Krissy and Michael's Fabulous Wedding at the Carolina Inn!

Krissy and Michael's beautiful wedding was October 29th, 2016 at The Carolina Inn. I was first contacted about officiating this wedding by Michael's mother who was helping them out with researching vendors. His parents live in Tennessee. I was happy I was available and so when the couple, who live in Charlotte, were in town, we met and hit it off. 

After setting up my sound system and doing a sound check, I was off to find the bride and get the marriage license signed by the maid of honor. This incredible cake that looks like a box of Krispy Kreme Donuts was there. Titled "Michael's Chocolate Dream Cake" I am not sure what it was doing in the bride's suite but it sure was amazing. I am assuming that Cinda's Creative Cakes made it since they did the traditional wedding cake below. 

This beautiful cake was down in the Old Well Room where the reception took place. 

Back in the Bridal Suite Krissy is ready! Our sweet flower girl, Rebecca, niece of the bride, is ready too. 

Back to the area outside the Old Well Room, we watched the guys set up this ice sculpture. 

On the bureau outside in the hallway were family wedding photos of the bride and groom's parents and grandparents.

Sitting there next to the bureau were Krissy's grandparents John and Vivian. How wonderful to have them at the wedding. They were thrilled to be there too.

Florian Music plays heavenly music for the guests who are being seated. 

The pretty floral swirls in the aisle by Tre Bella Flowers. 

I love the curved seating arrangements. The first row awaits the family to be escorted in. 

The altar area on the steps are decorated with candles and white and gray pumpkins--a variation on the fall theme. 

Another view of the guests as we are lining up to be directed in by our wedding director, Tia Jones with Erin McLean Events.

After the seating of the grandparents and parents, Michael and I enter followed followed by his brother Will who is his best man.

The bridesmaids follow and are seated on the front row. Only the Maid of Honor, Ashley, sister of the bride will stand during the ceremony.

Here comes our beautiful bride entering from the portico escorted by her father, Ed. 

The guests stand in their honor.

The transfer of hands is made and the guests invited to be seated. 

Krissy and Michael took me to heart when I told them to choose the words they wanted spoken at their ceremony. They sent me a first draft after looking over all the material I sent them links to.

I love it when the bride and groom actively participate in the ceremony creation process. We began with a welcome, opening prayer, in memoriam, and blessing of the parents.

The telling of their story was next prefaced by words from First Corinthians. Exactly what happened the night they met in 2011 involved two different versions and the guests were invited to decide for themselves. It was quite humorous! Of course they met while students at UNC hence the wedding at The Carolina Inn. After the story they heard their secret paragraphs. Then the statements of intent,  vows and rings followed.

Krissy places the ring on Michael's finger.

I am not sure what is funny here but we are having a good time! 

A closing blessing!

                                               The moment they become husband and wife!

Sealing their vows with their first kiss as husband and wife!

Presentation of the Newlyweds! 

Ahh! Married at last! 

After Dave and i packed up my sound system, we hopped in my car and drove down the street to the Old Well on the UNC Campus right down the street from the Carolina Inn to get a photo of the 3 of us. Their professional photographer was J. Darren Photography from Greensboro. When I got there, there had been an unfortunate accident. The train of Krissy's gorgeous wedding dress had gotten caught in the axel of the golf cart and had ripped the skirt in the back. They had gotten it loose from the wheel but the back of the dress was not only in tatters but had black grease on it. Oh dear. Since I was parked on the street right there and kept a good pair of scissors in my car, I got them and literally trimmed off the tattered part of the train. But before they dashed back to the Inn, we posed for these photos and you would never know there had been a problem. Krissy was handling this so well whereas another bride would have been in meltdown! Fortunately when they got back to the Inn, her mother and sister used white safety pins and needle and thread and pulled the cut ends together and no one was the wiser until told what happened. So, any brides reading this, be very careful of your dress if you ride in a golf cart!

Krissy and Michael, a wonderful beautiful wedding! Unforgettable for so many reasons! I loved working with you to make your ceremony exactly what you wanted. Thank you for choosing me to join you in marriage. I wish you happiness, health and love forever!

Stefanie and Will Wed on July 3rd, 2016 at The Carolina Inn!

A few days after their wedding, Stefanie posted this review on Weddingwire.com and it tells the story of how their wedding came about and appreciated words of praise for my services:

Kayelily is fantastic, and I would highly recommend her to anyone and everyone. We wanted a secular ceremony because my husband's family is Jewish and mine is not. Kayelily was incredibly accommodating and flexible and helped us craft the perfect ceremony that was non-religious and incredibly personal and meaningful. We met with Kayelily in advance of the wedding, and she read us a sample ceremony. It made me cry because it was so beautiful. Kayelily let us personalize our ceremony a great deal. We wrote a long passage about how we met that she included. We also each separately wrote and sent her a passage on why we love one another, which she kept private until the actual ceremony. She included a section honoring and thanking our parents that we know they loved. I cried throughout the ceremony, and my husband shed some tears as well. Our parents were definitely crying as were many others in attendance. The ceremony was touching, moving, and also appropriately light and humorous at a couple points. I think I must have surprised her with all my crying, but she rolled with it and made sure we were all in sync. Overall, it was the perfect ceremony we were hoping for that pleased everyone in attendance. On the logistics side, Kayelily was so helpful and flexible throughout the entire process. We initially wanted to have a private ceremony for about 10 people in the morning, and we ended up changing that to about 40 people in the evening, which Kayelily effortlessly accommodated. Kayelily comes across as a very sweet person, and her speaking voice is calm and soothing and has a rich Southern charm to it that added to the character of the experience (we are transplants to the area!). Overall I cannot say enough positive things about Kayelily. Thank you for making our day perfect!

This is the Bryan Courtyard at the Carolina Inn like I have never seen it before! It is gorgeous and all set up for the reception. Viva L'Event did the florals. I did not know they offered this service but it is beautiful! Since there were no bridesmaids or groomsmen, no need for bouquets and boutonnières except for Will.

Sugar Euphoria made this pretty cake!

They had fans for everyone but the heat was not bad, especially for July.

So when everyone was present, we gathered on the terrace. Note how many have their cell phones ready! 

I looked over and saw most of the guests gathered on the other end of the terrace. We had put out benches for the parents so they could sit and have front row seats for the wedding. I had to coax them to come over and tell them where to sit and encourage the guests to gather in closer.  I was wearing a mic though. Our fabulous photographer, Brian Mullins, watched with amusement as I rearranged the guests!

Waiting for the parents to get seated. The woman in blue I believe is an aunt of Will's who is Skyping the wedding to his grandparents on her iPad. She stood in very close so that she could pick up my voice but afterwards she said that they could not hear me well despite the microphone and asked if I could send her the script of the ceremony. I simply took the script out of my ceremony book and handed it to her. She was tickled at that.

Hmmmmm. I think we are all set now to begin!

Stefanie teared up right away. But I had a hankie handy for that.

Will was quite serious in the beginning and I was afraid he would not loosen up but he did. Just a little humor did it!

Then Will started tearing up and I whipped out a second hankie from my pocket! Never fear! We are on a roll! 

After telling the story of their meeting and courtship which was quite entertaining, they heard for the first time what the other had told me in confidence about what they love about each other.

Then it was time for the vows.....  

and the rings.

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

Not a problem!

Presentation of the newlyweds to their thrilled guests!

Big grins from them both! Now to celebrate!

Stefanie and Will, you are an amazing couple and perfect for each other. I love how you are such independent thinkers and not willing to go with the norm and blaze your own path. It was a delight to work with you and to join you in marriage. I wish you the best always!

Krystle and Shawn's Fabulous Wedding at The Carolina Inn!

Krystle and Shawn got married at the Carolina Inn on June 5th, 2016. The wedding was supposed to be in the Bryan Courtyard but the weather was not cooperative. Kailey with A Southern Soiree handled all the details and made sure everything flowed smoothly throughout. Thanks, Kailey!

 So the John Hill Ballroom was sectioned off for this wedding. It is a very pretty setting. 

When Dave and I arrived, our DJ Randy Bennett with Joe Bunn DJ Company was already there and set up. The violinist, Udeshi Hargett, was also there.

Meanwhile in the Old Well Room where the reception was going to be was taking shape, Fresh Affairs had the centerpieces done and in place.

This beautiful wedding cake was made by Ashley Cakes. 

Meanwhile our photographer, Cara Galati with f8 Photo Studio was busy getting pre-ceremony photos of the guys around the Inn.

Our groom, Shawn, spoke with Udeshi before the ceremony. 

And it was time to begin. After the parents were escorted in, Shawn and I took our places. 

After the bridesmaids and groomsmen entered as couples, our flower girl Isabelle and our ring bearer Dylan made their entrance. One never knows in advance how that is going to go! But they did well and made it all the way down the aisle and managed to stay in place and quiet. Amazing!

Then Krystle and her father, John, entered as the guests stood in her honor. 

The question was asked, answered and John placed Krystle's hand into Shawn's hand. 

Dylan was anxious to get rid of the ring box so he came right up to hand it to me! 

We opened with a very warm welcome to all who had traveled near and far to this wedding. We remembered those loved ones no longer with us, especially Krystle's beloved grandmother, Aurea.

Sweet Isabelle taking it all in!

I asked the parents of the couple to stand as we paid tribute to them and thanked them for all their love and support.

The parents were seated and I launched into their story. It was one of the funniest I've ever delivered! The guests really enjoyed hearing all about it!

The secret paragraphs were a tender moment as they each heard for the first time what they had told me about their love for each other. Then they made their vows by reading them from my book.

I had forgotten to retrieve the ring box from Adam (Krystle's brother and the best man) who had been holding it. Shawn helped me open the unique box that held their rings.

They sealed their vows with the exchange of rings. 

In closing, Adam read the Irish Wedding Blessing.

By the authority vested in me, I happily pronounced them husband and wife!

What a kiss! I had instructed them to make it long enough to get a good photo, and they sure did! 

A very happy couple!

Their guests began to spray them with confetti! 

What fun! 

Dylan led Isabelle out but she was more interested in checking out the confetti on the floor which she did after the guests left! 

Krystle and Shawn--what a great wedding! Despite some obstacles that arose, your wedding was a grand success. I love being a part of it. You are a great couple and I wish you much love and happiness forever!