A Beautiful Wedding for Ali and Tom at Fearrington!

Ali and Tom chose the beautiful Fearrington County Inn and its landmark barn for their glorious wedding. The ceremony took place in the Garden Terrace and the reception in the spacious barn.

Before the ceremony Dave wandered around the village and got some great photos of the grounds. 

This is the entrance to the barn with the place cards ready for the guests to pick up and find their table after cocktails on the patio in front of the barn.

Their band is setting up on the stage. The tables and chairs, place settings and centerpieces are ready. When you have your wedding at Fearrington, they furnish the wedding director (Gilda McDaniel), the florist, the cake, and the catering. The only separate vendor needed is for music and make-up.

 On this overcast day the famous "oreo cows" are taking it easy. 

 And they also have "oreo goats!" 

 A great metal sculpture hangs on the barn! 

The beautifully appointed Garden Room is where the wedding party gathers after the ceremony for champagne, the signing of the license and for photos nearby while the guests enjoy cocktail hour in front of the barn.

Before the ceremony the bride and her maidens get ready and relax in the bridal suite and the groom and his guys hang out in the Red Room. When it is time to get ready for the processional, Gilda moves the groom and me to the restaurant waiting area and the bride to another spot out of sight while the groomsmen and bridesmaids get lined up. Here are Tom and I in the waiting area just outside the Garden Terrace where the ceremony will be.

Arioso Strings quartet have begun the prelude music and are ready to swing into the first number for the processional when Gilda cues them.

 The guests are seated. The fire is burning brightly and warmly! Ready for the processional to begin.

 First in are the grandmothers of the bride.

 Then Tom's parents, Jackie and Bill.

 Colleen, mother of the bride, is escorted in by Vance. 

 The music changes and Tom and his groomsmen and I enter around from the side and take our places up front.

 Bridesmaid Lindsey processes in. 

 Then Leigh.

 Then our Matron of Honor, Mary. 

 Our two sweet little flower girls made an impressive entrance and could not have done a better job!

 Mary intercepts them and directs them to their seats for the ceremony. I know she is so proud of them! 

 It is time for the bride and her father!

 Steve and Ali make their way to the Garden Terrace. 

 Gilda (in the red coat) watches the perfectly timed entrance while her assistant straightens Ali's train. 

Once the bride was presented and the guests seated, we began with a warm welcome to all then a prayer and remembrance of loved ones not with us. Then a surprise tribute for the parents of the couple. Always touching!

Ali and Tom's story of how they met and fell in love was fun to relate and I could tell the guests were having a great time. I brought the story to the present time including telling the guests about how Tom proposed on the land they have chosen to build their dream house on. Then it was time for the "secret paragraphs."

This is the sweet moment in the ceremony where the bride and groom get to hear for the first time what the other told me they love about them and what they are looking forward to in marriage. Ali hears first.

 Now Tom's turn to hear what Ali told me. 

Our esteemed photographer was Dennis Kwan from Hollywood where he photographs celebrities and destination weddings. Dennis and Tom grew up together in Ohio and Dennis was more than happy to come to NC and capture the images of his childhood friend's wedding. His very tall too!

 And now for the vows.

 The best man, Jonathan, handed me the rings.

  Tom says the words after me as he places the ring on Ali's finger. 

 Then Ali reciprocates as she places the ring on Tom's finger. 

I placed my hand on theirs and pronounced them husband and wife and invited them to share their first kiss as husband and wife!

 They were a little shy about this at the rehearsal but must have practiced afterwards! 

 The kiss is always followed by this amazing moment when the reality that they are married sinks in.

I couldn't see his face but I think some lip color must have gotten on his lips so he is wiping it off for the photos that come next!

The presentation of the newlywed couple to their guests with an invitation to stand and join me in congratulating them!

 And here they go--stepping into their new life as a married couple!

 Outside the Garden Room, Dennis has assembled the wedding party for photos. Happy group! 

Tom and Ali! Great wedding! Thank you for choosing me to join you in marriage. I loved working with you to create the perfect wedding ceremony and then delivering it to you and your guests! I wish you all the best forever!

Another Gorgeous Fearrington Wedding!

Shannon and Rob live in New York City and their wedding planner, Amanda Scott with A Swanky Affair, referred them to me. We scheduled a Skype session on June 15, 2016 to meet each other and talk about their wedding on May 6, 2017 at Fearrington Country Inn. We hit it off right away and they hired me to officiate for them. And then we started working on their ceremony.

After setting up my sound system, Dave and I checked out the barn where the reception would be held. As usually it looked fabulous.

Behind me you can see where the bluegrass band has their speakers set up and are ready to scoot from the ceremony back to the terrace to play music for the cocktail hour. The day was quite overcast with spotty showers forecast and they were concerned about their equipment getting wet. But the weather behaved itself for this wedding!

Back in the Garden House with most of the pre-ceremony photos done after the First Look, the bridesmaids were enjoying a little champagne with port. Our professional photographer for the wedding was Krystal Kast.

And our beautiful bride swept in to hang out until the guests arrived and were seated. She is followed by her Maid of Honor and sister, Ashleigh, holding her veil.

Rob's grandmother and his mother, Meri, then arrived! His grandmother proudly announced that she was 95 years old. She looked wonderful. I am so happy she could be at their wedding.

Meanwhile I tracked the guys down in the Red Room. Such a comfortable place to hang out. I checked all the boutonnieres for secure pinning. Then I sat down and reviewed the ceremony.

The Greenliners, an acoustic bluegrass band, provided our ceremony music. 

Gilda with Fearrington moved the guys and me from the Red Room to the Sunroom from where we would process in. We are all lined up here and ready for our cue to walk in.

After the music change we entered the ceremony area in the Crabapple Garden. 

Now the bridesmaids begin processing in. 

And they are all here. Time for our bride! 

I invited the guests to stand in her honor. 

Her father, George, answered my question to him then transferred Shannon's hand into Rob's and we stepped up under the chuppah. Then quite unexpectedly Rob leaned over to Shannon and whispered something in her ear. After the ceremony, I asked him what he said and he told me he told her she was so beautiful. Nice!

Such a pretty wedding. The overcast sky is actually quite nice for the photography. No shadows and the colors are vivid.

All the pretty maids in a row!

After welcoming everyone I stepped out onto the steps to address their parents and pay tribute to them.

Rob's two brothers, Mike and Corey, served as his best men. 

I read a very poetic version of First Corinthians followed by Sonnett XVII by Pablo Neruda, the couple's favorite poem. Then I began telling the story of how they met and fell in love. Shannon and Rob met in 2006 when they were both students at Carolina, not too far from this spot. After graduation Rob moved to New York to pursue his law degree and Shannon remained in Chapel Hill for grad school. She eventually moved to New York and their relationship went through many changes finally culminating in a proposal in December of 2015. The wedding planning began and many months later the wedding day has come!

They each told me in confidence what they love about each other and what they are looking forward to in marriage. On the wedding day, I reveal to each of them what the other told me. Sweet moment.

Some words on the significance of the rings then they made their vows to each other and placed the ring on their partner's finger.

Rob saying his vows and placing the ring on Shannon's finger. 

Shannon making her vows to Rob and sealing them with the ring. 

To honor Rob's Jewish heritage we included the breaking of the glass wedding custom.

Rob made sure he broke the glass the first time! It was flattened! We all shouted Mazeltov!

The official pronouncement of marriage followed by the customary kiss! 

I am getting out of the way! 

Maybe Rob is saying: "We are married!"

Don't you love that little kiss on the cheek!

The happy newlyweds!

Cheering and applause as the music begins.

Stepping into their new marriage! 

That's Gilda McDaniels on the left. She is a master in running weddings at Fearrington. She has gotten it down to an art form!

Amanda Scott, their wedding planner with A Swanky Affair, is watching the couple depart and ready to steer the guests to the barn for cocktails.

Mother of the bride, Caroline escorted by her son-in-law, Patrick. 

Parents of the groom, Meri and Ken.

George, father of the bride, and Christine, stepmother of the bride. 

Signing of the marriage license and the Ketubah in the Jewish tradition. 

Rob and Shannon, a big congratulations! What a wonderful wedding and start to your new life together as husband and wife. Thank you for choosing me to join you in marriage. It was my honor! I wish you all the happiness and success in the world!