Raleigh Wedding Blog: Mary and Justin's Wonderful Wedding at Brier Creek Country Club!

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Mary and Justin's Wonderful Wedding at Brier Creek Country Club!

I met Mary and Justin in October of 2014 when they came for a consultation with me about officiating their wedding which was scheduled for October 10th, 2015 at the Brier Creek Country Club. They knew they wanted a personalized ceremony but did not know quite where to start. I reassured them that I would guide them every step of the way and that together we would collaborate on their ceremony to make it not only meaningful to them but engaging for their guests. And so we did!

October 10th of 2015 was the busiest day of the year wedding-wise for me and wouldn't you know, it was a rainy day--of all days. Justin and Mary's wedding was number four for me that day. The ceremony had been moved inside from the Jasmine Courtyard to the Arnold Palmer room. Beth Jarvah shooting for Neil Boyd Photography, was busy getting photos before the ceremony and snapped this one of Mary and her flower girl, Ashley. (Many thanks to Neil Boyd for sharing his photos with me. The low light condition of the ceremony room was a challenge to my little digital camera wielded by my friend Susan. In this post I will identify the professional ones with captions to that effect.)

At the entrance to the ceremony room the guests signed in on this photographic guestbook!

Inside the ballroom was this beautiful cake by Blue Moon Bakery.

The ballroom was being set up by the staff of the club while the ceremony was going on.

The Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association is near and dear to Mary's heart and my heart was touched by her tribute to them.

Lenny Fritts, one of my favorite DJs, was all set up in the ballroom and in the ceremony room. He also gifted the couple with the lavender uplighting in the ceremony room. Note his purple vest and my purple dress to color coordinate with the couple's purple color scheme.

After the wedding party made their entrance and took their places, it was time for our ring bearer and flower girl to enter before the bride. Their honorary wedding director was their friend Jennifer and she sent Carter in first.

Then it was time for sweet little Ashley to make her way down the aisle!

Mary was escorted in by her parents, Michael and Carol. It was a very emotional moment!

(photo compliments of Neil Boyd Photography)

The guests are standing in their honor.

They had almost 200 guests and the room was packed full. Due to space constraints, the aisle could not be made wide enough for Carol to walk with Michael and Mary so she hung back then was by Mary's side for the presentation of the bride. (photo compliments of Neil Boyd Photography)

After the trip down the aisle everyone was seated and the ceremony began.

(photo compliments of Neil Boyd Photography)

I told their sweet love story and then revealed to each of them what the other had told me in confidence they loved about them, why they wanted to marry each other and what they were looking forward to in marriage. (photo compliments of Neil Boyd Photography)

They made their vows to each other. (photo compliments of Neil Boyd Photography)

Then it was time to exchange the rings. (photo compliments of Neil Boyd Photography)

A closing blessing...... (photo compliments of Neil Boyd Photography)

The pronouncement of marriage!

(photo compliments of Neil Boyd Photography)

And down the aisle they went into their new life together!

Ashley followed!

Mary and Justin......loved your wedding. I appreciate your flexibility and wonderful attitude when the weather did not cooperate with our plans for an outdoor wedding. Thank you for being so considerate of your wedding party and guests! I also appreciate your words in an email following the wedding: