Erica and Chris are a match made in heaven and it was my great pleasure to get to know them and work with them to tell their story and create a dream wedding ceremony with them. They both have the same fantastic sense of humor so it was inevitable that their ceremony was full or laughter and happy tears! Their wedding day was April 19th, 2019 at
Highgrove Estate--a lovely all-in-one wedding venue where I love to do weddings.
It was raining when Dave and I arrived but we had some hope that it would let up in time for the ceremony.
The Hurricanes' mascot was already there greeting guests!
This is what it looked like in the garden though. Erica was so heartbroken as she had dreamed of her wedding being there. Chris was not happy with the weather but he was overjoyed to be marrying Erica, no matter what the weather!
Angela, one of the owners of
Highgrove who was our director for this wedding, was lighting the candles in the garden ballroom and getting it ready for the ceremony. What is so nice about Highgrove is that they have a built in Plan B in case of inclement weather.
Back in the main house there was a table of photos of our couple and the timeline of their courtship.
In loving memory.......
A cornhole "guest book!"
Chris and Erica had these corn hole boards painted and imprinted with their names and wedding date and asked their guests to sign them.
It is time to begin. The guests have arrived and been seated. Chris and I are the first to enter.
The tables and chairs have been moved to create a nice aisle lined with lighted lanterns and a row of chairs up front for families of the couple. The other guests sat at their tables. The DJ was kind enough to plug my receiver into his system rather than me setting up my small sound system.
Brought in under an umbrella from the house, Chris and I took our walk down the aisle.
Our photographers were
Jocelyn and Ryan Photography. The videographer's tripod is set up and the camcorder running. The videographer was Kevin MacDonald with Riverstudio, a friend of Chris'. Chris is a musician and music professor so he has lots of friends in the music profession and they were happy to provide music for his wedding.
The parents were next to be escorted in, then the groomsmen and bridesmaids came in as couples.
Our Maid of Honor, Margaret, is escorted in by our Best Man, Clay.
Erica and her sweet daddy, Paul, were next.
I invited the guests to stand in their honor. Angela is straightening Erica's train. Fabulous bouquet by
Specialties Florals and Events who also did the incredible floral display above the mantel and the centerpieces of the tables.
"Who supports and blesses Erica as she comes to join in marriage to Chris?"
We began with a welcome to all! Then a blessing for our couple and remembrance of loved ones no longer with us.
I stepped out front to address their parents in a surprise tribute to them.
It always invokes tears from the mothers and sometimes the fathers!
Then I had the pleasure of telling the story of how our couple met. "Little did Erica and Chris know that their lives would change forever almost 4½ years ago on Friday, October 24th, 2014 when Chris pulled up to Lynnwood Grill for lunch in an old beat-up Ford Taurus wearing a plaid shirt, jeans and cowboy boots. Erica remembers thinking to herself—so this is a music professor? She was pleasantly surprised! Within five minutes they were laughing with each other and Chris noticed that their personalities truly fit together and they had a lot in common—same sense of humor, love of animals, Carolina Hurricanes, hiking, pubcrawls with friends, trying different breweries, exploring cuisine and going to events."
They soon became inseparable, met each other's parents, and moved in together.
"Chris told me that was the best thing he ever did because he got to come home every day to Erica instead of to his one-bedroom apartment and his cats! They fit together like two peas in a pod and have learned that they can run a household together. They are still working on coming to agreement on the TV shows they like to watch."
"Ready to take their relationship to the next level, Chris purchased an engagement ring and secretly arranged to meet Erica’s parents on one snowy weekend in March to ask for her hand in marriage and show them the ring. The very next weekend he organized a hike with friends to Hanging Rock State Park. On March 31st, 2018 when they got to the top of Hanging Rock, Chris got down on one knee and asked Erica to marry him. Well, we all know her answer! And planning this wedding began!"
Then it was time for what they had told me individually about what they loved about their partner, why they wanted to marry and what they are looking forward to in marriage.
As I tell Erica what Chris loves about her, he is enjoying watching her reaction. Needless to say there was some humor in all that too!
Then it was time for Chris to hear what Erica told me about him. Yep, more funny moments. One of the groomsmen had to wipe his eyes he was laughing so hard!
I wound it up with some words about love and marriage then began with the vows they had each written and kept secret.
Of course more humor was worked into the more serious promises:
"I vow to always make my chicken noodle soup when you are sick and take over all duties for the house. I vow to always make time for you, even if it is hallmark movies and wine." And from Erica to Chris: "I promise to comfort you when the Carolina Panthers lose and drink a beer with you when they win."
They exchanged rings. Chris is taking a good long look at how his ring looks on his finger!
The closing blessing--Chris knows what's coming next and looks like he is anticipating!
The moment they officially become wife and husband! And now for that kiss!
Oh yeah!!
Presentation of the Newlywed Couple to their guests!!
Hooray! We are married!
And away they go!
Erica and Chris! Great Wedding! So memorable and so fun. Thank you for choosing me to join you in matrimony! I wish you the best always!
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