Kris and Stewart Wed at The Museum of Life and Science

On Labor Day weekend, I got to officiate at the wonderful wedding of Kris and Stewart. I look forward to the day that I can make this a legal wedding for them, too.

We were all gathered at The Museum of Life and Science in Durham ready to honor their wonderful relationship and their commitment to each other as life partners.
I've done several ceremonies in the Butterfly House but this is the first time I've done a ceremony on the steps. At this angle you're facing the Butterfly House. It was a great location!
Two wonderful men, they're best friends and life partners and wanted to let their families and friends know how fortunate and blessed they felt to be able to share life with each other, and how committed they are to their shared life together, which will hopefully one day include children.

Kellie Carter and her wonderful staff at the museum were there to help with all the logistics of their day and it all went wonderfully. And thanks to photographer Heather Follmer, of Heather Follmer Photography, who took these wonderful pictures.

Kris's nephew was our keyboardist. He was a great hit!

Stewart walked in with his friend Dan and Kris entered with is parents. It was Kris's parent's 45th anniversary that day, too.

I loved meeting with Stewart and Kris and creating a ceremony that celebrated their love. Their joy is infectious, and they're easy going and playful. Just to be around them is uplifting.

They included a sand ceremony in their ceremony. It created a wonderful tangible reminder of how their lives are now inextricably intertwined.

I hadn't noticed at the time, but from this picture you can see another great thing about this location is that the photographer can get different angles without being intrusive.

As a blessing on their marriage I offered: 'Go forth bound together by the love of God. Go forth with hope and joy and hearts full of dreams, knowing God is always with you.'

Then I presented Stewart and Kris as a married couple.

Then we bombarded them with bubbles!
There were more wonderful locations for pictures after the ceremony. See this one of their wedding party. Their flowers were done by Tre Bella in Durham.
But then, we need one with the kids.

Kris and Stewart chose to have their first meal together alone and then join their guests for the celebrating. And here's a picture of the reception. It was a great NC evening for relaxing outside.And from some of the other pictures, they partied well into the night.
The cake was by Will Fredes at Decadent Desserts, and the catering was provided by Posh Nosh. It all looked amazing.
I loved being a part of their wedding. And they did, too. I got this email from Kris after they got back from their honeymoon in the Dominican Republic. 'We had such a great time at the wedding...it was a fairy tale come true!! beyond any of our expectations!! ... it was amazing!! , talk to you soon!!"

It was amazing. A real joy for everyone there. For me, too.

Lori and Chirag, The Butterflies and Virtual Guests

It was a small gathering to celebrate Lori and Chirag's wedding on March 21, 2101, if you didn't count the butterflies. And there were plenty of them. Of course we were at the Butterfly House at The Museum of Life and Science. I must thank, Rachel Smith, the Events and Rentals Assistant for the museum, there with us to help us remember how to co-habit with these wonderful creatures as they graced the ceremony.


In this very special wedding we had hoped to have among the guests Chirag's sister Shweta, her husband Amit and their daughter Viya, but visas are complicated nowadays, so we included them virtually. This was my first webcam wedding and I've got to tell you I was delighted. It worked out wonderfully - as you'll see in these pictures. They could hear everything and respond. When we asked if all you loved Chirag and Lori would bless and suppor their union, we could hear Shweta and Amit's voices right along with everyone else's. Chirag's parents were there in person, as were Lori's parents, Lori's sister, Elizabeth, her brother, David, and just a handful of their close friends.

Chirag and Lori set the tone with their choice for Lori's processional of 'What a wonderful world' by Lous Armstrong. And we all felt that way. With many faiths represented, with Lori and Chirag having two different cultural backgrounds, and with their love for the natural world, this felt like a global experience, yet also very intimate.

It's hard to convey how beautiful the ceremony was and how it fit the couple. Perhaps this picture will speak more eloquently.


Their genuine delight in their marriage and each other comes through so much in this picture.

Their love is rich in discovery, humor and adventure. We celebrated that love does find us in unexpected places and the amazing grace of how life so often surprises us by joy if we let it..


I had a fun time after the ceremony. Lori and Chirag went with David, the photographer to shoot pictures in other areas of the Butterfly House. And of course, the only ones who couldn't go along with them without assistance were Shweta and Amit. So I volunteered to become their legs so they could enjoy this facet of the ceremony too. Here I am with Chirag's father, and of course, Shweta and Amit.

Chirag and Lori and their family and friends went to a local Indian restaurant after the pictures to celebrate. And I'm sure Shweta and Amit went with them.

I really appreciated how Chirag and Lori knew what was important for them for their wedding and planned it just that way. That way they didn't get too stressed, and I could see them genuinely having fun and being able to drink in the joy at their wedding. Which is, of course, what I wanted for them.

They told me I was fabulous in their thank you. And I joyfully drink that in. I had a great time, too.
And I wish them many many more adventures in life just as sweet as their wedding. I have no doubt they will make it happen.