A Wonderful Wedding Day for Emily and Evan!

Emily and Evan live in Tennessee and contacted me back in July of 2018 about officiating their wedding on October 5th, 2019 at Highgrove Estate. We spoke on the phone and made all the arrangements on line. We did not meet in person until the rehearsal on October 4th.

 The wedding day was beautiful with some threat of rain but it held off. 

Our videographers were Armin and Bernhard with Happy Tears Video. Bernhard is pictured above talking with our DJ.

Craig with Showtime Productions was their DJ and I plugged my microphone into his system for the ceremony. Sound was great!

 Before the ceremony I sit down in the dining room and review the ceremony script. 

After our photographer, Justin Robinson, had finished with photos of the groom and groomsmen, I got Alex, best man and brother of the groom, to sign the marriage license for me.

 Our handsome ushers were seating the guests as the time to begin drew near. 

Instead of doing the Anniversary Box during the ceremony, Evan and Emily had wine boxes made for their first, fifth and tenth anniversaries and had their friends sign them as their guest book.

 Looks like the guests are all seated and it is time to begin.

 I made my way down the steps and made the unplugged announcement before the processional began. 

 Evan escorted his mother, Kristin, in followed by his dad, Mike. 

 Then the mother of the bride, Cynthia, followed by the wedding party. And we await the bride! 

 Patrick, father of the bride, escorted his beautiful daughter, Emily, down the aisle to be married.

 I invited all the guests to stand in honor of the bride. 

 Grace, our maid of honor, fluffed the bride's train as the couple turned to face each other. 

 Welcome to everyone who has traveled from near and far for this wonderful occasion! 

 Then I stepped forward to address their parents in a surprise blessing for them. Such a sweet moment!

Then I got to tell the entertaining story of how Emily and Evan met. They met at NC State back in 2015 when they were both students there. The attraction was there from the beginning.

 They began dating right away but soon afterwards, Evan left for Tennessee for an internship. 

They decided to give long-distance dating a try and spent many hours traversing I-40 between Raleigh and Knoxville.

It was not long before they professed their love for each other, then Evan came back to Raleigh to finish up his degree and the relationship shifted from seeing each other occasionally to every day!

Evan proposed on a cruise on spring break of their senior year and Emily accepted but it also meant a move to Knoxville where Evan had accepted a job. Emily shifted her career goals and they moved to Tennessee and planned this wedding from there.

Emily is hearing for the first time what Evan told me in confidence he loves about her and what he is looking forward to in marriage.

Evan is now hearing what Emily told me about what she loves about him and what she is looking forward to in marriage.

They declared their intent to be married.

Then it was time to exchange rings as Evan places the ring on Emilys finger and reads the vows from my book. 

 Emily makes her vows to Evan and places the ring on his finger. 

 A closing blessing was next. 

 I placed my hand on theirs and made the pronouncement of marriage and invited them to kiss! 

 Grace handed Emily her bouquet and I introduced them to their guests as husband and wife!

 Sometimes the groom has to hold the bouquet for the bride to lift her dress to get up the steps! 

 One more kiss! 

 Bride's parents exit after the wedding party leaves then I invite the guests to enjoy cocktails on the terrace. 

Evan and Emily, it was a gorgeous wedding and I hope it fulfilled your dreams of your wedding day. You were a pleasure to work with and I wish you the very best always!

Lauren and Bryan's Wonderful Wedding at Highgrove!!

Lauren and Bryan live in Baltimore. She grew up in North Carolina and her parents live in the Triangle. The couple and I met via Skype in December of 2018 to plan their wedding ceremony that would take place on September 1st, 2019 at the beautiful Highgrove Estate in Fuquay Varina.

The pergola is ready with the new chandelier. The florals were provided by Flowers on Broad. It is a stunning venue with a view of Lake Laurel in the background.

On the table at the pergola is the Anniversary Box with a bottle of wine into which the couple will place loveletters to each other to be opened for the first time on their first anniversary.

For their guest book they had their guests sign a plaque that will be displayed in their home. 

As the guests arrive this sign announces the couple's wedding. 

When the guests were seated, I entered first and asked them to put away their cell phones and cameras and be with Lauren in their hearts during the ceremony without the distraction of technology. Aaron Prillaman was our classical guitarist for the processional and recessional. Jocelyn and Ryan Photography were their professional photographers. Weddings by LDF were their videographers. Britnie was our Highgrove director.

After the parents and the wedding party entered and took their places in the pergola, I invited the guests to stand for the entrance of the bride.

The father of the bride, Joe, answered my question and placed his daughter's hand into Bryan's then carefully backed up and made sure he did not step on the bride's train as he went to his seat on the front row.

After the presentation of the bride, I welcomed all the guests--family and friends most dearest to the couple and thanked them for being with us on this special day.

Then we had an opening prayer.

Next I stepped out and spoke directly to their parents. It is a surprise tribute to them and usually invokes a few tears!

Then I began telling the story of how Lauren and Bryan met 5 year ago in Las Vegas while doing an internship with Zappos. I looked over at Bryan and perspiration was dripping down his face. Yes, it was quite hot this Labor Day weekend! I always carry a hankie in my book to remedy that situation so I started mopping his face with my hankie.

 

I continued with the story of how they went back to their separate universities but kept their relationship going long distance until Lauren finally moved to Maryland to be with Bryan. 

I handed my hankie to Bryan so he could keep the sweat at bay!

I wrapped up the story  with the proposal in the Dominican Republic.

I told Lauren what Bryan had told me in confidence what he loves about her and what he looks forward to in marriage.

Bryan gets to hear what Lauren told me she loves about him and what she is looking forward to in marriage. 

Some words on love and marriage leading into their vows of marriage and the exchange of rings.

 Bryan places the ring on Lauren's finger as he makes his promises of marriage to her. 

Then Lauren makes her vows of marriage to Bryan and places the ring on his fingers. 

They place their love-letters into the box with the wine to be opened on their first anniversary. 

A closing blessing for the couple.

I pronounced them husband and wife and invited them to share their first kiss as husband and wife!

I quickly moved out of the way and they sealed their vows with a kiss! 

I presented them to their guests and then they began their journey out of the ceremony and into their new chapter of life--marriage!

Bryan and Lauren, your wedding was amazing! I loved working with you and creating your very special wedding ceremony and delivering it to your guests as well as joining you in marriage! I wish you the very best forever!