Erica and John's Wedding at Umstead Park on May 30, 2009!

Erica and John are very resourceful and creative! They proved that you can have a lovely wedding without breaking the bank! They chose to have their wedding at Shelter 2 at Umstead Park off Harrison Ave and I-40 surrounded by nature. It is a fairly secluded shelter in a wooded area with a winding walkway which served as the entrance for the bridal party. The weather was spectacular!

They decorated with white feather wreaths and had white chairs for the guests facing the stone fireplace. The picnic tables that come with the shelter were pushed to the rear. I brought my little green table for them to use for their sand ceremony. They had the prettiest programs that were coordinated with the aqua ("pool") color scheme of their wedding. Bubble blowing containers were passed out to the guests before the ceremony. Rose petals were strewn on either side of the aisle. Shane Snider was our capable photographer and Ed Stephenson was the guitarist providing lovely music for this occasion. He also plays with Arioso Strings and was headed off after this one to play with them for another wedding. I have worked with both Shane and Ed before and it was good to work with them again. (A little disclaimer: the photos on this post--and all posts unless otherwise noted--were taken by my assistant, Marty, with my little digital camera. Check Shane's blog for the "real" wedding photos!)

Erica and her sisters, Rachel and Kaitlyn, who served as her maid and matron of honor, arrived and after I got the marriage license in hand and the boutonnieres pinned on the men in the wedding party, we were ready to begin. Erica's father escorted in her mother then returned to bring Erica in. The groom and his best man, John, and I entered from the side then Rachel and Kaitlyn processed in. The guests stood as Erica and her father made their way down the winding walkway and down the aisle. The ceremony was simple but elegant and included the unity sand ceremony. They exchanged the vows they had written to each other and sealed them with the rings. The pronouncement was made and I introduced the newlywed couple to their guests. It was a happy day for everyone. Marty and I got some photos of the couple and we headed down the road for the next wedding at the Matthews House not too far away.

Many congratulations to you, Erica and John!