Memorial Day Weekend Wonderful Weddings for Ryan and Elena, Warren and Dani, and Chris and Julie

I've mentioned that the Divine sends me only wonderful couples and this Memorial Day Weekend proved that true yet again.  I was so delighted that each couple's wedding could take place in the sunshine just as they planned it.

I have professional photographs for only one of the weddings so far.  As I get more photographs I'll add them to this post.  I find that if I try to get lots of pictures it scatters my energy when I really just want to center and be very present for the bride and groom.  That is my delight.

On Friday evening, I got to marry Ryan and Elena.  They've been together four and a half years and had to spend two years of that commuting between separate cities to be together.  That's a wonderful way to work things out in a relationship and to get really clear about what you both want.  I laud them for making it work for them.  They're a delight and the Carolina Inn Bryan Courtyard was the perfect place for their elegant intimate wedding.  Debbie Wrenn, who works with Angie Wright of Chic Details was a huge help in ensuring that everything ran smoothly. Below is a picture she took with my DROID of the ceremony and of our string musicians from Musica Music, who were excellent.  I look forward to having pictures from Neil Boyd Photography to add to these casual ones.

On Saturday afternoon I got to marry Dani and Warren who flew down from NYC with his friends and children to be with Dani's family for the occasion.  I loved creating their ceremony over email because they were very clear about what they wanted to express about their love for each other.  We created a beautiful ceremony to honor their love.  And it was my first time to officiate a wedding on the new Overlook patio at Duke Gardens.

They had about 30 people in attendance with a neighbor taking all the pictures.  It was a small intimate wedding and the Overlook is perfect for that.  And it was in the shade.

On Saturday evening I was back at The Carolina Inn to marry Julie and Chris.  Their photographer, Shane Snider, of Shane Snider Photography, was very generous in sharing these photographs with me.  Julie and Chris did a sweet thing after their ceremony - they released the rows themselves, greeting each person as they left the ceremony.  Below is the Hill Courtyard.  This setting is best on a quiet evening since the road noise from Columbia Street can be loud.  But it wasn't on this Saturday evening and it was even cool and comfortable.

 I love technology when it can bring grandparents who can't travel to the event!.. This makes a great picture. Julie and Chris live in Ohio and are delightfully laid back.  They were also in the good hands of wedding planner Sally Oakley and her assistant, Suzanne.  And everything went perfectly.

They both had those wonderful grins all the way through the ceremony.  They were soooo happy. They met in 2008 and knew at once they had found a kindred spirit.  They both love each other, their families and their dogs, and delight in the life they've created together.  And I am so happy for them, too.

And it's always good for me to hear from them that all is well.  I got this sweet email from Julie just a couple of days ago:  'We really did appreciate the amazing job that you did and cannot thank you enough!! '

All of these couples will add to the sum of joy in the world and that is a great gift in my life.   I, too, have the happiest of marriages, and I hope by my joy, and my delight for them, I have furthered them in creating theirs.  Blessed Be! 

Jason and Katherine Married at Duke Gardens Last April

I'm chagrined that I'm only now posting Katie and Jason's wedding at Duke Gardens at the pergola.  It took awhile to get their pictures and then the year just sped by.  But I smile every time I think of them.  Jason and Katie both worked for Katie's mom, who was their manager.  Katie's mom assigned Katie and Jason got to work together every chance they could since she knew that Katie had a crush on Jason.  And it worked.  They a delightful couple.  Fun loving and grounded and very well suited.

They had a long distance relationship for 10 months after Katie and her family moved to NC from CA.  After those 10 months, Jason took the big leap and left his world behind to come to NC to be with Katie.  I'm always in favor of a couple having some time apart.  It helps you center into what is important to you and requires you to improve and clarify expectations and communication.  Thank Heavens!  

They expressed their vows to each other that were just like them, warm, loving and with a little humor.

I remember them too because for their processional they used Dave Matthews Band's music.  One of my favorite musicians, and for their bridal processional they used, 'Marry Me' by Train.

It was a delightful wedding for a dear couple.  I wish them many many blessings and much love through many joyful years.

Nick and Lora - What a Joyful Wedding

 Lora and Nicholas married at the pergola at Duke Gardens on May 19th.  They planned it all way from Wilmington and created an amazing ceremony.  Then, after pictures, they are their families and guests celebrated at The Stockroom in downtown Raleigh.  

Thank you to Megan Gielow of Lime Green Photography for these wonderful photographs.  And thanks to harpist Marilyn Weinard of Carolina Harp for her wonderful renditions of the 'Hornpipe', 'Dreams of Spring,' and 'All You Need is Love'  on the harp.


While we'd only planned by phone, Lora and Nick let their personality shine in our conversations.  They'd known each other for 10 years, dating a little in high school and never forgetting.   But only finding each other later and really getting serious in 2005.  Still very much in love, now was the perfect time to marry.

Nick and Lora were so thoughtful of their guests and I so appreciated it.  It was a hot muggy NC summer day.  The hottest we have had so far this year, and this water was a gift to all.  I had to include a picture, it was so refreshing!

I also have to laud their common sense.  Notice how the attendants aren't wearing their suit jackets.  Much more comfortable.  And don't they look sharp.

Lora's father walked her up the steps from the direction of the fish pond with lots of bystanders just watching.  As I remember it was family day at the gardens besides being a pretty day so it was even more crowded.

Lora and Nick wrote their own vows and we all smiled at their playful, loving, and tender words.

She vowed to trust him, he vowed to be worthy of her trust, she vowed to always appreciate the little things, he vowed to leave her unexpected notes to make her smile.  She vowed to kiss him goodnight.  He vowed to kiss her each morning.  And there was more that I won't tell you now but that are equally endearing from a couple who know each other very well.

Please take a moment to look at all of Megan's photographs.  Not only does she capture this very loving couple in their element, but she shows how Duke Gardens is at it's best when embracing love.










Catering Works was Lora's florist with this fragrant rose bouquet.

And this picture really fits them.  I'm glad they have that one to remember to lavish love upon each other all their lives.

Here is the sweet note that I got from them after they returned from their honeymoon:  'Robin-

The wedding was so perfect, and you played such a wonderful role in that. You have such a sweet smile and disposition and it reflected throughout the ceremony.  Our guests had wonderful comments about you and the ceremony in general. The reception was gorgeous as well, and went so smoothly. We just got back from Disney and had a great time. ..... Will be in touch soon, but thank you once more.    -The Calos'

They were a delight in my life.  I feel so blessed in the couples I meet and marry.  What a joy!

Three Lovely Weddings This Past Winter

I have the privilege of marrying so many wonderful couples.  Often I don't get the chance to take photographs, or I don't get photographs later from the photographer or the couple because life goes on so quickly, or I get busy and don't find the time to blog.  This winter and spring I've also been prioritizing doing yoga and workout classes, working hard to keep my 2012 New Year's Resolutions for the whole year.



But I didn't want to let the opportunity slip by to honor some of the wonderful couples I married in the last few months.  So here is a mini-blog about three such ceremonies.


In December I married Stanley and Pamela at a sweet small ceremony at the King's Daughters Inn.  Pamela made all the bouquets and corsages in the wedding from silk flowers. I still have the one she made me.  It was an intimate ceremony just for family and very close friends.  We were by the fireplace in the lovely sea foam green reception room.   Pamela and Stanley had two long tables on either side for guests to sit at during the ceremony and then to eat at after the ceremony. 

 Right after the ceremony everyone toasted Stanley and Pamela was a lovely Pinot Grigio wine and the celebrations began with these scrumptious desserts provided by Mad Hatters Bakery in Durham.

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In early March I got the wonderful opportunity to marry Anastasyia and Yevgeniy at The Raleigh City Museum in downtown Raleigh on Fayetteville Street.  I hadn't known that the museum offered their facilities for weddings and it was just perfect for a ceremony of about 50 people who also wanted to celebrate their new home and roots in the area.  Anastasyia and Yevgeniy had an evening ceremony after which everyone went to Spy Raleigh for a late reception.

Please excuse the quality of this photograph.  It's by my DROID and I'm not very good at even this simple device.  And they are both lovely and very gracious people.


Yevgeniy and Anastasyia are both from Russia but met at Eastern Carolina University when they both came over on scholarships.  They saw each other through that hard transition of being in a different country with a different language trying to keep up with studies.  They are now deep into graduate studies and have found their love only growing stronger.  They were lovely to get to know.  They helped learn how to pronounce their names properly, and I helped them create a ceremony that honored their time and adversity tested love.

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In mid-March I had the joy of marrying Kase and Nicole in a tiny ceremony in the Duke Gardens.  Their parents were the only other people who attended their ceremony.  Nicole and Kase are having a large ceremony in Boston exactly one year from the date we married them and alas, while I'd love to fly up there and officiate that ceremony, it's beyond my range of travel.


Nicole and Kase had been planning on going to the courthouse but Kase's mother, Elaine, asked that they have just a little more of a ceremony and showed them my web site and they said, 'Yes.' I'm so glad they did.  We had a gorgeous spring day at Duke Gardens.

Their mothers signed their marriage license and then I wished them well as they went to celebrate and then back to busy schedules, Nicole in nursing school and Kase in the military.


I love celebrating these couples again through my blog.  Their love and their families continually inspire me.  So I wanted you to get to know them if even just a little bit, too.


I hope your spring  is offering you lots of opportunities for inspiration.   I send you much joy and blessings!

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.

Mari and Phil at Duke Gardens

Mari and Phil's wedding was wonderful. It was hot on May 22nd but no one really noticed too much because we were having so much fun. And we were really lucky with the weather because the blustery driving storms that night didn't role in until about 7PM.

We'd had a bit of a scare the day before. Mari, our bride, had been feeling too ill to come to the rehearsal, but made it as we were finishing up. This was my first rehearsal ever without a bride, so I was glad to see her for help with all those last minute decisions that need to be made, and especially glad to see that she was feeling better.

Mari added a unique touch to the processional which symbolized her independent spirit. She started down the aisle with her mother, then came a little way with her father, but then went the remainder of the way by herself, to meet with Phil at the bottom of the steps.

She and Phil had had their first date at Duke Gardens by the fish pond so this place was especially meaningful to them. They met in NC but Mari is from New Jersey and Phil is from Long Island and their accents were a sweet reminder of my years spent in North Jersey.

Phil and Mari worked really hard to create a ceremony that fit who they are. They'd chosen lyrics from the song 'We Are' by Sweet Honey and The Rock to honor their loved ones who couldn't be with them at the ceremony. The words were touching and memorable.

I loved their playfulness in another way, too. They had chosen the Love Letter, Bottle of Wine and Box ritual in which a bride and groom each write love letters to each other that the other hasn't yet read and these letters are sealed them in a box with a bottle of wine. They are invited to open the box, read the letters and drink the wine in the future when they need to remember how much they love each other. But Mari and Phil added their own touch, using a bottle of whiskey instead of wine and a Tiffany's box. It fit their playfulness and we all loved it.


Thanks to Megan Kime for these great photos and to Second Shift a wonderful acapella group who sang two numbers in close harmony before the ceremony.