Kaitlyn and Cody's Wonderful Wedding!

Kaitlyn and Cody met in Raleigh on a blind date back in March of 2015 arranged by a friend who even guaranteed it would go well! And it went extremely well! The attraction was immediate and they have been inseparable ever since. They now live in Tennessee for the time being but wanted to get married in the city where they met and fell in love and so they chose the historic Melrose Knitting Mill in downtown Raleigh for their wedding on November 11, 2017. 

Here are almost 200 chairs with a nice wide aisle. The chandeliers give this old mill with arched windows just the right touch of bling to add to the quiet elegance. The side on the right is draped to conceal the other half of the room for the ceremony.

Expressions of Love Florist created the beautiful backdrop for the ceremony. Note the chalk marks on the floor so that the wedding party knows where to stand.

Ed and Craig with Arioso Strings are tuning up. It was good to be working with them again. They are a great duo.

Simply Cakes provided this stunning cake which is hidden from view on the other side of the drapes.

The tables are all set and ready to be moved out into the ceremony area after the ceremony. The band, Bantam Rooster, is getting ready too. Our professional photographer for the wedding was Kelsey Nelson.

In the back of the space is the bar where the groom and groomsmen and I hang out before the ceremony. We will enter from the side and take our places up front. Steph and Emily, our two venue coordinators are talking logistics. Love the weddings here and the professionalism of the wonderful staff that direct the activities.

The guests are arriving and being seated. 

I am ready!

Emily keeps the guys talking in whispers so the guests can't hear! They are so excited to be in this wedding and to see their buddy, Cody, get married!

It is almost a full house with guests still arriving.

Time to get the groom and groomsmen all lined up. Two of them are escorting the mothers and will join us in the line up.

Here we go!

Then the bridesmaids process in one by one!

Steph peeks out to see when to send the next two bridesmaids, sisters of the bride.

Our Maid of Honor, Alyson.

Our sweet flower girl begins her trek down the aisle!

Oops! She threw all the petals at once! Steph is trying to signal her to go on down the aisle. 

But she stalled! Father of the bride, Craig, watches while Steph helps our flower girl retrieve a few petals then process in. 

She made it and rushed up to Cody for a hug then he directed her to her mom waiting in the second row!

Here comes the bride!

The wedding began with some good laughter because the father of the bride nervously answered my question "Who presents this woman to be married to this man?" with "My mother and I" which he quickly corrected to "Her mother and I!" Then he transferred his daughter's hand into Cody's, almost tripped on the bride's dress on his way to his seat, and everyone was seated. 

We began with a warm welcome to all who had come from all over the state and all over the country and even some from out of the country.

I stepped out and addressed the parents of Kaitlyn and Cody and congratulated them for providing such wonderful role models of marriage for their children.

Then I told the story of how they met and fell in love and recognized Breada in the guests--their friend who set up the blind date and guaranteed it would go well. The story continued with their move to Tennessee and concluded with the surprise proposal in July of 2016 at the Jersey Shore with the help of Kaitlyn's sisters.

Kaitlyn hears for the first time what Cody told me in confidence that he loves about her and what he is looking forward to in marriage.

Cody was enjoying watching Kaitlyn's reaction to what he had told me. 

Then it was Cody's turn to hear what Kaitlyn had told me she loves about him and what she is looking forward to in their future.

They exchanged their promises to each other then sealed them with their rings.

I asked them to think of the happiness they were feeling in the moment and to close their eyes and let it really sink in to their hearts and minds.

I asked them to open their eyes and gaze around them at their friends and family honoring them on their wedding day.

A closing blessing......

The pronouncement of marriage! 

Followed by the kiss!

That exhilerating moment when reality sinks in! 

Presentation of the Newlyweds!

Kaitlyn and Cody! Such a grand wedding--all planned from afar! I loved it and I loved working with you to make your ceremony so specific for the two of you. Thank you letting me be part of your big day! I wish you health, happiness and love all the days of your lives!

ALL SAINTS CHAPEL WEDDING FOR JENNIFER AND MATTHEW!

On April 29th 2017 Jenn and Matt were married! Their beautiful wedding was at the historic All Saints Chapel in downtown Raleigh.

It was a nice day--a little on the warm side for April--and better inside where it was cool. Sally Oakley was their wedding planner and everything was going according to plan. Kevin Seifert, a professional photographer, again volunteered to take these photos for my blog for me. He is so good. These are the best photos I have ever seen of the chapel. 

All the florals were by Expressions of Love florist. Very pretty, elegant and simple. 

Darcie is getting ready to sign the marriage license for me. She is the Maid of Honor. 

Bryan, our Best Man, has done his legal duty by signing the marriage license. I collect the signatures before the ceremony when I know it is going to happen. The license is not legally complete until I sign it after the ceremony and send it in to the issuing register of the deed.

I like to do a "boutonniere check" before  the wedding to make sure they are secure and do not turn sideways or upside down or fall off during the ceremony. They guys had pinned them on but not very securely.

The chapel is ready.

The candles are lit. 

This is a beautiful stained glass window of Jesus as shepherd with the lamb. This chapel was built in 1875 and this is the third location for it in downtown Raleigh. It was moved to its final spot several years ago and I have done many, many weddings here.

Talking with Caroline with the Chapel, Sally our planner/director, and Diane with the chapel before the ceremony begins.

I would really like to know the symbolism and meaning of this intricate stained glass that is above the loft of the chapel. There is the Christian cross, the Star of David, and a crown. I am sure the stars and other symbols have specific meaning too. The website calls it a "gothic cross configuration."

Looking down from the loft we see Anna and Brent Dietrich who own Live View Studios, our couple's official photographers. They are really good photographers and I like working with them.

Pretty image of the old lanterns that hang from the ceiling of the chapel. 

Sally has gotten the groomsmen to come up from the lower level and be ready to escort the guests in. 

In the meantime, I like to take a quiet moment to sit down and review the ceremony script. 

The guests are pouring in! 

Sally helps one of the grandmothers with her corsage. Not always easy to pin these on dresses. 

Pointing out to the ushers/groomsmen empty seats in the second row. It was almost full.

Grandparents were escorted in first, then the parents of the groom, Bonnie and Allen, entered. Then Kathryn, mother of the bride, was escorted in by Dylan and Ryan and they circled back.

The music changed then I led the groom and his men in to take our places up front. 

The bridesmaids entered one by one and filled in the other side of the altar. Then time for the bride.

Here comes the bride! 

Randy answered my question and then placed Jenn's hand into Matt's hand. She gave her father a little kiss then he was very careful not to step on her train as he took his seat.

A wedding is such a wonderful occasion filled with hopes, dreams, and excitement! Welcome! 

Following the Welcome was a sweet blessing for the couple.

Then I stepped out and spoke to their parents thanking them for their love and support.

Our pretty bridesmaids! 

Launching into the story of how they met and fell in love. It was destiny, of course. 

Once they met in 2013, they quickly became a couple and Matt proposed in 2015.

Then what they love about each other and what they are looking forward to in marriage. 

They made their vows to each other. 

May I have the rings, please?

They sealed their vows with their rings. 

Caught Matt looking at that ring on his finger! 

I pronounced them husband and wife and invited them to seal their vows with a kiss as I quickly moved out from behind them. I don't want to be in the photo of the kiss!

Good job, Matt and Jenn! 

What a nice looking couple who are so perfectly matched for each other. 

What's so funny? I don't remember! 

Jenn and Matt, congratulations on a wonderful wedding. I know you will have much happiness and joy!