Lauren and David's Sweet Wedding at All Saints Chapel!

Lauren and David were married on November 15th, 2019 at the historic All Saints Chapel. A big thank you to their friend Colleen Winstead of Lily & Vine Photography for sharing these photos with me. 

I walked down the aisle first and made the unplugged announcement for all guests to put away their cameras and phones and truly be with David and Lauren during the ceremony without the distraction of technology.

That was David's cue to enter the altar area from the groom's room to the left. 

Emma and Brian entered next.

Alison and Garth

Molly and Cameron

Kristin, Maid of Honor, and Raul, Best Man

Nathaniel and Payson brought in the rings.

Olivia did a great job sprinkling the petals for the bride. 

I invited the guests to stand for the entrance of Lauren and her father, Scott. 

David stepped down to shake Scott's hand then I asked Scott, "Who gives their love and blessings to Lauren as she comes to join in marriage to David?" He answered "I do" and placed Lauren's hand into David's hand.

Lauren and David stepped up onto the altar and Kristen fluffed the bride's dress and veil. 

We began with a welcome to all then an opening prayer followed by remembrance of those loved ones who could not be with us for this wedding.

Then I addressed their parents and gave them a tribute from the bride and groom. Always tearful, especially for the mothers!

Then I began telling our guests that Lauren and David have known each other since they were little kids--growing up in the same town, their families going to the same church, and their siblings being good friends. Because of age and grade differences David and Lauren were never really friends. Little did they know that 17 years later they would be marrying each other.

They grew up--Lauren moved to Florida for high school, David moved to Raleigh to go to NC State. Then Lauren's older brother moved to Raleigh too. He and David had always been good friends so when Lauren later moved to Raleigh, she was included in her brother's circle of friends which of course included David.

On a group visit to the NC State Fair, Lauren noticed David was popping up everywhere and they were getting to know each other.

Later on they got together just the two of them at Lily's Pizza and continued to the Beer Garden and talked for hours and hours and shared their first kiss. It was then that they knew there was something special between them and their love for each other began to blossom.

Then there was the proposal--a complete surprise to Lauren who answered a joyful YES to David's question although she can't remember his exact words.

David had asked their photographer friend Colleen Winstead to hide nearby and get pictures of the proposal.

It was all a blur but when David handed her the ring, she said "I think you are supposed to put it on my finger!"

And so the wedding planning began in earnest. They found me and we began to write this ceremony!

They next heard for the first time what each 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 read their vows to each other from my book then it was time to exchange rings. Raul handed me the rings. 

David placed the ring on Lauren's finger as he said "With this ring, I thee wed."

Colleen is a leftie so she switched hands and placed the ring on David's finger saying the same. 

After a closing blessing, I pronounced them husband and wife and invited them to kiss!

Lauren and David!! Congratulations again. It was a fabulous wedding and I know you are enjoying wedded bliss. Thank you for choosing me to join you in marriage. I wish you all the best!

Allison and Brian Wed at All Saints Chapel!

Allison and Brian are a terrific couple and I enjoyed getting to know them and collaborating with them to make their ceremony fulfill all their dreams and expectations. We met and began planning back in August of 2018 and finally their wedding day of June 29th, 2019 arrived. It was a hot, beautiful day in North Carolina! 

All Saints Chapel was ready and the couple and their families were out taking First Look photos with their photographer Delia Rati of Imagination2Infinity.

The altar chest was filled with greenery and floating candles. The simplicity is elegant and all that is needed at this sweet chapel of stained glass windows and beautiful woodwork.

The pedestal table near the altar chest was the place for their Memory Box filled with memorabilia they had collected since their first date on July 4th 2017. They had it engraved with their names and the wedding date. They wrote love-letters to each other the night before the rehearsal and sealed them without sharing to be opened and enjoyed on their first wedding anniversary.

These are our "chapel attendants!" They helped me hook my mic into their body pack and Kevin McVerry with Performance DJ stationed in the loft manning the house sound system did a sound check with me. (After the ceremony the guests are invited downstairs for refreshments while the chapel area is flipped for the reception with a great dance floor and music by the DJ. Cateringworks provided the food and the wedding cake.)

Downstairs in the bridal suite the three flower girls were having fun waiting for the wedding to begin. Dave caught a staged photo of them doing the "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" poses someone had put them up to!

When it was time to begin and everyone was all lined up in the back of the chapel, I walked in, welcomed everyone and made the "unplugged announcement." Then Brian and his brother Scott (best man) entered from the door at the left of the altar and took their places. Allison's sister, Karen, then came down the aisle and took her place.

 The three sweet little flower girls are ready to begin their trek down the aisle now! 

 Caroline (with the chapel) shooed them in the right direction and they began dropping the petals. 

 What a great job they did! The aisle is well sprinkled with the petals for the entrance of the bride! 

The chapel doors opened and I invited the guests to stand for our beautiful bride escorted in by her stepfather, Dan.

 Brian eagerly awaits Allison as they make their way to the altar steps. 

After the traditional presentation of the bride, the wedding party and I stepped up onto the altar for the ceremony. 

We began with words thanking the guests for being with us followed by a prayer and remembrance of loved ones no longer with us.

A sweet surprise tribute to their parents came next as I stepped forward to speak to them on behalf of our couple.

 Then it was my great pleasure to tell our guests the story of how Brian and Allison met and got to this day. 

 There was quite a bit of humor sprinkled into the story and the guests loved laughing together. 

 They read their vows to each other where they were printed facing them in my ceremony book. 

 Then it was time to exchange the rings. Brian goes first and repeated his words after me line by line. 

 Then it is Allison's turn to place the ring on Brian's finger and say the same words to him. 

I handed them their love-letters to place in the box as I told the guests about the Memory Box. They returned to their places in front of me and we closed with a blessing.

 I placed my hand on theirs and pronounced them married! Time for the kiss! 

 They were happy to comply!! First married kiss! 

Karen handed Allison her bouquet and I introduced them to their guests for the first time as husband and wife and they made their way down the aisle amid cheers and applause!

Allison and Brian! What a great wedding! I am so happy to have joined you in marriage and loved working with you on the ceremony. And, thank you for your speedy and kind review of my services (below) on The Knot, Weddingwire, and Google Business as well as a generous gratuity! I wish you much happiness and the best always!

"Kayelily made our wedding ceremony as special as it could have possibly been. As soon as we hired Kayelily, she sent us lots of resources and questionnaires for crafting a ceremony, and we were able to work together to create exactly what we wanted. She told our story beautifully, had us laughing and crying, and she gave us and our guests a memorable experience. You can't go wrong by hiring Kayelily."