Chelsea and Todd's Fabulous Wedding at Shady Wagon Farm!

Chelsea and Todd tied the knot on May 23, 2015 at Shady Wagon Farm. It was a fantastic wedding and the details showed how much hard work and thought were invested in this beautiful wedding. Chelsea and Todd hired me back in August and they diligently worked with me to create an amazing wedding ceremony that touched everyone. I thank Jessica from Happily Ever After for sending them my way!

Wow, I got "top billing!"

The wedding day was so beautiful. Not a hint of rain and although it was sunny, it was not too hot. The ceremony site on the lake was ready. Love the stumps and shepherds hooks with the mason jars and baby's breath and greenery. The person who did their flowers was Sherry Elmore. I don't know if she is an individual or with a florist but she did a fabulous job with the decor as well as bouquets and boutonnieres.

 The gazebo was beautifully decked out and the sand ceremony components were ready. 

A view from the gazebo shows the main house on the right, small guest cottage in the middle, and an old fashioned country store on the left among the pines. It is a great place for weddings!

 A view of the ceremony site from the dam that leads over to the barn where the reception will be. 

And here is the pavilion right off the barn where the guests gather after the ceremony for cocktails before the reception. Our music guy was Adam Pitts, The One Man Band. He had to be in two places at once--the ceremony and the reception--so he is all set up here.

 DIY Photo Booth! 

 Candy Bar! 

 Wedding favors! 

 A clever replication of the barn for receiving gift envelopes!

 Drinks, anyone?

A peek inside the barn shows the reception area and the "wood grained" wedding cake by Cinda's Creative Cakes! 

Adam and I connected my mic into his system then went over the cues for the processional and recessional. We have worked together before. 

Looks like we are ready to begin.   

 Our guest book person invites the guests to sign in. 

 The guests leave the shaded area to take their seats for the ceremony. 

 Jessica with Happily Ever After and I start the line up just as more guests arrive by golf cart from the parking lot. 

I am processing in first because Todd is escorting his parents, Marilyn and David, in. Then he will join me up front. Then Scott, brother of the bride, escorts their mother, Betsy, in.

 The attendants are coming in as couples and they are ready to walk! 

 Todd and I holding sacred space for the wedding ceremony. 

 Here come the pretty bridesmaids and handsome groomsmen!

Adam is a one man band because he prerecords sound tracks then layers them together. For the ceremony though, he plays the guitar.

After the bridesmaids and groomsmen are in place, our 18 year old flower girl scatters petals down the aisle. 

 Watching for the bride! 

 I asked the guests not to stand so that Todd could see Chelsea come in then invited to stand when she got to the arch. 

 Jessica is hurrying after the bride because she started walking in without her bouquet! 

 As you can see, she caught her and handed her the bouquet just in time! 

I asked Chelsea's dad, Tom: "Who has the privilege of presenting this young woman, Chelsea, to be married to this young man, Todd?" On cue he answered, "Her mother and I." Our photographer, Chad Sattler, got some great shots from the gazebo bridge then moved to the back for the ceremony until the sand pouring. If you go to his link, you can see all his photos of this wedding!

 Welcoming all the guests, an opening prayer, then honoring of their parents.

                                The attendants turned to face the couple as we begin the ceremony. 

Like many couples, Chelsea and Todd met in college. It was eight years and two months ago that Todd nervously asked Chelsea to be his girlfriend. They dated while in college and when they graduated and both got jobs in Raleigh, they moved into their first apartment together then bought their first home in 2013. On Christmas Eve of 2013, Todd proposed and they began planning this wedding for the next year and a half. 

The ceremony was sprinkled with laughter and when it came to the vows, they had included some humorous questions for each other followed by more serious ones. Then they read their sweet ring vows to each other from my book.

 Chelsea's turn.....

 They pour their sand together to symbolize their union.

 After a closing blessing, I made the pronouncement of marriage, a milestone moment in their lives! 

 Perfect kiss! I believe they had been practicing, though! 

 That "after-kiss" sweet moment! 

 We did it!!

 And so they stepped into their new lives as husband and wife! 

Chelsea and Todd, I adored working with you! You are a great match with each other and I know your lives will be filled with happiness!