Aaron and Rachel Marry in May at The Cotton Room

I loved marrying Aaron and Rachel.  They are such fun!  And we had a special connection. My husband, Ruben, was Rachel's science teacher in middle school.  And they have a 100 pound yellow lab named Buddy.  Just thinking about him makes me smile.

Aaron and Rachel wanted a simple ceremony, wanted everyone to feel included, and wanted a ceremony centered on their love.  Easy and a joy to do.  And good professionals to work with, too.  

Michelle Allred of The Cotton Room was excellent as always.  Thank you to Kent Murray of Kent Murray Photography for his great photographs of the wedding.  Margaret Pender, of Victoria Park Florist was their florist, Sugarland provided their cake and Suzanne Bolt and Shelley Livingston were the violinists for their ceremony.  Kiley Holder of Cool Cats Entertainment was their fabulous DJ at their reception.

 The Cotton Room provides a wonderful blank slate for each couple to personalize.  I loved Rachel and Aaron's orange accents.  They made the room come alive.

 Rachel's sister, Kathryn and Maid of Honor, sang a beautiful piece a cappella amazingly and beautifully.  What a gift.  The piece she sang was the class Irish song 'Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms.'  I recommend it for any wedding.  Here is a Youtube clip from singer John McDermott.

I love how relaxed and present Rachel and her attendants look, and so lovely in those colors.

I think it was Rachel's father that took this picture at the rehearsal.  I love it.  It's a great memory of the joy I have in marrying couples, and this very special couple.  

I wish Aaron and Rachel many many happy years together!

Jordynn and Ryon Marry at The King's Daughters Inn

In July, I was go glad that Jordynn and Ryon decided to marry indoors.  They were, too.  They both looked cool and relaxed at this sweet intimate ceremony for only family and close friends.   Since they were joining families from two cultures they had elements of both cultures in their ceremony.  

They're a delightful couple.  They seemed so calm and easy going that they were able to just concentrate on each other and drink in the power of this moment.  I love it when a couple can be present at their ceremony because they let go of the nervousness and know that nothing can go wrong in such a moment of love.

While the ceremony was in the format and style of a western ceremony, they served tea to their parents in the ceremony.  While they served the tea, their friend read the section 'On Children' from Kahlil Gibran's wonderful book 'The Prophet.'

Their friend offered this lovely poem from Marge Piercy's book, "The Art of Blessing the Day"

======================

The day I forget to write

the day I forget to feed the cat

the day I forget to love you

the day I forget your name

and then my own.

Until then I will not cease

this spinning pattern: part weave

of skeins of soft wool to keep

us warm, to clothe our too open

flesh, to decorate us –

and part dance, through woods

where roots trip me, a dance

through meadows of rabbit holes

and old ribs of plowing hidden

under thick grass.

Until then I will whirl

through my ragged days.

Like a spindle, like a dreydl

I will turn in the center

of my intricate weave

spelling your name in my dance

in my weaving, in my work,

your hidden name which

is simply, finally,

love.

Then they exchanged vows and rings, with the lovely classic sentence, ' I give you this ring ....as a pledge of my love ....and as a symbol of our unity.'

They created a unique ceremony blending a wine ceremony with a red string ceremony customary in China.  According to Chinese legend, our fates regarding marriage partners are determined by the Old Man Under the Moon, who uses red string to link the feet of boys and girls who are destined to become marriage partners. This ensures that they will ultimately meet. This explains the popular saying, “Those whom fate binds together will find each other though separated by a thousand miles.”

This was such a lovely ceremony that another couple where one member of the couple is Chinese requested this same ceremony in their wedding.

They had wonderful professionals helping to make their wedding special.  Their photographer was friend, Christopher Chao.  Their florist was Victoria Park Florist, in Chapel Hill.  Their cake was from Miel Bon Bons in Carrboro, their catering was by Extravagant Fare, in Durham, and their musicians were from Big Woods Music and their DJ was Bill Smith from Bill Smith's Magic of Music.

I loved being a part of their wedding.  It was a privilege to see our world growing smaller in distance and yet larger in love before my eyes.

Scott and Meghan Celebrate Their Love on Sept 5th at The Carolina Inn

I had the privilege of marrying Scott and Meghan in The Bryan Courtyard of The Carolina Inn on Sunday September 5th of this year. It was a wonderful time. First of all, they had great weather. Then they had great help. Rachel from Bliss by Sam coordinated with the easy charm and wonderful efficiency that I've known her always to have.

Then they had a group of young string musicians from UNC who provided excellent music, and Allison of Sandfoot Photography was also at her regular best. I was grateful to the Carolina Inn for sending them my way.

Meghan works in maternal and child health and Scott has set up a web site for charitable giving. They both have strong commitments to creating better lives for others. They inspired me and gave me much hope for the future of our planet.

They wanted their wedding to celebrate their faith and their delight in each other. They both found peace in being with each other and complement each other well. They love watching slapstick comedies (my kind of folks), cooking and taking their dog for walks. They relish in the simple pleasures.

Meghan's Bridesmaid's beautiful Iris bouquets was designed by Margaret Pender of Victoria Park Florist to honor their colors of purple, blue and silver. All her flowers were stunning.

This gives you a great long view of the Bryan Courtyard which is sometimes hard to find. Thanks Allison for this.

And here we get to enjoy Meghan and Scott exchanging their vows.

Scott and Meghan had their reception in the Hill Ballroom to the music of Joe Bunn DJ Company, with Randy Bennet as their DJ.

Cinda's Creative Cakes created their cake. I sampled her cakes at the Carolina Inn bridal event that they have every January. They were beautiful, great, and she's the consummate professional.

Scott and Meghan told me that they have found their home in each other. May their hearts always cherish this great gift. I wish them many blessings!