Michelle and Michael Get Married at The Carolina Inn!

 

Michelle and Michael selected the beautiful Bryan Courtyard at the Carolina Inn for their wedding. It is such a beautiful setting and my third Saturday wedding there in a row! Michael and Michelle are a very special couple. They are careful planners and knew exactly what they wanted. Michael's daughter, Bella, age 9, was just as excited as they were about this wedding! The wedding took place on April 17, 2010 at noon. The day had a slight chance for rain in the forecast but it did not happen. Just as the ceremony began the sun poked its head out and the weather, although breezy (forget the hairdo!), was very pleasant for this wedding. 

 

Michelle was escorted in by her parents: Rick in his Marine Corps dress protocol, and Yumi in her pretty blue which was the color scheme of the day. Look at Michelle's gorgeous wedding gown! Behind them you can see our wedding director, Rachel Hamm with Bliss by Sam, and our DJ, Jeff Simpson with Simpsound.

 

Here I am addressing Bella and telling her how important she is in the marriage celebrated today. Michael presented her with a special necklace to commemorate the day and put it on her. She needed my hankie to wipe all her tears. So sweet! She was their only attendant.They also honored their parents with a special tribute to them.

Cynthia, Michelle's sister, and Lisa, Michael's sister, alternated reading verses of a poem by William Jay Smith that begins with "Now touch the air softly..." They did a great job!

Michael and Michelle are so much in love. It radiates all over them and out to everyone else. It was truly a joyous day for all of us to see them get married. Thanks to Craig Carpenter of Luster Studios for this photo and the one of The KISS!

Finally the pronouncement of marriage. You can see the wind started blowing!  

 I told Michael and Michelle at the rehearsal to make the kiss long enough for our photographer to get a good shot, and they did and he did!

And out they go! The wedding party gathers in the sunroom behind the courtyard while the guests go for cocktails and refreshments in the Old Well Gallery.

We did a few shots re-creating the ceremony. Bella is much more at ease now and so happy! I can tell she really is so happy to have Michelle for her stepmom!

Michael and Michelle, it was such an honor officiating your lovely wedding. I know you two will be superbly happy together as a couple and as a family with Bella and any future children you will have. All the best to you!

Our Vendors:

Of course the Carolina Inn for their lovely property and super-efficient staff.

I thank Jeff Simpson, our DJ of Simpsound Productions, for referring this wonderful couple to me! He is also a great DJ and lighting expert. We have enjoyed doing many wedding together all over the Triangle and surrounding areas. 

Rachel Hamm of Bliss by Sam and her intern, LaShayla, did a marvelous job of organizing and expertly directing this wedding ceremony and reception. It was great working with these professionals.

Craig Carpenter of Luster Studios was hard at work creating his wonderful photographs. I am looking forward to seeing them on his blog (they are up now) and he may send me a few to post here too. (Post note: he did. Thanks, Craig!)  Michael and Michelle chose to do the "First Look" where the photographer stages a private meeting of the bride and groom before the ceremony. I think this custom is such a grand idea and that it will become more and more popular. I don't think it detracts from the groom first seeing the bride come down the aisle at all. I saw the First Look photos Craig got of another couple I married at the Washington-Duke Inn, and he beautifully captured the essence of the bride and groom.

Edible Art created this lovely cake.