Erik and Iris Marry on Memorial Day Weekend

Erik and Iris had an unusual wedding time, 12:30 on Memorial Day to be held at The Durham Marriott Hotel.  And I was so glad.  The day was young and everyone was fresh and ready to party.  Their ceremony was really lovely - honoring both their Jewish and Christian faiths and traditions.  In their ceremony was said, 'Love is a quality of spirit and an attitude of the emotions, but a marriage is a life's work, a spiritual art form.'  Erik and Iris have worked on their relationship to make it really work.  I laud them for prioritizing who they are together.  It shows in their respect and care for each other.

I loved getting to know them before the ceremony.  As very different people, they complement each other well and have a playful and straightforward way of letting you know who they are.  Iris helped everyone stay on task during the rehearsal and I loved that they all came to the rehearsal in Hawaiian garb because the rehearsal dinner was to be a BBQ.  It lent a light touch to the very large and very grand ballroom at the Durham Marriott where the ceremony was held.

You see a chuppah in the background on a raised platform.  It was wonderfully lit with twinkle lights giving it an ethereal touch.  Perfect for this large room.  Here's another couple of angles so you can see it better.







Here's a view of the large room for the ceremony before the ceremony so you can really see how wonderfully the raised lit chuppah helped everyone see better.

The photo below is one I took. Now you see why we needed a professional!

Especially for the kiss!  They had planned their wedding and navigated the wedding stress like troopers.  Now it was all paying off.  I could tell that they were really having fun at their ceremony.



Thanks to our wonderful photographer, Mark Schueler Photography- for all these photographs.  It can't have been easy getting these amazing photograph of their wedding.



Here is my picture of Mark doing his photographic magic.

Caleb, 6 years old was the ring bearer, and Madison, 7 years old was the flower girl in a dress just like Iris's.  They are cousins of Erik's and as you can see are thoroughly enjoying the festivities.

The large hall was just wide enough to accommodate pictures of the wedding party.



I wish them so many blessings.  I loved working with them.  Her fun excited style was well balanced by his laid back humorous, but still very interested style.  I wish them a lifetime of happiness!

Iris's flowers were created by Flowers by Gary, and their DJ was Mike Morse Entertainment.  Their videographer was Amazing Videos and their ceremony music was by Sarah Busman on the flute and Laura Byrne, playing the harp.-

Len and Kristy Marry at Pine Lake Pavilion on May 21st

Len and Kristy are such fun people.  It was a treat to marry them.  This is one of the weddings there I thought it would be good for me to have a box to stand on.  Kristy and Len are both tall and make a really handsome couple.  

I felt really short which doesn't usually happen to me.  Luckily I had a microphone and could speak from between them.

It was a fabulous May day.  Just before the real NC summer heat hit.  Kristy and Len have known each other for over 10 years and had lots of years commuting in a long distance relationship.  They love their 2 horses, their 3 dogs and their 10 acres.  And they had a wonderful group of friends and family to celebrate with them.

They also had Jennifer Ball of Pine Lake Pavilion (in the white shirt) to make sure their day went smoothly.  And she is a master at that.  I always love working with her.



 Thanks too to their photographer, 2and3 Photography, Thad and Sarah Lawrence.  All the good pictures on this blogpost are theirs.  Mine are the dark or blurry ones.



And their DJ Allen Smith of SPIN.




They were all a joy to work with.  Also their florist was Flowers by Gary who has impeccable taste and always does stunning work.  Their cake was by Delicious bakery in Greensboro.  You'll see a picture of that, too.

Pine Lake Pavilion is about 5 minutes drive off I-40/I-85 at the Mebane Oaks exit, the same exit as the new Tanger outlet mall.  You feel like you're out in the country and you are but it's accessible, cultivated, quiet, and very beautiful.  And it accommodates a large wedding gathering if you have one.  Besides, the lake is beautiful.

This is my picture looking out  to the ceremony site in the distance from the entrance to the reception tent.  Same day.  Different camera.



The acreage around Pine Lake Pavilion has all sorts of wonderful spots for pictures.  Here are some special ones that Thad and Sarah took of Kristy and Len.

 

Len and Kristy also love country music and I had the joy of having it in the processional with the song, 'One Woman' by the Randy Rogers Band.

In this blog, you get to see how really lovely Pine Lake Pavilion is, and how it's perfect if you want a horse and carriage entrance.  

And exit.

 

It was a perfect day for it. 

Len and Kristy had special words of thanks for their parents, and then their friend Kim offered James Dillet Freeman's 'Blessing for a Marriage.'  They wrote their own vows and sent them to me separately before the ceremony so that I could carry them in for them.  Then in their exchange of rings we noted that the wedding ring is word on the third finger because of an ancient Greek belief that a vein from that finger connected directly to the heart, thus symbolizing the depth and sincerity of love.

 

 At the beginning of the ceremony, Len and Kristy's mothers added a little bit of red and white sand to the bottom of the sand ceremony vase, to symbolize the life and love given to Kristy and Len by their mothers, then Len and Kristy poured their sand, indicating that they are no longer two, but one, never to be separated from one another.

 

 They are joyful playful people and I loved seeing this picture of them receiving all the accolades from their friends.

We ended the blessing upon their marriage with the words, 'Go now in great happiness.'  And I have no doubts that they did.

Here is the reception tent set up for their reception.  Once again it's my picture that is dark.

 

And this is their delightfully playful cake by Delicious Bakery in Greensboro.

 

I wish them a lifetime of happiness.  And I trust they'll have it.