Akira and Michael's wedding was the first wedding I have done at
The Farm in Selma. It is a wonderful place and well equipped for weddings both large and small. They also have large music concerts there. It is about a one-hour drive from N. Raleigh. The wedding day was April 30, 2016.
This is the view from the street.
This is out behind the barn with acres and acres of green in the background. The pretty portico for the ceremony is way in the distance.
A beautiful meadow with a line of trees in the middle which will grow tall and be a boundary.
While Dave and I were setting up my sound system, our sign-bearer, Chance, was enjoying just running and playing on the grass.
This is at the top of the "stage" in the back. I think it could also be used as a loading dock for equipment the many musical groups who perform here bring with them.
On a rustic table under the portico is the wooden box that holds a bottle of wine into which our couple will place their loveletters to each other during the ceremony.
Inside the big barn is very spacious. A huge dance floor and room for many tables.
The stage area is where the couple and wedding party will be during the reception. Looks like they might have some good photos for the screen behind them.
I do believe our couple are wine connoisseurs! The guests' names are on wine corks!
And the guests begin to arrive.
Now you can see the portico and the long walkway from the stage. You can also see that the sky is grey and threatening and the wind was strong. And yet, no rain fell.
Michael and I lead the groomsmen in while the wind is whipping the fabric on the archway to the right.
After the bridesmaids entered, Lexi and Lily made their trek down the aisle sprinkling the flower petals.
And then our ring bearer, Kaiden, and sign-bearer, Chance, made their entrance.
At last our gorgeous bride and her happy poppa, Brandon, enter.
And the ceremony begins.
We began with a prayer.
And I began to hear a train whistle in the distance. As it got closer and closer I had to pause in between whistles. I told the guests it was the "love train!"
After thanking their parents, I launched into
the amazing story of how these two met. It was truly destiny! And a lot of fun too.
Akira is from California. Michael from North Carolina. He was in school in San Francisco when they were matched up on line. After Akira had passed all the tests that Michael required for a girlfriend, they soon became inseparable.
Their journey together has criss-crossed the United States several times from San Francisco to North Carolina to Oregon. One of the trips resulted in a grand proposal on April 11, 2015 in the exact same spot they met for the first time at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. And now they are back in North Carolina.
They each told me what they loved about each other and at this moment in the ceremony I shared what the other told me.
Now they read their vows from my book to each other.
Michael is a footwear designer and it is only fitting that all his groomsmen wore the same shoes. I bet he designed them too!
Exchanging rings.......
The wind was whipping us around as the couple placed their loveletters in the box.
The legal moment when they became wife and husband!
Their first kiss as a married couple!
Akira is a make-up artist so she had to fix Michael's face after she kissed him!!
Honored guests, the newlyweds!
Happiness written all over their faces!
Here comes the wedding party!
Akira's parents.
Michael's parents.
Celebrate!
Akira and Michael--a fabulous wedding! So happy you found each other and thank you for giving me the honor of joining you in marriage!
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