"We're going to the chapel and we're gonna get married!"

Yanessa and Preston did just that at the lovely Stone Chapel in Wake Forest April 26, 2008. The Stone Chapel is a great place to get married. Ranee Cloud and her staff are so efficient and think of every little detail. I do use my sound system there so I can speak in a normal tone of voice and put feeling into my voice. Preston's mother commented to me that she "felt my spirit" in my voice during the ceremony and loved every word the couple chose for their ceremony. Since my "roadie" Marty was off duty tonight, I enlisted the help of my husband Dave to help set up the sound system and take the photos you see here--except the one of him! I got the sand ceremony ready to go and we were all set.

The guests filled up the chapel and the ceremony began. Yanessa's two brothers escorted her down the aisle since their dad has passed on. It was very touching and the tears started to flow as I handed Yanessa a hankie. (I collect vintage embroidered hankies to give to the brides--and grooms--who shed tears!) After saying their vows, intermingling their sand, and being pronounced husband and wife, they literally skipped down the aisle and right out of the picture Dave took!

After the ceremony we re-assembled for photos by Diana Beraglia Matthews of Creative Moments Photography. Diana and I did a wedding together at The Umstead in March and she promises to send me photos to post here soon. She is creative and took shots of everyone from the balcony of the Stone Chapel.