Alan and Art's Masterpiece Wedding at The Tucker House!

I met with Art and Alan in October to plan their ceremony for November 17, 2018. They are decisive and know what they like, don't like, want, don't want. It was a pleasure working with them and watching their creativity in planning their wedding and scripting their ceremony.

The wedding day was beautiful and pleasant. When I arrived the first thing was to get my microphone plugged into the sound system and do a sound check because the road noise at this location can drown out unamplified voices.

I had not done a wedding at The Tucker House in many years but it was still exactly the same beautiful historic place.

The guys had assembled three musicians to play for the ceremony--Karyn Ostrom, Zach May and Scott McSwain. And they were very good! 

Alan sports a unique feather bowtie made for the occasion and a eucalyptus boutonniere and white rose bud. Happy handsome guy!

All the groomsmen sported feather bowties and boutonnieres. 

Doing the sound check here. They rented a sound system for me and for Art to use during the ceremony. 

We are hanging out inside the house as the guests get seated. Then the couple will exit through the back door and come out around front to process in. I came out onto the porch from the front door when cued.

Their friend Michelle was their honorary wedding director and she had things under control as the guests were finding their seats.

And now for the seating of the families by the groomsmen. 

Then the groomsmen walked in one by one and took their places up front. 

The grooms approach! 

I took my place on the porch and invited the guests to stand. 

Taking it all in before they began the trek down the aisle as Michelle looks on! 

There they go! An exciting moment! 

They turned and faced each other and I welcomed everyone to this momentous occasion. They had chosen some very poignant words about love, companionship and the journey to now.

At this point Alan and I stepped aside as Art went to the microphone. He is a very talented singer and sang "No Hard Feelings" by the Avett Brothers accompanied by the musicians. He did a great job and it was such a sweet moment in the ceremony.

Then it was time to tell their story! A great story filled with love, humor and surprises. 

They each proposed to the other but not at the same time. Two proposals, two sweet surprises. 

I asked each of them to tell me in confidence what they love about each other, why they want to marry and what they are looking forward to in marriage. For the first time, I revealed to the other what their partner had told me.

They exchanged wooden rings that Art had carefully crafted out of a piece of birch they had while each reading together the vows they had written which were printed in my book facing them.

It was quite a feat of coordination to read together and place the rings at the same time. 

But they did it! 

The big legal moment when I pronounced them husbands in marriage and invited them to share their first kiss as a married couple.

They kissed as their guests cheered them on! 

There is that sweet "after kiss moment" when reality dawns--we are really finally married! 

I presented them to their guests amidst applause and cheering. 

One of the happiest moments of their lives! 

The merriment began! 

Art and Alan! You pulled off a fabulous wedding! It was terrific and I applaud you for that. It was truly "you!" I am so honored that you chose me to join you in marriage and I wish you the best always!

Jesse and Richard Wed at Rollingview Community Center!

Richard and Jesse originally thought they would like to have their wedding in my wedding garden. But as they told their friends and family about their upcoming wedding on September 22nd, 2018, they decided they would like a  place where they could combine the ceremony and reception space. So the venue changed to Rollingview Community Center that is part of Falls Lake Recreation area.

When Dave and I arrived, the guests were there and the place was all decorated in the bright colors of red and orange. I wore my coral prayer stole to color-coordinate.

Jeff then Jody (not pictured) entered carrying the components of the Covenant of Salt ceremony. 

Jesse was escorted in by his parents, Lynn and Craig. 

Richard's sister, Sharon, escorted Richard into the ceremony space. 

Jesse and Richard wrote a masterpiece of a wedding ceremony. A lot of it was original material as opposed to using material I shared with them. I was so impressed--and so were their guests. It was so heart-felt and authentic.

We started with an invocation and welcome to all. 

Then Jeff shared a reading from "The Book of Love" by Magnetic Fields. 

Then we remembered those no longer with us followed by a tribute to their families.

Then I got to tell the story of how they met and fell in love. It was full of humor. 

What they love about each other heard for the first time! 

After a short ready by Jody, we moved on to the rings and vows.

The vows consisted of 6 deep questions for both of them to which they said "I do" to each question. 

At that point I pulled out my hankie and wiped away some tears of the grooms!

I explained the meaning of the Covenant of Salt to the guests.

Then the pouring of the salt together. A very meaningful adaptation of this ritual by Jesse. 

Following a closing blessing, I pronounced them husbands for life!

Hugs and kisses as the guests cheered and applauded! 

Presentation of the Newlywed Couple!

Jesse and Richard, Congratulations and thank you so much for your reviews: She was nothing but the best that the universe could give us for our ceremony! From the first meeting, until the ceremony ended, Kayelily delivered professionally and was very flexible to work with. Everyone in our wedding loved her, the reading, and delivery.