Liz and Cody's Beautiful Wedding at the WRAL Azalea Garden!

So, last November, Liz contacted me to see if I could officiate her wedding. A friend of one of her bridesmaids had been at a wedding I officiated and recommended she contact me. I was delighted that I was available for hers and Cody's wedding day April 20th 2019 at the WRAL Azalea Gardens. They live in DC so we did not meet in person until the day of the rehearsal but we skyped and emailed.

Their videographer, Dean Garris with Deano Pictures, was setting up when Dave and I arrived.  I went about setting up my sound system and did a sound check. All sounded good. Dean put one of his microphones on me to get the sound for the video. It was a good thing too because my sound system failed--don't understand why, maybe frequency interference with the towers at WRAL, but Dean got my voice for the video. Here is the LINK to the video trailer.

The guests were arriving and filling in the seats. Meanwhile the wedding party was hidden behind the gray stone facade in the rear. The reception for this wedding was at The Cannon Room in downtown Raleigh. Christie Williams who is the event manager for The Cannon Room was our wedding director for the ceremony. In fact, because it was terrible weather the day before, we had our rehearsal there instead of getting drenched in the garden! Thanks, Christie!

The Petals String Duo was playing prelude music. Our photographer was Eric with Arbor Union and the florist was Juniper & Rye Floral.

 The groomsmen and I were the first to enter down the aisle. 

 Cody followed as he escorted his mother Debbie down the aisle then joined me and the guys. 

Mother (Jill) and Grandmother (Lib) of the Bride came in together. 

 Then it was the bridesmaids' turn. Above is Emily, Liz's twin sister, Maid of Honor!

 Time for Emily and her dad, John, to make their trek across the grass and down the aisle. 

As the guests stood in their honor, they stopped in front of Cody and me and I asked John: "Who gives their love and blessing to Liz as she comes to join in marriage to Cody?" He answered: "Her mother and I do." The guests were seated and the ceremony began. It was then that I found out my voice was not being amplified. I walked over to the sound system and it was on and my bodypack was on and there was nothing I could do short of taking a time out and unplugging and reconnecting everything which I think would be inappropriate. So, I just projected my voice.

I welcomed everyone and told them how happy Liz and Cody were to have them present with them on this auspicious occasion.

Then I stepped out much further than usual so that I could direct my voice to the guests. First was a tribute to their parents which was a sweet surprise. The couple and I created the script so they knew what I was saying.

Then I had the fun task of telling their story like no one had ever heard it. They each had separately answered a bunch of questions for me which I blended together telling their story from both perspectives. I could tell the guests could hear me because they were laughing at the right places!

Liz and Cody met for the first time in 2013 when both of them were interviewing for the same internship. Cody noticed Liz sitting in the lobby area all cool and collected reading a book while all the other interviewees were stewing about nervously. She was so beautiful and intriguing, he just couldn't resist the urge to introduce himself, and so he did. They had a lively conversation that neither of them would ever forget. But getting together then was not in the stars. They went their separate ways back to their universities in different states. They became Facebook friends but Liz ended up going abroad the following summer and Cody got that job they interviewed for. Fast forward to over a year later in Spring of 2014 when Liz reached out to Cody on Facebook. They were both free of any other love interests by then and the spark was fanned into a flame! The first date was set for June in DC and the rest is history. Cody proposed in June of 2018 with an elaborately orchestrated plan that didn't work out quite as he had hoped but she said yes and the wedding planning began. Liz's parents live in Cary so they chose to have their wedding here.

 You can see how much the twins look alike. And they are very close too. 

I continued to stand closer to the guests as I read to Liz and Cody what the other had told me in confidence--what they love about each other, why they want to marry, and what they are looking forward to in marriage. They had not heard these secret paragraphs until that moment.

 Cody read his vows to Liz. They both had included touches of humor in their promises to each other.

A few little tears had escaped from Liz's eyes and down her cheeks and so I blotted them for her. I always carry a hankie for that purpose! 

 Then they exchanged rings.

 A closing blessing came next. 

 Then I pronounced them husband and wife and invited them to seal their vows with a kiss! 

 And so they did! 

 They are so so happy to finally be married! 

 They are cheered on by their guests as they step into their new marriage! 

Mother and father of the bride exited after the bridesmaids and one groomsman hung back to escort Cody's mom out.

Liz and Cody!! Wonderful wedding! I loved working with you and creating your ceremony so that it was a wonderful expression of the two of you. I wish you the best always!