International Wedding for Marcia and Hugo!

Marcia and Hugo planned a big party on April 28, 2012 at the Page-Walker Art and History Center to celebrate their marriage. They originally planned to just go down to the courthouse and get married the day before the party, then they began to have second thoughts about such an impersonal ceremony for this big milestone in their lives. Marcia called me in January to see if I could marry them before the party. I had a wedding at 4:30 that day but could marry them in my wedding garden earlier in the afternoon with just a few guests present. So, intrigued with the notion that they could have a custom ceremony if I was their officiant and curious about my garden, we set up a meeting.

They were thrilled with the possibilities of the ceremony, especially since I suggested they bring in elements from their diverse heritages. Hugo was born in Chile and his family moved to Los Angeles when he was 10 years old. Marcia's mother is of Italian lineage and her father Irish. I suggested the Wine Unity ceremony as a possibility and they ran with the idea. Hugo would get some Chilean wine and Marcia some Italian wine that they would pour together. Then they would do a toast after the ceremony with Irish Whiskey, Bushmills, to be specific. Bushmills distillery located at the very northernmost tip of Ireland is the world's oldest whiskey distillery--I happen to know because I was there last August and Marcia and Hugo were on a trip to Ireland last year as well. Hugo also wanted to include a reading by well-known Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda. So, we were good to go.

But plans changed a few weeks later when they decided that they would like to have the ceremony timed closer to the reception and in the garden next to the Page Walker Art and History Center in Cary where the reception was to take place at 7:00. We worked it out where I would get there as soon as I possibly could from the wedding before theirs, hopefully by 6:00.

Marty and I made it there easily and earlier than planned. When we arrived, Marcia was in the garden being photographed by Chad Williams, a talented young man still in high school just getting started with his photography career. This is our third wedding together this year! The CateringWorks truck was in the parking lot. Then Lenny Fritts, one of my very favorite DJs appeared on the scene! A surprise! I had recommended him to the couple but did not know they had booked him.

When we were ready to begin, Marcia's father, Ed, escorted her into the garden.

He started handing her off to Hugo when I said "Wait, I haven't asked the question yet!"

The question was "Who has the privilege of presenting this woman, Marcia, to be married to this man, Hugo?" He of course said he did and so the transfer was made.

Hugo's best friend. I am sorry I did not get his name! Maybe they will tell me and I will add it later!

On the left is Alexis, Hugo's sister, Chad Williams, and Lenny trying to duck out of the photo!

This was really a fun wedding. It was very loose and informal and we laughed a lot.

Marcia's brother Andrew, his wife, Michelle, Marcia's mother, Aggie, and her father, Ed.

Right here I am honoring and thanking everyone present at the ceremony and remembering Hugo's parents, Hugo and Pauline, who could not be with us this day.

Hugo made sure everyone heard his "I do!"  

Then Marcia said her "I do." 

Marcia's ring was snug and Hugo had to push it on her finger with some force but he made sure it got securely on her finger!

 "With this ring, I thee wed."

Pouring the Italian and Chilean wines together.......

 "Drink now and may your lives be full to running over!"

"As you have shared this wine, so may you share your lives. May you find life's joys heightened, its bitterness sweetened, and all of life enriched by a constant love." 

 

 The pronouncement of marriage.....

 And they kissed and kissed and kissed! 

 

Time for the Irish Whiskey! 

"To a long, happy and healthy life together. Cheers! Salud! Salute!

 

 

 

 

 

Marcia and Hugo, what a fun wedding! What a great couple you are. Thank you for allowing me to share a very important occasion in your lives. I wish you the very best life can bring your way....

Steampunk Wedding for Madison and Hugo at Second Empire!

Madison and Hugo are unique individuals and they strive to express themselves in non-conformist fashion. They planned their wedding for January 9, 2010 at the historic Second Empire restaurant in Raleigh. Hugo lives in Chichester, England; Madison in Raleigh. They met on line via the Fiction-Post Writers' Forum and the romance took off. Both have spent much time visiting the other and now they will be making their home together in England after the wedding.

When Madison contacted me in November, she said that she was fearful of finding only ministers who were impersonal and/or dictatorial so she was pleasantly surprised that I was neither! She told me that she and Hugo were into Steampunk and wanted to know if that was okay with me. Well, I had never heard the term before. She explained that Steampunk is a subculture that combines Victorian culture with Sci Fi! Oh my! So I googled it and actually found a U Tube video of a Steampunk wedding! I must say that that wedding was certainly in the appropriate costume but the officiant, who was a friend of the couple and quite humorous, made the wedding a show mostly about himself, something that I am not into doing at a wedding. For me, the wedding is all about the couple! At any rate, Madison and her mother, Dionne, met with me and found out that I really enjoy officiating unique weddings that express the individuality of the couple. So we were a good fit.

 

I met Hugo the day of the wedding. He was strikingly handsome in his custom made outfit of blue wool. I decided to wear a black dress and my lacy prayer stole which looked Victorian, vintage heart pendant and earrings, and boots to fit the era.

 

Here are our three groomsmen in Victorian apparel for this wonderful occasion. I believe they all came over from England. I loved listening to all the British accents!

 

Here comes the bride in her lovely Victorian wedding gown! I emailed Madison and Hugo a bunch of ceremony material and they put together the ceremony they wanted and sent it to me. Of course we included the Celtic handfasting ceremony and some special readings. But for the most part the ceremony was fairly traditional. Madison opted not to have her father escort her into the ceremony and instead, they liked my suggestion of meeting each other in the middle of the aisle and walking to the front together.

The East Parlor at Second Empire was a perfect setting for this vintage themed wedding. The building's architectural style is Second Empire Victorian, a style developed in France under Napoleon III and marked by heavy ornate modification of Empire styles. The interior of the home has fourteen foot ceilings and deep bay windows. Tracy, the events coordinator, had to move a big plant from the corner so all 4 of our groomsmen would fit! The bridesmaid to the far left is Dulcie, the sister of the groom, and the maid of honor is Morgan, sister of the bride. Daniel, a good friend of Hugo's serves as the best man. Hugo's parents, Coral and Rob, are on the right front row skyping the wedding to Hugo's younger sister, Venetia, would could not come "across the pond" to the wedding.

I am looping the handfasting cord around their joined left hands. The more loops, the stronger the bond. Then they joined their right hands together forming the symbol of infinity blessing their marriage in the eternal ebb and flow of the universe.  They read their sweet and touching vows to each other from my book and exchanged rings. I made the pronouncement of marriage, they kissed and out they went! 

Married, at last!  Hugo is wearing the handfasting cord which he later transferred to Madison. We adjourned to the front entrance of the restaurant for some photos outside. Taner Ergin was our photographer. He is new to wedding photography and was getting some experience and expanding his portfolio. Madison told me a few days after the wedding that they liked his work.

I wanted to show you the bride's bouquet. It is made out of blue felt flowers with button centers made by Madison and her sister. I am sure they made sure this was authentic.

Madison and her sweet mother, Dionne, before the wedding. Dionne was so supportive of her daughter and her non-traditional wedding theme. Together they planned much of this wedding since Hugo was in England and they did a great job.

 

This is the reception room off the tavern in the lower level of the restaurant. Doesn't it look like a great period setting for this wedding theme?

An old Victorian clock, no doubt. There is probably some history behind this clever centerpiece!

 

This is the wedding cake by Simply Cakes. Madison and Dionne were really pleased with it. Part cake and part cupcake topped with the bride and groom and the elements of Sci Fi on the icing. Take a closer look at the topper:

Madison made these Sci Fi figures with the stylized Victorian outfits out of polymer clay. How adorable and how creative!

Here they are....... Our happy Mr. and Mrs.Steampunk!!

 

I was honored and thrilled to be a part of Madison and Hugo's special wedding. They are a fabulous couple and will go far...in fact, all the way to England to live. Madison and Hugo, with your wonderful and individual spirits, you are bound for success! Congratulations! 

Kelly and Jim's Sweet Wedding in my Wedding Garden!

Kelly and Jim are so blessed to have found each other. And they know what a perfect match they are. They both had been married before and so really treasured the love and compatibility they found with each other and wanted to spend the rest of their lives loving each other. I had married their friends Marcia and Hugo in April of 2012 so they knew they wanted me to officiate for them. Originally their wedding was going to be May 18th but it got postponed to May 31, 2013. So on that beautiful day they arrived with their guests, including Marci and Hugo, to my garden for the ceremony. 

We gathered up front to await the bride. Most of the guests stood and took pictures during the ceremony!

Here comes Kelly! 

That's Marcia and Hugo in the middle. It was great to see them again! 

Kelly's son, Schae, is so happy to have Jim for his stepdad! 

Kelly and Jim, you are so good for each other and I am so happy you found each other! I am honored to have been the lucky minister to officiate your wedding!

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mailto:kayelily@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

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