Sarah and Shawn Tie The Knot!

On November 11, 2017, Sarah and Shawn joined their lives in marriage and I was delighted to have officiated their wedding at 214 Martin in downtown Raleigh.

The ceremony space was all decked out with a pretty arch and florals provided by Kelly Kennedy of Teacup Floral. She always does such a great job. Bethany Joy Photography was our professional photographer and Complete Weddings was their videographer, DJ, and photo booth.

There were many cute signs for the guests. 

And more signage! 

Catching up with Jenny, our honorary director and friend of Shawn's mother. 

Billy Ezzel of Complete Weddings was the DJ. Billy and I have known each other for years and love working together at weddings. I plugged my microphone into his body-pack and we did a sound check. This venue shares the building with another venue (Market Hall) and the walls are very thin and the sound from one bleeds over into the other. Our ceremony was timed to start at 6:00 sharp to avoid interference from sound through the wall behind the ceremony altar which was due to begin at 6:30. Billy assured me he could drown out any sound that came from next door!

I pinned the boutonnieres on all the guys. Shawn first.

Checking that the runner is taped down securely. A loose runner is a tripping hazard.

It is 6:00 and time to begin. The guests are all seated and waiting! Jenny starts getting the grandparents, parents, and wedding party lined up. 

Meanwhile I am keeping Shawn sequestered so he won't glimpse his beautiful bride prematurely!

And so we are all lined up and Jenny has gone up the stairs to get the bridesmaids. 

The grandparents and parents are on their way and Shawn and I followed by the groomsmen are next. 

The bridesmaids take their places. 

Jaci, our Matron of Honor, processes in with her sweet baby girl who is handed off to Jaci and Sarah's mother!

Jenny cued Billy then it was time for Sarah and her father, Frank, to enter. 

The guests were standing in their honor!

Everyone was seated and given a warm welcome followed by an opening prayer. 

We remembered the loved ones who are no longer with us physically but who are here in spirit.

I spoke to the parents and told them how much their children loved and appreciated them. Evoked a few tears from the two mothers!

Then I got to tell the story of how Sarah and Shawn had met when they were both students at East Carolina University back in the summer of 2011. Shawn went on to become a professional athlete and that has taken them on many adventures together.

Shawn proposed in August of 2016 and they began planning this wedding!

Sarah gets to hear now what Shawn told me in confidence he loves about her and why he wants to marry her. 

Then it is Shawn's turn to hear what Sarah told me about him!

I don't have the photos of them exchanging their vows, the rings, lighting the unity candle, the pronouncement and the kiss but here I am presenting them to their guests as husband and wife! (I am hoping Bethany Joy will send me her photos to fill in these gaps.)

And out they go into their new married life!

The wedding party recessed followed by the parents and grandparents.

Their unity candle is shining brightly as are their individual candles which do not cease to burn just because they are married.

While the guests enjoyed cocktails and the room was being flipped, we caught some photos up front.

Sarah and Shawn! Great wedding despite the sound distraction at the end. You are now married and your course is set for a grand adventure in life together. I loved working with you and I wish you the best always!