Jamelle and Brian's Fabulous Wedding at Fearrington!

Jamelle and Brian were married on September 19, 2009 at the Fearrington Country Inn at the Willow Oaks site. The wedding started promptly at 5:30 and even after the bride had entered, more and more guests were coming in and the staff was putting out more and more chairs.

Jamelle and Brian chose to limit their attendants to one each--the Matron of Honor and the Best Man. To honor their special friends who were not part of the wedding party, they had them process in as a group and sit in the second row on each side just before the parents of the couple were ushered in. After the wedding party and I entered, the flower girls, Maddie and Josie, made their entrance. They were so cute. Josie started dropping her petals way back before the chairs but she still had enough to sprinkle down the whole aisle. They got to sit down after the bride was presented.

After the wedding party processed in, Jamelle's dad, Ron, escorted her in. She was wearing the most beautiful wedding gown. It looked vintage but she told me it was new, made to look vintage. It had the softest tulle panels inset at the bottom and trailing behind her. She looked absolutely radiant!

Jamelle and Brian told me that they had been to a wedding recently in which the officiant moved around during the ceremony and addressed the guests from a closer vantage point than from behind the couple and they liked that. So, I was most happy to do that for them. I actually like getting closer to and speaking directly to the guests during the welcome and the parents blessing.

I went to each side and welcomed the guests, paid tribute to the parents of the couple, and presented the two readings. The first one was an excerpt from Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres--a terrific reading for the wedding day. The second one was the lyrics from "Anniversary Song" by Michael Timmons.

See the size of this crowd? I know there were over 200 guests there. Weddings at Fearrington are such elegant events, everyone invited wants to be there!

Jamelle and Brian wrote one of the deepest, meaningful wedding ceremonies I have ever delivered. I was delighted to impart their beliefs and feelings about love and marriage to their family and friends. Here I am making the pronouncement of marriage.

The newlywed couple strides down the aisle so happy to be married! Notice the bride's blue shoes! They were blue suede and represented the custom of "something blue."

The "deed was done" and it was time to have some fun. The guests were sent on to the Barn for the reception while the wedding party took some photos. We were all so thankful that it did not rain for the wedding. Rain was forecast but it ended up just being overcast and comfortably cool. Jamelle and Brian, my heartfelt congratulations to you. I know you will have a long and happy marriage!

Our Vendors:

First of all I want to thank Cheryl, our wedding director with Fearrington. She did such a great job organizing everyone and making sure everything went like clockwork. The coordination of her staff is amazing. The catering and wedding cake were all provided by the staff of Fearrington as well as all the floral arrangements.

This is Brian Smith and Risa Patterson of the band The.Design that was playing for the reception. For the ceremony music they set up a speaker and keyboard for Risa to play the musical selections of the couple. She did a great job. Brian told me that their band was formerly known as Sugar.

The photographer for the wedding was Mike with Missy McLamb Photography.