The
Bridge Club at 105 W. Hargett Street in downtown Raleigh is a new wedding venue. This was my first wedding there and it was wonderful. The staff is so helpful and accommodating. They also have their own house sound system which is so convenient for me to plug my mic into.
The Bridge Club is on the second and third floors of what used to be a bank building with very high ceilings. It is right upstairs from the Death and Taxes restaurant. Bridge Club does their own catering.
The second floor is where the ceremony and cocktail hour were held. The reception was on the third floor. Here is where the ceremony will take place. The windows look out onto Salisbury Street. These pretty florals were by
Kelly Odom Flowers.
Getting my mic on and doing a sound check.
Phil on cello and Sherry on violin of
Florian Music provided the ceremony and cocktail hour music. Always wonderful to work with!
This is the spacious third floor where the tables are ready for the reception. The chairs for the ceremony will be moved up here. This is also where the bride and her maidens hang out before the ceremony.
Jemalia checks her messages while her mother and the three bridesmaids relax.
My husband Dave was taking photos for me. I don't know what was happening here but looks like it was funny!
Hannah, our flower girl, and Matthew, our ring bearer, are hanging out here, Hanna with her mother and Matthew with his sister, waiting for the ceremony to start.
After all the guests had arrived our director, Heather, cued the musicians and the mother of the groom, Femmie, and her partner, Simon, to enter and be seated.
Jemalia's mother, Lillie, and her father, Tony, enter next and Tony returned to bring in the bride.
Then it was my turn to walk as Heather motions for the guys to follow me.
Udo and his family are from The Netherlands where they grow very tall people! This is his brother, Erwin. I felt like I was in the valley of the giants!
We are awaiting the flower girl and ring bearer and after a slow start they began processing in. All those people watching them is a bit intimidating to young children.
Heather did a great job of convincing them to walk down the aisle. Matthew took the ring pillow to Erwin and was rewarded with a pack of M&Ms!
Here comes the bride and her father! Heather fluffs the train. Jemalia is no shorty either!
Joe Payne, our esteemed photographer, followed them down the aisle getting some good shots.
Ahh! Here we all are. At 5'5" I was the shortest person in the wedding party. Udo and his brother and Jemalia's brother are all at least 7 ft tall!
After the welcome, we honored their parents. This was a sweet surprise to them. We also recognized Udo's teenage daughter, Fabienne.
Then I got to tell the story of how Jemalia and Udo met and fell in love. Their journey together began exactly 4 years ago to the day. Udo proposed exactly one year ago to the day. And now the wedding--he wanted only one date to remember--February 18th!
Then they heard what each of them told me they love about each other. Some humor here too!
They made their vows to each other then exchanged rings.
I reached up to make the pronouncement!
Ah...the sweet kiss!
I introduced them to their guests and as they headed down the aisle I stepped into the center again for the recessional of the wedding party and parents then invited the guests to move to the back of the room for cocktails while the chairs were being moved upstairs for the reception. Meanwhile Joe took the wedding party outside and down around the corner to the Capital for photos. I packed up my mic and Dave and I headed out to find them for one more picture!
Congratulations, Jemalia and Udo! What a wonderful wedding you planned. You are a beautiful couple and I am so honored that you chose me to join you in marriage. I wish you the best life can bring!
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