Katherine and Greg Don't Let the Rain Dampen Their Wedding

Katherine and Greg had planned so thoroughly and carefully for their wedding at The Barn at Valhalla in Chapel Hill that it almost seemed impossible for storms to thunder through on their wedding day.  But they did.  And it was with this that I got to see just how resilient and gracious they are, how wonderful their friends and family are when you need them, how great their photographer was, and how flexible the Barn at Valhalla is as a venue.

I arrived just as the decision was being made to move the wedding from the beautifully decorated deck to the covered deck adjacent to the barn itself.  This new deck was narrower, all the chairs needed to be moved, and if there were willing hands, decorations needed to be moved, too.  And there were willing hands.  Lots of them.  Under Greg's amazing calm with questions being thrown at him left and right, it all got done.  Even to the gentle removal of a black snake who decided that the deck was a much more desirable place to hang out than the wet ground.


The Elegant Ensembles musicians were also wonderfully flexible as they set up at the back of the deck and we figured out all new cues.  They also played beautifully!  


All came into focus - even with our finding a place for Julia Wade, of Julia Wade Photography our truly amazing photographer to sit so that she would have a line of sight during the ceremony.  Then..... as our Matron of Honor was entering down the stairs during the processional we discover that the black snake has rejoined us on the deck on the railing right behind the wedding party.  In full view of everyone.  Gratefully, our sexton gently moved him to the ground, about 15 feet below the deck again, (see below) and our snake got the message that time.  Whew! And we were all very appreciative.

Then the celebration began in earnest with the entrance of Katherine and her father.  

In their ceremony we spoke of how marriage is a conscious choice every moment, each day, to know that love takes many forms requiring us to grow as individuals and partner, growing in compassion, understanding and joy.  Greg and  Katherine were growing right before my eyes, letting go of the disappointment of the wedding they had envisioned, celebrating the unique wedding they were having, and cherishing every moment.


As a couple they love to share new experiences and have embraced bicycle riding, swing dancing and were soon to leave on their honeymoon to Europe.  We spoke of how the world awaits them and in this moment I saw that they would embrace it, and their life together.

Julie Liles of Julie Liles Floral Event Design created Katherine's gorgeous bouquet.  Little did they know that it would add such a joyful splash of color against the soft greys of the rainy day.

Their whole wedding had wonderful color to it and I understand that the reception was a rousing and jubilant success with dancing inside the Barn and eating outside catered by Tom Meyer of Q-Shack in Raleigh.

Cinda of Cinda's Creative Cakes created this masterpiece.  She does such beautiful work.

Thank you Julia Wade for these beautiful shots.

When they got back from their honeymoon I got this wonderful note from them:
'Greg and I want to send you a huge thank you for being a part of our wedding ceremony. We received many compliments on our ceremony, on the pace, on the intimate feeling, and we owe it all to you. Our 'guest book' pages had a place for people to describe and draw a picture of their favorite part of the evening - and many people wrote that the ceremony was their favorite. the re-giving of the engagement ring and the wine box were also popular, and of course, so was the snake!! In the face of pouring rain, and cramped, last minute ceremony space, and our snake visitor, we could not have asked for a better officiant to handle the situation. We simply can't thank you enough!! '


It was a delight to marry them.  I wish them many many blessings.

Jon and Jill Married at The Angus Barns

I married Jon and Jill last August at The Pavilions at Angus Barn but just happened to communicate with their wonderful photographer, Cara of F8 Photo Studios because we worked together on another wedding this January.  She graciously provided me with pictures of Jon and Jill's wedding when we'd both been too busy last year to have time to showcase their gorgeous wedding.  


It was a really hot day!  That said, it was a really wonderful day, too.  Jon and Jill seem meant for each other. It was one of those wonderful stories that we told a little about in their wedding ceremony:  'You both were surprised by love that conspired to find you in North Carolina when you’d unknowingly lived just a few blocks from each other in Chicago.  Love does truly manage to find us in unexpected places and ways. We share today in the amazing grace of your love for each other.'  The twinkle in their eyes when they talk about each other is the other real give away.


The pavilions at Angus Barns is a great place for an outdoor wedding.  And the staff is really great and responsive.  I had done another wedding there that we pushed up 1/2 hour because a rain front was moving in and I was amazed at how quickly the staff just got it all done.  Ashley, was the coordinator for Jon and Jill's wedding and was also amazing.  Their Maid of Honor got a little dizzy in the heat and the staff was right there with a golf cart to make sure she had the support she needed.


And the water always helps make everything feel a little bit cooler.

The fuzzy pictures are the ones I took.  Either it's the heat or my ability to focus my DROID. I wanted you to see the pavilions from the ceremony site.  Here everyone is walking out to be seated for the ceremony.  When it's hot, we let folks stay in the cool as long as possible.

Here's the inside of the pavilions, pristine before any of the guests arrived for the reception.

Jon entered the ceremony to the music of Colin Hay’s ‘Waiting for my Real Life to Begin.'  I love when couples find fun new music to offer.  Brian McGuire of McSound Productions was our illustrious DJ.  I was glad he had a tent over his equipment.  He's always great.

I loved their flowers and was amazed that they looked so glorious in the heat.  We have Michael McLamb of Fleurtations Weddings andEvents to thank for that.

Jon and Jill each read special words of thanks to their parents and then gave each mother a white rose.  I don't think they'd mind me sharing those words with you.

Jon said:      Mom and Dad, I don’t know if I’ve ever expressed to you how truly grateful I am for the job you did raising me.  Let’s face it – I doubt you knew what you were signing up for when I came into your lives.  But with warmth, with caring, and with great humor, you guided me, supported me, and helped me become the man that I am today.  Thank you.

Jill said:    Mom, Dad – I know I haven’t told you often enough how much you mean to me, and how proud I am to be your daughter. You have raised me from a tomboyish little girl to a mature woman with love, laughter, lots of firm discipline and the abiding belief that I could do anything I wanted to do. Thank you for your constant love and support, and I love you both very much.   

A beautiful part of the vows they shared were:  'I acknowledge my love for you and invite you to share my life as I share yours. I promise to walk by your side, to love, help and encourage you.

I will share your laughter and your tears as your partner, lover and friend.'

Thanks to Cinda Putnam of Cinda's Creative Cakes for another masterpiece!

They sent me a wonderful thank you note after they got home from their honeymoon.  'Jon and I are still on a "wedding high" - we really enjoyed our celebration and reception tremendously, and want to thank you again for being such an amazing and integral part of the whole occasion. We received many comments from guests about how much they like the ceremony and also you as the officiant, and Jon and I certainly feel the same way. It was a wonderful day, and we thank you for helping to make it all possible.'

I was delighted to be a part of their life at this special moment.  It still brings a smile to my heart.

I wish them many blessings and much love, and long life.

Steve and Teri

At their wedding rehearsal, I hadn't seen Steve and Teri since we had met in late January, but our email conversations had been great, back and forth volleys sharing ideas and questions.   In that slightly unusual email way, I felt like I'd gotten to know a them well through a unique aspect of who they are together.  It was fun to see that blossom in our correspondence and then in person at their rehearsal.


I always love officiating weddings at The Cotton Room.  Michelle Allred is a fabulous coordinator and we've been working together so often and so well that we can trust that everything will flow flawlessly.    Also, the architectural elements make this space both elegant and warm as you can see below.  (The DJ was behind the curtain but with Michelle's 'walkie talkie' system, cue-ing the music was fine.)

Thanks to consummate pro, our photographer Diane McKinney of Diane McKinney Photography for these wonderful pictures, too.   She is a joy to work with as well, easy and personable.  Aaron was their wonderful DJ, Cinda of Cinda's Creative Cakes provided their cake and Tre Bella Florist created their flowers.  These are all local professionals who love their profession so create great work.  For all of us there that day,  Steve and Teri's wedding was a labor of love.

In their ceremony we celebrated that this was the anniversary to the day from when Steve proposed to Teri.  Their journey to this day began over 7 years ago at their first meeting.  They love the life they've built together, laughing at almost everything, except Patriot games of course.

In their vows they told each other, 'I will trust you and respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face together.'

After Teri and Steve exchanged their vows, took part in the Hand Ceremony, noticing the hands of their beloved as we described how these hands would hold them through difficult times, lovingly hold their children, work together to build their future, and lastly, even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for theirs.

Their recessional was 'Here Comes The Sun' by the Beatles.  To me there is no more fitting music for a wedding.  But then I'm a Beatles fan ever since they were on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1963, listening as they grew and matured, creating timeless music.  BTW - their processional music was 'Come Away With Me' by Nora Jones, and 'Forever' by Ben Harper, and Dave Barnes, 'I have and I Always Will.'  They were all beautiful.




Another thing The Cotton Room is good for is a big open space to dance.  I'm glad they had such a good time.

The wedding was full of their friends and family - another good reason for a large welcoming space.  

And here is the way that they remembered all their guests and their guests remembered them.  On this tree of life, each guest puts their finger print on the tree and write their name beneath it.

They were off to somewhere warm and exotic for their honeymoon- Mexico or a cruise to the Bahamas - I just remember thinking, 'Ooooh.   That sounds delicious.'  What a culmination of a great time with family and friends, and, of course, getting married!  I wish them many many years of delight.

Rob and Jen Marry With Much Love and With Their New Son at the Caffé Luna in Downtown Raleigh

Jen and Rob's beautiful wedding at the Caffé Luna was the culmination of a lot of planning and effort on Jen and Rob's part.  Effort that took place while they were pregnant with their son, Robert Douglas.  It was a delight to celebrate his entry onto the planet at their ceremony, too.

Their professional photographer was Carolyn Scott, of Carolyn Scott Photography, who got some absolutely fabulous shots (as did her partner Goeff).  Make sure you read to the bottom of the blog to see all her pictures!  They're wonderful.  I've gotten to work with them three times this year and it's always a delight.  I've included some 'friend's shots'  in the blog, too, because they were shot at a sweet angle during the ceremony that the professionals couldn't get.

Jen, Rob and I met in March when they anticipated an October wedding.  But then when she found out she was pregnant the wedding was moved to November.  It's a good thing and a great change since we all got to celebrate Robert Douglas, too.

These pictures are only of the ceremony.  My favorite part!  :-)  Their wedding was held at the Cafe Lunna in downtown Raleigh.  

Their florist - check out that lush arch - was Lyn Graves of Fresh Affairs, and their DJ for the reception was Mike Morse of Mike Morse Entertainment.  I've worked with Mike many times too and I knew he would be great.

Sisters on the Harp -  Harp and Flute - the music for the ceremony was played by Brittany and Marissa Farrell.  They played beautiful Irish selections for the prelude, then a Sonata in A by Mozart, Edelweiss, and the Bridal March from Lohrengrin for the bridal processional.    They 

were flawless!

It was a joy for me to be there.  Here I'm entering from the front of Caffé Luna with Rob entering just behind me.

Rob's attendants

Jen's attendants.  There wasn't a big space but they made it work!

Jen's mother held Robert Douglas while we talked about what a blessing he was in their lives.  He was such a sweetie.

Here he is later in his mother's arms.

Their ceremony was rich in feeling and symbolism.  They were so clear and present.  That says a lot about their love.

The kiss, of course!

I kept some of the friend's shots in because they have a unique angle on the ceremony.  But they definitely speak to why it's important to hire a professional photographer.

The Presentation!  I love this part.  I call it the basking moment, because it's the moment where a couple is reentering your community as a married couple and everyone there is offering their love and support.  I tell all my couples, 'Drink it in.  This moment comes only once.  Don't rush out the door.  There will be hours to party.'

Even the recessional has a lovely peacefulness and grace to it.  I'm always glad when people honor that part of the ceremony with their attention, too.  Another friend shot photograph.

Here is Geoff getting a picture before the ceremony.  I love these architectural backdrops.

Their cakes were by Cinda of Cinda's Cake Creations.  R2D2 has special meaning for them since Rob's initials and their son's initials are both RD.
















Carolyn took some  photos before the ceremony to get the daylight shots.  These showcase the amazing rich color of their autumn wedding.

 The Caffé Luna has a wonderful reception room that amazingly is big enough for dancing.

What a joyful couple so in love with each other and with their baby.  Life will only deepen as they grow together.  I wish them so many blessings.  My daughter turns 40 this year.  I can hardly believe it.  The years speed by.  May they cherish each moment!