Wedding Bells Ring for Amanda and TJ at Brier Creek!

Amanda and TJ are both quiet private people but they still wanted their wedding ceremony to reflect their love and respect for each other. They met in college over 6 years ago and have worked hard and supported each other in achieving their dream careers. Amanda always knew she wanted to be a veterinarian and TJ thought he wanted to be an architect. In the intervening years, TJ changed directions and now works as an actuary because he is really smart with numbers whereas Amanda loves animals and is so grateful to TJ for taking her and all her pets (including the bird) into their relationship as a package deal!

The wedding day of May 27, 2012, Memorial Day weekend, arrived and the weather was so perfect for their garden wedding! The Ballroom at Brier Creek Country Club was all set up and ready for the guests. Shelly Keeter was on hand to make sure all the details were taken care of.

 Their pretty colors were purple and orange with some pink--stunning. 

Cydney and her staff of The English Garden did the gorgeous florals and the sprays of bright flowers at the pergola as well as the bouquets and boutonnieres.

 Ashley Cakes provided this wonderful wedding cake!

Mary Greiner with Save The Date Music provided the string quartet and they played so beautifully. I have done weddings with all the musicians here except the person on the left who has recently joined the ranks.

We are ready to begin and TJ and the groomsmen are standing with me ready to walk in. (This was the last photo taken with my Nikon camera. At this point the battery was exhausted although I had just charged it the night before. I did not have a spare battery with me and so my iPhone 4 was pressed into service for the rest of the photos and for the next wedding right after this one because I did not have time to go home and get the other camera battery!)

Our three pretty bridesmaids dressed in purple are ready too. Images by Denise had done the hair and make-up for the bride and bridesmaids. 

Amanda and her father, Marcel, begin the long walk to the altar. Mimi, Amanda's friend, served as our wedding director and she has just straightened Amanda's train here. 

The light was so golden! 

The ceremony began with a warm welcome, then an opening prayer. We remembered those who had passed on but were with us in spirit.

I asked the parents for their blessings for the couple. Then it was time for the story of how they met and fell in love, what they love about each other and why they wanted to marry. Before the exchange of vows we had the blessing of the hands ceremony.

Nick Pironio with Krystal Kast Photography was busy getting some great photos of the wedding.

 

They exchanged vows and rings before the closing blessing and the pronouncement below. (Can't do zoom shots with the iPhone!)

The kiss sealed the vows. I made them kiss twice so we could get a good shot of that important moment!

It is done! They are married! Amanda and TJ, congratulations on your beautiful wedding and your marriage. You know better than anyone how well matched you are and I know you are so happy. I wish  you all the best!

Rima and Jeff's Sweet Wedding at the new Hampton Inn at Brier Creek!

Jeff's mother, Carol, called me last December to plan Jeff and Rima's wedding at the new Hampton Inn at Brier Creek on May 28, 2011. It was Memorial Day weekend and luckily I had that evening open. So we got the date and time reserved on my calendar and she put me in touch with Jeff who was living in Myrtle Beach. Rima was in Jordan. Yes, 6000 miles away! Rima grew up in Jordan and attended the university there. Some years ago, Jeff's brother, Andrew, was working in Jordan and met his future wife, Suzan, who grew up in Jordan. They married and moved to the US. One Thanksgiving when Jeff was visiting his family, Suzan's dear friend, Rima, that she met at the university in Jordan came to visit. Rima was working for the US Embassy in Jordan and came to the US for some training then traveled down to Raleigh for the holidays. Although the romance between Rima and Jeff did not strike up immediately, they definitely noticed each other and started emailing. Their friendship grew and grew and Jeff proposed in February of 2010. In May of 2010, Jeff visited her in Jordan and met her extended family. Sadly Rima's parents died many years ago and she was raised by her older sister. A grand engagement party was held. They told me the story of having to traverse Jordan several times to get all the government paperwork necessary for Rima to immigrate to the US and marry. Now a year later, their wedding takes place in Raleigh, thanks to Jeff's parents who were so gracious to make all the arrangements as if Rima was their own daughter. They sure are a wonderful family and I loved being included in their special day. I did not meet Jeff and Rima until about a week prior to the wedding when they were both in Raleigh. We finished up the ceremony we had already started and had a rehearsal the night before the wedding.

When Dave and I arrived for the wedding, Courtney Scholl, their wedding planner, had gotten everything set up for the ceremony. Courtney and I have not worked together before and I was glad to be doing this wedding with her. Denise of Images by Denise did the women's hair and make-up. Ryan Pflumm with Island Sound was our DJ for the ceremony and the reception. Island Sound also provided the videographer whose name I did not get. Cydney with The English Garden did the lovely flowers. Michael with Michael's Memories was our photographer.

This spacious room at the Hampton Inn was set up with a beautiful arbor and the Unity Candle was on the half-table behind where I would stand. This is the first wedding I have done here. It has only recently opened.

In the reception room down the hall, this beautiful cake by Swank Cake Design was waiting!

Behind the ceremony room was the large beautiful hallway where they were invited for refreshments after the ceremony and before the reception. Before the ceremony, this area also served as the "holding area" for the father of the groom, Frank, on the left, his brother, Andrew,  then Jeff, and Patrick, the person who would escort Rima in. Patrick was Rima's employer at the US Embassy in Jordan and graciously offered to bring her down the aisle.

Mother and father of the groom, Carol and Frank, entered first when all the guests had arrived and been seated.

Jeff and I took our places at the front.

Then Andrew and Suzan entered together.

Next was our lovely ring bearer, Rachel, followed by our flower girl, Allison, walking down the aisle.

 

Rima and Patrick entered as I asked all the guests to stand. 

 

Patrick lifted the blusher veil and then placed Rima's hand into Jeff's hand and was seated.

Lighting of the Unity Candle. The air vents played havoc with Jeff's candle which kept blowing out but once they lit the Unity Candle, it stayed lit! 

I wish I had better photos of the ceremony but the light level was low and my little camera apparently had difficulty focusing but I had to put in this one of the pronouncement and below, the kiss!

 

 And out they go into their new life together.

Allison and Rachel exit as a pair of very happy girls!

Andrew and Suzan are so happy that Rima is now part of their family. Carol and Frank are too. Just think, both of their sons are married to wonderful young women from Jordan. Quite an international family!

The happy couple posed for some photos with me. Jeff and Rima, you two are made for each other and I am so glad that you found each other. I know you will be very happy together! I wish you all the happiness in the world!

Fabulous Interfaith Wedding Ceremony for Reshma and Darren at Maggiano's!

Reshma, Darren and I met last September to plan their wedding for October of 2011 at Maggiano's Little Italy in Southpoint Mall. Due to some health challenges in the family they decided to move their wedding up six months earlier than planned so we set a new wedding date for Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011. Fortunately Maggiano's was able to accommodate the change of date. So we got to work on their ceremony which was a lovely blending of Christian and Hindu wedding customs along with a sweet tribute to their parents and Reshma's daughter, Selena. We rehearsed on Saturday morning to make sure everyone understood their part. At the rehearsal I had the pleasure of meeting Reshma's parents, Babu and Meena. Babu, her father, and I chatted quite a bit. He earned his graduate degree from UNC in the 1970s and they now live outside Augusta, GA. He requested that I include in the prayer the significance of Easter Sunday to balance with the Hindu invocation of prayer to the Lord Ganesh, the God of Wisdom, which opens every auspicious Hindu occasion. 

When Marty and I arrived for the wedding, the reception area was all set for the celebration after the ceremony. Maggiano's has a nice large private room where I have also done several wedding ceremonies as it can be partitioned into two separate rooms. For Reshma and Darren's ceremony, however, we were using the round room with lots of windows to the left of the revolving door entrance.

Reshma was out of sight of the guests getting ready. Here she had not put on her veil. What a beautiful wedding gown!Thanks to Carolyn Scott, our photographer, for sending me these shots and more!

The color for the wedding was a true red and this lovely cake certainly fits right into the color scheme. I believe that the chef of Maggiano's is responsible for this beautiful cake. Reshma, correct me if I am wrong.

Maggiano's was open for business on Easter Sunday and so the wedding guests were mingled with the restaurant guests waiting in the lounge area to be seated and it was hard for me to tell who was a wedding guest and who was a customer waiting to be seated in the dining room! But, we got all the guests seated and started the processional. The first person escorted in was Darren's mother, Kay, escorted in by Darren's brother.

 Above is Reshma's beautiful mother, Meena, escorted in by her son, Sheel.

Reshma asked that I wear red as well and I was most happy to don the red dress I wear for weddings because I don't get to wear it that often, mainly at Christmas! Darren and I prepare to make our entrance followed by his best man, Ben.

This pretty little girl is Selena, the 10 year old daughter of the bride. She was so excited for this wedding and her enthusiasm showed as she walked in sprinkling petals.

Then Teresa, the Matron of Honor, entered. She was supposed to come in before Selena but somehow Selena got ahead of her. It was fine, no big deal!

Here comes the bride escorted in by her father, Babu, and her brother, Sheel. She sure got the attention of the customers waiting in the lounge area! I found out on Facebook that behind the scenes, Denise Hutter of Images by Denise had been doing hair and makeup for Reshma, Selena, Teresa and Meena.

You can see a little of what this room looks like from here. All the guests were standing for the entrance of our beautiful bride. When I arrived, there was a red velvet runner down the aisle but we had to remove it because the doors would not clear it and it would have been a tripping hazard during the ceremony as the bride and groom circled  the fire in the Hindu custom. When I told Reshma after the ceremony, she had not even noticed the absence of the aisle runner!

Our photographer, Carolyn Scott, kneels in the aisle to get some great shots of the bride and groom and wedding party as we begin this wonderful ceremony. She sent me some great photos that I have added to this post. Thanks, Carolyn! This is the first ceremony that we have worked together.

Reshma and Darren were so ready to get married! Their love for each other was evident as they gazed at each other. Reshma had been married before then widowed. I know Darren is so happy that he held out on matrimony until Reshma came into his life.

After the welcome, we had a Christian prayer which included the significance of Easter (everlasting life) and then Reshma's father was to give two Hindu prayers. He told me at the rehearsal that he and Selena were going to surprise Reshma at that point by Selena giving one of the prayers. And she did a great job. Babu, on the other hand, got a bit choked up at that point and Sheel stood up to help him but he recovered and came through. It was such a touching moment!

After remembering loved ones who have passed on, including Darren's father and brother, we had a tribute to Reshma's parents, Darren's mother, and to Selena. 

Then it was time to pour the sand in the Family Unity Sand Ceremony.The couple's story of how they met and fell in love came next. Everyone enjoyed hearing the sweet moments and the humorous moments of their courtship--including their rival football teams, the Steelers for Reshma and the Cowboys for Darren!

In the Christian tradition, we had the lighting of the Unity Candle. These flames then served as the sacred fire of Phere. The Hindu wedding custom of Mangal Phera is for the couple to  walk around the fire four times. At each round, Sheel offered the couple ceremonial rice and rose petals as a gift which they accepted then made the next round.

The first three rounds the bride leads the groom signifying that the bride would be free to take the lead in matters of everyday life.

 

Darren had to be careful not to step on the bride's train that trailed after her on the three rounds! 

The groom leads the bride for the fourth round signifying that it would be the groom who would lead her through life. Each round had a significance: Dharma, Artha, Karma, and Moksha for which I read the meaning as they made their rounds.

The next tradition was called Saptapati. As the bride and groom walk around the fire taking seven steps, they make certain promises to each other at each step which they repeated after me.

Here Darren is placing the Mangalsutra, a ceremonial wedding necklace, around Reshma's neck. This Hindu custom is the counterpart to the Western tradition of wedding rings.

Now they exchanged rings and repeated their vows to each other after me, line by line.

Finally we come to the closing blessing and the proclamation of marriage!

The KISS!  (Darren remembered that at the rehearsal I told him to be sure and put his hands under the veil rather than on top or he would dislodge it or yank her head backwards!)

Look at that big smile Darren is wearing! I know Reshma was so thrilled. And Selena was ecstatic to have a new daddy! She and Darren have bonded like two peas in a pod!

 

After Marty and I retrieved my microphone and receiver from our DJ Tim Hazell of TJDJ Music, and my little table which held the rice, petals and necklace, we went outside for photos. I snagged Teresa and got her signature for the marriage license. I had already gotten Ben's signature just before we started the ceremony.

 

 Reshma had already stepped out of her pretty red high heels and Teresa was pinning up the train.

 

There was a refreshing breeze as you can see and we were all so thrilled that the ceremony had gone so perfectly. Darren and Reshma, I know you know how fortunate you are to have found one another and I know you are going to have a wonderful marriage and provide a wonderful model of a healthy relationship and nurturing home for Selena! Congratulations!