Festive Carolina Inn Destination Wedding for Marcy and Andrew!

I met Marcy and Andrew for the first time in person at their rehearsal the day before their wedding date of December 29, 2012. Marcy lives in Arlington VA and at the moment, Andrew lives in London. He was born and raised in the United Kingdom and his family moved to the United States when he was a young teenager. Marcy grew up in Ohio. Ironically they both attended the same university in Virginia but not at the same time. They met through a mutual friend and quickly discovered that they were meant to be together. Andrew proposed last Christmas and they began planning this wedding. His family lives in Illinois and hers in Ohio, so why did they choose Chapel Hill for their wedding city? Well, Marcy did some graduate work at UNC some years ago and loved North Carolina but primarily this area was chosen because of our international airport since they had people coming for their wedding from all over the world. They could not have made a better choice!

They found me on the internet and based on my many wedding website reviews and a recommendation from the Carolina Inn, they engaged my services sight unseen. Email and US mail worked just fine! They hired Rebecca Dunn with Events by La Fete to handle the details, Jeff Simpson with Simpsound DJ and Lighting to do the spectacular lighting and DJ the reception, Matt Kanon to provide music for the ceremony, GiGi's Cupcakes, Fresh Affairs Floral Designs and Nathan Clendenin, photographer with Cana Collective. And so the date arrived and we all came together for this super-fantastic wedding.

The Carolina Inn was still in Christmas mode including a whimsical Christmas tree in the lobby. It was a tree full of little elves! 

 This must be the supervising Elf on the column nearby. 

The ceremony was in the Chancellor's Ballroom and the reception in the Hill Ballroom. This matt ready for a future photo of the couple was their guest book for guests to sign as they entered for the ceremony.

Outside the reception room was a seating chart for the guests. Each table was named for a mass transit station found in either London or Washington DC.

In the Hill Ballroom was the tower of cupcakes by GiGi's with a description of the 12 flavors!

 The Bride and Groom were to be seated at Heathrow 1, 2, 3 for the Tube stops!

 London Bridge table!

This photo was taken after Jeff got all the up-lighting in place. It was gorgeous!

Jeff and I look rather blue! 

Outside the Hill Ballroom were a couple of "Turtle Doves" which I am sure were part of the Carolina Inn's Christmas decor. It was quite appropriate for a wedding though and the doves were cooing at each other while we were there! 

Back to the ceremony ballroom--Matt Kanon is all set up for the ceremony and my sound system is in place behind him. Love the bright happy color scheme in this ballroom!

Marcy and her father, David, entered after their large wedding party had made our entrances. She was wearing a very gorgeous lace wedding gown.

Their wedding party and guests assembled here from all over the world! 

The couple honored their parents with a sweet blessing and the mothers were moved to tears.

Marcy's friend, Cynthia, read "I Love You" by Roy Croft.

Andrew's Uncle Barry read "I carry your heart with me," a poem by ee cummings.

Marcy and Andrew made their declarations of intent then I stepped out to speak to the guests and request a community blessing.

They said their vows of marriage to each other then exchanged rings and it was time for the Unity Candle lighting.

While they were lighting the candle, Andrew's sister, Jenny, sang a beautiful song "Asleep at Last." She has such a lovely voice.

Jenny was having a difficult time making it through the song and kept tearing up and sniffling!

Finally she just gave up on finishing the song, threw up her hands and gave the bride and groom a big hug as we all laughed at her antics and applauded her. 

 The pronouncement of marriage...... 

What a wonderful wedding, Marcy and Andrew! I loved working with you to make your ceremony what you had always dreamed of. I know you both will go far in life and create a satisfying and loving marriage. I wish you all the best of everything!

Stephanie and Dan's Awesome Rustic Casual Wedding at The Sutherland!

Stephanie's parents contacted me in February of 2010 to book me for Stephanie and Dan's wedding on May 7, 2011 at The Sutherland. I married their daughter, Brittany, in 2009 at the Preston-Woodall House and they wanted to make sure they got me for Stephanie's wedding. I was delighted!

When Marty and I arrived for the big day, this cute little sign greeted us. There was great attention to detail at this lovingly and carefully planned wedding. Their theme was Rustic Casual and their color scheme was pink and orange so I made a new prayer stole to wear to match their colors.

 

The wedding box contains  a bottle of wine and unread handwritten love letters Dan and Stephanie wrote to each other and sealed--to be opened on their first anniversary to remind them of this wonderful day and how much they love each other.

The Cupcake Shoppe provided these tasty looking cupcakes and a small cake for the bride and groom to cut for the customary cake-feeding of each other at the reception.

 

Sweet little nest of Mr. and Mrs. eggs with sprigs of fragrant honeysuckle.

Burlap bags of coffee were favors for the guests to take home with them.

 

 Bride and Groom's colorful table with another nest of Mr. and Mrs. eggs! 

Rocky Top Catering catered the event and the menu is just right for this playful wedding theme.

Inside the house on the dining room table, the beautiful bouquets await the bridesmaids and the bride. The Purple Poppy  in Wake Forest provided all the beautiful florals.

A favorite DJ of mine is Jeff Simpson with Simpsound DJ and Lighting Services. He was also the DJ at Brittany and Will's wedding and Stephanie's mother, Lisa, persisted until she got him booked for this wedding. May is prom time and DJs are in big demand! This was his first wedding at The Sutherland and he was duly impressed with the beauty of the estate. At the rehearsal on Friday before this wedding, The Sutherland was setting up for a prom for Home Schools for the second year in a row. A gorgeous setting for an elegant prom.

Guests milled around on the Bride's Patio before being seated for the ceremony.

Jennifer Jones (and assistant Donna) was our wedding director from The Sutherland. She and Jeff are going over the cues. I don't know what the deal with their hands is!

Stephanie's dress was gorgeous and perfect for her. It was slightly off white which complemented her skin color and so light and fluffy!

 

The flower girls, Savanna and Ava, managed to stay up on the altar with us the entire ceremony. Ava, the younger one, had a good time playing with her hair from time to time and Savannah would remind her to pay attention! Our Matron of Honor is Stephanie's sister, Brittany, and one of the groomsmen is her husband, Will. They are expecting their first child in August. Also expecting is their older sister, Jennifer, (not in the wedding party but sitting in the front row) and she is expecting in August also, as well as another of our bridesmaids. We decided that we will have a group baby blessing ceremony for them all, including Ava and Savannah, later this year! That will be so much fun!

We had a very special parents' blessing for their parents. Mark and Lisa, Stephanie's parents, and Mike and Heidi, Dan's parents have been married 29 years! Congratulations and thank you for providing such wonderful models of marriage for your children!

 

After telling the guests how Stephanie and Dan met and the story of their courtship, it was time to exchange their vows and rings. Then they locked the wedding box with the wine and their love letters.

 

 The crowning moment of the wedding! A good kiss, Dan!

Nicole Faby is our photographer. We have done several weddings together. She is expecting a baby too! I have seen some photos that Nicole has done of babies that rival the famous baby portraits of Anne Geddes!

Stephanie and Dan, I know that your love and dedication to each other will ensure a wonderful marriage! Congratulations! I look forward to seeing you and your family again later on this year at the baby blessing ceremony as we welcome your new nieces and/or nephews!