Raleigh Wedding Blog: Victoria and Beau's Fabulous Wedding at All Saints Chapel!

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Victoria and Beau's Fabulous Wedding at All Saints Chapel!

Victoria and Beau were a great couple to work with. Victoria is especially organized, creative and a woman with a vision. She definitely gave the ceremony her own signature by expanding on the circle of flowers ceremony as you will see. Their wedding was June 11, 2016 and the historic All Saints Chapel was decorated simply yet elegantly.

This is the view from the back of the chapel facing the altar. Beau's mother was the florist.

This is the view of the chapel from the altar looking at the doors and loft where the house sound board is set up and operated from. Their music was on an iPod and operated by a friend. Victoria had chosen very beautiful music for everyone to enter to: City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra -- "Somewhere Only We Know." The words of the song have special meaning for Victoria and Beau and so it was very fitting that this be part of their wedding.

This is the table with the different elements for the circle of love ceremony.

I headed up the processional followed by Beau and his mother, Victoria's mother and the wedding party.

Now we are all in place and it is time for the bride to enter.

Victoria was escorted in by her stepfather, Thomas.

At the first row, Victoria's mother, Laura joined us. Bridesmaid Emily (a former bride of mine!) took Victoria's bouquet. Then I asked "Who presents this woman to be married to this man?" Both parents answered "We do" and took their seats as the couple stepped together up onto the altar.

After the Welcome, Prayer, and In Memoriam, I stepped out to address their parents to thank them on Victoria and Beau's behalf for all their love and support all their lives.

Then I launched into the story of how them met and fell in love. I began "It all began back in the fall of 2010 when Beau was taking advantage of his educational benefit from the Army and Victoria was getting her masters in Public History at NC State. He was in his first semester and she was beginning her second year in grad school. Victoria’s life revolved around getting her degree and rarely went out at night. But destiny had it that they would end up in the same American History 1 class. He was one of 300 students in the class and she was one of four teaching assistants. Was it stupid luck or fate that Beau ended up in the group of students assigned to Victoria? I’d say it was pure destiny!" They have a great story and we had a lot of good laughs in the telling of it!

After the story and before the vows, we had the Circle of Love ceremony. "Before our bride and groom make their vows and promises to each other, their families will form a Circle of Love by placing flowers or spices around them. This Circle of Love will form the altar, the sacred space, where Beau and Victoria will be joined together in marriage." There were containers of sage, juniper, gladiolas, alstroemeria, rosemary and white rose petals. The wedding party and parents were invited in groups to sprinkle the flower petals and herbs and spices in layers around the couple as I explained the meaning for each one. It was quite lovely and unique.