David and Ashley Marry in A Small Intimate Ceremony at The Carolina Club

Thank you to Ashley and David and to their photographer, Beth Ely of Beth Ely Photography,  for these sweet pictures of their wedding at the Carolina Club at the UNC Alumni Center on UNC campus.  The small well lit room provided an elegant setting for their small intimate wedding with about 35 guests including the wedding party.  They wanted a relaxed day and not to be the center of attention.  I loved the way they included their seven nieces ages three to twelve.  You don't see their pictures here but they were all enjoying their roles as junior bridesmaids  and flower girls.

They started out the ceremony with 'Here Comes the Sun' by The Beatles, and 'Stolen' by Dashboard Confessional.  I love all the new music I get to hear in weddings!  

 We began their ceremony with the words, 'Marriage is the joining of two lives, the spiritual, physical and emotional union of two human beings who have separate histories, separate destinies.'    Ashley and David have begun the wonderful journey of allowing another person to inform and enhance their own life.  I experienced them as a thoughtful couple, considerate of each other and a couple who cherishes their families and friends.

 We pronounced them husband and wife for life.  And for them it felt just right.  I wish them all the happiness in the world as they create a beautiful marriage and a wonderful life.  

I'm always grateful to work with excellent professional, so I want to let you know who they are, too.  Ashley and David's flowers were provided by Marsha Snyder of MEWS Designs, and Matt Kanon was an excellent classical guitarist that I'm happy to recommend to anyone.  Thanks, too, to Nicole McMillen of Premier Party Planners for her excellent coordination efforts.

Matt and Alli Light up the Day at the Horace Williams House

Alli and Matt wanted a small wedding and the Horace Williams House in Chapel Hill provided the perfect venue for the 50 plus guests of friends and family.  I've done lots of ceremonies there over the years and it adapts well to many needs.  ( I even did a ceremony years ago under the branches of the Magnolia tree on their yard.  We all climbed into the little cave created by the massive branches, about 9 of us, and felt that we were in a chapter from Tolkein's 'The Lord of The Ring' trilogy.)

Matt and Alli chose the front porch of the house in the sunshine, and it was a gorgeous day.  Almost everyone had traveled to NC to be with them.  They're both in, or have been in science programs at UNC so Chapel Hill is their home now.  They met in 2004 at a summer internship together.

Alli and Matt both have a dry easy low key wit.  They connected over cooking and their shared senses of humor so decided to have a quote from Julia Child's 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking' because, as Julia says, 'Cooking is like love; it should be entered into with abandon or not at all.'

I also loved their music choices and their musician.  Local classical guitarist, Matthew Kanon was wonderful, and he played 'Grow Old With Me' by John Lennon for the processional and 'Here Comes The Sun' by The Beatles for the recessional.

They had their cocktail hour at the Horace Williams House ...

 

and then everyone walked downtown, or rode, to The Franklin Hotel for the reception with Greg Ramsey from Joe Bunn DJ Company and I'm sure a wonderful cake by Sugarland Bakery in Chapel Hill.  Alli's and her attendant's flowers were made by Charles House at University Florist.


  
Carisa Chee was their fabulous photographer. .Here's the link to the slideshow of 9 of her pictures for Matt and Alli's wedding on WeddingChannel.com:  Enjoy.  http://galleries.weddingchannel.com/Wedding-Details/87562/view.aspx?id=87562&type=18

I loved having Matt and Alli in my life for that short time.  They are easy low stress people.  They even had their photos taken before the ceremony so they could relax and enjoy their guests after the ceremony.  Their ceremony was a sweet moment on a lovely NC spring day.  I'm so glad I was there with them.  I wish them many many blessings!