Caroline and Varun's Wedding in the White Garden of Duke Gardens on August 25th, 2018

Neither Caroline and Varun nor their families live in NC but because these lovebirds met while attending Duke University, they chose to have their wedding here in the White Garden in Duke Gardens. This is a beautiful amphitheater that is a wonderful setting for a wedding. I've done many ceremonies here and watched the garden develop and become lush and full. See previous weddings HERE.

From the gazebo across from the ceremony area where the DJ is set up, you can see the circular ceremony area and the visitor's center behind it where the cocktail hour and reception will be.

Our wedding director, Amanda Scott with A Swanky Affair, is placing the fans in the chairs for the guests. The day was not too hot, in fact it was quite comfortable with a thin cloud cover. An exceptionally "cool" day for August in North Carolina!

Under the tent that covers the terrace, their guest book consists of a plaque of North Carolina for the guests to sign.

Caroline's aunt had given her a hankie for the wedding ceremony and our maid of honor, Allison, has just brought it to me to place in my ceremony book where I can hand it to Caroline during the ceremony when the tears appeared! And they did!

Inside the visitor's center the staff is getting the tables set and adding the decor for the reception. 

This later photo shows the tables set up with their color scheme of Duke blue--of course! Cateringworks was catering this reception.  

This beautiful cake by Ashley Cakes  is ready to cut and enjoy! 

Their photographer, Joe Payne, and Caroline and Varun did a First Look at Duke Chapel then came to the garden for more. And now they are heading back to the holding area within the visitor's center while the guests arrive and take their seats. 

Dave grabbed a photo of the three of us before the ceremony just in case we didn't get one afterwards!

They chose their mothers to be their witnesses on the marriage license. 

Alex Choi with Vox DJ is all set up in the gazebo. I plugged my mic into his body pack and we did a sound check. It was perfect! Thanks, Alex, it was great to work with you again!

This open air cathedral shaped structure is right behind where the guests will be seated and from which the bridesmaids and the bride and her parents will process in for the ceremony.

All the plants have matured and are immaculately manicured by the garden staff. Always beautiful!

It was time to begin. Amanda cued Alex to begin the music and I walked in to take my place followed by the groomsmen. 

Then Varun escorted his mother who traveled all the way from India for the wedding to her seat then joined me and the guys.

The bridesmaids processed in next. Allison has just walked in and is turning around.

Alex changes the music and the bride and her parents began their procession into the ceremony! 

After her parents were seated and she joined Varun, we began the ceremony with a welcome to all the guests. 

They took a look out at all their friends and families who had traveled from far and wide to be with them on this auspicious day.

After a blessing and remembering those loved ones who could not be with us, I stepped out to address their parents and tell them how much Caroline and Varun love and appreciate them.

Then I had the pleasure of telling the story of how they met and fell in love. 

It was back in 2013 when Caroline was a senior and Varun had just arrived from India to begin grad school.

They met one evening in a local bar when they were out with friends. Varun and Caroline gravitated to each other and had so much fun talking and laughing together, they decided to see each other again. It was not long before they were inseparable. Caroline graduated and began applying to law schools and working locally while Varun finished grad school. Then they both relocated to the DC area--Varun to begin his new career and Caroline to begin law school. Varun proposed on the peak of a mountain overlooking the Shenandoah Valley in May of 2017 by reading a poem he wrote to Caroline which ended with "will you marry me?" Of course Caroline said yes so they took a selfie then hurried down the mountain to share the good news with family and friends!

At this point in the ceremony I am sharing with each of them what the other told me in confidence about what they love about them, why they want to marry and what they are looking forward to in marriage. It is such a tender moment and Caroline got to use the hankie!

Then they shared their vows with each other.

Varun places the Mangulsutra--a sacred black necklace--around Caroline's neck as I explained that this is an Indian wedding custom symbolizing the groom's acceptance to share his life with the bride.

Then I called for the rings which represent the unbroken circle of love.  

Varun placed the ring on Caroline's finger as he said words to her after me. 

Then Caroline placed the ring on Varun's finger and said her words to him. 

Just making sure the rings is all the way on! 

We closed with a blessing to send them on their happy journey!

I pronounced them married and invited them to share their first kiss as husband and wife.

Loving that! 

The "after-kiss moment" when the reality that they are really married sinks in! 

Presentation of the newlywed couple to their guests!

Up close shot of this beautiful sacred necklace--the Mangulsutra. 

Varun and Caroline! What a beautiful wedding for a beautiful couple. I loved it and I think your families and guests did too. You were wonderful to work with. Thank you for giving me the honor of joining you in matrimony! My best for you always!

Jemalia and Udo Marry at the Bridge Club on February 18, 2017!

The Bridge Club at 105 W. Hargett Street in downtown Raleigh is a new wedding venue. This was my first wedding there and it was wonderful. The staff is so helpful and accommodating. They also have their own house sound system which is so convenient for me to plug my mic into.

The Bridge Club is on the second and third floors of what used to be a bank building with very high ceilings. It is right upstairs from the Death and Taxes restaurant. Bridge Club does their own catering.

The second floor is where the ceremony and cocktail hour were held. The reception was on the third floor. Here is where the ceremony will take place. The windows look out onto Salisbury Street. These pretty florals were by Kelly Odom Flowers.

Getting my mic on and doing a sound check. 

Phil on cello and Sherry on violin of Florian Music provided the ceremony and cocktail hour music. Always wonderful to work with! 

This is the spacious third floor where the tables are ready for the reception. The chairs for the ceremony will be moved up here. This is also where the bride and her maidens hang out before the ceremony.

Jemalia checks her messages while her mother and the three bridesmaids relax. 

My husband Dave was taking photos for me. I don't know what was happening here but looks like it was funny!

Confectionate Cakes made this lovely gold and pink wedding cake. 

Hannah, our flower girl, and Matthew, our ring bearer, are hanging out here, Hanna with her mother and Matthew with his sister, waiting for the ceremony to start.

After all the guests had arrived our director, Heather, cued the musicians and the mother of the groom, Femmie, and her partner, Simon, to enter and be seated.

Jemalia's mother, Lillie, and her father, Tony, enter next and Tony returned to bring in the bride.

Then it was my turn to walk as Heather motions for the guys to follow me. 

Udo and his family are from The Netherlands where they grow very tall people! This is his brother, Erwin. I felt like I was in the valley of the giants!

We are awaiting the flower girl and ring bearer and after a slow start they began processing in. All those people watching them is a bit intimidating to young children.

Heather did a great job of convincing them to walk down the aisle. Matthew took the ring pillow to Erwin and was rewarded with a pack of M&Ms!

Here comes the bride and her father! Heather fluffs the train. Jemalia is no shorty either! 

Joe Payne, our esteemed photographer, followed them down the aisle getting some good shots. 

Ahh! Here we all are. At 5'5" I was the shortest person in the wedding party. Udo and his brother and Jemalia's brother are all at least 7 ft tall!

After the welcome, we honored their parents. This was a sweet surprise to them. We also recognized Udo's teenage daughter, Fabienne. 

Then I got to tell the story of how Jemalia and Udo met and fell in love. Their journey together began exactly 4 years ago to the day. Udo proposed exactly one year ago to the day. And now the wedding--he wanted only one date to remember--February 18th!

Then they heard what each of them told me they love about each other. Some humor here too! 

They made their vows to each other then exchanged rings. 

I reached up to make the pronouncement! 

Ah...the sweet kiss! 

I introduced them to their guests and as they headed down the aisle I stepped into the center again for the recessional of the wedding party and parents then invited the guests to move to the back of the room for cocktails while the chairs were being moved upstairs for the reception. Meanwhile Joe took the wedding party outside and down around the corner to the Capital for photos. I packed up my mic and Dave and I headed out to find them for one more picture!

Congratulations, Jemalia and Udo! What a wonderful wedding you planned. You are a beautiful couple and I am so honored that you chose me to join you in marriage. I wish you the best life can bring!