Darcie and Willie Get Married at The Preston-Woodall House!

Darcie and Willie chose the historic Preston-Woodall House in Benson NC for their wedding venue. I have done many weddings there in the past 20 years. The staff is great and take really good care of their couples. The wedding took place on September 30, 2017.

 This cupid welcomes you in the foyer!

This beautiful cake was baked by Ashley Cakes and is in the Cora Lilly Ballroom where the receptions will take place.

Dragonfly Florist provided the centerpieces and the bouquets and boutonnieres.

Although added later, the Cora Lilly Ballroom is very spacious and elegantly decorated to fit the vintage of the house. 

I love the "key theme" because I also use a key as my logo. 

Every guests got a key which also identified their table.

Little jars of honey were the favors--so sweet!

This is the set up at the Queen Anne Pavilion for the ceremony. 

The sand is ready for the pouring!

Nick, the venue's event coordinator and wedding director, finishes putting out the yellow flower petals flanking the aisle. 

As the guests arrive, they signed the guest book and took a program. 

Getting off my feet to review the ceremony before we begin. Willie was the best man in the wedding of his friend Joey which I officiated. So he contacted me to officiate his and Darcie's wedding. And of course Joey was Willie's best man!

When the Queen Anne Pavilionwas built, the owners salvaged the roof of the original gazebo and incorporated it into this structure.

Marcus Ward with Morse Entertainment was our DJ and provided me with a microphone.

The groomsmen and I are waiting inside the ballroom for our cue to enter. 

The groomsmen and I entered first then Willie escorted his mother, Elizabeth, in then stepped up and joined us.

Here we go! 

Waiting for the bridesmaids to enter. 

Nick, is cueing Marcus and the wedding party.

Sophie is the last to enter before the bride.

Our beautiful bride is escorted by her father, John. 

Welcome to everyone followed by a prayer. 

I stepped out from behind the couple to pay tribute to their parents. 

Then I told the guests the story of how Darcie and Willie met. There was an instant attraction at a very chance meeting. It did not take them long to become a couple.

They exchanged their vows.

Then exchanged their rings. 

The pouring of their sand together. 

As part of the closing blessing I asked them to look around them at their loved ones who had come to honor them on their wedding day.

Pronounced married!

Sealed with a kiss! 

It was so good to see Sierra and Joey again! 

Willie and Darcie! Congratulations! Great wedding! Thank you for choosing me to officiate for you. I hope to see again at your other friends' weddings!

Sonya and Matthew's Reunion Wedding at Barclay Villa!

I love "reunion weddings!" That is what I call weddings of couples who knew each other as kids, went their separate ways and then reunited many years later usually at a high school reunion! They are the sweetest weddings. It is like true love triumphed! Sonya and Matthew's wedding is a reunion wedding. 

They chose Barclay Villa for their sweet wedding on December 17, 2016. 

The villa is all decked out for the holidays.

Not often do I catch a cake maker delivering and touching up the wedding cake but I spotted Ashley of Ashley Cakes and got a photo of her just as she finished with the beautiful cake she made for Sonya and Matthew.

And here it is--stunning! 

Traditional poinsettias on the steps...The florals were furnished by Dragonfly Florists.

Matthew was so ready to marry Sonya. We hung out in the hallway waiting for the last of the guests to arrive so we could get started.

Here is a last minute guest all decked out for Christmas. We could even call her Ms. Santa Claus in her pretty red outfit with the white fur. Love it!

Our DJ for this wedding was Eric Hodgden with All Around Raleigh DJ, one of my very favorites to work with. He is waiting for Jennifer of Jennifer V Events to give him the signal to start the music. Brandon Hume of Southern Love Studios was our photographer.

Here we go!

They chose to have no attendants. Sonya was escorted in by her son Nicholas, a very handsome young man with a happy grin on his face. And just look at that beautiful princess wedding dress!

Everyone was seated and the couple faced each other holding hands. 

After welcoming everyone, we began with a prayer followed by remembering those no longer with us on earth. But their love will always be felt and we knew they were with us in spirit.

Then we recognized their children who are all grown up. 

Matthew and Sonya knew each other in middle school and high school and were even in the same homeroom for 6 years! They never dated but definitely were aware of each other. The timing apparently was not right yet. The reconnected many years later after attending several high school reunions.

Unbeknownst to Sonya, Matthew has been in awe of her since they were teenagers. He always wanted to date her but was overwhelmed by her gorgeousness and thought she was out of his reach!

Sonya is so happy to be marrying the kindest person she knows and her best friend. She loves how Matthew spends time together with their families and friends and what a blessing he is in her life.

They made their promises of marriage to each other and then Matthew placed the ring on her finger. 

Even though it was a winter day and not particularly warm inside, Matthew had beads of perspiration on his forehead. So I took my hankie and mopped his face, telling him that getting married was hard work. And, we were getting close to the kiss.

Then Sonya placed the ring on Matthew's hand and said her promises to him line by line after me. 

Some tears began leaking out of her eyes so I took the hankie and mopped her face too. By this time we were all laughing along with the guests.

After a closing blessing for them, I placed my hand on theirs and made the pronouncement of marriage.

A wonderful kiss!

It was my privilege and my delight to present to the guests the newlyweds, together at last! 

They were such a happy couple. I loved joining them in marriage. 

Sonya and Matthew! Congratulations! I am so happy that you found each other again and found true love at last! What a wonderful story you have. I wish you the best always!!