The Glamorous New Year's Eve Wedding of Allison and Michael at The Cloth Mill at the Eno River!

What an amazingly beautiful "BLING" wedding for New Year's Eve 2017! Aly and Michael chose The Cloth Mill at the Eno River in Hillsborough as their venue and it was absolutely decked out to the ultimate degree. 

Greeting everyone was this lovely sign. 

The area for the ceremony was in the center and draped off. Michael and his best man are checking their messages!

Meanwhile the bridesmaids and Aly are gathered to do some photos on the dance floor which was where we held the ceremony with guests seated on either side. It was definitely unique and imaginative. Chelsey Morrison with Gather Together Events and her staff pulled this whole wedding together. The vendor team was huge! The florals were by Anna with Meristem Floral. She is so talented. The Greenhouse Picker Sisters provided vintage decor and styling.

Our photographer extraordinaire is Riley MacLean. He is flanked by the videographers also getting in on the action. Light Cannon Films out of Wilmington.

Riley is so good at setting up the shots with these sweet kids.

There to help Chelsey were Katherine with Gather Together and Danielle with Mason Dixon Designs. 

This stunning cake was by The Cupcake Shoppe. It was so elegant in its simplicity. 

The Sweetheart Table.  

The glittery tablecloths and acrylic chairs just added to the bling. CE Rentals provided the linens and table tops. The Ghost Chiavari Chairs were provided by Party Suppliers of Wilmington. Themeworks Creative, Make-up for Your Day Artistry and many other vendors were behind the scenes making this happen.

Aly's favorite color is purple.

Outside was an area for guests to gather during the reception for a breath of fresh air. They had the gas outdoor heaters, some table and chairs and lighting.

And of course the corn hole board!

There were two bars, one on each side of the ceremony area. The Cloth Mill and On The Rocks ran the bar.

Isn't that floral swag amazing?

A view of the ceremony area. Note all the chandeliers.

The sideboards studded with greens and flowers with soft candlelight and yellow uplighting. Get Lit Lighting did all the lighting. 

I found a secluded spot to sit down and review the ceremony. 

Donovan's Dish staff were putting out the appetizers.  Our DJ for the wedding and reception was Collin Yarborough working for Spin. 

The guests have all arrived and Chelsey on far left has gotten us all lined up. At this point the parents are entering. 

And now time for Michael and his guys and I to enter and take our places followed by the bridesmaids.

Here comes the bride and her father! 

All the guests were standing in their honor.

Their ceremony was so very unique to them. Because we were flanked on both sides, we turned a quarter of a turn 4 times during the ceremony until we were back where we started so every guests could see.

The pretty bridesmaids were lined up on one side and the groomsmen on the other. 

It was difficult to get a lot of good shots of the ceremony as access was limited due to the seating. 

Shooting through the drapes! 

You can see the groomsmen now. 

Telling the story of how they met one day while snowboarding--their favorite sport. They were intrigued by each other when they met but had no idea what the other looked like because of all the cold weather gear they had on!

Once down the slope, when Aly removed her goggles and beanie, Michael wasted no time getting her number. Turns out they were both students at Western Carolina University.

They officially became a couple about 8 months later, graduated and took jobs together at a ski resort in Colorado.  When the skiing season was over they bravely headed back to NC not knowing what the future held for them. Aly procured a job and Michael went into law enforcement training.

When he was finished they finally got settled down and started planning this magnificent wedding!

The bridesmaids had made a request that when it was time for them to hear the secret paragraphs about what they love about each other and what they are looking forward to, that we be positioned so that they could see the bride and groom's facial expressions. And so here we go!

Everyone especially enjoyed hearing this when I addressed Michael: "Michael, Aly feels so lucky to have met you while enjoying one of her favorite sports—I mean, how often does a girl meet a HOT guy on the slopes who is genuinely sweet too?"

Michael enjoyed it too! 

And so now we are back facing the parents at this point for the rest of the ceremony. 

They chose the handfasting ritual so I wrapped their clasped hands with the purple cord which represented love. 

Then they joined right hands forming the symbol of infinity blessing their marriage in the eternal ebb and flow of the Universe.  They made their vows to each other while their hands were clasped.

I removed the cord for them to exchange their rings which symbolically take the place of the cord. Aly had to help a little bit in getting her ring all the way on.

Then she placed the ring on Michael's hand and said the vows after me. 

A closing blessing before the pronouncement of marriage.

And at this point they legally became husband and wife! 

The kiss that seals the marriage!

They turned and faced their parents as I introduced them to their guests. Then they made an about face and headed off for photos and I invited the guests to enjoy cocktails at either bar while the ceremony area was being flipped for the reception.

Michael and Aly, what a "WOW" wedding! I loved it. You were so great to work with. I know you are so happy to be married and settling into married life. I wish you all the best forever!

Conley and Adam's Spectacular Wedding at The Pavilions at Angus Barn!

When Dave and I arrived for Conley and Adam's wedding at The Pavilions at Angus Barn on September 12, 2015, our photographer's assistant had all the groomsmen with the groom assembled for photos while our photographer,  Katherine Miles Jones was with the bride and her maidens. It was an overcast day with rain threatening but it held off! Perfect lighting for photos--no squinting or shadows.

My first stop was to get to the ceremony site by the lake and get my mic plugged into the venue's sound system and do a sound check.

My view from the front facing the guests. This orientation is really different and I like it. The bridesmaids did not have to walk down the steps this way but instead walked down the sloping walkway in the back.

From the back of the ceremony area. I love the very simple, elegant pedestals of white flowers by A Watered Garden.

Our sound man, JP, with Hannah, our videographer's assistant. 

Our videographer, Philip James with Philip James Films. 

These huge arrows directing the guests into the ceremony area are a sheet of gold sequin-like disks on  adhesive paper to stick to the brick walk. Clever.

Chelsey Morrison with Gather Together is our planner and director for this beautiful wedding. She is going over some ushering instructions with the groomsmen before the guests arrive.

I snagged Colton, best man and brother of the groom, to do his legal duty of signing the marriage license. 

The Port City Shakedown band is all set up and readyfor the reception.

Inside the pavilion the tables and chairs are in place.

Gorgeous centerpieces.......

Ashley Cakes made this beautiful wedding cake.

And now it is time to get everyone lined up to enter. Chelsea cues the sound man and tells each couple when to walk. One set of Adam's grandparents, Mary and HC, had already walked in at this point.

Ann, grandmother of the groom, is escorted in by Toby. 

Nan, mother of the groom, is escorted in by her son, Colton, followed by Clay, father of the groom.

Jennifer, stepmother of the bride, is escorted in by Evan.

Gai, mother of the bride is escorted in by her son, Clai.

Adam and I make the long walk to the front of the guests. 

First couple is Caroline and Ricky.

Brittany and Burton

Brittany and Shaw

Rebecca and Jonathan

Taylor and Ryan

Virginia and Skula

Lacey and Clai

Suzanne and Evan

Megan and Toby

Greer, sister of the bride and our maid of honor, with Colton, best man

Luke and Drew, our ring bearers. They are Adam's cousins. They took their jobs so seriously! 

Waiting for the bride! 

Here she comes! Katherine is getting a photo while Chelsey's assistant Katherine holds the veil straight and Chelsey cuts across the grass to get to the ceremony site. 

Conley's proud dad, Jeff, loved this job! 

And he transfers Conley's hand into Adam's!

Here we go! 

After words of welcome, a prayer, and remembering those no longer with us, I got to step out and tell the guests Adam and Conley's story like they never heard it before.

They loved it. So did Conley and Adam! 

Then I revealed what they had each told me in confidence that they love about each other. 

Then it was time for the vows and the rings and a closing blessing.

I placed my hand on theirs and pronounced them married! 

Adam, you may kiss your beautiful wife! 

After I introduced them as Mr. and Mrs., they headed off down the aisle! 

The photographer had them stop and kiss again!

C'mon, let's get to the reception!

 Conley and Adam, you are a wonderful couple! I am so happy that Chelsey connected us and that you were such fun to work with to create a fabulous ceremony. I got so many compliments, especially from your dad, Conley! And Adam! I wish you the best of everything!! 

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