Sealed with a kiss!

Sealed with a kiss!
Laura & Chris' Wedding at JCRaulston Arboretum

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Samantha and Brent Get Married in Kayelily's Wedding Garden!

I received this email from Samantha on March 24th:  "I have been with my fiance for 6 years and we have been engaged for a year and a half but planning the wedding just hasn't come together for a big wedding due to family and friends being in Ohio. We decided last week that we would like to just have a smaller wedding and get married within the month.  The date that worked best for us is April 20.  I have not had a chance to make many plans yet but I have been reading your wedding blog and wanted to know if you are available." I replied that although I had weddings later in the day on the 20th, I would be delighted to host their wedding and officiate for them in my wedding garden earlier in the day. They came over on March 30th, loved the garden and we reserved 3:30 PM for them on April 20, 2013. I put together and emailed a proposed ceremony for them to review and tweak for themselves. It is important to me that the wedding ceremony fit the couple and is meaningful for them. The big day arrived and it was perfect for their wedding! The azaleas had popped into full bloom the day before.
Waiting for the guests and the bride to arrive......They brought their dog who was so cute. I did not even get his name!
I believe this is Samantha's niece. She was adorable. Love her metallic purple shoes and would love to have a pair just like them!
 Here comes our bride! 
Brent met her at the first arch and they walked down the aisle together to stop in front of me.
 View from my upper deck.
 Speaking to their mothers. 
The whole gang! See Samantha's friend Amy on the left with her violin which she played when Samantha processed in. Their photographer, Tula Kome, was on hand to take lots of photos too. 
Samantha and Brent, I so enjoyed your wedding. It was so much fun. I am so happy you contacted me and that you chose me to officiate for you. I wish you all the best!


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To contact me:
919-345-4608
Or leave a comment below!

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Friday, April 26, 2013

COURTHOUSE WEDDINGS!

Today I received a call at 11:30 from the friend of a couple who were going to the Wake County courthouse to get married. He saw this video on line and decided that was NOT the desirable way to get married! So he googled Raleigh wedding minister, found me and called me and at 2:30 this afternoon he and his wife surprised the lucky couple by bringing them to my wedding garden to be married instead of to the courthouse. He told me about the video and I just had to see this. After viewing this "wedding," I decided to share it with you just so you know what these weddings are like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdzI7kT9evk


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To contact me:
919-345-4608
Or leave a comment below!

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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Lindsay and Andrew Wed at All Saints Chapel!

Last July, I met Lindsay and Andrew about officiating their wedding on April 14, 2013 at All Saints Chapel in downtown Raleigh. They fell in love with it when they saw it and booked it. We got to know each other and talked about what they envisioned for their wedding ceremony. They were intrigued that I wanted them to look through my ceremony material and choose what touched their hearts. They also loved the idea of including their story. So, we signed the contract, they paid my fee and we got started. The rehearsal was the day before and we were all set for the wedding day. It was a beautiful day for a wedding!
Michael McLamb of Fleurtations did the pretty florals. Jenn Carlin with Rocky Top Hospitality was busy with her crew setting up to do a quick "turn" of the chapel into a reception hall after the ceremony. And, did you notice the purple up-lighting at the altar? It was really different and really jazzed up the chapel. Their color theme was purple, of course, and their DJ, Lenny Fritts, was very happy to provide not only the music but the up-lighting too. 
And speaking of Lenny, here he is in his matching lavender vest. So spiffy! Love working with Lenny. He always goes above and beyond what is asked of him. 
What an attractive guest book! 
So, when the guests had all arrived, we got started. Their friend Jevon, was the honorary wedding director, took his job very seriously and did a fabulous job! Thanks, Jevon.
Sadly Lindsay's father passed away in December, and so her mother, Terry, escorted Lindsay in.
Stepping up their relationship to a newer, higher level. Love that symbolism.
Despite Andrew's proclivity toward precision, having served in the military, he is very sentimental and became quite emotional as Lindsay walked down the aisle toward him. I had my hankie ready! He is such a fine young man. He told me that he really has no family of his own and therefore considers Lindsay's family his family.
The look of love~~~~~~
Their story is a sweet one. They met in Colorado where they were both living. They were both too young for a serious relationship but developed a strong friendship. When Lindsay and her mother decided to move back to North Carolina, Andrew made a bold decision and decided to move to North Carolina too. It was at this juncture that their relationship began to get serious and they have never looked back. Their devotion to each other is very touching.
"I place this ring on your finger and my heart in your hand. I have no greater gift." 
I think Lindsay and Andrew are both thinking~~wow, we are really married now!
"May I present to you for the first time, Andrew and Lindsay, husband and wife!" 
Their photographer, Erin Costa, got some good shots of them coming down the aisle!
The happy new family, now official! The maid of honor is Lindsay's sister, Jacy. Such pretty women Andrew has surrounded himself with! You rock, Andrew!

Andrew and Lindsay, you are one great couple. I am so happy you found each other and that you have such love and respect for each other. I know your marriage will be a happy and successful one. I wish you all the best forever!


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To contact me:
919-345-4608
Or leave a comment below!

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Sunday, April 21, 2013

A Very Unique Wedding for Chelsea and Ras!

Chelsea and Ras met at work. They are both car fanatics--she Corvettes, and he, Mustangs! This theme was woven through their wedding ceremony. Their employer has an internal social media network through which they discovered each other shortly after Ras started his job then later met in person at the car club at work. The rest is, as they say, is history! Ras was born and grew up in Denmark and Belgium and has the most delightful accent too. Chelsea and Ras were so much fun to work with. They are both very creative and their wedding day reflected so much of it which I will highlight here. First of all, their wedding was April 12, 2013 at Chateau Bellevie Bed & Breakfast in Fuquay-Varina, a stunning French Chateau sitting on three acres overlooking Lake Laurel that is so beautifully furnished with grounds perfect for a small wedding of 40 to 50 guests. I love doing weddings there. I first met them on January 10th when they came to see me about officiating. They were delighted to find that I encourage my couples to participate fully in creating their ceremony and that is what they wanted.
 As you drive down the driveway.....
The back of the chateau and the terrace where we often do weddings. The other location is the gazebo you can see the roof of beyond the terrace.
Before the guests arrived I asked Hannah if we could angle the chairs in toward the center. She was very sweet to accommodate me. Thanks, Hannah! She is one of the event directors at the chateau.
I met DeLane Hayes for the first time this day. He is our DJ and quickly got my receiver plugged into his system and we did a sound check. Thanks, DeLane! Hope to work with you again soon! I don't have a photo of our photographer for this post but it was Cara with F8 Photo Studios with whom I do many weddings every year. Thanks, Cara!
The room off the terrace was all set up for the reception. Chelsea and Ras chose red, white, and silver for their color scheme. Guess why? His Mustang is red, her Corvette silver!
This is so clever. They took a map of the world and colored it red, blew the image up and printed it then matted it. This is their equivalent to the guest book. The instructions are below.
They also brought personalized games for people to play if they did not want to dance. How clever!
Their unique and humorous wedding program!
Ras personally made this beautiful wooden box and put their initials on it for their Memory Box.
When we were ready to begin, Hannah cued Ras' parents who came from Denmark for the wedding to enter.
 Then Ras and I entered. 
 Best Man, Adam, escorted in Maid of Honor, Lauren.
Carl, groomsman, got two bridesmaids, Meghan and Amber!
 
Then it was time for Wes and Debbie, parents of the bride, to escort Chelsea in. (Chelsea made the bouquets! Beautiful job, Chelsea!)
 And so we begin....
Their story was so good...everyone was sitting on the edge of their seats listening to it.  
 Time for their vows. 
 Then the rings.......
They were both nervous about speaking very much during the ceremony for fear of not getting through it so we used the vows and ring exchange where I do all the speaking and they just say "I do."
Explaining the Memory Box ceremony where they place love letters to each other in the box during the ceremony. Then on their first anniversary they open them to reflect upon the reasons that they fell in love and vowed to marry one another on this day. Then I handed them their sealed letters to put in the box.
At our rehearsal I told them what I always say to the couple: Don't rush out. Wait for the music to start and take the view in. You will never see this sight again! They remembered!
Chelsea and Ras, what a great couple you are. Your stars were meant to align and your paths cross. I wish you health, happiness, love and peace, and may your life together be a great adventure!


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To contact me:
919-345-4608
Or leave a comment below!

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