Sealed with a kiss!

Sealed with a kiss!
Laura & Chris' Wedding at JCRaulston Arboretum

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Megan and Kevin Wed at the Renaissance Raleigh Hotel!

Megan and Kevin came to see me in September to officiate their wedding on January 9, 2010. Their wedding date had to coordinate with Kevin's deployment schedule. They chose to have their wedding at the beautiful new Renaissance Hotel in North Hills. It is a gorgeous place for both the ceremony and reception. They have a built in audio system into which I just plugged my wireless microphone and receiver. The sound was perfect and everyone could hear the ceremony very clearly. Megan Brewer, the events manager, is really on the ball making sure every detail is taken care of. Thanks, Megan!
Kevin and I entered followed by the two groomsmen after the parents had been escorted in. Men in uniform are soooo handsome! You can see two of the Arioso Strings quartet who provided the wonderful music for the ceremony. DJ Richie provided the music for the reception.

This is our cute little flower girl, Cecelia, who is two. This photo was taken after the wedding. At the wedding, she was accompanied down the aisle by her mother, one of our bridesmaids and sat with her father who was seated on the front row. Isn't she adorable?
Megan is proudly escorted in by her father. She is so beautiful and her dress was stunning! I saw a few tears escape Kevin's eyes when he saw her coming toward him. What a moment!
After a warm welcome to the guests and a prayer, we paid tribute to the couple's parents which produced more tears! Kevin and Megan had asked me to read ee cumming's poem "I Carry Your Heart." This was followed by the wedding address which is about the couple's beliefs in love and marriage. Here is a tiny snippet of the words they chose: "You hold each other's hearts in the palms of your hands.  Be gentle caregivers, honoring this trust.  Let this be a marriage that enhances your individuality and allows you to know the greatest gift that God has given us – the ability to love and to be loved." They then exchanged vows and rings.
 
They lit their Unity Candle from their individual flames that had been lit by their mothers as I read this quote by Rabbi Baal Shem Tov: “From every human being there rises a light that reaches straight to heaven. And when two souls that are destined to be together find each other, their streams of light flow together, and a single brighter light goes forth from their united being.” I made the pronouncement of marriage followed by the Irish Blessing and a prayer then announced them to their guests!

The happy couple, finally married! After the ceremony the couple and their photographer, Neil Boyd and his assistant, Beth Jarvah, dashed up to Coquette's, a favorite restaurant of the couple, for some bride and groom only photos. Marty and I caught up with them when they came back to the hotel and got a few parting shots.

Megan is beaming! I don't think Kevin is deliberately not smiling (I know he was so happy), just resting his mouth muscles from all the smiling for photos! Right, Kevin? What a great couple you are. I wish you a lifetime of happiness and fun! Thanks for serving our country, Kevin!

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