A Wonderful Wedding for Nastassia and Luke at Caffe Luna!

I loved working with Nastassia and Luke! We met last May to begin designing their wedding ceremony which took place on Sunday October 6th 2019 at Caffe Luna in downtown Raleigh.

Nastassia is so beautiful and so ready to be married.......as well she should be! She and Luke met way back in 2008 when they were both undergraduates in college in New York. Their relationship has stood not only the test of time but also long distances that lasted for years while Nas attended medical school, residency and internship and Luke his graduate degrees. Finally they chose North Carolina to settle down in together and make home--and get married at last.

Meanwhile Cinda, the owner of Cinda's Creative Cakes, was on the job putting the finishing touches on her beautiful creation. It is rare when I see her as she has usually been on site and gone by the time I get to the wedding.

The finished product. Simple and classic! And delicious! 

Taking a quiet moment to review the script before I deliver it! 

Willis is a frequent DJ at Caffe Luna and, as usual, he did a great job providing my amplification and the ceremony music. Tre Bella Flowers did the arch up front and the bouquets and boutonnieres.

After persuading the guests to move forward and fill in chairs up front with Michelle Gunton, our wonderful photographer, we are ready to begin the ceremony. (Empty chairs--especially on the aisle--don't look good in the wedding photos. Often venues put out more chairs than the number of guests expected which makes it look like a lot of people did come to the wedding.)

When it was time to begin, I walked in first--past the empty extra chairs in the back. 

Luke and his parents, Donald and Laurel, enter next.

Luke joined me up front as his parents took their seats. 

Then the attendants came in as couples. Kareem and Daniela first. 

Todd and Melissa next.

Adam, best man and brother of the groom, and Shawnett, maid of honor, make their way down the aisle.

Their friend Jewel, our honorary director, cued Nastassia and her mother, Sharon, to begin their walk down the aisle.

They sweep past the guests standing in their honor. 

"Sharon, do you bless and support Nastassia as she comes to join in marriage to Luke?" Of course she answered "I do!" and took her seat as the couple turned and faced their guests.

I stepped out and began telling their guests the story of how they met and fell in love and their journey to their wedding day. It was a sweet story. They were smitten with each other from the very beginning when they were fixed up with each other to go to a party.

And there were some comical moments also and we all laughed a lot. In fact, their guests laughed in places I was not expecting laughter. Couldn't have been better! Always love that the guests are having a good time and enjoying the ceremony.

The story flowed into a welcome to everyone and a tribute to their parents. 

They turned and faced each other as I stepped behind them and revealed what each of them had told me in confidence they love about each other. Then they made their vows to each other. When it was time to exchange rings. I asked Adam for the rings. He placed them in my hand and as I looked at Nastassia's ring, I said "This is the tiniest wedding ring I've ever seen!" (NOT in the script!) Everyone laughed including the couple.

Handing the tiny ring to Luke as Nas wiped away tears of laughter! 

And more laughter as I asked Nas to take the substantially larger ring and place it on Luke's finger! 

I retrieved the hankie from her hand so she could place the ring on Luke's finger while saying the words after me.

They wrote love-letters to each other and sealed them without sharing. The Anniversary Box was brought forth by Adam's wife, Lisa, and they placed the letters in the box with the bottle of wine and locked it. I invited them to open the box on their first anniversary, pour each other a glass of wine, then read the love-letter from their spouse. Have a conversation about the wedding day and the year that has passed. Then write new love-letters, place in the box with the old letters and a new bottle of wine and repeat on every anniversary.

A closing blessing for our couple who were going to finally be pronounced married. 

The pronouncement was made and I invited them to kiss!

Sealed with a kiss! 

That sweet "after kiss" where reality that they are really finally married at last sinks in. 

Introducing them to their cheering guests! Willis starts Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You!"

And they step into their new married life together! 

What a happy couple! 

Luke and Nastassia! What a wonderful and fun wedding! I loved it and I thank you for choosing me to join you in marriage! I wish you the best always!

Lindsay and Collin's Beautiful Wedding at The NC Museum of Art!

i love beautiful weddings!! The wedding of Lindsay and Collins is one of the most beautiful--beautiful couple and beautiful setting--the NC Museum of Art.

A Watered Garden furnished all the florals. The wedding was on September 28th, 2019 in the North Courtyard with the reflecting pool behind us. 

Inside the open area in the front of the museum is all decked out with pretty fluffy cocktail tables for the cocktail hour before the reception.

 This gorgeous cake was designed and baked by Cinda's Creative Cakes. 

 The Iris Cafe is the site of the reception. It is ready to go. 

The guest book is actually a book of photos of our couple that the guests sign for them. 

A few minutes before the ceremony is to start, Morgan reminds the girls to walk slowly and smile! What gorgeous dresses in blush!

 I reminded them not to lock their knees and enjoy the ceremony! 

Checking in with the best man, John, to make sure he had the rings. Kerry looks on not knowing he is included in the story of how Lindsay and Collin met and fell in love.

Morgan Greer is the director of our wedding in addition to being a key employee of the museum. I can always count on Morgan to have everything perfectly organized and on time! We have done so many wedding together and it is always an experience I look forward to.

 Some random photos of the museum while we wait. 

 This amazing lady is always guarding the entrance to the courtyard! 

Hmmm. The statue of the cave man is a familiar figure who is a challenge for weddings indoors here if there is inclement weather. We usually are able to hide him behind a floral arrangement but he still threatens to bop the groom with his bat if he doesn't kiss the bride!

Brian Mullins on the left is one of my favorite photographers and probably the best wedding photographer I know. We've been working together for at least 20 years. I thank him for referring Lindsay and Collin to me. (Disclaimer: All the photos on this blog post are with my iPhone 8 Plus)

 A few moments of quiet to review the ceremony script.

Eric Hodgden is our DJ. He owns All Around Raleigh DJ and is one of my favorite DJs. We've done countless weddings together with him providing sound for my microphone. But today, he is inside for the reception while Arioso Strings provide the ceremony music. Hence I brought my own sound system to amplify my voice.

We are getting all lined up to process in. Collin is a little nervous, I think. He and I enter first followed by parents and wedding party.

The guests are seated and waiting for the ceremony to begin. Thankfully it was not very hot and the courtyard was shady.

 Arioso Strings quartet provided heavenly music for the processional and recessional. Always wonderful! 

 Let's go, Collin! 

 Yay, he's smiling and seems to be enjoying himself! 

Collin's parents, Joy and Mark. It was through Joy that Lindsay and Collin met. They are happy to see this day!

 We are all in. Time for the bride! 

 Jeff escorts his beautiful daughter in and down the aisle. 

 Almost there! 

Welcome to all and thanks for coming here from all across the country! Then a short prayer and remembering those not with us.

A surprise for their parents was next. I skip this at the rehearsal so they are not expecting me to address them and tell them how grateful their children are for all the love and support they have given them throughout their lives. I remind them that they are not losing but gaining a son or daughter and the circle of love expands and blesses them all.

Then it is time to have some fun as I relate the story of how Lindsay and Collin met and their journey to this day.

I think Collin is trying to stifle a laugh! It was a fun story and the wedding party and guests had some good laughs.

And now to tell each of them what their partner told me in confidence about them--what they love about each other, why they want to marry and what they are looking forward to in marriage.

 A few words on love and marriage and welcoming them to the unparalleled promise called marriage. 

 They read their vows to each other from my book. 

 I called for the rings and explained their significance. 

 Collin takes the ring and places it on Lindsay's finger as he says 3 lines after me to her. 

 Then Lindsay does the same. 

They chose to write secret love-letters to each other and place them in a wooden box with a bottle of wine. Cady, girlfriend of Lindsay's brother Jared who is a groomsman, was chosen to bring the box forth for them to place the letters in. Then on their first anniversary they will open it, pour each other a glass of wine and read the love-letter from each other. I invite them to reminisce about their wedding day and the year that has passed, write new love-letters to each other and seal without sharing. Replace the bottle of wine, put the new and the old letters back in the box, and repeat on each anniversary creating a legacy of their love and marriage.

 A closing blessing for Lindsay and Collin as they begin their new venture in marriage. 

 It was my pleasure and my privilege to pronounce them husband and wife and invite them to kiss! 

 Perfect!

 I joyfully introduced them to their guests for the first time as a married couple and the cheers began! 

 Oh happy day!!

 And away they go! 

 Here are the mother and father of the bride, Lori and Jeff, jubilant as well! 

Lindsay and Collin, Congratulations!! What a wonderful wedding and I am thrilled you gave me the honor of joining you in matrimony! I loved working with you and wish you the best always!