Jabari and Janelle - A Wedding Filled with Laughter and Joy

Thank you to Cara of F8 Photo Studios for these wonderful pictures!
  
Jabari and Janelle were a delight to marry.  They seem to have fun together all the time.  They've been together 12 years and are still so in love they're a pleasure to be around.  They're very different people.  She loves to talk and comes from Long Island, and he is quiet, loving to hear her talk and from North Carolina.  But make no mistake, he talks whenever he has something to say.  They just really appreciate each other and it shows.  Their friends and families are also a treat, laughing, joking and creating a large loving crowd.  


I had the privilege of marrying them at the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel in downtown Raleigh in February. Thank you to their staff who did a fabulous job.  And to Ronnie, their DJ for the ceremony and reception from The Perfect Beat.

 In their ceremony we added these words which seem to really fit them. 

 'Janelle and Jabari, over the twelve years you’ve been together, you’ve grown and changed, but singly and together, to come to this day.  You have created a relationship that celebrates who each of you are – in your delightful differences, in your humor, in your shared valuing of home, family, and adventure, and in your love, which is truly a joy to those around you.'

Their sense of humor also came out in the beginning of the ceremony in which we wrote:  'If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together -  let them speak now and suffer the consequences or forever hold their peace.'  And after this light touch we got down to the serious part.  But being them, not too serious.

They moved their home right after the ceremony and went to Las Vegas for their honeymoon, and then promptly got busy with life again.  I wish them all the best.  I know that they will have a wonderful life together.  As they already do.

Jen and Ian Tie the Knot in a Candlelight Ceremony at The Sheraton Raleigh

It's not often that I do a ceremony in candlelight. So I printed the text in 16 point type and practically memorized it. And I was glad I did. Not that the light was too low, but that Ian and Jen were so much fun to marry.


They had all their pictures taken beforehand so were together before the ceremony with their family and wedding party looking relaxed and comfortable, even though Ian told me he was a bit nervous. They wanted a simple ceremony and they had the vows they wanted already written when they came to me. I loved their grounded easy manner when I met with them, and I could see now that this was just their way of being in the world.


They'd been together five years and were amazed to find when they met that they lived ten minutes from each other in Long Island. Their lives have taken them on some interesting adventures these last five years and they still have the same goals and dreams and a delight in working together to make them come true.

Most of their guests were from out of town and staying at the hotel. Joanie Waters at the Sheraton Raleigh was amazing in helping it all come together.


And Lisa of Lisa Ann Photography was a joy to work with to make sure we got great photos of their low light ceremony, Jim Austin of Jim Austin and Co were the fabulous DJs, and Preston Flowers did the bouquets. It was a wonderful event for these very grounded and very in love people. I was delighted to be a part of it. They paid me the wonderful compliment of saying that they never worried about the ceremony at all. That they knew they could relax and simply enjoy it because they trusted me. I appreciated that so much, because that's just what I want for them. I wish them many blessings!