wish them both a lifetime of happiness!

Kris and Sarah Marry in a Beautiful Outdoor Ceremony at Home with Just Family Attending

 It was a beautiful early Fall day when I arrived at Kris's and Sarah's home to officiate their intimate family wedding.  They wanted a unique ceremony, centered on their love and had contacted me partly because they liked the Spiritual Ceremony that I have on my website.  Both sets of parents were laid back and just wanted to be there.  And this, with the inclusion of a few more family members, is what they created.

Thanks to Holly Czuba of Holly Czuba Photography for her wonderful photographs.  This shot of Kris watching Sarah process around the corner of the house was a treat.  She was radiant and his face was filled with love for her.  She had been preceded by his two nieces who were the flower girls.  At 3 and 5 years of age they seemed to have that slight bewilderment of not quite knowing what to do, and everyone else loving their spontaneity    Sarah's sister, Kate, played the flute for her processional accompanied by a piano recording made by Sarah's mother, Barbara.  It was a lovely gift of music.

Kris and Sarah have been friends for 13 years and have been dating for 5 years.  She had lived out of the country two years before they dates and then when she moved to Raleigh they began dating.  Being married on their deck was a blessing for their home and perfect for them and their love of nature.  They cherish the life that they have created together, Sarah loving Kris's patience and thoughtfulness, Kris loving Sarah's way of helping him live more in the moment. Together they encourage each other to grow in heart and spirit.  This is a wonderful gift of their love.

They had a Ring Warming as part of their ceremony. In this ritual we pass their rings through the hands of their guests so that each guest can add a silent blessing into the rings before the couple offer their rings to each other.  They chose a small mason jar to hold their rings.

I love this ritual because it also gives the couple a chance to pause and notice the love coming their way from their guests.  A wedding goes so quickly and in the pause, they can appreciate the moment for all the joy it holds.

In this wonderful family picture you see our flower girls in purple and the delightful family they all create together.

Kris and Sarah live in a house that I love.  It's called a California Ranch I'm told and it is open with spacious rooms and very clean lines.  They held their reception family lunch in their dining room and living room and the family fit just fine.

Of course, there was dessert!  Cupcakes from Bitsy Bakes.  I'm a fan just by looking at them.  As an icing fan, ample icing is a must.  And they are decorated so well!

Kris and Sarah have a casual moment by their front door after the ceremony.  I love to see them laugh like this.  We ended their ceremony with the blessing, 'May you dare to dream dreams not yet dreamt.  Play together, laugh together, walk together for a lifetime.'

Thanks to Daniel's Florist for their vibrant fall flowers which were perfect as a contrast to all the green of nature, and thanks to Irregardless Cafe who catered their wedding lunch.  I come across their name often and always hear good things about them.

 I hope Sarah's and Kris's lives are filled with joy.  It was a pleasure being a part of their lives for even this short time.  Sarah emailed her thanks with, 'Thank you so much for officiating our ceremony.  It was exactly as we'd imagined it to be!'  I love hearing that, and I'm delighted that I could help make it happen.  I send the much love.

Pete and Alyssa have a Sweet Wedding Ceremony in J. C. Raulston Arboretum's White Garden

Alyssa is an art teacher and has a lovely personal style and flair. She signs her emails now:, 'artist, art teacher, wife of pete, do-gooder, day-dreamer'.   I thoroughly enjoyed seeing that come to life in her and Pete's wedding.  Pete and Alyssa met in college but didn't know each other then.  Then a couple of years after she graduated they met again at a concert with mutual friends and have now been together almost four years.  They cherish that they are good friends, equals, encouraging each other, accepting each other, and respecting each other's kindness, openness, consideration, and commitment to their future.  It was a joy to celebrate their deep love for each other.  Thank you to Sabrina Duffy of Sabrina Duffy Photography for these lovely photos!

 The White Garden in J. C. Raulston Arboretum is the perfect place for a small wedding with lots of good possibilities for out door photographs.  Pete and Alyssa's wedding was the first wedding I had done there that also had their reception in the garden on the rooftop terrace.  They and their friends did all the decorations and it was so perfect for the arboretum, simple, joyful, green!

 Pete and Alyssa chose a classic Celtic Handfasting Ceremony to honor the ties they were creating with each other in their marriage.  I tied their hands together, tying another knot with each promise they made to share their laughter and joy, to encourage each other's dreams and aspirations, and to treat each other with respect and kindness. 

 Then they exchanged rings as symbols of the ties that had just made and the promises they had given.

 Theirs was a tender, sweet ceremony and it fit them perfectly.  They are thoughtful considerate people, generous and kind, much loved by everyone there.

I got this very special note from them after their ceremony:   'Thank you again for everything you've done for Pete and I. I know that sounds like such a blanket statement, but please believe me when I say that we were so beyond happy with having you for our day. We are so excited to be married with a wedding we almost didn't think could be so great. It almost makes me emotional to look back and be able to say that we had such a perfect ceremony. You were so wonderful and we're very appreciative.'

To give credit to the other wonderful local professionals who made their wedding such a success:  Whole Foods in Raleigh did their flowers and their cake, Laura Zeiger at Neomonde Deli provided the catering.

I wish them many many happy years together.  They have begun their marriage in much love surrounded by those who love them.  What better beginning can there be.