Brooke and Jake's Leap Year Wedding at The Bridge Club!

Brooke and Jake are such a fun-loving couple and they made sure their wedding reflected that. I loved working with them to make their ceremony a reflection of their personalities, their beliefs, love and commitment. Their wedding date was February 29, 2020, that rare leap year date that only comes around every 4 years. They chose the Bridge Club in downtown Raleigh for their venue.

When I arrived I went upstairs to find the bride and groom, parents and wedding party. 

The long tables were all set and ready for the reception to follow cocktail hour. 

Little framed notations about locations and events in their journey together were placed along the place settings. 

Back downstairs to the ceremony and cocktail hour area to get my witnesses to sign the marriage license and do a sound check with the DJ--Mike Steffan with High Impact Entertainment--before the guests were seated. This is a photo of the quiz and advice cards for the entertainment of the guests and feedback to the couple. Fun!

Our photographer--Kelley Deal, Kelley Deal Photography--was busy getting her settings right and scoping the area for good angles. Thanks to Kelley for sharing her photos with me which are designated in this blog. Other photos were taken with my iPhone 8+ by my sweet husband, Dave.

The "altar" area was a copper arbor by the couple who did their own florals. 

When the guests were all seated, the time was right and the wedding party and parents lined up, I entered first and made the unplugged announcement asking the guests to put away their phones and cameras. Then the processional of the parents and wedding party began.

When everyone but the bride was in place, I invited the guests to stand in honor of the bride. 

The bride and her father made their way down the aisle. 

Brooke's father answered my question and placed her hand in Jake's and everyone was seated. 

The ceremony opened with a warm welcome to everyone who had come from near and far for this wedding. 

(Photo courtesy of Kelly Deal)

Next came an opening prayer. 

Then I stepped out to address their parents in a surprise tribute to their love and support of our couple. 

Then the really fun part of the ceremony was telling the story of how Brooke and Jake met and their journey to their wedding day. (Photo courtesy of Kelley Deal)

They each answered questionnaires for me so the story reflected both points of view of what attracted them to each other and how they felt.

Brooke and Jake supplied me with great information to work with to create a very amusing story! 

There was lots and lots of laughter during the story and especially about the proposal that Jake planned and how it played out. (Photo courtesy of Kelley Deal)

Then Brooke got to hear what Jake told me he loves about her and what he is looking forward to in marriage. Then Jake got to hear what Brooke told me about her love for him. 

Jake was having so much fun, he was sweating. I took my hankie and reached up to wipe his forehead.

At this point I said "Getting married is hard work, isn't it, Jake?" Laughter! 

Then it was time for them to exchange their vows and rings. We included the Celtic tradition of handfasting as I bound their hands together with a handfasting cord. 

After wrapping the cord around their hands, a blessing of their hands followed.

They read their vows to each other from my book while their hands were bound.

Brooke says her vows to Jake.

I removed the cord which was symbolically replaced by their rings. 

A closing blessing then I pronounced them married and invited them to share their first kiss as husband and wife.

Finally happily married! 

The "after-kiss" moment when the reality sinks in that they are married!

The maid of honor handed the bride her bouquet and I presented the newlyweds to their guests!

And out they go into the next chapter of their lives together--marriage! 

(Photo courtesy of Kelley Deal)

(Photo courtesy of Kelley Deal) 

Brooke and Jake! What a great wedding! I loved working with you two and your wonderful sense of humor. You are so great together and I am honored you chose me to join you in marriage. Blessings to you now and always! I also thank you for the wonderful review you gave me on Weddingwire:

Cecil Jake Saunders , married on 02/29/2020 

 5.0 

If you are having anxiety over how to pick an officiant, know that you can't go wrong with this choice. 

Reverend Kayelily Middleton was the officiant for our leap day 2020 wedding, and we could not recommend her more highly. She listened to all of our concerns and then helped us design a customized ceremony for our wedding that shared our story with our loved ones. We have gotten so many compliments about the ceremony, including how entertaining Kayelily was, and how she must be an old family friend because it seemed like she’s known us for years. She is amazing at her job, probably because she has married thousands of couples! She guided us through the logistics of getting the marriage license, knew exactly what to do in the rehearsal, and will help design a ceremony just for you.

Emilie and Russell Wed at the Old Milburnie Fishing Lodge!

Emilie and Russel decided to have their wedding at the Old Milburnie Fishing Lodge in east Raleigh. They had been to a wedding there and they liked the casual style and beautiful lake setting. I met the couple there one day to take a look and choose the best place and orientation for the ceremony  because we actually had the rehearsal at Joyner Park in Wake Forest. 

The wedding date was Sunday November 3rd, 2019. This sign was placed near the start of the aisle. 

A very nice plaque to hang at their home!

Flowers by Henry was their florist and all the bouquets were lined up and boutonnieres were ready to be pinned on.

I was happy to help do the pinning! I have many years of experience doing that now! 

The cake and catering was provided by their dear friends and family.

Emilie pins the boutonnière on her dad's lapel. 

Emilie and Russel had thought of all the details and everything was in place. They provided a sound system into which I plugged my microphone.

Time to begin the ceremony. The guests have all been asked to take their seats and included many of the couple's grandparents. I entered and asked them to refrain from taking photos during the ceremony. Their photographer, Megan King, would be capturing how the ceremony looked.

Russel escorted his parents in then joined me up front. 

You can see that it was a beautiful day!

Emilie's mom was escorted in by her father, Emilie's grandfather. 

The attendants came in as couples then it was time for the bride and her proud father to make their entrance! 

A warm welcome to all followed by a surprise blessing for their parents. 

Then the story of how they met and fell in love! Emilie and Russel have known each other since they were teenagers and, in a sense, have grown up together. They are also evidence that school crushes and puppy love can survive and grow into a soft abiding love that lasts for life. 

After the story and secret paragraphs about what they love about each other, it was time for the vows.

They chose to include the Celtic handfasting ceremony with 7 ribbons of different colors and a vow with each one.

Then the ribbons were removed and replaced symbolically with their rings.

They make their ring vows. 

Russel places the ring on Emilie's finger.

Then Emilie places the ring on Russel's finger.

I happily pronounced them married after a closing blessing. 

Sealed with a kiss! 

Russel and Emilie, your wedding was so sweet and just perfect for the two of you. I loved working with you and co-creating your beautiful ceremony. I wish you the best of everything always!