Dave and Mendi are a delight. We began planning their April 2014 wedding in January 2013 when we met for the first time. They were both graduates of UNC and wanted to be married at the Old Well on UNC-Chapel Hill campus. And they did. Now this is a coup. You can't reserve the Old Well for events so you have to show up and be flexible. Grads and wedding couples often come there for photographs. Would there be enough private space and quiet to pull this off? Yes! And even with 50 guests! I've done many small weddings over the years at The Old Well but never with 50 guests in attendance. And Mendi and Dave did it in style. Their style. They even created an aisle with brightly colored ribbon.
They are both easy going and agree on what's important and don't expect to read each other's mind. All great portents for a wonderful marriage. They wanted a simple ceremony that included their 3 adult children. And the wanted a Ring Warming. We all loved watching the rings go through their loved ones hands on the way to theirs, even the baby in the stroller being given a chance to hold and bless the rings.
Then it was time for Dave to put Mendi's ring on her finger and we had carefully planned a surprise for Mendi. Dave got Mendi the companion ring to her wedding band to wear on the other side of her engagement ring and she didn't know that he had done that. It was a treat to have the surprise work so well. She loved it!
I offered this blessing, which they chose, on their marriage:, "Year and years from now, may you look at one another and be able to say, 'With you, I have lived the life I always wanted to live. With you, I have become the person I always longed to be.'"
When they got back from their honeymoon, Dave sent me this note, 'Good morning Robin-
Saturday was perfect! Thank you so much! ... Dave.' I'm delighted for them. They are a wonderful match, and judging by the cheering at their ceremony, everyone else knows so, too. I wish them all the happiness in the world.
At 7:45 am on the drizzly Tuesday morning of September 22nd, Richard, and their friends and I gathered at the Old Well on UNC campus to await Caroline's arrival at 8 am when we would begin their wedding ceremony. The sun kept moving in and out of the clouds so we were hoping hard for no rain. Everyone was generous of spirit as we waited and I felt lucky to be their officiant. 
At this gathering were their friends from the School of Pharmacy and from the small UNC contingent of Singaporeans. It was a small and very close group. This was to be their American wedding and when they return home to Singapore, they would have another wedding with their families and friends there.
Their local reception would be held that night at the Top of the Hill restaurant in Chapel Hill so we wanted their ceremony and short time after the ceremony (folks had to get to class by 9:30) to include their wedding cake and a toast. To accomplish this I created a special symbolic ceremony within the wedding ceremony to include the cutting of the cake, and them feeding each other cake, with these words:
After the ceremony, the signing of the license, and many pictures, .....
The whole group accompanied Caroline and Richard to the car their friends were lending them for the day. It was decorated Singapore style. I congratulated them that this custom was more attractive that most of the ways we decorate cars in this country. 
