Amanda and Ross tied the knot on October 14th 2017 at the elegant
City Club of Raleigh. I thank
Kevin Seifert for tagging along with me and capturing these wonderful images for this blog. I also thank
James Walters, the couple's wedding photographer, for referring them to me to officiate and allowing Kevin to shoot photos with him. Both James and Kevin are wonderful professional photographers.
The City Club of Raleigh is located on top of the Wells Fargo building overlooking downtown Raleigh. Kevin and I were fortunate to find a parking place right across the street this Saturday afternoon.
Years ago, this space was known as the Cardinal Club. Then the two private clubs merged with Capital City Club to form City Club of Raleigh. This is the ballroom which is set up for the ceremony with commanding views of downtown Raleigh. After the ceremony it will be flipped while the guests enjoy cocktail hour on the mezzanine. This magnificent chandelier used to hang in the spiral stairway.
Amanda and Ross chose the Anniversary Box Unity Ceremony for their wedding. They wrote loveletters to each other and sealed them without sharing. Then during the ceremony they placed them in this box which also held a bottle of wine. On their first anniversary they will open the box, pour each other a glass of wine and read their letters from each other, have a conversation about their wedding day and the year that has passed. Then write another loveletter to each other without sharing, place those letters and the first letters back in the box with a new bottle of wine. Repeat this on each anniversary creating a legacy of love for their children and future generations.
The guests are ready for this ceremony to begin!
The mothers were ushered in then Ross and I entered followed by his best man and groomsmen.
After the bridesmaids had entered and taken their places, it was time for Amanda and her father to enter. Tyshia, the venue coordinator, spreads out the cathedral length train as Amanda walks forward.
They stopped in front of Ross and me and I asked "Who supports and blesses Amanda as she comes to join in marriage to Ross?" Her father replied "Her mother and I do." Then he placed Amanda's hand into Ross' hand, she gave dad a little kiss then he carefully avoided stepping on her train as he took his seat for the ceremony.
Welcome to everyone! The couple wanted every guest to know how important their presence was to them and thank them for making the journey to be with them to celebrate their marriage.
Then we remembered those loved ones no longer with us and shared a moment of silence in their honor.
I stepped out front and spoke to the couple's parents in a surprise tribute to them and thanked them for the shield of love they surrounded Amanda and Ross with and for modeling happy marriages that have stood the test of time.
So then it was time to tell Ross and Amanda's story. It all began the fall of 2010 when they were both freshmen at NC State and in the same math class. They became study buddies and developed a strong friendship.
In between their junior and senior years they both realized they had romantic feelings for each other and began dating.
After graduation while pursuing their careers they split up but quickly realized they just were not happy without each other in their lives and reunited with an even stronger bond which led Ross to propose to Amanda on October 16th, 2016 in a giant redwood forest in California wearing rain gear fashioned from a black plastic trash bag! The imagery was hilarious and all the guests had a good laugh!
Then they got to hear for the first time what their partner had told me in confidence about why they love each other and what they are looking forward to in marriage.
They exchanged their promises of marriage.
Stuart, best man, handed me the rings.
Ross takes Amanda's ring and places it on her finger as he said words after me.
Then Amanda placed Ross' ring on his finger as she said her ring vows to him.
I handed them their loveletters and they placed them in the anniversary box as I explained to the guests the significance of the box.
A closing blessing followed, then the pronouncement of marriage and an invitation to kiss!
I invited the guests to stand and join me in congratulating the newlywed couple!
The walk back down the aisle, now married!
They followed James out into the mezzanine area for some photos.
Another kiss!
James getting some congratulations shots of the wedding party.
The ceremony was so much fun!
Amanda and Ross--what a gorgeous wedding! I am so happy for you. Thank you for choosing me as your officiant. You were great to work with. I wish you all the best!
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