Alanna and Chris' Fabulous Wedding at The Sutherland!

Alanna and Chris' wedding took place on October 20th, 2019 at the lovely historic The Sutherland in Wake Forest. It was a beautiful day for a wedding. Donna with the venue was our wonderful director.

The pavilion is all set for the reception. Rocky Top Catering was in charge of providing their delicious food for all the guests. I know the reception was great and I heard the next week from their photographer at another wedding he was shooting that Chris injured his knee during the reception ):

I placed the keepsake certificate of marriage into their card holder inside a vintage wagon ready to receive the gifts and envelopes from the guests.

In the Settler's Cabin, Chris and his guys were hanging out before the ceremony. They all had their ties tied in the celtic knot--something I had never seen before.

When it was time to begin, I entered first and made the unplugged announcement and then Chris and the groomsmen entered and joined me.

The bridesmaids were next and the Maid of Honor Rachel was the last to enter before the bride. 

And now we wait for our beautiful bride and her dad to enter. I invited the guests to stand. 

Alanna and her father Lenny begin the walk down the aisle. 

Rachel helps straighten Alanna's dress and train. Our photographers were Chris Nieto and his team and our videographers were Nathan and his Oak City Films crew. Our DJ was Randy Bennett with Bunn DJ Company The Purple Poppy was their florist.

And so we are all in place, the guests are seated and the ceremony begins. 

I began by welcoming all their guests with "Cead mile failte"--one hundred thousand welcomes in Gaelic! 

The parents stand to be given tribute by their children. Such a sweet surprise for them. 

Then I had the fun of telling Chris and Alanna's story which spanned 9 years. These two are quite unique individuals and do things in their own way, in their own time--as their guests well knew.

There was a lot of laughter as their guests heard their story for the first time from both perspectives. 

Next it was the secret paragraphs. Each of them told me in confidence what they loved about their partner. Then that was revealed for the first time at the ceremony.

The story wrapped up bringing our guests from the day they met to the wedding day. 

I asked them to them make their promises of marriage to each other. They had each written vows that were secret from the other. The words were printed in my book facing the couple.

Despite the wind blowing his hair in his face, Chris said his vows without once looking at the words!

Alanna read her vows to Chris from my book, in shock that Chris had memorized his! 

Next the rings. They said their words to each other after me. Chris went first and placed the ring on Alanna's finger.

Then Alanna. 

They chose to do the Anniversary Box for their unity ceremony. They had each written love letters expressing all he feelings and emotions they were experiencing during this exciting time in their lives and sealed them without sharing.

During the ceremony they placed the letters in the box to be opened on their first anniversary along with the wine and the letters. Then they are to write another love letter, seal without opening, replace the bottle of wine and place the old and new letters back in the box and repeat on each anniversary creating a legacy of love for the generations to follow.

A closing blessing followed.

I placed my hands on theirs and pronounced them married and invited Chris to kiss the bride!

Deed done!

What fun! 

I introduced them to their guests as husband and wife and the cheering began! 

We gathered inside while the guests went to the Groom's Terrace for cocktails.

Alanna and Chris! What a fabulous wedding! Despite hurting your knee at the reception, Chris--probably doing some wild dancing--I know you are enjoying wedded bliss. I loved getting to know you and collaborating on your fabulous ceremony! I wish you the best always!

CARA AND BRAD'S FABULOUS WEDDING AT THE UMSTEAD!

I've known Cara who owns f8 Photo Studios for many years. We have done at least 20 wedding together, probably more. I love arriving at a wedding and seeing her as the photographer. So I was so thrilled when she and the love of her life, Brad, asked me to officiate their wedding. The wedding was Friday March 9th, 2018 at The Umstead Hotel and Spa--one of the most prestigious places in the Triangle for weddings.

So what was the first thing we saw when Dave and I arrived for their wedding??? Well, you can't keep a great wedding photographer down. Although James Walters was the photographer Cara engaged to photograph her wedding, Cara could not keep her hands off her camera. So here she is photographing Brad while James (and Dave with my camera) photograph her doing her thing!

Getting in really close here. I think she is really sneaking a kiss with her hubby to be at this moment! 

Yep, that laugh and that "cat who swallowed the canary" grin on her face tells me that it was a kiss! 

I guess Brad has gotten used to being her "subject!" He was such a good sport. 

And there she is getting a photo of the wedding site before the sun goes behind the building and the guests arrive.

The day was a bit chilly--temps in the low 50s--with a little breeze blowing. But the grass was so lush and green and the florals by The English Garden were perfect for their small family wedding.

Nathan of Oak City Films videoed the wedding and put a microphone on me to capture the words of the ceremony. Randy Bennett with Bunn DJ Company was our wonderful DJ and furnished my sound.

James Walters of Walters and Walters--the official photographer for this wedding. James and I do many weddings together too.

Amanda with The Umstead is our director for this small wedding. She was all ready to direct the processional. 

The folks in the processional are assembled inside the lower foyer from which we process into the courtyard. Brad's daughters: Ashley, Julia and Brooke are ready.

And so we began. Brad's parents, Lynn and Johnny, entered with their granddaughters. 

Then Cara's mother, Colleen, is escorted in by her son, Max. 

My turn! 

Brad's turn! 

Brad's brother and best man, John, escorts in Cara's sister and maid of honor, Taylor. 

And now I invited the guests to stand for the entrance of the bride. 

Cara and her father, Craig, make their trek down the aisle.

And so the wedding ceremony began as the sun slowly set behind the hotel. 

After a warm welcome and an opening prayer, it was time to for the children's blessing and the parents' blessing. 

Here I am addressing Brad's daughters and telling them how much Cara and Brad love them and how important they are in their marriage. I had special very sweet words from Cara for them.

Then I addressed their parents and thanked them for all their support of Cara and Brad. 

Then on to their love story! It was quite comical because Brad and Cara have a great sense of humor and they are fun-loving people who are so thrilled to have found each other. The proposal that Brad staged on a Disney Cruise that Cara arranged for the whole family was truly a surprise for Cara who had gotten wise to his former attempts to surprise her.

And they are so suited for each other. They took my compatibility inventory which confirmed what they knew in their hearts--they are meant to be together.

After their story, I revealed what they had each told me in confidence that they love about each other and what they look forward to in marriage.

I welcomed them to the unparalleled promise that is marriage.

Brad read his vows to Cara from my book as he placed the ring on her finger. 

Cara reads her vows to Brad and placed the ring on his finger.

After a closing blessing, I placed my hand on them and made the pronouncement of marriage--pinnacle moment!  And, invited them to share their first kiss as husband and wife!

Yay! Married! Two kisses! 

I invited the guests to stand and join me in congratulating our newlywed couple!

And they danced down the aisle! 

And danced! 

The family returned to the foyer and guests went to the herb garden for cocktails.

Brooke is so happy to have a new mommy and ran over to give Cara a big hug! So sweet! 

Cara and Brad, I am honored to be the one to join you in marriage! So happy for you. Thank you for choosing me and working with me to create your unforgettable ceremony. You two are the best!