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!

Melissa and Tim's TeeTime Wedding at The Stockroom!!

This was a wonderful wedding and Melissa and Tim were so much fun to work with to create their funny fabulous ceremony that was an expression of their love, commitment and personalities.

The wedding day was Saturday October 12th, 2019 downtown Raleigh at The Stockroom at 230. It was a pretty day and the sun was shining. After finding a parking spot, Dave and I arrived on site.

Hooking my microphone into Eric's sound system Eric owns All Around Raleigh DJ and we work together often. He was providing music for the cocktail hour and reception but a violinist was providing music for the processional and recessional. I thank Eric for providing amplification for me. 

The Stockroom looks gorgeous! Petal & Oak provided the beautiful draped altar area with the florals and the chandelier as well as the bouquets and boutonnières.

Lanterns and flowers flanking the back of the seating area. 

 These pretty flower arrangements and lanterns flank the draping too. 

They wanted their guests to truly be with them during the ceremony without the distraction of technology. 

 Rocky Top Catering was catering the event. Delicious menu! 

I don't know who did the chalkboard art but it shows that Melissa and Tim are golf aficionados. They are both athletic and I know Tim plays in golf tournaments. A passion!

A framed photo of Melissa's mother was placed in the chair her mother would have sat in if she was alive. On the way down the aisle, Melissa placed a bouquet in the chair for her mother. In the background of this photo you can see our photographer, Ginny Corbett, setting up some lighting. Ginny is a great photographer and so fun and easy to work with!

Their friend Bridget Bishop played the violin beautifully for their wedding ceremony processional and recessional.

 Their loved ones who have passed on were honored with these photos on display.  

Their guest book was a wooden plaque for all the guests to sign for them. And, they were asked to leave them notes and place in the jar. Also each cocktail table had cute questionnaires about the couple for them to complete. 

Dave and I went upstairs to the Glass Box where the wedding party was hanging out. They had done a First Look earlier so everyone could be together before the ceremony.

 The bouquets are ready to be taken out of their water, blotted off and carried down the aisle! 

Ginny has all the bridesmaids' attention with something she is showing them. Could be photos of her twin girls born last year?

I've known Beth Earley for several years in the capacity of event manager in other venues. Now she is a planner/director for Beth Earley Events. It was great to work with her in this capacity now! Great job, Beth!

 Beth gave me the signal to enter to make the unplugged announcement before the processional began.

Tim's mother, Nancy, and his stepfather, Desmond, enter and take their seats followed by Tim and his dad, Joe. Tim then joined me up front. 

 Then the 8 bridesmaids and groomsmen entered as couples followed by the two best men, Thomas and Justin, brothers of the groom, escorting in Jennifer, sister of the bride and maid of honor.

 Bringing up the rear was Van, our ring bearer, nephew of the groom. He moved along quickly! 

 I invited the guests to stand for the entrance of our bride and her father, Michael. 

 Melissa handed her bouquet to her dad while she placed a smaller bouquet in her mother's chair. 

They stopped up front, the music faded, and I stated: "Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the wedding of Melissa Moran and Tim Manyatis. The tradition of presenting the bride is not a matter of giving her away, but provides a gracious blessing. It is saying she can count on the love and support of her father going forward, even as she has done in the past. And so I ask: Who presents this woman to be married to this man, and thereby offers approval and blessing to this union?"  Of course her father answered "I do." Then the guests were seated.

 Melissa and Tim turned and faced each other and I welcomed all followed by a prayer. 

I stepped forward then and invited their parents to stand for a blessing and tribute to them. Always brings forth tears and this wedding was no exception. We also fondly remembered Melissa's mother bringing forth more tears. 

On a more cheerful note, I began telling the story of how Melissa and Tim met and their journey from that day to their wedding day. They actually met the old fashioned way--in a bar! But not quite what you imagine. Melissa was working at the bar while attending college 7 years ago. Tim and his "boys" (groomsmen) would hang out there.

Tim caught Melissa's eye from the beginning and eventually she was able to strike up a conversation with this handsome guy who finally began to pay attention to her--and he liked what he saw, her athleticism and competitive nature. Before long they were texting and talking everyday and really, as they say, the rest is history!

There were lots of comical moments in the story. Melissa and Tim have similar senses of humor and gave me great material to use to write their story in a way no one had ever heard before.

They had each told me in confidence what they love about each other, why they want to marry and what they are looking forward to in marriage. At this point in the ceremony Melissa is hearing what Tim had told me.

He mentioned that he was looking forward to her continuing to develop her rapping skills and unique ability to memorize song lyrics.

Tim heard that Melissa promised to love him fearlessly and unconditionally through all the challenges including his indigestion, apple cider vinegar shots, and bruised toes!

And then it was time for them to make their vows. They each read the vows from my book where the words were printed in large font facing them.

Tim had been nervous before the ceremony but he did just fine. He told me afterwards that his nervousness simply disappeared once we got into the ceremony and he really enjoyed every second!

 Melissa makes her vows to Tim. 

 Then the rings were exchanged. Melissa places the ring on Tim's finger and says the 4 lines after me. 

Then Tim began saying the words after me but did not start putting the ring on her finger and Melissa whispered to him "put the ring on my finger!"

 A closing blessing for them. 

 The pronouncement of marriage followed by the kiss as I quickly moved aside.

 They kissed!

 And kissed again! 

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

 The fathers, Michael and Joe. This is a milestone moment in their lives too! 

 Nancy and Desmond. 

Tim and Melissa! What a fabulous, funny, fun wedding! You were so great to work with. I know you will have a great marriage and a wonderful future. I wish you all the best!
Melissa, thanks so much for your 5 Star review on The Knot and Weddingwire! :
Melissa , married on 10/12/2019 

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Best Officiant! 

Kayelilly was everything and more! She made the whole ceremony seamless and worked with us to make the day exactly what we wanted it to be! Look no further for the best officiant!