Raleigh Wedding Blog: Duke Gardens Fish Pool

Showing posts with label Duke Gardens Fish Pool. Show all posts

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Beautiful June Wedding at the Fish Pool at Duke Gardens for Colleen and Josh!

Josh and Colleen and I met last August to plan their ceremony for June 13, 2015 at the Duke Garden Fish Pool. When you choose your date in advance, what the weather will bring that day is a complete mystery other than knowing that it is likely to be hot in NC in June. We were really grateful that it was going to be a day free of rain, but little did we know the heat index was going to be 104 degrees! Yikes!

The wedding party and vendors gathered early at the site and the guests trickled in. Here are some on their way down the hill from the pergola to the fish pool.

This is a view of the fish pool and the overlook beyond from the pergola.

Their videographer, James Ryan, was set up and I set up my sound system to amplify my voice.

The musicians from Elegant Ensembles were tuning up.

The babies and their parents stayed in the shade.

Ready to begin the processional.

Best Man, Thomas, escorted in one of the grandparents.

The mother of the bride, Marcy, was escorted in.

Katie, our pretty Maid of Honor and sister of the bride, entered.

Josh's daughters Gabrielle, Ariel and Isabella entered next.

Jennifer Ball, our tirelessly working wedding planner and director of Knot Your Average Events was beaming as she cued the bride and her father to enter. Good job, Jennifer!

Standing at the threshold of her new life!

And down the steps they go!

Colleen's mother, Marcy, joined Colleen and Paul as they stepped up in front of Josh and me. I then asked the question and both parents answered.

Welcome, prayer, remembering loved ones.......

Then I invited Josh's daughters to join us as Colleen shared some very special and touching words with them.

Group hug for this family officially born today!

The story of Josh and Colleen's meeting, their attraction to each other, dating, romance and proposal came next.

Then I revealed to them what the other had told me in confidence that they loved about each other.

They read their vows to each other from my book where they were printed facing them.

Time to mop Josh's face a bit in preparation for the kiss coming up soon!

I invited them to look around at their loved ones here to honor them on this day.

Then pronounced them husband and wife!

Of course, the kiss!

That sweet "after-kiss" moment again!

Here they are, folks!

Colleen and Josh, congratulations! Thank you for inviting me to be part of your wonderful wedding. I know you two are so happy and filled with wedded bliss!

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Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Melissa and Ion Wed at Duke Gardens!

Melissa and Ion both grew up in Ohio and met when they were in college. Ion's career brought him to the Triangle of NC and Melissa transferred to NCSU so they could be together. They have both fallen in love with this area and in particular Duke Gardens. They have also brought all their family to the gardens in hopes of persuading them to relocate to NC. So, how perfect that they chose to have their small intimate family wedding in the Gardens at the Fish Pool area on Sunday October 5th 2014.

Over the years Duke Gardens has been renovated and updated. When you walk in through the gates from the parking lot at the visitors' center, at the end of the path is a beautiful rotunda with this stunning fountain!

Then at the end of the vista from the pergola is the beautiful fish pool with the overlook above it.

Time to start the ceremony. Ion and I take our places in front.

Our wonderful violinist, Udeshi Hargett!

Melissa and her father, Pat, begin their walk through the gorgeous foliage.

Down the steps...

"Who blesses and supports Melissa as she comes to join in marriage with Ion?"

Welcome everyone!

They wanted both of their shelties, Chloe and Kai, to be there but one of them was not up to it so we just have the one sweet pup. From the right is Ion's father, Ted, with Melissa's sister, Christina, and her significant other, Marcel, holding the leash.

Our photographer, Julian Ribinik, is getting so many good photos! I have seen them posted on Facebook and he has generously offered them to me. The photos on this blog are taken by my husband Dave who was being my "roadie" that day.