Hurricanes Fans, Trish and Jim, Come from Cape Cod to Get Married!

Trish emailed me last March inquiring of my services. She and Jim are huge Hurricanes fans and come to Raleigh several times each year from their home in Cape Cod to see them. She explained that Jim was a big fan of the Whalers in Rhode Island who became the Hurricanes. She has loved hockey since she was 8 years old and quickly adopted the Hurricanes as her team too. I was happy to make plans with Trish and Jim to have their wedding in my wedding garden. Little did we know that November 7, 2010 would be rather frigid and felt more like Massachusetts than North Carolina with temps in the 40s. But the garden was beautiful and we braved the chill and they are now married! They hired Amanda Byrnes to take some photos but the ones here were taken by Marty with my digital camera.

Jim and Trish met a few years ago when Jim was in rehab for having a heart attack. Trish worked in the rehab center and that is where they met. She jokingly says that Jim had to have a heart attack in order for them to meet. They both had been divorced since 1991 and were so happy to find one another.

 

 

 

 

The ceremony was sweet but brief and we were glad due to the cold weather. They exchanged their vows and rings. Then I pronounced them husband and wife and they were just like a couple of kids they were so thrilled.

They sealed their vows with a kiss and the deed was done! Time for some more photos then a celebration dinner for two at the Carolina Inn. 

Trish and Jim, I am so delighted that you found each other and that you wanted to get married in North Carolina and chose me to officiate your wedding. I know you are going to be such a happily married couple. The next time Dave and I visit our relatives who live on the Cape 5 minutes from you, we will definitely get together!

Carrie and Russ Marry at St. Mark's Chapel, Raleigh!

If I was planning my own wedding, I would have it at St. Mark's Chapel. It is located on the Mordecai House Campus in downtown Raleigh. It was built in the 1800s and moved to its present location. It is very simple, rustic, and cozy with maximum occupancy capacity of 55 . The chapel can be left plain without decorations or it can be decorated to the hilt! It is air conditioned too! Carrie and Russ thought this was the perfect setting for their wedding too. They wanted to be surrounded by family and close friends and to include Dino, Russ' 8 year old son, in the ceremony. Dino is just adorable and was so excited to be all dressed up and in his Dad's wedding. He really enjoyed the sand ceremony as he and the couple had fun layering their three colors of sand. Afterward, as a sweet surprise, he gave Carrie a rose!

Marty and I arrived for this late Sunday morning wedding on May 10th which was also Mother's Day. Carrie looked so pretty in her simple but elegant wedding gown. Her sister, Erica, was her maid of honor and Russ' friend, Michael, was his best man. Carrie's Aunt Martha was our director who expertly got everyone in place. The beautiful and uplifting music was very unusual and something I had never heard or seen! John McHugh plays the Uilleann Pipes and Tin Whistles. The pipes sound just like a bagpipe but not nearly so deafeningly loud. It is played by pumping the bellows with his elbow and depressing the numerous keys. He also played the tin whistle. He plays for weddings and special events and I would highly recommend him, especially for anyone wanting an Irish/Celtic wedding. His information is at this website. Amanda Byrnes was our photographer and it was good to be working with her again! She took the top two photos and send them to me for this post. Thanks, Amanda!

All the best to you, Carrie, Russ and Dino!