I met Cassidy and Chandler in May to plan their December 20th, 2014 wedding at
The Stockroom in downtown Raleigh. They are a delightful couple and I knew their wedding would be very well put together and it was. As it turns out, Cassidy and her family are well provided in wedding experience including her mother Betsy who is a nurse but directs weddings for friends on the side.
Cassidy's father Tom built the fireplace and mantel for the altar area.
Cydney English, who owns
The English Garden and has known Cassidy for many years, embellished the mantel beautifully incorporating photos of their family loved ones. Even their photographer,
Roxy Penny, is a friend from childhood.
Love the touch of Scrabble! (Cydney's idea according to Cassidy.)
Fire, water and earth represented here.
The Stockroom is ready for the ceremony and afterwards will be turned into tables and chairs configuration and a dance floor for the reception.
The tables were pushed against the wall and these cleverly decorated napkins reflect Chandler's love of physics and Cassidy's sense of humor!
Cassidy's aunt, Kim Carter, used to be a restauranteur but gave it up to turn her own kitchen into "
Cake Compositions" in Erwin NC and has created stunning wedding cakes for family members' weddings. We got to watch her in action putting this one together. She also told us about a 7' one she made for one of her relative's weddings!
Gorgeous composition!
The wedding party was waiting downstairs at the Mahler's Art Gallery while the guests were arriving so I took this opportunity to get their witnesses to sign the marriage license. This is Victoria, our maid of honor.
Our pretty little flower girl, Marlee!
Cassidy is ready to do this. She and Chandler did a First Look earlier in the day so there was no "hiding the bride" necessary.
Chandler's father, Gregg, was also his best man. Notice his boutonniere with the G scrabble tile. All the men had their first name initial on their boutonniere!
Cassidy told me that this is her nickname "IDY" the last 3 letters of Cassidy!
Very unique guest book and very appropriate for this couple who are avid bookworms!
Waiting for our bride!
Cassidy wanted both parents, Tom and Betsy, to bring her in!
And here they come!
After the parents were seated, we began with a warm welcome......
....and remembrance of those passed on.
They chose a lovely parents' blessing to honor their parents who are wonderful role models of happy marriages!
Then their story......Cassidy and Chandler have known each other since freshman algebra class at Triton High School in 2001. They were in a group of friends who hung out together. They were close friends but they never dated. After high school they each went their separate ways until 2010 when their paths crossed again back in NC. It felt like they were meeting for the first time because both of them had grown so much since the last time they had seen each other. So they renewed their old friendship and got to know their new grown-up selves. About a year later they began dating and when they realized their feelings for each other were mutual they officially became a couple. Chandler proposed in December of 2013, almost exactly one year before their wedding. Cassidy and her family then began planning this lovely wedding!
"Chandler, you are one of the most genuine people Cassidy has ever known. She loves your kindness and your willingness to go out of your way to help others and that you don't complain when she volunteers you for these helpful tasks!........"
"
Cassidy, you have been Chandler's best friend for a long time and he can't wait to spend the rest of his life with you.........Aside from all these qualities, you are an absolutely gorgeous woman and the funniest person he knows. You always have the quickest wittiest comeback and an endless resource of jokes to draw from......"
Before they exchanged their vows, I invited their parents to step forth and form a circle with Cassidy and Chandler. Then their fathers each said a prayer for them then were seated.
Chandler reads from my book the vows he wrote for Cassidy which began:
"Cassidy, I promise to always laugh at your jokes even if only moderately funny......"
Cassidy read her vows to Chandler which began with:
"Chandler, I promise to always listen and be engaged when you talk to me about physics!....."
Then they exchanged wedding rings. Their rings are very special because they belonged to Chandler's grandparents whose marriage lasted more than 60 years.
A closing blessing.....
The pronouncement of marriage.....
Yep, the kiss...Chandler had the logistics all planned out !
Family and friends, it is my delight to present to you the newlyweds!
They wasted no time getting down the aisle!
While the guests were getting on the elevator to go down to the art gallery while the staff turned the room into the reception configuration, the wedding party hid in the stairwell. In the meantime, I spotted Cydney English walking around and rarely seeing her at a wedding because the florist has usually come and gone by the time I get there, I grabbed her for a quick photo. It was then that I learned that she had known Cassidy and her family for years.
Roxy was also waiting for the guests to clear out and the wedding party to return so we got a shot of her too. It was then that I found out she has known Cassidy for years too.
Ahhh, here they are! Congratulations, Chandler and Cassidy! You created a fabulous wedding and I know you are going to be very happy together as you carry on your families' legacy!
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