Kate and Tyler's Wedding at The Cookery on June 30, 2018!

Tyler and Kate chose The Cookery in Durham for their wedding venue and it was perfect for their wedding. They met in California as grad students and Kate's job brought them east to North Carolina.

I thank Emily Thomas with Emily Katherine Events for sending Kate and Tyler my way. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them and learning their story.

Speaking with DJ Ryan who graciously provided his sound system for me to plug into. The sound for the ceremony was perfect! Thanks, Ryan! In the background is the rear half of the new and wonderful space The Cookery has acquired that is across the courtyard from the original space.

A groomsman and bridesmaid speak with our sweet flower girl, Yulia, while parents of the bride look on. 

Outside the new space is a new courtyard that is fabulous! I am looking forward to doing a wedding here. It very much reminds me of the presidential terrace at the Washington-Duke Inn.

At the ceremony site in the front of the new space, Springwell Gardens has placed this beautiful arch. 

A close up showing the lanterns that are filled with mini LED lights. 

Looking from the front of the space to the back. It is huge! The bar is on the left. After the ceremony the tables will be spaced out around the dance floor. The caterer for the wedding was Snap Pea Underground. 

Through the arched entryways are the bridal suite, bathrooms, and the groom's suite. Very well appointed and comfortable for the wedding party to hang out in.

Looking from the arched entryways to the front.

Friends of the couple provided our ceremony music. They were very good! 

Our photographer for the wedding was Stephen Thrift. I met him for the first time this day.

Katherine was our second shooter. 

Posing with Emily on the right and Rachel on the left who are running this "show" and did it very well! Such a pleasure to work with a well-organized wedding planning team! 

So the guests are now seated and I made my way from the arched opening beyond the tables and the dance floor and down the aisle.

Then Tyler escorted his parents in and joined me up front. 

Tyler's sister, Ashley, and bridesmaid Elizabeth entered together. 

Scott and Jess were next to enter. 

Yulia entered and sprinkled petals when she got to the aisle. 

Kate is escorted in by her mom, Janet, and her dad, James. 

When they reached the front, Tyler's mother, Saundra, and his father, Owen, stepped forward and joined them. Then when the music faded, I asked "Who gives their love and support for the marriage of Kate and Tyler?" All parents answered "We do" and everyone was seated.

The ceremony began with a welcome to all. Many, including Tyler's parents, came from California and some from other countries.

I stepped forth and addressed their parents, thanking them on behalf of the couple for all their love and support throughout their lives. They were very touched.

Their friend, Asna, shared with us the words of Hilary T. Smith who wrote "People Are Like Cities" which was a very interesting poem.

It was time for me to tell their love story. It was quite humorous and the guests laughed at places I had not expected them to. It was a lot of fun.

As you can see, Kate and Tyler were enjoying themselves a lot. They loved hearing their story from both their perspectives all put together that had never been told before.

And the laughter continued! 

On a very sweet note, they then heard what the other had told me they loved about them, why they wanted to marry and what they were looking forward to in marriage.

The vows followed as they made their promises of marriage to each other. 

Kate places the ring on Tyler's finger and said her ring vows to Tyler.

Tyler said his words and placed the ring on Kate's finger. 

A few words of wisdom for their future together.......

I pronounced them husband and wife and invited them to share their first kiss as a married couple.

Everyone cheered! 

(Hey, we are married!) 

I presented them to their guests and out they went! 

Kate's father stopped me after the ceremony to tell me how much he enjoyed the ceremony. I explained that Kate and Tyler and I worked together to create it. Then he said "but you have such stage presence in delivering it!" Well, I admit I really do enjoy storytelling and putting feeling into it. Tyler told me that it was the best wedding he's ever been to and how much he enjoyed it! Ha ha! So happy to hear this. 

Tyler and Kate! Congratulations! What a fabulous wedding! Thank you for giving me the honor of joining you in marriage! I wish you all the best!