B & B Country Garden Inn hosts wedding of Karen and Adam and their kids!

The B&B Country Garden Inn is a sweet wedding venue with a beautiful lake tucked away on 8 acres of land out in the country in Apex. I had done a wedding there in the past and remembered the seclusion and beauty of the property. The bed and breakfast is owned by Beth and Bud McKinney. The house has a nice big deck on the back and a sunny breakfast room decorated with the most unique birdhouses. There is a lovely deck down by the lake for wedding ceremonies and a beautiful walkway for the bridal party and bride to enter from the house. There is plenty of room for a big tent for a reception if cover is needed. Its landscaping is beautifully manicured. I remembered that when I was there in 2005, there were a pair of swans but this past weekend I noticed only one so I asked Beth about it. She told me a sad story. Apparently a few years ago someone tried to steal the two swans one night and they apparently put up a valiant fight evidenced by all the feathers strewn around. In the morning Beth found Juliet, the female swan, on the bank, dead of a broken neck. Her mate, Romeo, survived the kidnapping attempt but was very forlorn. Swans mate for life and now he has no mate. She talked to the vet about getting another swan for him but was told that Romeo would not take up with another female swan and he would likely fight a male swan. So he swims the lake all alone. Poor Romeo!

I told Karen and Adam about this jewel of a place and they thought it would be perfect for their wedding on Sunday June 7th. Their wedding plans started off small with only a handful of guests and it grew and grew and grew! Even Karen's mother flew in from California. Sunday was a beautiful sunny day with a nice breeze off the lake. The bride and attendants assembled in the house and Adam, his brother Frank and best man, and I proceeded down the aisle where about 60 guests were waiting. Then the bridesmaids, flower girl and ring bearer processed in. Karen was beaming as her father walked her down the aisle. Elizabeth Meyers, Sweet Life Photo, was our photographer. I have worked weddings with Elizabeth many times and it is always a pleasure! I welcomed everyone with special thanks to their parents and Karen's grandmother. Karen has four children and Adam one so we did a family unity sand ceremony to "blend" this family together. As each child came forth to pour their special color of sand, Karen and Adam took turns saying what each child's sand meant--a very nice touch. The couple made their vows to each other and exchanged rings. I pronounced them married and they kissed as their guests applauded then left for the couple's home for the reception while we took some photos. Karen and Adam worked hard to pull off a great wedding!

Congratulations, Adam and Karen, and all your kids!