Mike and Christina Wed on May Day at Their Log Cabin in the Woods

Mike and Christina have been friends for a long time since they were members of the last congregation I served as parish minister.  It was a treat when they contacted me to marry them on May 1st at their home in Hillsborough.  I don't have any official photos yet but I snapped these with my DROID since I knew that Mike and Christina would be traveling for some time, first on business, then to Finland and Russia for their honeymoon and I wanted to make sure I had the moment captured.

Theirs was first a small ceremony for close family and friends at noon, then a larger gathering at 2PM.  Their home had been a place of many family events over the years so it was only fitting that they marry here as well.

Here they are with dear friend, Gerald who spoke words of introduction and welcome during the ceremony that were written by Mike and Christina. 

Here the three are joined by Gerald's wife Kathleen and her mother Mary.  All wonderful people.  All family to Mike and Christina.

Christina and Mike have been together 7 years already and they are still very much in love..  Christina says that Mike is a man for all seasons and Mike says that Christina's smile still lights up his heart and every room she enters.  They're a delight and I wish them many many wonderful years full of love.

Senthil and Lorelei Joyfully Marry on April 23rd at Rock Quarry Farm in Chapel Hill

 
I loved marrying Senthil and Lorelei.  When I met with them before their wedding they were both serious and a little shy.  They came with Senthil's mother, Mangai, and I fell in love with her.  There was just this sweetness and generosity of spirit about her that was so gracious.  I knew that Lorelei and Senthil were much warmer than their shy exteriors by the twinkles in their eyes, but for some couples, meeting with the minister feels a little daunting.

So at their wedding I was delighted to see that  their smiles were glorious and their playfulness and joy apparent.  I loved witnessing that side of their love.  They sought me out because they wanted to honor both their traditions and I was pleased to do just that.  And they blended them masterfully with my resources and their ideas.  

We even Skyped to India hoping that Senthil's family there would be able to see the ceremony.  I hope so!

Thanks to Amy Rager at Serenity Photography for these great photos.  She captured their wonderful joy, too.  The amateur photos are mine from my Droid.  Boy you can sure see the difference.

Their wedding was at Rock Quarry Farm in Chapel Hill, and Camille, the owner, as always was a huge help in coordinating the ceremony and all the vendors and events.   It's a wonderful old (and remodeled) farm house that is warm and inviting with spacious grounds that adapt to the needs of any small to medium size wedding.

For Senthil's and Lorelei's ceremony there was one sitar player, Will Franke situated between the ceremony site and where the guests would have hors d'oeuvres and cocktails.  A perfect location.  Then the Bluegrass Band Down River played for their reception.

Lorelei's sister made her bouquet.  Isn't it gorgeous!

We incorporated a Hindu tradition of the 7 steps, Saptha Padhi, into their ceremony from Senthil's Hindu tradition

Here's a wonderful photo after their ceremony.

Lorelei's friend, Jacquie Powell made their cake and Vimala's Curryblossum Cafe (Yum!) provided their food. 

 One final fabulous Amy shot.  I just loved this one!




Here are some pictures I took of Rock Quarry Farm so that you can see that an ideal place it is on a pretty day.   Here is Camille.  You can tell that she loves what she does.



 Rock Quarry Farm would accommodate a tent if you wanted one.  Here's the tent they had set up for their reception meal.



Here are guests enjoying cocktails.

 This photo looks down on the the ceremony site in the background.  At the middle in the distance is the trellis that you see in the first picture.

 Here is Amy in front of the house taking a photo of the family.  I always love getting a picture of the photographer since they their style makes a big difference in the photos.  Amy was great!

Nam and Abby Get Married Twice

I got to be at both of Nam and Abby's weddings and they were both special for the wonderfully happy couple who have consciously grown their love to embrace their very different cultures and faiths.

On Friday was Abby and Nam's Vietnamese ceremony at a family member's home.  Here is their wonderful photographer, Lauren Mann taking their picture after the ceremony.  The great pictures in this blog are the ones she took.  The so so pictures are the ones taken with my Droid.




 
 Abby's parents and family are from the Philippines with a wonderful Catholic and cultural heritage. Nam's family is from Vietnam who have kept their rich Buddhist heritage and Vietnamese customs alive, too, especially during important times, like weddings. Nam and Abby wanted to honor both their traditions and they did, with great rejoicing by the combined families who had come from Florida, the Philippines, and even Italy to be with them.

Their Vietnamese wedding was a beautiful family oriented ceremony in which both families were honored with gifts, and prayers were offered for Nam and Abby's marriage.  Below is the family procession into the house.

Below are my pictures of the altar set up for the Vietnamese ceremony.

Nam and Abby and Nam's parents knelt on the cushions you see before the altar. Below is a close up which shows the pictures of their grandparents.

 
 

This was a much smaller wedding for only close family on both sides. I loved being invited so that I could offer the continuity between both their ceremonies. In the second ceremony on Saturday I spoke of the Vietnamese ceremony we had had the day before.

The celebration was outside under tents had lots of family laughs and really good food! And these beautiful little boys in their traditional Vietnamese wedding garb.

Then on Sat, yes the same day as the tornadoes, Abby and Nam married at Marbles Kid's Museum in downtown Raleigh. The tornadoes had roared through not two hours before so there were no traffic lights downtown and no electricity at Marbles.

I was lucky to get there on time because my Sweetheart, Ruben, talked me through downtown on my cell phone while he was looking at Google maps with the traffic overlay, so I missed all the bad spots.

All went amazingly well without electricity. We were all a little warm but had my battery operated amplifier and the DJ's backup IPOD for music and sound. Randy Bennett of Joe Bunn DJ Company is always a joy to work with, and so professional, was even more so that day with all we had to contend with to ensure that Nam and Abby's ceremony went seamlessly.

Here is Nam placing Abby's ring on her finger.



These bridesmaid's dresses were amazing.  They're called Magic Dresses or something like that since the bodice can be tied in several different ways that are all beautiful.  Abby and Nam's colors of ocean and red really were fabulous in this neutral setting.




 

Here is a closer picture of Nam and Abby's unity candle, lit by their mothers at the beginning of the ceremony. They also had a traditional Filipino ceremony with a veil, cord, and coins that I hope to have a picture of a little later. It was beautiful.

Their reception at Marbles was gorgeous in their colors red and ocean blue. An the staff really rose to the occasion. My only concern was with no electricity, and no backup generator, they would soon be in the dark. Apparently at 8:30 when they had to leave Marbles, because of no electricity (Marbles had no electricity even the next day), they went to a guest's condo in downtown Raleigh to continue the celebration. I'm so glad because Nam and Abby are a wonderful couple who had planned for this celebration for well over a year.

Picture taking outside after the ceremony was damp but possible and we knew we were racing the clock. 

Here are Nam and Abby looking wonderful with their parents after the ceremony. I took this picture so that's why it's hazier.   I so appreciated the balance and calm of Abby and Nam during the whole day as they navigated what must have been big disappointments. They're a wonderful couple. Nam wrote me to say, 'Hi Robin, Thanks again for all that you've done for us (even with the craziness on our wedding day). We are very grateful to have had everything work out the way it did.

I'm glad they were pleased. They have grown their love consciously and have formed a strong bond that even tornadoes can't shake up. Blessings to them.

Eddie and Sam Wed in The Storms of April 16

I thoroughly enjoyed Samantha and Eddie. They have openhearted, fun loving, and straight forward natures that are infectious to be around. I'd been planning their wedding with them since last August when we met, through all the changes that come from planning an important event, to their moment of commitment. They put a lot of thought into their ceremony and wanted it to be a real celebration of their love. And it was, rain and all.

They got married at their home in Pittsboro, with Sam's uncle walking Sam down the aisle. And being the practical people they are, they had not only 1 tent but three - one for the ceremony, one for the food and one for the guest book table. And it's a good thing they did, for 1/2 way through their wedding the skies opened up with the storm of April 16th. We were really glad the tornadoes missed us. But luckily we didn't know that yet.

Sam had prepared by wearing her cowboy boots under her dress, and the rains came straight down so the guests didn't get wet and we didn't miss a beat in finishing their ceremony. Even my sound system kept working. Then in a break in the storms, after the ceremony, Eddie and Sam took a smoke break in the front yard and they went on to party.

And I bet it was a good one. (At the next let up in the rain, I needed to leave so sprinted to the car.) These are fun loving generous people. 

 

 And I wish them a world of happiness.

Joseph and Kara on April 9th at All Saints Chapel in Raleigh

Kara sits with her grandmother while pictures are being taken after their wedding ceremony.

Joseph and Kara wanted to emphasize their love for their families in their wedding ceremony, and their love for the larger family they create together. They have been together five years, appreciating how each other is down to earth, solid, and their best friend.

They loved All Saints Chapel in Raleigh not only because it's so lovely, but also because they could have their reception downstairs , catered by the wonderful Unforgettable Food Affairs, and DJ'ed by Timothy of Diamond Entertainment.

Here are Joseph and his groomsmen in front of All Saints Chapel.

The altar looked beautiful with their unity candle on it and votive candles surrounding it.

Their pictures were taken by Robert Filcsik Photography and I hope to have some of these instead of my meager DROID pictures soon. Their florist was Petals Florist out of Garner with Diane, their friend, decorating the chapel. And while I'm at it, Maureen Mashburn (The Cake Lady, 919-772-8084) provided their cake.

Ava and Blake, their Flower Girl and Ring Bearer, were so wonderful and just as the right age to be delighted to be a part of the ceremony.

This is our photographer Robert taking my picture with Kara and Joseph after the ceremony.

They went on their honeymoon is a cabin in Gatlinburg, TN and I hope had a wonderful time. I wish them all the best for a love that blesses all the lives they touch!

Billy and Allison Marry at the Rand Bryan House in Garner

On March 19th, I had the privilege of marrying Billy and Allison at the Rand Bryan House in Garner. You never know what it will be like in March but they had a fabulous day as evident by all the phlox in bloom. And I only have my few pictures taken with my Droid but I wanted to celebrate them and help you celebrate their love, too. Katy Warner from Cary was their wonderful photographer and when we get her pictures I'll add some to this post.


As always, the Rand-Bryan House is a wonderful intimate venue. Our musicians, led by Gregory Ortiz were on the right side on the porch and we stood right at the top of the steps. Then Ken Holmes with Joe Bunn DJ provided the music for the reception to be held indoors. Thanks too to Catering Works for the catering, the flowers, and the wedding cookies.

Here's the side yard of Rand-Bryan. They could use all of it on this pretty day.

They're very different folk which is always fun to affirm. She's from Northern Jewish roots and he is from Southern Baptist roots. They describe themselves as polar opposites.and so their love has been rich in discovery. They've been dating six years and met through an acquaintance who kept saying to Allison, 'You have to meet my best friend's son.' I love it when this works. It always amazes me how often our friends are right.

Allison says that Bily has great passion for life and she sees the world differently now through his eyes. She's more accepting of others and she's a better person from knowing him. Billy said his choice was between a 'fast food life' and 'Allison's way' and he chose Allison's way and it taught him to care more about his future. With their border collie, Jonah, they are explorintg life together.

We called upon the divine, in all the ways it is known, to bless Allison and Billy's marriage. They chose the hand ceremony as part of their wedding ritual which I love, which ends...'and lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still b reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.'

I wish them many blessings and know that, many years from now, they'll still have the same twinkle in their eyes that they do today, inspired by their love for each other and the largeness of life they experience together. Hallelujah and Mazel Tov.

Charlie and Laurel Marry on Easter Weekend and Celebrate the Season

The Celebrity Dairy in Siler City is a special place even in ordinary times, but at Easter with little goslings all around and even the cat feeling the spring abundance it was wonderful. And I'm so glad because Laurel and Charlie came all the way from my home town of Berkeley, CA to be married here.

Laurel and Charlie are a creative and fun loving couple who have been planning their wedding for over a year because they wanted it to reflect their values. And one of their big values was to have it be green. As I remember, Laurel even made the paper for her invitations. Their creativity was all through the preparations and the ceremony and it made their wedding unique and especially joyful.

Their families both entered into the spirit of the occasion with them. They were relaxed and playful and no one stressed the small stuff.

Charlie sewed his own overalls. I'm impressed. I know how to sew and tailoring is not easy. And in a feeling of kindred spirits, the fathers also wore overalls. Charlie also made Laurel's bouquet with the huge artichoke gracing it - that they would eat later.

Their band out of Asheville was excellent and goes by the name, Southern Exposure Sustainable String Band. They do travel so if you want square dancing at your wedding and or lovely mountain music, find them. They played Ashokan Farewell for the processional which is one of my very favorites. They won me over right there.

Photographer and friend Jenn Ross of Jenn Ross Photography in Flagstaff Arizona shared her pictures with me so you'll see lots of pictures and you won't question why. They tell a story of a real celebration. And this is only the ceremony. I could see that dancing would follow after folks had eaten the delicious vegetarian buffet prepared by the dairy, but I had to leave. But not before sampling the varied and very spectacular goat cheeses and fruit on display.

Charlie and Laurel entered their ceremony together from the dairy great room, immediately following their pixie like flower girl in the green of the season.



Laurel and Charlie embraced the Easter theme and we created a ceremony which honored the season of rebirth and the special role that eggs play in this season. Hold that thought....more later.

Their friend Shawna led us in a meditation focusing on the heart center that's also the source of the heart of the universe, the breath inside the breath. It was wonderful and it softened and opened our hearts to the moment and to the spirit of the love we were sharing and celebrating.

Remember the eggs theme of the season. Instead of a sand ceremony or a unity candle, Charlie and Laurel scrambled two eggs knowing that the omelet they create together will be doubly nourishing for their marriage. We all loved the imagery and the playfulness of it, and the rooster from the dairy called his approval a few times, too.


Some of the words of their vows said, "I want to live with you just as your are. You are my beloved and best friend. I choose you above all other as my partner to share my life. I promise to cherish and encourage you through all the endings and new beginnings of our lives.'

And I loved how they kissed with gusto. No opportunity lost here.

Then we showered them with lavender as they left the ceremony and the yard smelled sweet for hours.

Charlie and Laurel formed a receiving line at the door, then folks entered the house for the buffet and took their plates out back to tables ready for them. The dairy does a wonderful job at hospitality and good food!

I loved the day. It started my Easter weekend with great rejoicing. Later their would be dancing and an Easter Egg hunt for the children. These folks know how to party.

I wish them many many blessings. They are truly a couple who know how to make a banquet of life and love in all the simple ways that are real and true. I loved being a part of their wedding.