Ian and Alex Marry on a Gorgeous Day at The Raleigh Rose Garden

 It was a treat to meet and marry Alex and Ian.  We met over email and since I was in Spain we began planning long distance.  And, since they were going to Spain on their honeymoon, to Barcelona, in fact where we were, I could get a map of the city for them.  They're a delightful couple who love traveling and so we have even more in common.    Thanks to photographer Michael Moss for these fabulous pictures, Sally Oakley for all her planning expertise, which was key since their venue closed on them almost at the last minute and they had to find somewhere else.  Sally ensured that all went well!  Thanks to musicians Autumn Brand & Kaitlin Grady for their beautiful string accompaniment for the ceremony, and thanks to The English Garden for their stunning floral arrangements.

Ian and Alex bonded first over food, especially Ian cooking a wonderful vegetarian meal for Alex on their second date.  They quickly became best friends who cherish each day together, traveling around the world, and sharing their time together. They are grateful to have found one another and are able to be themselves and dream of another day together. They look forward to the days ahead of growing closer to one another and going on any adventure that may come their way. 

 The lyrics to Dave Matthew's song, 'Loving Wings' had special meaning for them so their friend, Lindsey, read them as part of the ceremony. 

So I give to you my everything 

You've given me these loving wings 

Angels have all gathered 'round 

To hear me sing my love out loud. 

Your lightly love lifted me away 

Out of a darkness cold and gray 

Now I work beneath the midday sun 

My cool blue water you have come. 

So I give to you my everything 

You've given me these loving wings 

Angels have all gathered 'round 

To hear me sing my love out loud. 

So take your place here next to me 

And I'll take my place there next to thee 

And no matter how far we may roam 

It's by your side I'll make my home. 

So I give to you my everything 

You've given me these loving wings 

Angels have all gathered 'round 

To hear me sing my love out loud.

The garden was in full bloom.  This fit the fullness in everyone's hearts.  They're a dedicated, fun and well matched couple who will have lots of shared adventures, perhaps the best of all will be their marriage.  I wish them both a lifetime of joyful years together.

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! 

Eric and Alicia Are a Delight to Marry at The Hill Courtyard of The Carolina Inn

 It was so much fun marrying Eric and Alicia this May.  They are warm, funny, relaxed people who have friends to love them a lot and families who are gracious and kind.  What more is there to ask?  They also had wonderful Sally Oakley as their Wedding Planner and Punam Bean taking marvelous photos.

I so appreciate Alicia and Eric remembering to send me these wonderful photos that bring back their wedding to me so vividly.  

The Hill Courtyard of The Carolina Inn can be a little bit noisy if it's a busy traffic day.  But Alicia and Eric's wedding wasn't troubled by that at all.  No town buses and no Harley Convention.  Yay!  Their wedding was just rich in love.  They both went to UNC and by request you can see that I'm wearing my Carolina Blue stole.  Always a treat for me who went to UNC-G for my Ph.D. program.

In the opening I said words that seemed to fit them especially well:  'Alicia and Eric, each of you brings gifts to the other today: Gifts of hope and laughter, focus and seriousness of purpose, sensitivity and recognition of the beautiful and the profound. But these gifts are not to be yours alone. A strong and resilient marriage is not an escape from the world but a contribution to it. Eric and Alicia, may you now combine and strengthen your gifts, to be offered as a distinct and beautiful gift to the world. For the world is in need of the beautiful, the good and the holy and nothing is better suited to evoke that than a good marriage between two people as in love as you are.'

Eric and Alicia wrote their own vows that I printed in my book so that they didn't have to worry about bringing a piece of paper into the ceremony. I also printed them 14 point type and phrase by phrase so that they could look down, read a phrase and then look up and speak it to the other.  They hadn't seem the other's vows before the ceremony so it was a special delight to see how both vows were not only loving but descriptive of who they are and their love for each other - so funny, and warm, and tender.

 These are the words I used when I spoke of the symbolism of their rings:  'These rings are your gifts to each other to remind you always, and those that gaze upon their beauty, that you have pledged your love and commitment in marriage to each other. And when you have been together for a long, long time, you will look at these rings, and you will feel the indentation they have made on your fingers, and you will know that these rings contain all the memories of what your lives and your relationship have been. May they always serve to remind you of how great your love is for one another.'  

I loved these words we created to honor their parents.  Eric's father was his Best Man, so you can see him in the picture above.  'You both value the kind of love your parents have – where after decades you are still together with your best friend, you are still holding hands in the supermarket, still laughing until you cry.  Still growing, cherishing time with family and friends, laughing and loving together.'

Alicia and Eric got engaged in New Orleans and they love the jazzy sound of New Orleans style music.  So the celebratory sounds of a New Orleans Style jazz brass band led the recessional, while Alicia contributed to the festivities holding a feather trimmed umbrella as they walked down the aisle.  It was a very classy moment and set the tone of much joy that last through the whole evening and is still lasting for them now.  

They were sweet in their thanks saying, 'Thanks so much again for all that you did for us - it really was the best ceremony we could have ever dreamed up, thanks to you!'  But we know it was really them, and we were all basking in their love.  I wish them many many happy years and much much loving.

Ever wonderful Tre Bella Florist created their flowers, and every delicious Ashley Cakes provided their cake.  Their guitarist, Dave Aduddell played 'Falling in love at a coffee shop' by Landon Pigg for their processional.