Rob and Jen Marry With Much Love and With Their New Son at the Caffé Luna in Downtown Raleigh

Jen and Rob's beautiful wedding at the Caffé Luna was the culmination of a lot of planning and effort on Jen and Rob's part.  Effort that took place while they were pregnant with their son, Robert Douglas.  It was a delight to celebrate his entry onto the planet at their ceremony, too.

Their professional photographer was Carolyn Scott, of Carolyn Scott Photography, who got some absolutely fabulous shots (as did her partner Goeff).  Make sure you read to the bottom of the blog to see all her pictures!  They're wonderful.  I've gotten to work with them three times this year and it's always a delight.  I've included some 'friend's shots'  in the blog, too, because they were shot at a sweet angle during the ceremony that the professionals couldn't get.

Jen, Rob and I met in March when they anticipated an October wedding.  But then when she found out she was pregnant the wedding was moved to November.  It's a good thing and a great change since we all got to celebrate Robert Douglas, too.

These pictures are only of the ceremony.  My favorite part!  :-)  Their wedding was held at the Cafe Lunna in downtown Raleigh.  

Their florist - check out that lush arch - was Lyn Graves of Fresh Affairs, and their DJ for the reception was Mike Morse of Mike Morse Entertainment.  I've worked with Mike many times too and I knew he would be great.

Sisters on the Harp -  Harp and Flute - the music for the ceremony was played by Brittany and Marissa Farrell.  They played beautiful Irish selections for the prelude, then a Sonata in A by Mozart, Edelweiss, and the Bridal March from Lohrengrin for the bridal processional.    They 

were flawless!

It was a joy for me to be there.  Here I'm entering from the front of Caffé Luna with Rob entering just behind me.

Rob's attendants

Jen's attendants.  There wasn't a big space but they made it work!

Jen's mother held Robert Douglas while we talked about what a blessing he was in their lives.  He was such a sweetie.

Here he is later in his mother's arms.

Their ceremony was rich in feeling and symbolism.  They were so clear and present.  That says a lot about their love.

The kiss, of course!

I kept some of the friend's shots in because they have a unique angle on the ceremony.  But they definitely speak to why it's important to hire a professional photographer.

The Presentation!  I love this part.  I call it the basking moment, because it's the moment where a couple is reentering your community as a married couple and everyone there is offering their love and support.  I tell all my couples, 'Drink it in.  This moment comes only once.  Don't rush out the door.  There will be hours to party.'

Even the recessional has a lovely peacefulness and grace to it.  I'm always glad when people honor that part of the ceremony with their attention, too.  Another friend shot photograph.

Here is Geoff getting a picture before the ceremony.  I love these architectural backdrops.

Their cakes were by Cinda of Cinda's Cake Creations.  R2D2 has special meaning for them since Rob's initials and their son's initials are both RD.
















Carolyn took some  photos before the ceremony to get the daylight shots.  These showcase the amazing rich color of their autumn wedding.

 The Caffé Luna has a wonderful reception room that amazingly is big enough for dancing.

What a joyful couple so in love with each other and with their baby.  Life will only deepen as they grow together.  I wish them so many blessings.  My daughter turns 40 this year.  I can hardly believe it.  The years speed by.  May they cherish each moment!

May 22nd Vinnie and Cara Wed at Caffé Luna in Raleigh

I met Vinnie and Cara last fall and knew then that I'd love doing their ceremony.  They had been together 8 years at that time, having met at ECU when they were both students.  They were friends for the first couple of years and their friendship had blossomed into a lasting love.  They had promised themselves that their partner would be their best friend.

About 80 guests of close friends and family celebrated with them at the Caffé Luna.  What was most important to them was that there be an atmosphere of love and to thank their supportive family and friends.

These first two photos show how this small long room was set up for their ceremony, first looking from the ceremony site back into the room, then from the room to the ceremony site. Their reception would be in the room to the right.  It accommodated the number well but I was glad I brought my sound system.  We needed it.  

The above shots of the caffé were mine.  All the other photos (the great ones) are by our photographer, the wonderful Melissa Stallings of Melissa Stallings Photography.  Thanks, Melissa!  Below is the room where their reception was held.



When they exchanges rings, they offered these words to each other, 'With this ring, I pledge my love to you.  May it remind you that I am with you wherever you go, and that you are with me in all my thoughts and actions.'

A wonderful this about this venue is that it's located in downtown Raleigh right near so much great architecture.  I don't know where Melissa got this shot but I love it.

 

 

I loved being a part of their celebration of love.  As I pronounced them wed I added, 'May the spirit of love that lives in and around all of us fill your hearts and bless your lives.'  And I add now for many many years to come.

 

 

 

Josh and Stephanie Marry at The Caffe Luna in Downtown Raleigh

On Sunday evening, January 16th, Stephanie and Josh had an intimate wedding at the Caffé Luna in downtown Raleigh. They wanted a simple non-traditional non-religious ceremony that was welcoming and warm, and celebrated their love. They were delighted to find the Caffé Luna where they could have their ceremony in one room and their reception in the room next door, catered by the cafe. Here's the room set up for their ceremony. First - looking to the back of the restaurant...

Now looking to the front of the restaurant...

We held the ceremony on the steps between the rooms, or what would be the front left of the photo.

Guests gathered for hors d'oeuvres at 5:30 and we began the ceremony at 6:00. I simply asked guests to move into the room where the ceremony would be help, then Josh and Stephanie walked through the archway to join me at the steps between the rooms. After the ceremony I told guests that Josh and Stephanie would be greeting guests in a receiving line and then join the couple for dinner in the other room.

The moment held lots of sweetness as they declared their love and commitment before their families and friends.

Their wedding had wonderful personal touches. Stephanie wore a lovely red dress which suited her beautifully and Josh wore a suit and red tie. Their cake, by Ashley Cakes was one of the most delightful and whimsical ones I've seen.

When Ashley was setting it up, she told me that it was her favorite cake of the whole year.

Josh and Stephanie didn't have a photographer and didn't pose for photographic moments so please excuse the quality of my pictures. Luckily the cake was easy to capture.

I officiate so many ceremonies at the Caffé Luna that I especially wanted other couples to see another possibility for a simple no-frills ceremony and reception that was full of personality and love. I wish Stephanie and Josh all the best! They are dear people.

Brian and Lauren Wed at the Cafe Luna

I had the joy of marrying Brian and Lauren at the Caffé Luna on Oct 16th in a beautiful ceremony. Nancy Rugirello from Simply Creative Photography was our wonderful photographer but these lesser quality pictures are friend pictures or the ones I snapped with my Droid. Gotta love these little machines.

I wanted to have my own pictures because Brian and Lauren were such a delightful couple to get to know. Lauren had been raised Jewish and Brian raised Catholic and they very intentionally wanted to honor customs from both sides of their heritage. So together we created a ceremony in which Lauren's father blessed the wine in Hebrew, Brian broke the glass and we acknowledged that we were not only joining two wonderful people, but two great families and two communities of faith.

Their cake topper was a cut out of the bride and groom created by an artist friend and their cake was by Ashley Lattier of Ashley Cakes.

The Caffé Luna is a fabulous place for an intimate ceremony. This is the room where the reception would be held and the wedding was held in the room next door. They also have a room for stuff and to change clothes, which is really helpful, and outside doors into all the rooms in the back for the processional to enter. It's a great set up and a wonderful staff who supports the weddings. We rehearsed there between the lunch and dinner hours on the Friday before - between 2:30 and 3:30. A great time to avoid the Friday night traffic and chaos.

Lauren and Brian look so much more relaxed after the ceremony. But that's always the case. I'm glad to see them now simply enjoying each other and all those who love them and are here to celebrate their wedding with them.

I wish you could have seen the flowers. Gregg Kennedy of Brides and Bouquets in Cary designed beautiful bouquets in burgundy and cinnamon. You can see a little from the shot of the cafe. Their were orange highlights and the colors were magnificent. John Carter of A Perfect Day DJ was our DJ, of course, and he was great. The cafe was set up long and narrow for Lauren and Brian's wedding so the DJ was right by the front door of the cafe. A great spot for him to see entrances and cues. John was flawless. And of course the Caffé Luna catered their wonderful meal. They have Ryan Hill at the cafe to thank for that.

I wish them many many years of happiness!

Mike and Jen at The Caffé Luna in Raleigh

On Sunday afternoon, October 18th, I had a wonderful time celebrating the marriage of Michael and Jennifer at the Caffé Luna in downtown Raleigh. Jim Colman of Jim Colman Photography provided me with all the wonderful pictures you see here.

Caffé Luna set up their front room for the ceremony, then guests gathered in the back room for the reception. The café's golden walls and Tuscan flair was the room a warm elegant tone on the gray day. Jen and Mike's only disappointment was that their puppy, Callie, couldn't be with them. At the same time, we all shuddered to think of the trouble he could have gotten into had he been there.

They had wisely asked a friend Laura to be their unofficial wedding coordinator for the day and it was a blessing to have her there for all the last minute coordination that was needed even with a small wedding party.

And with the room set up the way it was, with the chairs out to each side, Jim Colman had a perfect place from which to get great pictures throughout the ceremony. Notice the wonderful picture later in the blog of their first kiss as a married couple.

Randy Bennett of joe bunn dj company was also great and a joy to work with. I appreciated that he managed the sound just right for this intimate setting, including my microphone, so that the couple had some privacy while guests could hear the ceremony clearly.

Jen's sister was her Bride's Maid, and Mike's brother was his Best Man.

They had been together three and a half years and this next step into marriage felt natural and organic.
They had such an easiness about them that day. It was easy to see how they team together well, support each other and find such enjoyment in being together.

They had a great story of Mike's search to get the perfect engagement ring and 'the stars' aligning to make that happen. So we included the Engagement Ring Ceremony as part of their wedding.

The Caffé Luna, not only provides wonderful service and great food, but is also a great photo backdrop. If you have less than one hundred guests, and want to keep everything in one location, this is a wonderful place to consider.


I was delighted to be a part of their wedding and to get to meet their families and friends.



At the end of the ceremony, we all stood and welcomed them into marriage with the words 'May their love remind us of the importance of love in our own lives. May it inspire our hearts to continually appreciate each other as family and as friends.'

I wish them much happiness.