Diana and Matt Tie the Knot at 1705 Prime on April 15, 2018!

Diana and Matt fell madly in love the first time they met! That was September 24th, 2015 at a Starbucks after being matched up on line. They began seeing each other and soon became a couple and on March 17th 2017 Matt proposed and planning this wedding began. 

They chose 1705 Prime for their venue and planned an outdoor ceremony. However, the weather did not cooperate. Diana had two criteria according to what her dad told me: 25% or less chance or rain and 75 degrees or more outdoors. With 40% chance of rain and temps in the 60s, both criteria were met and she wisely called it. Although it was not raining when I arrived, it was windy and overcast. Wise call!

They had these little wooden blocks of the Balance game for their guests to sign. So every time they play the game, they remember all the family and friends gathered for their wedding.

Patrick Jones furnished beautiful violin music for the ceremony. I am going over the processional here with him. 

Cara with f8 Studios was their photographer. Cara is also one of my brides. Hers and Brad's wedding was just the month before. Love working with her and she is a fantastic photographer.

Barbara, center, is our honorary director. She did a great job. The other person on the right is Amy, a friend of Diana's who presented a reading during the ceremony.

A visit to the bride before the ceremony to see if there were any questions or if I could help in any way. 

The guests had arrived and it was time to begin the ceremony. Matt's mother and father entered first and lit the candle that represented Matt. Next in were Diana's mother escorted by Diana's brother.

Then Matt and the groomsmen and I took our places while the bridesmaids processed in. 

Our three little flower girls were adorable. One went off course but Barbara redirected her down the aisle. They also did a great job sprinkling the red petals before they were retrieved by their parents.

Diana and her father are ready to enter as soon as the music changed and the guests stood up. 

Here comes the bride! 

And so we began--a warm welcome to everyone, a prayer and remembrance of those no longer living.

A sweet tribute to their parents was next then a reading of First Corinthians 13 by Amy, a reading from Genesis by Matt's father, then I shared words from Colossians.

Then it was time to tell the story of how Matt and Diana met.

They've had some great adventures together like rehabbing Diana's childhood home!

They've gone hiking and camping........

Then the proposal story! 

Diana hears for the first time what Matt told me he loves about her and is looking forward to.

Then Matt hears what Diana told me she loves about him and what she is looking forward to. 

Before the vows I took my hankie and blotted the tears running down Diana's cheeks and the moisture on her upper lip saying "the kiss is coming soon!"

Matt could not keep a straight face and broke down and laughed. We loved it! 

Exchanging their vows with each other........

Blessing of the rings.......

Matt repeated words after me as he placed the ring on Diana's finger.

And Diana places the ring on Matt's finger. 

At this point it was time for the lighting of the Unity Candle. 

After a closing prayer I pronounced Matt and Diana husband and wife! 

They sealed their vows with a kiss! 

Yes, really finally married! 

Diana and Matt, congratulations on your wedding and your marriage! You did a great job pulling this lovely wedding together for this wonderful moment in your lives. I wish you all the best ever!

Casee and Lenny Tie the Knot at 1705 Prime on March 4th 2017!

Even though the spring-like weather had been teasing us all week long, it was fortunate that Casee and Lenny chose to have their wedding indoors at 1705 Prime because the weather turned a bit chilly. I had not done a wedding indoors there before and it was lovely. The dining area had been cleared and made room for what looked like 150 chairs facing the pretty rock wall where we stood for the ceremony. 1705 Prime is the home of Rocky Top Catering, a very popular and delicious choice for weddings, onsite here or at any other venue in the Triangle and beyond. 

Everything was well organized and this sign was visible to their guests in front of the tables that had been moved aside to make room for the chairs.

Fallon's Flowers furnished the two tall clear glass vases flanking the altar topped with flower arrangements and the bouquets in pink including the very fragrant starfire lilies.

 Casee and Lenny are gamers, sci-fi fans and their clever place cards reflect their interests and their creativity. 

Kevin Majoros with KM DJ Company gladly plugged my mic into the body pack and we did a sound check. The sound for the ceremony was perfect! Thanks, Kevin.

Before the guests began to arrive, Patsy, on the right, our capable wedding director and friend of the bride had everything under control. Great job, Patsy!

Sneaking out to watch the guests arriving and signing the guest book are our flower girl Lily and our Maid of Honor Ashlee. Lily's mother Amy was the Matron of Honor.

 This little guy was all dressed up in a suit for the wedding! Mom is starting him off early on dressing properly! 

The daddies flank the entrance. We have Ritchie, father of the bride, on the left, Ben, stepfather of the bride in the middle, and Peter, father of the groom holding up the wall.

 More children arrive with their strollers. So nice to be able to bring your own comfortable rolling chair! 

As the last of the guests sign in and get seated, we are ready to line up to process in. Kevin the DJ peeks out the door to see what's happening.

Our professional photographer, Laura Kesler and her assistant (and husband), Chris, are ready. Yeah, they are not used to having their picture taken. The guests were asked during the ceremony to put away their cameras and cell phones and truly be present for the ceremony. Meanwhile my sweet husband and roadie, Dave, wielded my camera to get the photos you see here on this blog.

 After Lenny, Pete (best man), Amy and I entered, Ashlee followed. 

Patsy sent Lily down the aisle. Although some flower girls freeze and completely forget to throw the petals, Lily had no problem tossing the petals high into the air and they fell all around her. She made a very festive trek down the aisle!

 She was adorable and everyone had smiles for her. 

 Would everyone please stand for the bride? 

Ritchie escorted our beautiful bride Casee in and then placed her hand in Lenny's after answering a question for me. Then he remembered to carefully get to his chair without stepping on Casee's train!

After welcoming everyone, asking them to put away their devices, we opened with a sweet prayer and remembrance of those no longer with us.

Then I surprised their parents and Casee's stepparents with a touching tribute to them. I think Casee is looking at her parents here with her cute little "surprised you" smile!

Then I had the pleasure of sharing with their families and friends the story of how Casee and Lenny met. Always a lot of fun for them to hear the story told from both the bride and groom's perspectives. Casee and Lenny have the same wonderful sense of humor and so we had some good laughs.

Then they heard what each had told me in confidence about what they love about each other and are looking forward to in marriage. A few more chuckles here at the expense of Oscar, Casee's cat!

 Pete handed me the rings and as I explained the symbolism, the couple joined left hands.  

 Lenny reads his words to Casee from my book as he places the ring on her finger.  

 Then it was Casee's turn.

After a closing blessing I placed my hand on theirs to pronounce them husband and wife and noticed some leakage from Lenny's eyes.

A quick swipe to dry his face and make sure they were ready for the kiss that was coming up. The guests enjoyed this little interruption!

 Back to the pronouncement of marriage! 

 Lenny pulled Casee toward him for the kiss as I got out of the way! Good job, Lenny! 

 Presentation of the Newlyweds! 

 The wedding party recessed. 

Then the parents! I invited the guests to exit into the bar area for cocktail hour while the dining room was flipped into the reception configuration.

Congratulations, Casee and Lenny! What a fun wedding. It fit you both to a T! I am honored to have been part of your big day and I wish you tons of happiness and a long enduring marriage!