I got this picture from Cassandra and Pat's wedding that I had to share with you. I performed their ceremony on Aug 28th. They were both in their early forties and it was the first marriage for both of them. They weren't sure that marriage was 'in the cards,' as Cassy put it, for her but then they found each other.They had a small wedding but did it in big style. Pat wore a top hat and tails and Cassy's dress had just a touch of color that made it unique and playful.They married at Cassy's parents house which was especially special since both his and Pat's fathers had passed. We included an honoring of them in the ceremony. Blessedly, in the summer heat, they had a tent that gave us all shade. They kept it simple:Cassey's sister and identical twin was her Maid of Honor, No one walked her down the aisle, (which happens a lot more these days,) and they used an IPOD for their ceremony music.They also had the lyrics to John Lennon's song 'Love' as their reading of timeless wisdom about love and marriage. As a Beatles' fan, I was especially glad to be able to read Lennon's words.And Pat and Cassy had a wonderful time with many hugs and much celebrating for them.I'm delighted for them. There are so many ways to make a wedding your own. Cassy and Pat concentrated on just what was important for them. And I'm glad. If they do the same for the rest of their lives, they'll have a wonderful marriage and a wonderful life!
On 5th June I got to marry Andy and Jolie. They wisely chose the Shrine Club in Raleigh where they could stay cool and have their reception there too. There was also a stage where the wedding party could stand so that everyone could see. I was delighted for them. They heard about me from Ryan and Jenna who I'd married just 2 months before, so I got to see them at the Andy and Jolie's wedding, too, still glowingly happy.
I'm just getting around to their blog now, but I still remember their wonderful smiles and Jolie's captivating ebullience.
They were especially grateful that the space at The Shrine Club flowed so well with the ceremony room right next to the reception room, and did the catering so that they didn't have a lot to worry about.
Jason Huggins at Island Sound took care of both their ceremony and reception music, and handled a mic for me as well which made is easy for everyone to hear. Flowerama of Raleigh did Jolie's wonderful flowers and her stylist was Salon Blu.Andy and Jolie had her aunt and uncle from New York to do their photographs. We have them to thank for these. Their company there is Photogenics.We ended with a beautiful blessing and prayer upon their marriage: 'We ask that the Holy Spirit of love may deepen the lives of Jolie and Andy. May their relationship, which today has been expressed, continue to grow in the years to come. And whatever changes time may bring, let this wedding ceremony remain as a treasured memory and a guide to life. May they always experience that breathless wonder that exclaims: "Out of all this world, You have chosen me. " When life is done and the sun is setting, may they be found then as now, still hand in hand, still thanking You for each other, Amen."
They're a playful and a thoughtful couple, having already navigated some hardship that has caused them to become a couple with a solid foundation of caring and respect in their marriage. I with them all the best.They went to the Dominican Republic on their honeymoon and had a fabulous time. I'm so glad!
I'm very grateful when wonderful couples I've married introduce me to other wonderful couples to marry. And that is how I met Jeff and Margaret. They're a couple with busy professional lives. Jeff is in graduate school at NC state in school counseling and Margaret works for a pharmaceutical company, yet they had time to meet in July of 2007 in downtown Raleigh where Margaret had arrived in a rickshaw. Now that's entering in style.After they began dating, they always had a lot to talk about and their affection just kept growing. They found out that their parents both live in Georgia about thirty minutes drive from each other, where Margaret grew up. Then they discovered that they both love football and love traveling to the games. They found out they traveled well together (a real sign as far as I'm concerned) and that their friends meshed.They're both easy going low stress people who don't take themselves too seriously. And I can tell you that they're also very generous of spirit and considerate - to each other, and to others.I can't tell you how many people have commented to Ruben and I how they notice that we are very considerate of each other. And I'm amazed that they find it unusual. I love being grateful for Ruben and showing it. And I could tell and was delighted to see that Margaret and Jeff are also very considerate people. It bodes well for their marriage. I believe that consideration comes from cherishing the other and being grateful for them in your life. It in itself is an act of love.
All Saints Chapel, a lovely restored 19th century chapel, in downtown Raleigh was a wonderful spot for them to marry. It exudes a simple gentle spirituality. The stained glass windows add a special light to the setting, too. We opened Jeff and Margaret's ceremony was a request that people silently, from the depths of their hearts, offer up their own blessings and prayers for Jeff and Margaret and their new life together. This moment of silence filled the hall with joyful reverence.
Sarah at All Saints coordinated our efforts there and was a big help, especially given the size of their wedding party. We also must thank Rusty Worden who took their photographs, although the ones you see here were taken by me or by their friends. (It's just taking a little time for Jeff and Margaret to decide on the official shots they'd like.) Rusty is a very skilled photographer who I've worked with before. You see him here setting up a shot after the ceremony in this picture I took from the balcony.
All Saints has this wonderful balcony that you can fill with guests or just take pictures from. It offers such a unique vantage point. Especially if you're a more skilled photographer than I am. It's also where they have their sound system located.
Margaret and Jeff's wedding party was large and close knit - made up of long term friends who came from all over the United States to celebrate their day with them. The couple I married last year were in the wedding and now live in Michigan. On this hot July day, I think they were grateful for at least the weather there.
Jim Unger from Joe Bunn DJ Company was our DJ for the music for the ceremony and Julie Carlson Liles, the owner of CDI Florals in Holly Springs provided the flowers.The reception was held at Marbles, the kid's museum, walking distance from the chapel. I didn't attend. I always want to come home to Ruben. I imagine that it was wonderful. How could it not be? Here are some shots from there.
I got this note from Jeff about a week after their wedding: 'We are back from the honeymoon and have been busy moving the past three days! Makes us definitely long for a return to the Caribbean where just last week we were lounging in the sun! Thank you so much for all of your help and for leading a wonderful ceremony for us. We are so grateful for your help and guidance and for the support of all of our family and friends who were there with us. ...
Thanks again so much!
Jeff and Margaret
I want to thank them, too. My heart smiles whenever I think of them!
I love it when you can tell a couple is really having fun at their wedding. Not just after the ceremony but before and during the ceremony, too. Amanda and David were like that. They didn't let any nervousness dampen their delight. And it was a wonderful occasion.
Just look how David is beaming as he's watching Amanda enter.
Crenshaw Hall was lovely and set just the right tone for them.
Not only the ceremony site but this beautiful restored home gave them the classic feel they wanted.
Another thing that they did is to hire great people so that they didn't need to worry.
Gail Stephenson and Heather Irvin at Premiere Catering were a joy to work with. Gail had even guided the rehearsal, and on that Saturday, she and Heather were everywhere checking on details. Here they are as the couple are getting pictures taken after the ceremony, checking on final details for the reception.
Michelle Gunton took these marvelous photographs of their wedding and gave me some to show to you. She is always wonderful to work with, skilled and patient. Their DJ was from Joe Bunn DJ, Co. whose staff always does a great job. Their cake was from Ambrosia Cakes and their florist was Darryl Senter, who I think is related to Amanda's mother.
David and Amanda have known each other for ten years. They began dating in high school, and bought a house together in 2008. They're comfortable easy going, genuine people who didn't want anything stuffy or boring or drawn out. And I agreed! They wanted a comfortable fun ceremony that people would enjoy, especially their families, who they're both very close to. In fact Amanda's Matron of Honor was her mother.
They asked for classy but simple and this seemed to be their theme all throughout their ceremony.
Their personality really shone in their music and their words of commitment to each other, which they wrote themselves. These words, so like them, were loving and tender, and simply beautiful, and were the heart of their ceremony. I loved how they were fully present to each other and to the moment. You can see the strong foundation of love this couple has built together.
And the music! Everybody loved it. With their music they immediately brought smiles to everyone and they brought their unique and joyful personalities into the setting. From the first measure, you knew it was their wedding, their celebration of their love. Yay!
The first processional was 'Feeling Good,' I think the rendition was by Muse. It was fabulous. Their flower girl came in on the Darth Vader theme from Star Wars. Amanda came in on a song by a band called Morbid Angel called 'Desolate Ways.' The recessional music was from the band Unearth, the song was Big Bear and the Hour of Chaos. If you haven't heard 'Feeling Good' play it right now while you read this. Just Google it and you'll be feeling great, too.They were surrounded by close friends and family at their wedding and you could tell they were well loved. I'm not surprised. This couple exudes joy of life and of love. I wish them many many blessings for all their years.
Mel and Tony have been together eight years, knowing each other since Latin class in their junior year of high school and keeping many of the same friends all this time. They've had times living apart in distant cities (two and a half years) and times together as they did that wonderful discovery after leaving home we each do of finding out who we really are on our own.
So many people came up to me after their ceremony on August 21st telling me that Mel and Tony had done it right. Here were their families, who'd also grown closer over the past eight years and all their friends from high school, college and work celebrating Tony and Mel's love. They got engaged in 2009 when Tony proposed at The Sacre Coeur in Paris. How wonderful is that! Now they've started their family with Lulu, the Beagle-Shepherd mix puppy and they've just gotten back from their honeymoon.
It's the first time I'd been to Revolution Mills in Greensboro. It has a classic beauty outside in the courtyard and the inside reminds me of a combination of Bay 7 at The American Tobacco Campus and The Cotton Room in downtown Durham. It's a renovated mill but this one has the courtyard that's a perfect place for a wedding.
Their dear friend, Carol Green of Down The Aisle With You, was their wedding coordinator and was great. We needed her because the layout of the seating was narrow and deep and Mel's and Tony's wedding party was large. But oh so pretty.
I love these pictures of their reception inside. It was jazzy and fun.
I don't officiate as much in Greensboro so don't know the vendors as well but I want to tell you their names because the reception looked like it would be fantastic. But I didn't stay, opting to be with my Sweetie. Tony and Mel said it was great!
Their photographers were Elisa Henry and Trey from inContrast - also family friends. But the pictures you see are mine. This is after the ceremony while Elisa was taking pictures. I hope to have some of theirs soon and if so, will add them to the blog.
Their cake was by Jennifer Nichols from Buy Me Cake. Their florist was Dell Nichols, their catering by Culinary Visions and their DJ was Brad Adler from DJParty4U.Revolution Mills has a sound system in the courtyard that I could just plug my headset mic into. It was really handy. They were a huge support too, on the spot with assistance during the rehearsal and the wedding. Melissa sent me a note after they returned from their honeymoon which said, 'I wanted to say thank you so much for everything you did. The wedding was incredible and we've gotten so many compliments on the ceremony and how personal and heart-felt it was. It went perfectly. ...Thanks again for a perfect day; I can't thank you enough!!!'
It's a treat for me to thank them, too. They're a couple that's easy to love - openhearted, down to earth, easy going with the right priorities, and just fun. I wish them all the best!
On Aug 7th, Santiago and Anne had gathered their closest family and friends at The Celebrity Dairy in Siler City for the weekend to celebrate their marriage.Santiago's family is from Argentina and he and Anne met while Anne was studying in Argentina. Now, after more than six years later and after having lived in DC and Vancouver, Santiago is studying for his Ph.D. in Spanish at UNC .Because some family did not speak both languages, and because the language of their heart was different for Santiago and Anne, they decided that their ceremony needed to be done in both English and Spanish. Anne would say her vows in English and Santiago would say his in Spanish. How best to do this?Here is where Sarah entered the picture and was not only a huge help but her presence was a delight. Also a Ph.D. student in Spanish at UNC, she officiated with me. After each paragraph that I offered in English, she offered the same paragraph in Spanish. We practiced inflection and timing together and it was a treat to be able to be so much more inclusive with her help than we ever could have been with the ceremony spoken in only one language.
And The Celebrity Dairy was a wonderful location for their intimate family gathering. Easy and comfortable, we strung wires for the sound system where we needed to and started when everyone was ready.Wonderful photographer Robin Lin took all the pictures you see here. Oh - the wedding party entered to the music 'Te busco y te encuentro.' It was especially lovely.
At the end of the ceremony, as is in the first picture, we showered them with rose petals, a wonderful change from the custom of throwing rice.
Sugarland Bakery in Chapel Hill created their delicious cake. Celebrity Dairy also did their catering, and their excellent DJ (thank you Darren for all your help) was Darren Hunicutt.Here's a picture of the Dairy you don't see often. I've never done a ceremony on their front porch. I usually do them on the left side of the house on the lawn, but it looks possible and the porch is also great for hanging out.
I wish them all the best as they take this new step into marriage. I have do doubts that they will do fine.
In late April Chad and Jill married at the Angus Barn. We were so lucky. A storm front was moving in so we started the wedding a little early and were grateful to have the reception well in hand before it arrived. Thank you to the wonderful staff at The Angus Barn for helping us start a little early to ensure good weather. Luckily Chad and Jill had arranged that guests have cocktails at the pavilion before the ceremony to be followed by a sunset ceremony. So everyone was already there.Kevin Milz, their wonderful photographer, captured these amazing pictures of the ceremony. See his blog for more pictures. I thank him for sending these to me.I love this venue first because it's so spacious. The vista over the water is lovely, yet it's quieter than a public venue on a lake. There's room for a large wedding party without it feeling cramped (Chad and Jill had eight attendants on each side) and room for lots of guests. Then the reception site has two open walls for a full outdoor feeling, but a field stone fireplace and wood paneling for that cozy warm natural materials feeling.
I was delighted for Chad and Jill. They had a wonderful spark between them and were interested in growing together and making their marriage the best it could be. They had put tremendous thought and care into their planning. Our only disappointment was that Chad's parents could not come down to NC at the last minute because of complications in his mother's health.
They chose the wonderful classic poetry of Lord Byron (She Walks in Beauty) and Anne Bradstreet (To My Dear and Loving Husband) to be read by two dear friends of theirs who are themselves happily married. And I loved their vows which included: 'I take you with all of your faults and your strengths, as I offer myself to you with all of my faults and strengths. I will help you when you need help and I will turn to you when I need help. I choose you as the person with whom I will spend my life.'
They also chose wonderfully upbeat music for their ceremony: Chad, the best man, and I entered to Cream's 'Sunshine of Your Love,' the Bride's mother entered to James Taylor's 'How Sweet It Is', the wedding party entered to Peter Gabriel's 'In Your Eyes,' and Jill entered on Tom Petty's 'Here Comes My Girl.' We all loved it.I wish them all the best and hope I run across them in the future. They both had a wonderful twinkle in their eyes every time I saw them and I bet it will still be there.
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.
I had the privilege of marrying Scott and Meghan in The Bryan Courtyard of The Carolina Inn on Sunday September 5th of this year. It was a wonderful time. First of all, they had great weather. Then they had great help. Rachel from Bliss by Sam coordinated with the easy charm and wonderful efficiency that I've known her always to have.
Meghan's Bridesmaid's beautiful Iris bouquets was designed by Margaret Pender of Victoria Park Florist to honor their colors of purple, blue and silver. All her flowers were stunning.
And here we get to enjoy Meghan and Scott exchanging their vows.
Scott and Meghan had their reception in the Hill Ballroom to the music of Joe Bunn DJ Company, with Randy Bennet as their DJ.
Cinda's Creative Cakes created their cake. I sampled her cakes at the Carolina Inn bridal event that they have every January. They were beautiful, great, and she's the consummate professional.
Scott and Meghan told me that they have found their home in each other. May their hearts always cherish this great gift. I wish them many blessings!
