Shannon and Rob live in New York City and their wedding planner, Amanda Scott with
A Swanky Affair, referred them to me. We scheduled a Skype session on June 15, 2016 to meet each other and talk about their wedding on May 6, 2017 at
Fearrington Country Inn. We hit it off right away and they hired me to officiate for them. And then we started working on their ceremony.
After setting up my sound system, Dave and I checked out the barn where the reception would be held. As usually it looked fabulous.
Behind me you can see where the bluegrass band has their speakers set up and are ready to scoot from the ceremony back to the terrace to play music for the cocktail hour. The day was quite overcast with spotty showers forecast and they were concerned about their equipment getting wet. But the weather behaved itself for this wedding!
Back in the Garden House with most of the pre-ceremony photos done after the First Look, the bridesmaids were enjoying a little champagne with port. Our professional photographer for the wedding was
Krystal Kast.
And our beautiful bride swept in to hang out until the guests arrived and were seated. She is followed by her Maid of Honor and sister, Ashleigh, holding her veil.
Rob's grandmother and his mother, Meri, then arrived! His grandmother proudly announced that she was 95 years old. She looked wonderful. I am so happy she could be at their wedding.
Meanwhile I tracked the guys down in the Red Room. Such a comfortable place to hang out. I checked all the boutonnieres for secure pinning. Then I sat down and reviewed the ceremony.
The Greenliners, an acoustic bluegrass band, provided our ceremony music.
Gilda with Fearrington moved the guys and me from the Red Room to the Sunroom from where we would process in. We are all lined up here and ready for our cue to walk in.
After the music change we entered the ceremony area in the Crabapple Garden.
Now the bridesmaids begin processing in.
And they are all here. Time for our bride!
I invited the guests to stand in her honor.
Her father, George, answered my question to him then transferred Shannon's hand into Rob's and we stepped up under the chuppah. Then quite unexpectedly Rob leaned over to Shannon and whispered something in her ear. After the ceremony, I asked him what he said and he told me he told her she was so beautiful. Nice!
Such a pretty wedding. The overcast sky is actually quite nice for the photography. No shadows and the colors are vivid.
All the pretty maids in a row!
After welcoming everyone I stepped out onto the steps to address their parents and pay tribute to them.
Rob's two brothers, Mike and Corey, served as his best men.
I read a very poetic version of First Corinthians followed by Sonnett XVII by Pablo Neruda, the couple's favorite poem. Then I began telling the story of how they met and fell in love. Shannon and Rob met in 2006 when they were both students at Carolina, not too far from this spot. After graduation Rob moved to New York to pursue his law degree and Shannon remained in Chapel Hill for grad school. She eventually moved to New York and their relationship went through many changes finally culminating in a proposal in December of 2015. The wedding planning began and many months later the wedding day has come!
They each told me in confidence what they love about each other and what they are looking forward to in marriage. On the wedding day, I reveal to each of them what the other told me. Sweet moment.
Some words on the significance of the rings then they made their vows to each other and placed the ring on their partner's finger.
Rob saying his vows and placing the ring on Shannon's finger.
Shannon making her vows to Rob and sealing them with the ring.
To honor Rob's Jewish heritage we included the breaking of the glass wedding custom.
Rob made sure he broke the glass the first time! It was flattened! We all shouted Mazeltov!
The official pronouncement of marriage followed by the customary kiss!
I am getting out of the way!
Maybe Rob is saying: "We are married!"
Don't you love that little kiss on the cheek!
The happy newlyweds!
Cheering and applause as the music begins.
Stepping into their new marriage!
That's Gilda McDaniels on the left. She is a master in running weddings at Fearrington. She has gotten it down to an art form!
Amanda Scott, their wedding planner with
A Swanky Affair, is watching the couple depart and ready to steer the guests to the barn for cocktails.
Mother of the bride, Caroline escorted by her son-in-law, Patrick.
Parents of the groom, Meri and Ken.
George, father of the bride, and Christine, stepmother of the bride.
Signing of the marriage license and the Ketubah in the Jewish tradition.
Rob and Shannon, a big congratulations! What a wonderful wedding and start to your new life together as husband and wife. Thank you for choosing me to join you in marriage. It was my honor! I wish you all the happiness and success in the world!
