Kat and Austin Marry at Pine Lake Pavilion and We Celebrate The Family They Create With Aidan

 Kat and Austin planned their wedding carefully and well in advance and it was lucky they did so.  They got one of the last coveted opportunities to have their wedding at the gorgeous Pine Lake Pavilion which has since closed its doors.  Austin and Kat were so much fun to work with.  They have much to celebrate and joyfully took the opportunity to do so.  They delight in their love and in their son Aidan and everyone at their wedding did so, too.  I'm so glad the these wonderful images by photographer Lindsey Laughlin and her husband Todd, of Lindsey Laughlin Photography capture the beauty of the day and of them so well..

Who could ask for a lovelier setting.  And thank you to our stellar coordinator Jennifer Ball, of Knot Your Average Events.  As always she is the consummate professional, and fun, too.

At the beginning of the ceremony we had a gentle breeze accompanied by falling leaves that seemed to be the very heavens celebrating with us.  Austin and Kat were high school sweethearts and have grown up much since then.  But still cherish that early time and the ten years since then when they were more than boyfriend and girlfriend but there was no word for their unique connection.  Their friends termed them penguins, who mate for life, and yet haven't gone through the rituals.  The poem, 'I Want To Be Your Personal Penguin' seemed to fit them perfectly and they read it to each other.  We all loved it! 

After we had a ring warming, with each guest holding and blessing their rings on the way to Austin and Kat's hands, adding a silent blessing on their rings, we honored the family they create with Austin, and then had a sand ceremony with sand for Aidan in a plastic container while Kat and Austin had glass containers. (good thinking)  Aidan was intrigued.  I love it when parents know to make their child's experience no-worries.

Then I joyfully pronounced them married and offered a blessing upon their marriage.  

 Their florists were Layli Hibbard and Kristal Cloer of Farm & Filigree.  The rich fall colors were vibrant against the expansive green lawn.  In our blessing we wished for them love - a love that brings out the best in them as they bring out the best in each other.  And we wished for them joy, a joy that makes them laugh out loud. A joy that lights their eyes and fills their souls - a joy that shouts to the world of their happiness with each other.  All this and more we wished for them on all the days of their marriage.  

Austin and Kat are sweet genuine, generous, loving people.  I loved sharing this most important day with them and wish for them many many joyful years of loving each other and Aidan.

Kris and Stewart Wed at The Museum of Life and Science

On Labor Day weekend, I got to officiate at the wonderful wedding of Kris and Stewart. I look forward to the day that I can make this a legal wedding for them, too.

We were all gathered at The Museum of Life and Science in Durham ready to honor their wonderful relationship and their commitment to each other as life partners.
I've done several ceremonies in the Butterfly House but this is the first time I've done a ceremony on the steps. At this angle you're facing the Butterfly House. It was a great location!
Two wonderful men, they're best friends and life partners and wanted to let their families and friends know how fortunate and blessed they felt to be able to share life with each other, and how committed they are to their shared life together, which will hopefully one day include children.

Kellie Carter and her wonderful staff at the museum were there to help with all the logistics of their day and it all went wonderfully. And thanks to photographer Heather Follmer, of Heather Follmer Photography, who took these wonderful pictures.

Kris's nephew was our keyboardist. He was a great hit!

Stewart walked in with his friend Dan and Kris entered with is parents. It was Kris's parent's 45th anniversary that day, too.

I loved meeting with Stewart and Kris and creating a ceremony that celebrated their love. Their joy is infectious, and they're easy going and playful. Just to be around them is uplifting.

They included a sand ceremony in their ceremony. It created a wonderful tangible reminder of how their lives are now inextricably intertwined.

I hadn't noticed at the time, but from this picture you can see another great thing about this location is that the photographer can get different angles without being intrusive.

As a blessing on their marriage I offered: 'Go forth bound together by the love of God. Go forth with hope and joy and hearts full of dreams, knowing God is always with you.'

Then I presented Stewart and Kris as a married couple.

Then we bombarded them with bubbles!
There were more wonderful locations for pictures after the ceremony. See this one of their wedding party. Their flowers were done by Tre Bella in Durham.
But then, we need one with the kids.

Kris and Stewart chose to have their first meal together alone and then join their guests for the celebrating. And here's a picture of the reception. It was a great NC evening for relaxing outside.And from some of the other pictures, they partied well into the night.
The cake was by Will Fredes at Decadent Desserts, and the catering was provided by Posh Nosh. It all looked amazing.
I loved being a part of their wedding. And they did, too. I got this email from Kris after they got back from their honeymoon in the Dominican Republic. 'We had such a great time at the wedding...it was a fairy tale come true!! beyond any of our expectations!! ... it was amazing!! , talk to you soon!!"

It was amazing. A real joy for everyone there. For me, too.

Rich and Elle at The Aqueduct Center in Chapel Hill

Rich and Elle are delighted to find each other. You can see that in every interaction they have. And their families and friends are delighted, too. You could see that in the laughter and easy banter at the rehearsal and the wedding ceremony.

And what a ceremony it was. I've never had quite such a musical set of people. We were lucky that April 10th was such a beautiful day for an outdoor wedding at The Aqueduct Conference Center in Chapel Hill. And it was just perfect. I'm especially glad since Rich's friends and family from England were all there in force and our Carolina Blue sky did us proud. Out of town folks stayed at the center, too. Julie Hamilton, the Event Coordinator at The Aqueduct, could not have ordered better weather had she been able to.

The best of these wonderful pictures are taken by their photographer, Michael Moss. My favorites are both the first and final pictures of this blog. He also took the picture of their sand ceremony. That final picture is especially stunning and full of grace. I'm sure Elle and Rich will cherish it forever.


Rich and Elle are both fun, smart, and have the same sense of humor. They love that they can be all the way from silly to serious together without judging each other. And they're both caring and thoughtful people who communicate genuine respect for the others' opinions. I'm glad because I think they really enjoyed their wedding and this foundation bodes well for their marriage.

Elle's mother and sister sang a truly wonderful a capella rendition of 'Amazing Grace' that touched us all. Elle's brothers sang 'I'm Yours' and their friend Alex sang 'Brand New Day.' Musical interludes at a ceremony can feel forced but not this time. These songs were touching, relevant, heart felt, classy, and were beautifully done. Add to this the wonderful ceremonial processional and recessional music of Twin City Trio of Elegant Ensembles.

Elle's Aunt Annette offered us the poem 'Why marriage' by Mari Nichols-Haining, and Rich's Aunt Janet read that wonderful piece about love from Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis De Bernieres speaking of lasting love being both an art and a fortunate accident.

Elle and Rich wrote their own vows to each other, too. Then they each ended their vows with classic vows that were the same. I love the combination of one's own words followed by the timeless words of love that anchor one in the eternal understanding of love and commitment. Then you have both the personal and the classic in your ceremony.

Rich and Elle shared a sand ceremony which was just right for the mood and the symbolism. We blessed their marriage with these wonderful words of reflection: "Oh how our hearts are filled with great happiness on this day. Richard and Danielle have come together here in love, pledging their lives and hearts to one another. ...Help them to be sweetheart, helpmate, friend, guide and together, may they meet the cares and problems of life more bravely." It's a longer blessing in total, with more wonderful words.

We ended with 'Bless this wedding day and this couple as they go forth together.' I add my blessing to that again. It's been fun that Elle are I are now friends on Facebook. I love hearing their news as they start their married life together.

Daniel and Chrystalyn Celebrate Their Wedding

On Easter Sunday, April 4th, Daniel and Chrystalyn celebrated their marriage with their family and friends at The Whispering Willow Wedding Chapel on Roxboro Rd. This chapel is all in white which makes a lovely backdrop for a wedding. It's the sanctuary for the First United Metaphysical Chapel which opens up the chapel to outside couples for weddings in addition to having their own minister perform ceremonies.

Their wedding had the wonderful spontaneity of their young son who had energy to burn and wanted to see close up. He was fine in his enthusiasm and everyone relaxes at a ceremony where childrens enthusiasm is included.

An important part of Chrystalyn and Daniel's ceremony was celebrating their children. We wrote a special sand ceremony to include their three sons, each son represented by a different color sand. But since they're all young, Daniel and Chrystalyn poured the sand for them. A wise move!

At the end of their marriage blessing, we wished that at the end of their lives they'd be able to look back and smile upon the life they'd shared together pleased, satisfied, and fulfilled beyond their wildest dreams!

We concluded with the Irish Wedding Blessing.

It was an unseasonal ninety degrees outside so I was grateful that everyone has this cool peaceful setting for the pictures. No squinting into the sun. No people burning up in the heat.

They held their reception in the lower level of the church, complete with kitchen and dressing room for the bride. After the ceremony, I could even see Daniel's and Chrystalyn's mothers getting food ready in the kitchen and I knew they had a wealth of support and love seeing them into marriage.

Many blessing to them!

First Posting - Spring Weddings

May and June have been busy months for me. May and October compete for the busiest wedding months in the year in the NC Triangle and Triad. These months are beautiful, but in this area that also means a little anxiety about weather. There are some glorious days, some wet days and some days where we need creative ways to plan for the heat.

In this first blog entry I'll describe the April and May weddings that I have photos for. I'm still figuring out how to get pictures more quickly. The pictures will tell most of the story. I'm also available for questions. Simply check out my web site at www.RobinRenteria.com or call me at 919-818-6362.

On April 18th, Bethany and Jesse were married at The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill. It was stunning. They were in the Bryan Courtyard which is serene and protected. Their staff is incredibly professional and goes out of its way to help their couples.

During the ceremony the couple participated in the sand ceremony. Two smaller dishes of colored sand and one larger empty vase were located on a small table behind them. We were careful to take our time and make sure that Bethany didn't trip on her train as she navigated turning in her dress.

They chose to have no attendants standing with them. This simple elegant ceremony was perfect for this couple who spoke of their love for exploring life together in travel, studying wines, and especially in the challenges of raising their new puppy. Rachel, the wedding planner, from Bliss by Sam was an incredible help in ensuring that all the details were handled so that the couple could relax and enjoy their ceremony.

These are the times I cherish. Jesse and Bethany had completed their ceremony and felt that it went just the way they wanted. Their marriage began with blessing and beauty. Their photographs were taken by a dear friend, Titus Heagins.


On April 25th I had the honor of performing a small ceremony for Corey and Kimberley at Clemmons Educational State Forest in Clayton, NC. They wanted to formalize the love they'd been sharing for many years with their children and their families. The forest has a small amphitheater tucked into the woods, just perfect for such an occasion. They had gotten one of the shelters for their reception. It was a beautiful day and still a little cool. They planned wisely to have the ceremony at 11 AM to provide some natural air conditioning. They chose the Celtic hand-fasting as part of their ceremony and their two children were their attendants. Their friends helped create the picnic which was a wonderful culmination to a day that celebrated their years of dedication and commitment to their relationship and their children.

I had never met this couple before their wedding day. Kimberley and I had several rich conversations in which I got to know them just a little bit and respect them a lot. Conversations and email make long distance planning not only possible but successful.


On April 25th, I also officiated at another small family ceremony in Hillsborough, NC for Julie and Sean. It was held at the home of a friend of Julie's, chosen for her generosity of spirit and her beautiful front yard. Julie and Sean, Julie's son Tristan, Sean's brother, their much loved dog, and two friends (one of whom was the photographer) were in attendance. Everyone was excited to have the day arrive.

Their dog's collar was beaded and elastic and he left it alone. Mostly. He was a wonderful spirit during the ceremony, keeping it lighthearted and playful.


On May 2nd, I performed the marriage ceremony for Kate and John at Bass Lake in Holly Spring, NC. They were right on the water feeling the breeze and the sparkle. Robin Lin Photography created wonderful images of the day. There's one on my web site! Elissa Keno of Elissa Keno Weddings was the planner and decorator extraordinaire who transformed the Visitor's Center Conference Room at Bass Lake which looks over the water into an elegant reception site.

Jay and Kate did all their planning long distance from Arizona! But with so many able professionals it went off without a hitch.

As a part of their ceremony they chose the Unity Candle Ceremony. One note, the breeze off the lake was fairly intense so we had to modify the ceremony so that candles blowing out was not an issue. I recommend to all couples who choose this ceremony to make sure there is hurricane glass around the candles so that the symbolism isn't lost in the wind.

You can see below how just a little decoration really makes the setting spectacular.
They also had the benefit of shade, especially important for the men whose suits don't breathe. I have said for years that anyone who invents men's formal wear that breathes will make a fortune. As the old Yiddish saying goes, 'From my lips to God's ear.'

May was a flurry with multiple weddings every weekend. Gratefully, every single one went smoothly in every aspect. With this first, and catch-up, blog, I'll highlight just two more. Then do more over the weekend.

As I blog regularly, I'll provide more pictures, tips, and recommendations. Officiating at ceremonies is a real joy. I was a parish minister for twelve years and doing strictly weddings, premarital counseling, and other rites of passage allows me to concentrate on each couple or family, giving them all my experience and my blessings as we pass through each others lives.

On May 16th I performed the marriage ceremony for Kyle and Adrian at All Saint's Chapel in Raleigh.

It's a classic setting with incredible lighting just the right size for a mid-size wedding. Misty Ash, their staff member coordinating for the day was very helpful. The refurbished dressing rooms below were spacious and cool on this hot day. We could really have used a wedding planner to help everyone line up in the small foyer. But, with a little extra attention during the rehearsal we planned for the whole wedding party in this tight space. Just a note to remember if you choose this great setting.

Adrian and Kyle live in Charlotte and wanted a simple elegant ceremony. They held their reception at The North Carolina Museum of Art. I've provided a link below to their gallery of photos. For their photos after the ceremony, Kyle and Adrian used the picturesque cemetery across the street from the chapel. It is the oldest cemetery in Raleigh.

Here is a classic photo that maximizes the benefit of the great lighting at this location.

Adrian and Kyle had Craig take a picture from the balcony of this wonderful renovated chapel to get a picture of all their guests. I made an announcement right after the couple recessed to tell everyone to gather for a quick photo before they went to the reception and the wedding party and their families went across the street for other photos.









All these great photos were taken by Craig Carpenter at
LusterStudios.com. You can find more on the
photo gallery at their web site or on his blog.



Adrian and Kyle wanted to celebrate their closeness to their families and friends in this ceremony.

If there was a theme for this day it was sharing the amazing grace of Kyle and Adrian's love for each other





On May 23rd Mandy and Josh were married at the Haywood Hall in Raleigh at 5 PM in the evening. It's an historic house that is located on a cul de sac and has a large brick paved side patio that is perfect for the reception.

Mandy and Josh met at a student mixer at Western Lanes Bowling Alley between lanes 1 and 2 and their courtship began there. They've both since completed their MBAs and created new careers but the delight they share as best friends is still strong. Tom Edwards of New Image Studio took the following marvelous photos.

They had about 100 people at the ceremony which was in the downtown section of Raleigh with parks and restored homes. It was shady and cool. The DJ was Frank with Joe Bunn Co. which provided music for the ceremony by just pointing the speakers toward the front. They were simply turned around for the reception. There's more to show for this beautiful wedding, but I need to publish this right now. These photos are big and I believe I've maxed out of space!