Amber and Mark's Wonderful Wedding at Hudson Manor!

I met Mark and Amber a year ago and it had been so long, I was afraid I would not remember what they looked like! But once I saw them at the rehearsal it all came back. What a great couple they are--so dedicated to each other and such great parents to Josh. I was honored to join them in marriage on August 3, 2013. I was also happy to get back up to Louisburg to see what was new at Hudson Manor.

I have been doing weddings there since Melissa and Glenn Cogliatti bought the old manor house and have renovated, restored and transformed the property. They have added a lot of landscaping that has now matured and is lush from all the rain this year.

This path leads through the covered patio off the reception hall, down a winding lane to the sweet chapel below. 

The newest addition is the sweet little chapel where weddings can be done in the case of inclement weather whether raining or snowing! It is great!

For Amber and Mark's wedding, we planned to have the ceremony in the circular garden area but the rain was threatening with a few drip-drops here and there so Melissa wisely moved the ceremony underneath the covered patio. If we had had a hard, driving rain, we would have used the chapel. Taylor Pittman, our DJ, was set up on the porch of the reception hall and I plugged my microphone into his system. The sound was perfect and all the guests could hear every word of the wonderful ceremony Amber, Mark and I co-created for their special day.

Inside the reception hall was this beautiful cake by Cinda's Creative Cakes. Always a masterpiece!

Everything was ready except that after the ceremony, the flower balls that lined the aisle were moved onto the tables on top of the floating candles--see photo below. Very clever! Ruth Payne of Fleuressence did all the pretty flowers.

For their guestbook, the guests thumbprinted a leaf and signed it. 

Sue Rakes, our photographer, and her assistant, were outside under the patio getting some photos of the groom and his groomsmen before the ceremony.

Because it was sprinkling a little, the wedding party entered from the reception hall and took our places.

We welcomed everyone, said a prayer, remembered those who were not with us, blessed the parents and recognized how special Josh, Amber's son, is to this marriage born this day, and launched into the story of how our couple met. They have a fun story and then they had told me separately what they loved about each other which they heard for the first time at their wedding.

They made their vows and exchanged rings and then it was time for the sand ceremony.

They had a foundation of white into which they all poured their sand together symbolizing family unity.

 So happy for this day! 

Josh, Amber and Mark, what a wonderful family. I wish you the best of everything and I know you will make the best of everything that comes your way. Mark, thank you for serving our country!

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mailto:kayelily@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

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Long View Center Wedding for Kim and Ian!

Ian and Kimberly chose the elegant Long View Center sanctuary in downtown Raleigh for their wedding. Unity Church of the Triangle makes their home in Long View Center and happily provides this beautiful historic setting for weddings. It was built in the 1880s and was a baptist church until that congregation relocated and sold the building in 2002. The current owner restored and renovated the space preserving the historic elements of this spacious and impressive venue. 

Since the church took the stained glass windows with them when they moved, the owner replaced them with beautiful non-religious themed works of art.

Built before sound systems existed, the architecture is designed for acoustical excellence.

Dana Mallory provided lovely music for the prelude, processional and recessional. 

Our flower girls, Mary Parker and Perry, who did a great job scattering the petals before the bride entered.

 Ian's parents, Gillian and Eugene.

The bridesmaids and flower girls had entered and our director, Danielle (future sister-in-law of our bride), cued the entrance of our beautiful bride escorted by her father, Rob.

And so Rob placed Kimberly's hand into Ian's and we ascended to the top of the altar for the ceremony.

 Paying tribute to their parents.....

Nina, Kimberly's sister-in-law, shared the words of Robert Fulghum about marriage. 

 Telling their story.... 

Sharing what they are looking forward to in marriage...Ian looks forward to finally getting that dog he has been waiting for!

  Saying their vows....

 The ring exchange.....

 Unity Sand Ceremony

 The deed is done! Let's have some fun!  

After photos, I headed over to Cobblestone Hall where their guests had assembled for the reception. Their photographers were Jill and Dena with Thornton Photography. Videography was Whitewater from Island Sound.

 This beautiful cake was by Sugarland! 

One of my favorite DJs was there spinning the music! Hi, Lenny Fritts!

Looks like everyone was having a great time! Rocky Top Hospitality did the catering. Fleuressence provided the beautiful bouquets for the ceremony and Kimberly and her mother did the flower arrangements for the reception. 

Ian and Kimberly, what a great wedding! I loved working with you to create your one-of-a-kind ceremony and wish you all the happiness in the world!

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To contact me:

mailto:kayelily@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

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A Glorious Wedding for Kate and Steve Wed at Duke Chapel!

Kate and Steve are such a wonderful couple and sooooo much in love! It radiates all around them. I was delighted when their wedding planner, Gina Myers with La Cosa Bella Events, contacted me to officiate for their wedding on April 6, 2013 at Duke Chapel. Steve is a graduate of Duke Law School. Kate and Steve live in Cincinnati so in November I met with Kate's parents, Steve and Mary, who live in Raleigh and we finalized the contract.  Kate and Steve were in town over the Christmas holidays so we got together for the first time and went over what they wanted and how we would proceed in co-creating a very special, meaningful and personalized ceremony for them. We had a rehearsal the day before the wedding with Blanche Williams, the chapel event coordinator and wedding director. I consider myself an expert on conducting wedding rehearsals after 14 years but Blanche really has it down to an art and science! I was glad to sit back and let her run the show!  I could not have improved on her organization or presentation one little bit!

The big day arrived and it was glorious weather for which we were all grateful having had such unusual weather so far in 2013. Before the wedding, Kate and Steve and their photographer, Terry with Carolina Mediastar, staged a "first look" at Duke Gardens. So after that there was no hiding the bride from the groom and when we arrived, the bride and groom and bridesmaids were taking pictures in front of the beautiful chapel.

The bridesmaids pretty dresses were in a lovely shade of coral and the  maid of honor's dress was a soft beigy pink.

I took this opportunity to get in some photos with the couple not knowing if there would be another good opportunity after the ceremony.

Our videographer, Denny with Island Sound, was setting up the video camera. There are strict rules in the chapel regarding photography. The photographers are to get no closer than 20 feet from the last row of guests although, like all weddings these days, I noticed cell phone cameras being held up during the ceremony!

This is the huge, famous pipe organ! It makes the most magnificent music!

The groomsmen have come inside to get their boutonnieres pinned on by Blanche and her assistant while the photographers shoot a few pictures.

A blurry photo of Blanche and me before the ceremony. She was super to work with!

And we begin right on time. The grandparents and parents were escorted in then the bridesmaids and groomsmen.

Our gorgeous bride and her sweet daddy! 

The pronouncement of marriage!

Little golden bells had been attached to the wedding programs with instructions to the guests to ring them during the pronouncement and kiss. I could hear their sweet chimes! 

 Awww! 

And they are on the move! They and the wedding party and parents circled around back inside the chapel while the guests went by shuttle to the Washington-Duke Inn for the reception.

I signed the "big book" as the officiant then the witnesses who were Steve, father of the bride, left, and Mike, father of the groom, in the center. Blanche is showing them where to sign.

Then it was time to get some other photos. 

This pose was Terry, the photographer's idea! Terry and I have done many weddings together in the past 10 years. 

Kate is the sweetest person and I was honored to work with her and Steve and be a part of their very special day. Kate and Steve, I think you are a fine couple and that your marriage will be very successful. I wish you much health and happiness! If there is ever anything I can do for you, please let me know!!

Vendors for this wedding:
Wedding Planner: Gina Myers, La Cosa Bella Events
Musician: Duke Chapel Organist
Florist: Fleuressence
Photographers: Carolina Mediastar--Terry and his son James and daughter Mylena
Make-up: Stephanie Sevilla
Videography: Island Sound
Sound at the Chapel: Sonny
Reception: Washington-Duke Inn

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To contact me: 

kayelily@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

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