Sealed with a kiss!

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

Friday, April 23, 2010

Amanda and Alex's Elegant Wedding at The Umstead!

When Marty and I arrived at The Umstead Hotel and Spa for Amanda and Alex's wonderful wedding on Saturday April 17, 2010, Amanda was being photographed by Kevin Milz and his assistant, Julie, in front of a wall that was covered with vines.
 And this is Amanda, our radiant bride, in one of the most stunning wedding gowns I have ever seen, and I see a lot! It was a creamy ivory lace covered skirt and organdy shirred bodice. And, it looked very comfortable.
This is in a courtyard outside the guest rooms on the first floor looking out onto the garden. The landscaping and design of The Umstead is so unique and immaculately manicured.
 It was time to get the ceremony started so Ami got us all lined up and ready to go. Alex escorted his grandmother in first, then his parents entered. His brother, Peter, escorted in the mother of the bride and then returned to come in with the rest of the groomsmen.
And now it is our time to walk. I was followed down the aisle by one of the finest, best looking group of guys I have seen in a long time!
And now these pretty bridesmaids dressed in cobalt blue with creamy yellow flowers. They also all wore the same shoes which is not something I see very often. Such a coordinated wedding!
Here comes the beautiful bride and her proud father making their way down the aisle. Notice the balconies of the guest rooms in the photo.
The guests are standing for the bride as he brings her forward to transfer her hand into Alex's.
Here is the view from the main floor balcony of the hotel. How spectacular. Notice the harpist to the left and our photographer getting pictures from behind the guests.
What pretty flowers on pedestals with the water and water fountain in the background shimmering with the sunshine.
Amanda's cousin, Kirk, wowed us with his singing of The Lord's Prayer. The couple and I also noticed that during his performance more and more guests appeared on their balconies to watch the ceremony.
I really don't remember now what was funny at this point in the ceremony but Amanda got tickled. Maybe it was in anticipation of the pronouncement coming up.
Or maybe it was in anticipation of the kiss that was coming up! This is my favorite part of the ceremony. If you click on this photo to enlarge it, you will see my grinning face between them! One of the guests is getting a picture of this moment too!
Wow, it's all over and they are married! No, Alex is not carrying a purse! That is a bag held by the photographer that they had just passed by. I had to take a second look to figure that one out!
So now the ceremony is done and it is time for photographs. Alex and Amanda, you are an amazing couple and you meticulously planned an amazing wedding. Amanda, thank you for stepping in and generously volunteering to be on a panel of brides for the Professional Wedding Guild luncheon when another bride dropped out at the last minute back in February. Congratulations to you both and I wish you all the best in the world!

Our Vendors:

First of all, The Umstead Hotel and Spa, for the lovely setting and astute staff, especially Ami Wheeler who is in charge of weddings there and makes us all feel like royalty! Amanda, I saw Ami this afternoon for a rehearsal for a wedding there tomorrow and she told me that your wedding went so perfectly, more perfectly than any wedding she has ever seen.   I also want to thank George, the person in charge of the sound system at The Umstead. I have worked with him for years now and he just discovered recently that he knows my daughter well and just made the connection........small world!

I thank Anita Burroughs-Price for her wonderful music and her magnificent golden harp. Anita, you are the best! It was great working with you again.

Kevin Milz and his assistant, Julie, of  Kevin Milz Photography were all around getting great pictures for Amanda and Alex. It was a pleasure to work with you again!

A Watered Garden was the florist for this wedding. Their work is always breathtaking and this centerpiece is no exception.

Joe Bunn DJ Company provided the music for the reception and Joe Bunn himself was the DJ! Go read his blog about this wedding reception here. Sounds like great fun.







Donna Ford of Sweet Memories Bakery provided this lovely wedding cake. Always a treat to see her work.

Lather Salon did the hair and makeup for the wedding.

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