Lisa and Brian Have a Wonderful Time at Their Wedding

Lisa and Brian are as much fun as in this picture.  And at the same time they are thoughtful people who have had to overcome some challenges and have grown a lot in their love and in  who they are individually and as a couple in the accomplishing of that.  There was much to celebrate in their ceremony.  I love working with couples who are wise in knowing that marriage is a journey, not a destination.  So their wedding was a delight for everyone there.

 The Stockroom in downtown Raleigh was perfect for the urban feel that they love and for their casual crowd, many of whom had come from where they lived before in Pennsylvania.  I loved all the music they chose for their processional.  It set a lovely tone and was just them:

      Landon Pigg – 'Falling In Love In a Coffee Shop' for the family processional,

      Matt Wertz – 'I Will Not Take My Love Away' for the men's entrance,

      Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova - 'Falling Slowly' for Lisa's attendants,

      The Piano Guys – 'A Thousand Years' for Lisa's processional.

 Lisa and Brian introduced me to a German Toasting Glasses and the story that goes with it.  They both drank at the same time from the cup and if you want to know the old story, more a legend, that goes with it, then call me. They accomplished the goal for a happy marriage - to both drink without spilling a drop.

 After the ceremony they took advantage of all the wonderful night sites Raleigh has to offer.  Thanks to Tara Doring of Adoring Events and Photography for these fabulous shots!  Thanks to her mother, Teresa Doring, also of Adoring Events and Photography for her excellent Day of Coordination. Marsha Snyder of MEWS Floral Designs created their flowers. And Marcus Ward of Morse Entertainment was their wonderful DJ who also managed their ceremony music.  All excellent professionals.

Brian and Lisa cherish the life they have built together, both very different people from very different backgrounds, however both with the same goals and a true appreciation of what each one brings to their life together.  And their life with Max, their four-footed family member who is a joy in their lives and who has helped them work as a team in new and often unexpected ways. 

In our blessing of their marriage, I said, "God, bless them with the inner gifts of trust, compassion, forgiveness, and truth that they may live and grow together in love and peace.  Amen."  And I add, bless them with much joy.  In their thanks to me they said, 'you were the component that made the wedding about our marriage not just a party. I don't know if we could ever repay you for what you helped us do on that day! Thank you so very much from the bottom of our hearts!'  It was a joy and a privilege to celebrate their love with them.  And it's a joy to remember it today.

Torre and Katie Marry With Great Joy at The Stockroom in November

I loved marrying Katie and Torre at The Stockroom in downtown Raleigh.  Thank you to Amy Hill of 627 Photography for all these wonderful pictures documenting their joyful occasion.  She was a delight to work with.  It's not an easy site in which to photograph.  She did a great job.  Thanks to to Katie's mom, too, who is an artist and architect who designed the backdrop that softened the light that came streaming through the window wall behind us on this sunny November Saturday.

Torre and Katie met through mutual friends in 2008 and after casually dating for 8 months realized that they wanted to spend their lives together.  Torre proposed to Katie by surprise on a trip to Sicily with the conspiring assistance of his family.  And she was surprised.  Both Torre's and Katie's parents have had long successful marriages.  Katie's parents had their 34th wedding anniversary this year and this year was also Torre's parents 40th wedding anniversary.  We enjoyed mentioning that in the ceremony.  Of course, Katie's father escorted her down the aisle.

Katie and Torre decided to have a memory box or a time capsule as part of their ceremony.  It held love letters they wrote to each other, mementos from their wedding and letters their parents wrote to them that they hadn't seen.

We began their ceremony with the words, 'For Torre and Katie marriage is a lifelong commitment which offers opportunities for sharing and growth that no other human relationship can equal.'

They offered vows in their own words then each one also offered these beautiful classic vows to each other, 'I will believe in you to the end.  I will love and honor, cherish, inspire and sustain you.  I will share with you all experiences of life be they great or small.  Your joys will be my joys; your sorrows will be my sorrows. I will not be moved in my devotion so long as we both shall live.'

When exchanging rings, they each said, 'I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am and all that I have, I honor you.'

Here you can see the memory box behind Torre and Katie.  Introducing the memory box ceremony I quoted the words of author Germaine Greer who said, 'Successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.'  When they open the box they will cherish anew the reasons they fell in love and chose to marry each other, and how their love has grown.  

They sealed the box and tied the bow on it as part of the ceremony.

After sharing their first kiss as husband and wife, they beamed as the recessed down the aisle to 'Through the Kaleidoscope' by Steven Cravis.

I loved how they had a table of photographs of the history of their families as part of their wedding.  They both come from strong close families and it was a joy to experience all the support and love the families felt for them.

What a wonderful way to make an entrance!

Their reception was held in the stockroom, too, after a brief interlude for the staff to reconfigure the room.  There were a lot of diversions in downtown Raleigh for guests to spend just a little time, then the celebrating began.  This is such a great space for both the ceremony and reception.  I've included a few pictures just so you can see the spaciousness and elegance of their reception.

Their musicians for the reception were the band 'The Shakedown.'  Love that sax.

And these scrumptious cupcakes are by Gigi's Cupcakes.   

Torre and Katie had other wonderful professionals who helped their wedding fulfill the vision of the vision they hoped to achieve.  Fresh Affairs created their floral arrangements, Hayes Barton Cafe and Dessertery created their cake and Eschelon Hospitality was their caterer.

When Torre and Katie got back from their honeymoon I got this great note:  'It was a joy to have you officiate our wedding last month.  We had an overwhelming amount of guests tell us it was "the most beautiful ceremony they had ever attended".  We share this sentiment, it was truly special, and the greatest day of our lives.  Thank you.'  It was a joy for me, too.  I wish them all the best for many many years of wonderful loving and living.