Gary and Rosemary Wed at The King's Daughters Inn

Rosemary and Gary contacted me just one month before their ceremony.  They were planning a courthouse ceremony but then decided that they wanted their ceremony with their families at The King's Daughters Inn in Durham where their reception would be held.


I'm glad for them.  While I honor a courthouse ceremony has it's own sweetness, it is really short. And in some places the building isn't very festive or welcoming.  The King's Daughters Inn is a wonderful place for a small intimate ceremony.  The above picture was taken by Samantha, one of the staff members there during the ceremony.  The living room is in soft greens and neutrals and proved just the right size for their small group of about 25 people.  The group would get larger that evening for the reception.


Gary and Rosemary were moving up from Florida to New York but their families lived here.  They wanted a simple, warm, spiritual ceremony that honored their love for each other and it was a delight to created that with them.

Here's just one picture after the ceremony in the sun room at the inn.  This room is perfect for those ceremonies where there are only 5 or 6 people.  The light is amazing.  Here's a picture of just the room.

The inn is so lovely, and the staff so great, that I want to show it off to you.  Here's the living room before the guests arrived.  

We used an IPOD for the music, Bea at Floral Dimensions created Rosemary's flowers, and Bonnie at Miel Bon Bons in Carrboro created their cake. Terri at The Catering Company in Chapel Hill provided the food.  (I married Terri and her husband, Dave, years ago.  I love these connections.)  Their friends were their photographer and videographer.  I took these pictures.

In less than a month they created a lovely ceremony and reception.

By now they're just really getting settled in NYC.  I send them love and best wishes, and my hopes that they really enjoy all the adventures that NYC has to offer.

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.