Chad and Jennifer Wed Between Rain Drops on May 7th at Duke Gardens

On May 6th it was my delight to marry Chad and Jennifer.  They're such a fun loving couple who had been together 10 and 1/2 years, both with a large group of close friends and both very close to their families, and each others' family.  It was a celebration that everyone took joy in.  They also are close to their 2 dogs and 2 cats, but they had to stay home.

Thank you to Jeffrey Minnish of Jeffrey Minnish Photography for the good shots.  The bad shots are from my DROID.  I really admire how Jeffrey found all the beautiful backdrops at the Sarah P Duke Center to use for the photos after the ceremony when it was pouring down.  Here's a photo of the rain after the ceremony.  NC has such amazing rain storms.  No dainty showers here.  The skies open and it pours.

The photo above is from my DROID.  In Jeffrey Mannish's photo below you can see how we were trying to keep Jennifer's veil from blowing into her bride's maids.  It was a windy day!

 More wind evidence in the processional.  But we were all soooo glad that we got to have the wedding outside at all.  It was touch and go.  And it worked!  Here Jennifer is processing with her father.  His grin is almost as big as hers.

 

Here I am trying to get out of the way when they kissed.  I like to keep from being the floating head behind the shot that the photographer has to try to photo shop.

This is a lovely shot that Jeffrey took from the back of the gardens during the ceremony.  I hope it can be enlarged because it's such a unique angle and the reflections in the pool are so lovely.

It's so easy to rely on nature, but photographer Jeffrey Minnish's eye for architectural beauty to border his pictures was really lovely. 

 

We were VERY lucky that Friday evening to JUST have enough time to have the wedding outside before the skies opened and the rains poured for the whole rest of the evening.  But it didn't dampen their spirits at all.  I loved the sunshine that they brought into the ceremony with their wonderful colors of coral and mint.  In an outdoor setting you need colors that will show up against all the greens and browns and these did, with all the exuberance of their joy and playfulness.

A special treat for me at Jennifer and Chad's wedding was their Maid of Honor, Hayden.  She handled all the planning details with aplomb and it was a huge gift to Jennifer.  I loved seeing that friendship and Hayden's clear way of handling all the details with such grace.


The above picture is from my DROID. You can sure tell can't you.  (I'm shopping right now for a little good camera that I can keep in my pocket.)  I just had to capture their colorfulness.  It was so lovely and livened up the room tremendously.  It just looked so celebratory I bet it overcame any rainy day doldrums that might have tried to sneak in. 

Randy Bennett of Joe Bunn DJ Company was, as always, impeccable.  Some of his equipment got soaked in the rain during the reception.  I sure hope it wasn't ruined.

So many professionals help to make the event seamless.  The staff at The Sarah P Duke Center were great.  Jennifer and Chad's cake was by Savory Fare Catering in Durham as was their food.  Classic Party Rentals provided their linens, and Deb at Watered Garden was their florist.



They brighten up my day just by looking at these pictures.  I wish them every happiness and feel sure they'll have it.

Neither Rain Nor Tornadoes Dimmed Amanda and Troy's Wedding at Duke Gardens

Planning a wedding can be daunting in the best of times. Now try planning it from England and happening to get the last time available at the Sarah P Duke Gardens pergola for 10 am on April 16th. They felt lucky to get any time at all but were unsure about 10 am. But for Troy and Amanda it turned out perfectly in so many ways.

First of course it that they were getting married! Then they had just flown back from Britain the week before in the process of moving back to the states. Here again, everything worked out. Luckily they're flexible and delightfully happy people. Another huge miracle is that the horrible rains from that weekend slackened at the time of their wedding so it was damp but not wet and the pictures came out wonderfully. It was starting to rain just as I left after the ceremony and they were finishing up pictures. You can tell. :-)

Thanks to Ron White Photography from Atlanta, GA, their photographer for these great pictures. These two met over their passion for soccer then discovered shared passion for so many other things - food, art, music. The reading they chose for their ceremony was 'Love is Friendship Caught Fire' by Laura Hendricks, a wonderful image and a wonderful piece.

Their sisters were their attendants and only 13 of their family members were able to be with them so we mentioned that we missed the others and Troy and Amanda were going to travel to see them after they returned from their honeymoon.

Amanda and Troy went to Antigua for their wonderful honeymoon with lots of beach and sand. They sent me this note after they got back. 'Hello Robin, Thank you, the ceremony was great! You did a wonderful job, and we really appreciate all of your help leading up to the big day to make it possible. We were on our honeymoon to Antigua from the 21-26th. It was warm and sunny everyday! :) .... Thank you again for everything, Amanda & Troy

Tara, Daniel and Morgan in an Intimate Family Wedding

I enjoyed talking to Tara immediately by phone and email. She wanted a small simple intimate ceremony at Duke Gardens and wondered if I could help. If it's a very small gathering (less than 10 people) and we simply meet and walk into a place to do their ceremony without fanfare (not the pergola or amphitheater) and with the understanding that there will be other people milling around, then I'm happy to do a small ceremony in Duke Gardens.

We found each other easily in the parking lot at the appointed time and it was a treat to finally meet.

There's a little pond in one corner that's quiet, close to the entrance at the Sarah P Duke Center and very beautiful. It also has a covered are in case of rain. And it was the perfect setting for Daniel and Tara's wedding with Tara's daughter, Morgan, and their families in attendance.
Below are Daniel and Tara with her grandparents.


We included a special part in the ceremony to celebrate Morgan and their new family of three. And we made Tara and Daniel's vows 'I do' vows so that they could relax and know that they wouldn't be put on the spot speaking lots of words out loud.

It was a very sweet ceremony and I was delighted to officiate for them, wishing them many many blessings.

Tara sent me the following email with the photo above, 'THANK YOU!! you made this a wonderful and memorable day for us!'

And I'm delighted. It was memorable for me, too.

Reid and Lindy Marry at The Sarah P. Duke Center

There's something magical about the amphitheater at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. I know the joy that Reid and Lindy contributed added to the magic. They married there on July 31st.

The blue heron dips down to the pond at amazing moments. The weather clears just when you need it to, and on Reid and Lindy's wedding day, the planes flew over the garden. Never before had I heard even one plane when officiating a wedding at the center, but that day, there was a helicopter, a small engine plane (believe me I know, my Sweetheart is a pilot), and at least one jet. And this was a wonderful sign because Lindy's father was a pilot who tragically couldn't be there in body that day. But we all knew that he was there in spirit.


And, the weather cleared just in time. The sunshine followed Lindy into the ceremony. Lindy's mother and Aunt Barbara (who carried a rose which was placed on an empty chair to honor Lindy's father) escorted Lindy half way into the ceremony as Reid's parents escorted him half way. Then Lindy and Reid met and walked in together. It was a fitting entrance for this couple.

They're a delight. They have weathered adversity and their love has deepened so that now they glow with it and you can see the strength they both offer to their union and that they draw from it.

In their ceremony we said: 'Lindy and Reid, you have both faced challenges and known disappointment, you have both chosen lives of service to the larger world with hearts open, and now you both make the conscious choice to grow your love through your commitment to each other, supported by families who love you. Today we celebrate the amazing grace of your love for each other.'

They were drawn to each other by their quirky senses of humor, gentleness of spirit, and kindness, and I love knowing that they bring this to their work in the world.

Their big loving family were just as delighted. Here's a family picture ....

Should you need to know how elegant the Sarah P. Duke Center is, here is a picture.

I was glad that at their reception they didn't have to concern themselves with the vagaries of the weather any more. They could just enjoy themselves.

I loved this thank you I got from them after they got back from their honeymoon:
'We cannot possibly thank you enough for everything you did for us ... you were absolutely the calm anchor we needed at our wedding and we've received so many compliments on the ceremony and you specifically. Our families both loved you, were reassured by you, and Reid and I felt your warm presence was exactly what we needed. I'm so glad we found you! .... Thank you, again, for your expertise, your warmth, and your flexibility with us.'

This is a couple who has found a home in each other and share that in all their interactions with others. It's a blessing that they're on the planet. I know that they'll touch others' lives in wonderful ways all their lives. They already do.

Wes and Lori's Wedding in Spring Glory at Duke Gardens

Lori and Wes wanted a small, simple, yet tasteful ceremony. There would be under forty people at their ceremony. There would be no attendants, no rehearsal and they would be going to Costa Rica for their honeymoon. They had also just bought a house together and moved so their lives had been full to the brim. I was glad that the Spring weather cooperated and that the pergola at the Sarah P Duke Gardens in Durham was in full bloom. It fades so quickly and Lori and Wes caught the moment exactly right on April 10th.

Wes and I entered from the top steps and walked down the steps until I was one step up and he was at ground level. This created a more intimate ceremony appropriate to the feel they wanted to create. Here Wes and I are watching Lori enter on the arms of both her parents.

In their ceremony we remarked how grateful they are that life, in its mystery, led them to each other and that they got through those first dates to discover the love that was theirs to find.

They had met at a professional group in Raleigh and it took just a bit of time for them to really see all the wonderful facets of each other, and how much they were growing through knowing and appreciating each other. Love does find us in amazing ways and places, especially if we're open to it. They are both people with kind and generous hearts, which meant that hearts were also full to spilling over during the ceremony.


They requested a group picture of everyone right after the ceremony, and with forty people, it was fairly easy to comply. Then their wonderful photographer, Penny Noell, whisked them off for other great photos, like these below, before they went on to the Millennium Hotel in Durham for their reception.

A treat to add is that Lori's mother made their beautiful (and Lori says tasty) wedding cake. As a baker who has made professional wedding cakes before, I was quite amazed. Especially since they're from out of town. Try making this in someone else's kitchen!


In a recent email to me, Lori said: 'Wes and I are, indeed, having a wonderful time. :) I'm thankful every day that he found his way into my life.'

And I'm glad I could be there for such a special moment in their life.

Stefan and Kate At The Sarah Duke Center in Durham

On August 29th, I had the honor of performing Stefan and Kate's marriage ceremony at the wonderful Sarah P. Duke Center in Duke Gardens, in Durham, NC.

We were all nervous about rain that weekend, but a storm roared through Durham about an hour after the rehearsal on Friday evening and we were blessedly left with the cooler weather brought in by the front. The water lilies were blooming and a blue heron graced us with its presence on the pond during the whole of the rehearsal. We all considered it nature's blessing on the occasion. Kate and Stefan both love the natural world. So much so that their ceremony began with these words:

"We are here today to celebrate the marriage between Stefan and Kate. The life this couple has created together is imbued with much love. They share not only a deep romantic love, rooted in sincere friendship, but also a love of life and its offerings. They share a passion for exploration of and protection of the natural world, and a respect for all cultures of the earth. The interest and values that brought them together in the beginning continue to unite and inspire them."













The Sarah Duke Center has amphitheater seating which faces the pond and which is perfect for this size group of about 120 people. You can see the Sarah Duke Center behind, where the reception was held. It has a large lawn and a walkway where the wedding party gathered to enter the amphitheater. The cocktail hour, was held on the covered porch (you can see its roof in this photo.)

Allison Davis of Sandfoot Photography took all of these fabulous pictures and you can see more on her web site. Ken Holmes of DJ Bunn Co. was the DJ for the music for the ceremony and the reception. He found the perfect spot for a good view, unobstructed but also discreet.

Both Kate's parents walked her down the aisle, which at the Sarah P. Duke Center is wide enough to do gracefully. She entered to a Celtic harp version of the traditional Bridal March.

Christy White of A Designing Mind, event floral designer combined cymbidium orchids, jade roses, South American line hydrangeas, Sahara roses, bells of Ireland and Yoko Ono green button poms for the beautiful floral bouquets.


Stefan and Kate each chose different vows to speak to the other. While most couple do not choose to do this, it's always a treat for me when I know that both people have taken the opportunity to say vows that uniquely fit their love for the other.

Kate has an Irish heritage so wanted the family's Irish wedding bell to be in the ceremony. We created a ceremony for the bell where they ring the bell on their wedding day and promise to ring it whenever they need to be reminded of their love for each other as it is on this day.

We then had the delicious moment in the ceremony when we were told that the clapper of the bell had come off and they said 'ring ring ring' for the sound of the bell. It was a fun and unforgettable moment that they'll probably remember much more powerfully that what was planned. And with more humor. Which is always good for a marriage.



The Catering Company smoothly handled all the arrangements for the cocktail hour and the reception in the ballroom which is also graced with a life sized statue of a blue heron. And the dance floor was occupies for the rest of the evening.

I wish them great happiness as they begin this new adventure together.