Kal and Emily Have an Elegant Ceremony at The Umstead

I loved getting to know Kal and Emily.  They have been together more than 6 years, (I think it's up to 7 by now).  They met when he was her RA her freshman year at UNC.  They started out as friends and this is a wonderful foundation on which to build a marriage.  They have so much in common and also each have a twinkle in their eyes for all the ways they are different.  There is much to celebrate in their ceremony.  One thing too is the touch of class that is apparent in their wedding.   A special thanks to Blue Box Photography for these great photos!

Gotta love the bow tie! In their opening words I said, 'And so, building on over six years of learning, loving and creating, Kal and Emily are here today to take their relationship a step higher and to strengthen their bond even further as they join together in marriage.'

Emily is from Venezuela and she and Kal chose 'Sonnet XII' by Pablo Neruda for part of their ceremony.  It was perfect for them.  Part of their vows say, 'I take you as my partner, loving and respecting the amazing person that you are, and the person you will become.'  These words, too, seem to fit them seamlessly.

As they exchanged rings, the said, 'Accept this ring as a symbol of my everlasting love and devotion for all the years ahead.'

I pronounced them married with these words, 'My the joy of love, the grace of God, and strength of spirit be at the heart of the life you share together.'    

I feel so blessed to have such wonderful couples, like Kal and Emily, in my life. Couples with a genuine desire to grow in love, understanding and joy all their lives.  And from them I find hope for the planet, which will thrive based upon our commitment to loving relationships in all aspects of our lives.

The Umstead Hotel and Spa is a lovely outdoor venue and their staff is always very efficient and professional.  Kal and Emily's flowers were stunning, too.  They were provided by Brides and Bouquets in Cary.  Their musicians were from Arioso Strings, who are always flawless, too,

Michael and Sarah Marry at The Umstead on a Glorious Day

On June 1st I had the real pleasure of marrying Michael and Sarah at The Umstead Hotel and Spa.  They sent me their pictures in early August and, alas, I'm just now getting to their blog.  I traveled until mid-August and then proceeded headlong into September weddings.  But I didn't want to keep these wonderful pictures and this wonderful couple to myself.

They are just as genuine and open as their smiles.  They live in Maryland now but she went to UNC-G and he went to NC State so it was almost required that they marry in North Carolina.  

They met two weeks before he graduated from high school and their first kiss happened at his graduation .  They have been together for seven years and know the roads between Greensboro and Raleigh very well.

 They had a beautiful June day and thanks to Kevin Milz for taking these wonderful images for them to cherish.  One really nice thing about The Umstead is the ability to take pictures from above.  I want to also thank Watered Garden Florist for their gorgeous flowers, and Arioso Strings who are always a joy to work with. 

They are best friends, Michael loving making Sarah laugh.  He says it has always been easy and rewarding.  Sarah loving that he can still make her laugh until she can't breathe.  I have heard it said that the shortest distance between two people is laughter.

Michael chose the three stone setting of Sarah's engagement ring to represent their past, present, and future.  And I trust that they will have as wonderful a future together as has been their past, and certainly by these smiles, you can tell their present is a delight for them both.

Sarah and Michael told me that they can't wait to officially become a family  And now they are.

Sarah emailed me with these words:  'I hope you are doing well. Michael and I just wanted to say thank you for everything you did to make our wedding so special! You helped make our ceremony more beautiful than we ever could have imagined :)  All the best, Sarah'

It's always a joy for me to know that a couple loved their wedding ceremony and that it fit them perfectly.   I loved being a part of Sarah and Michael's lives at this special time and I wish them many many blessings.

Nick and Jess Mary Under the Sunflowers at The Angus Barn

 On Labor Day weekend I had the great pleasure of marrying Nick and Jess at The Angus Barn Pavilion.  I'm so blessed. The Universe only sends me the most wonderful couples.   Jess and Nick had known each other 4 years by the wedding day after meeting as graduate students at Duke.  They are close to their family and friends and have fun with all of them.  They wanted a fun, participative wedding honoring the people they love, acknowledging that they are joining their families and asking their family and friends for their support throughout their marriage. 

The Angus Barn site couldn't have been more lovely for their wedding.  A special Thank you to Cade Bowman of Cade Bowman Photography for these superb photographs.  They are as clear and bright as the couple and capture their exuberance so well.  And thanks to Ashley Whittington, the coordinator with Angus Barn.  I've worked with her many times and she always does her job with style, grace and professionalism.  In the picture below Morgan and Hannah, Jess's niece and nephew, do their part to make the ceremony special.  In addition to carrying down the rings, Morgan did something that was a first in my wedding experience; as he finished walking down the aisle he hand delivered a note to Nick from Jess for his eyes only.  Nick read it quickly and you could tell it touched his heart.  It was a lovely gesture.

The Angus Barn has the dilemma of being close to the airport with the noise of airplanes taking off and landing easily heard throughout a ceremony.  I always just pause and let the noise die down, but Nick and Jess had a wonderful idea to help shift this from an annoyance to a joy.  On the stand with their programs they put a sign that said, and I paraphrase, 'It is said that the number of planes taking off and landing during Jess and Nick's wedding will determine the number of curly headed children they will have.'

Nick and Jess chose one of my favorite quotes by Madelaine L'engle to include in their ceremony, 'Ultimately two people who love each other must ask themselves how much they hope for as their love grows and deepens, and how much risk they are willing to take.  ...  It is indeed a fearful gamble.'  The quote goes on to speak of love that is participation, not possession, ending with... 'When love is not possession but participation, then it is part of that co-creation which is our human calling.'

 Nick and Jess have lots of siblings so their wedding party was a family affair, too.  We included a special thank you to Jess and Nick's parents and siblings saying that without their love and support, this marriage would not, could not be possible.  In the ceremony Jess's Uncle and Godfather read with great tenderness the 'Blessing of the Hands.'  Then I ended the final blessing upon Jess and Nick's wedding with 'May you have happiness and may you find it making one another happy.  May you have love and may you find it loving one another.'  I have no doubts that this couple is well suited in heart and spirit to do just that.

Here is their wedding party after the ceremony.  It includes Jess's three sisters and Nick's three brothers.  

 I didn't stay for the reception, preferring always to come home to my own husband so I had to rely on the fabulous pictures that Cade took.

I'm always impressed how the pavilion can transform to this elegant space, filled with life.

 Kelly Odom Flowers was the florist who created Jessica's bouquet and all the other flowers at the wedding.  Arioso Strings provided beautiful classical selections for the ceremony.  They are both wonderful professionals.

I got this thank you from them after their wedding:  'Thank you so much Robin - we had a fantastic honeymoon that capped off just an amazing weekend with friends and family. It was everything we hoped it would be. Thank you for your part in making our day so special, Jess.'
Thank you Universe, and thank you Nick and Jess.  I couldn't ask for a better way to spend the holiday than at your wedding!

Will and Margot Wed With Great Joy at The Angus Barn Pavilions

 Will and Margot were a joy in my life.  I got to spend some time with them which made their wedding at The Angus Barn Pavilions in Raleigh even sweeter for me.  They're a great couple, considerate of each other, clear communicators, with a good perspective and joyful spirits.  We created a ceremony that focused on their love and their love for their families.  They've been together over 7 years and are both close to their siblings and their parents.   They chose Billy Joel's lyrics 'Just The Way You Are' as part of their ceremony and the Irish Wedding Blessing.  Both fit them perfectly.


Classical guitarist Scott Neibauer with Arioso Strings offered lovely renditions of Bach's 'Prelude from Suite 1,'  Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy,' and the Beatles' 'Here Comes The Sun' as their processional music.

I loved the words we chose to say about their marriage:  "For Margot and Will, marriage is a commitment to life - to be the best that two people can find and bring out in each other.  It offers opportunities for sharing and growth that no other human relationship can equal, a joining that is promised for a lifetime.'

Will proposed in Pittsburgh at the top on the incline overlooking the city.  It was a rainy day and both families were in the covered shelter in the know about why he and Margot were outside alone in the gusting wind, even though the proposal was a surprise to Margot.  Will planned it well and it was just right for them.  You can see their faces light up when they talk about it.

Jason Dail was their excellent photographer, their florist was Cornelia Vick, the band was White Chocolate from East Coast Entertainment and their videographer was Philip McInnis from Twenty-One Films, LLC.  I loved crediting good professionals.  They make it all come together smoothly.  Special thanks goes to Ashley Whittington with Angus Barn for her fabulous coordination.  I've worked with Ashley before and she is gracious, professional and thorough.  


They have a Basset Hound named Buddy and a couple of nutty cats.  They know how to create a home and a life full of love.  

They brought love into my life and I send it right back to them.  May their life be blessed.  They're the kind of folks who pass it on to others.


When they got back from their honeymoon I got the following pictures that friends had taken and this sweet note: 

'Will and I could not be more pleased with how everything went on Saturday. You were amazing (and everybody else thinks so as well), and everything went so well. The sound problem was only a minor glitch and I think we all handled it very well. I cannot believe we didn't have any planes fly over! How amazing is that?!

 

I have attached a few pictures from the reception. It was a blast and I want to do it all again! I will be sure to send you Jason's pictures once they are available.

 

I am glad you enjoyed our video of pictures; it was really important to us to have as much of a personal feel to the wedding as possible. I think we did a great job of it :)

 

Thank you again for EVERYTHING. You have been amazing to us and are surely someone we will never forget.'

Their first dance...

Their wedding party...

 Margot playing the guitar.  Will's nickname for her is Big Red.

 Margot beaming at the reception.  Of couse they were beaming all day.

 Margot and her mother.

 

They both have dear families.  There was lots of love and caring at their wedding.  It was a joy to be a part of!  Blessed Be!

Leslie and Craig Marry at The Umstead Hotel and Spa

Craig and Leslie were blessed with a beautiful day for their ceremony, which is a special blessing since most of Craig's family traveled from Nova Scotia, Canada and California to be with them.   And a beautiful location, the lawn at The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary.   In their ceremony they simply wanted everyone to know how happy they are with each other.  They're each independent people with their own lives and yet their love has evolved naturally to include and embrace them both.  They both feel loved and accepted for the whole of who they are.  This is a wonderful foundation on which to build a marriage!

Their ceremony music was provided by Arioso Strings and I have Mary Page Block of Arioso Strings to thank for this wonderful photograph.  She's a great amateur photographer and I have the benefit of her skill and her generosity in this photograph.  The wedding also had the pleasure of their wonderful music.  It's always great to work with Arioso Strings.  They're always professional and excellent.  This day they played = 'Air' from 'Water Music' by Handel, 'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring,' and 'Purcell's Trumpet Voluntary.'  And finally, 'Rejouissance' by Handel for their recessional.  

Thanks too to Barbara Clark of An Elegant Affair for her great planning and coordination of this wonderful event.  There were about 70 guests.


They wedding party was piped in and the guests piped out by a bag piper.  It was a beautiful touch with all the guests following the bagpiper Paul Davis to the location for the cocktail hour while Leslie and Craig and their wedding party had pictures taken elsewhere.  


This is such a wonderful open venue that I wanted you to see the expanse of lawn.  Here is the view of the ceremony site with the lake in the background.

Here is the ceremony site looking back toward the hotel.

Thanks too to the Umstead staff for always doing a fabulous job of supporting the other wedding professionals.

Since Craig and Leslie's ceremony was planned primarily through their wedding planner I had less to do with the planning.  Kristen of KPO photographs was their official photographer but the ones you see are ones I took, other than the one by Mary Page Block.   Tre Bella was their florist.

Matt and Billie @ The Fearrington Inn This Summer

 Billie and Matt were both from out of town, choosing The Fearrington Inn, and me, on short notice because they each had just a short leave before shipping out to Afghanistan.  They are both helicopter pilots in the army who love their work and love each other.  I'm so glad that our fabulous photographer, K C Ramsay of Craige & van Roden Photography in Raleigh got these radiant shots of their wedding day.

Arioso Strings provided the music and were also very generous in playing outside in the very damp weather.  I love working with good professionals like Mary Page Block of Arioso Strings and her staff and Gilda.  You can trust their experience and it shows.

It was a rainy day and we waited for the rain to clear and it did!  Whew!  Thanks to Gilda McDaniel at The Fearrington Inn who always always does a fabulous job coordinating a wedding.  She made sure that her staff wiped off all the chairs and covered all the puddles so Billie and Matt could have the wedding they really wanted outside.

Billie and I worked long distance to create a ceremony that honored her Wiccan beliefs and Matt's Catholic faith and we created a ceremony that they both loved.

One element we incorporated was the Celtic Handfasting ceremony where I bind their hands in marriage, asking them vows they make to each other.  With each vow made another knot is tied in the cord.  This is where the sayings 'tying the knot' and 'giving ones hand in marriage' come from.  Billie made the cord they used by braiding three different color ribbons and adding small charms into the weave.  It  was beautiful.

After this ceremony, honoring that they can't be bound together physically at all times, they exchange rings as symbols of the vows and the binding they have made.

They are both laid back easy going people who simply wanted to celebrate their love for each other.  And that we did!

Billie sent me this note later:  'Thank you so much for doing such an amazing job officiating our ceremony. I can't even imagine a more perfect wedding! The amount of time, attention, and care you put into our ceremony made it an event our family and friends will remember forever... I am so thankful to have found you and that you were able to help us on such short notice.'

I heard from KC yesterday that the disc that KC had given them of pictures was damaged in the move.  Matt contacted KC to see what she could do and sent them another disc.  She also passed on their news.  

Matt is in Bagram and Billie is at a smaller bases named Sharona.  They only get to see each other about once a month but Matt is going to where Billie is for Thanksgiving and she is coming his way for Christmas.  I send love to them both and prayers to keep them safe from harm.

They were one of those blessings in my life that don't stay for long but you remember them, and feel blessed, after they pass.

Evan and Brittain at The Fish Pond in Duke Gardens

I married Evan and Brittain on Labor Day weekend at the newly landscaped Duke Garden Fish Pond.  It was a lovely wedding for a lovely couple and I'm so glad the site was spectacular for them, too.  

First, Thank you to Elizabeth K Photography for these wonderful photographs.  And she was a joy to work with.  Arioso Strings played for their wedding, too, and as always did a wonderful job.  

They planned their ceremony well so it went off without a hitch.  But then they had a well organized rehearsal, an essential for a large wedding party like this, but these folks were also very helpful in managing all the details.  In Duke Gardens on a hot day at the pergola and the fish pond it's handy to have a cell phone to help the bride stay where it's cool until just before it's time for her to enter.

There ceremony was even visited by the Great Blue Heron that is so often seen at Duke Gardens.  We even has some sight seers in the background.

Britain and Even wanted a warm and tender ceremony that was personal to them and that's just what we planned.  They wanted a wonderful quote from Antoine St. Exupery, 'Here is my secret.  It is very simple:  Only with the hart can one see rightly.  What is essential is invisible to the eye.'

We also had the beautiful words of Dante, from 'The Divine Comedy' and a poem by Maya Angelou.  And they spoke their own vows to each other before we joyfully pronounced them married.

Thanks to all their friends for all their help.  

Sugarland is responsible for this gorgeous cake!  I'm amazed by the detail.

Evan and Brittain took time to have some beautiful pictures in the garden before going to The Cotton Room for lots of dancing and celebration.

Here you can get a good view of Brittain's wonderful flowers designed for her by Tre Bella Florist.  It was a joy to marry Evan and Brittian with the love and support of their families and friends.  I wish them many many years of joy.