Elisabeth and Kane's wedding at The Stockroom 230 on July 14th 2018!

Elizabeth and Kane chose The Stockroom 230 on Fayetteville Road in downtown Raleigh. I was fortunate to get a parking place around the corner and arrived as planned one hour ahead of the ceremony.

Elizabeth and Kane's wedding was not the only one in the building that afternoon--there was one on the top floor in the Glass Box too.

Victoria with Sally Oakley Weddings was our wedding planner/director. She is in the middle and Kelsey was assisting her with this wedding.

This pretty cake was by Cakes by Chloe. 

The chairs were positioned at angles. The florals were done by Elisabeth's stepmother, Phyllis, and they were perfect for the setting.

Johanna Dye (on the left) was their photographer and she took wonderful photos. Click on her name and that link will take you to her beautiful professional photos of this wedding.

It is time for Victoria to go get the girls from the limo out front so we can start this ceremony! 

Our DJ was Dennis McCarter who does not usually DJ weddings but instead has his own musical group but Kane enlisted him for their wedding and he did very well.

Simple is the most elegant and these arrangements with ferns and lanterns are beautiful.

The guests are getting seated. 

Victoria gets the parents and wedding party all lined up to process in. 

Kane and I entered after the parents were seated. 

The groomsmen are in place then the bridesmaids entered. 

Mary Catherine and Callie entered and sprinkled their petals down the aisle. 

Our two year old ring bearer, Grayton, ended up being escorted down the aisle by the young man who was handing out programs.

Here comes the bride escorted in by her father and stepfather. 

After welcoming everyone, I stepped out and addressed the parents and told them how much Elisabeth appreciate their love and support.

Then Elisabeth's sister, Sarah, did a fantastic job presenting a currently popular reading "Wedding Thoughts: What I Know About Love" by Neil Gaiman.

Then I launched into the story of how our couple met at work and fell in love. It was funny! 

The guests had a good time laughing at Kane's attempts to tell Elisabeth how he felt about her!

Elisabeth and Kane enjoyed hearing it as well! 

Then Elizabeth hears for the first time what Kane told me he loves about her, wants to marry her, and what he is looking forward to in marriage.

Then Kane got to hear what Elisabeth had to me about him! 

Kane read his vows to Elisabeth from my book trying not to get choked up. So sweet. 

Elisabeth read her vows to Kane then I talked about the meaning of their rings. 

Kane repeated words after me as he placed the ring on Elisabeth's finger. 

Elisabeth places the ring on Kane's finger. 

After a closing blessing I pronounced them husband and wife and invited them to kiss! 

That sweet moment following the kiss as reality sinks in! 

I presented them to their guests and out they went into their new married life! 

Kane and Elisabeth, congratulations! What a great wedding. Thank you for choosing me to join you in marriage. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you and working with you to create your amazing ceremony! I wish you all the best!!

ALL SAINTS CHAPEL WEDDING FOR JENNIFER AND MATTHEW!

On April 29th 2017 Jenn and Matt were married! Their beautiful wedding was at the historic All Saints Chapel in downtown Raleigh.

It was a nice day--a little on the warm side for April--and better inside where it was cool. Sally Oakley was their wedding planner and everything was going according to plan. Kevin Seifert, a professional photographer, again volunteered to take these photos for my blog for me. He is so good. These are the best photos I have ever seen of the chapel. 

All the florals were by Expressions of Love florist. Very pretty, elegant and simple. 

Darcie is getting ready to sign the marriage license for me. She is the Maid of Honor. 

Bryan, our Best Man, has done his legal duty by signing the marriage license. I collect the signatures before the ceremony when I know it is going to happen. The license is not legally complete until I sign it after the ceremony and send it in to the issuing register of the deed.

I like to do a "boutonniere check" before  the wedding to make sure they are secure and do not turn sideways or upside down or fall off during the ceremony. They guys had pinned them on but not very securely.

The chapel is ready.

The candles are lit. 

This is a beautiful stained glass window of Jesus as shepherd with the lamb. This chapel was built in 1875 and this is the third location for it in downtown Raleigh. It was moved to its final spot several years ago and I have done many, many weddings here.

Talking with Caroline with the Chapel, Sally our planner/director, and Diane with the chapel before the ceremony begins.

I would really like to know the symbolism and meaning of this intricate stained glass that is above the loft of the chapel. There is the Christian cross, the Star of David, and a crown. I am sure the stars and other symbols have specific meaning too. The website calls it a "gothic cross configuration."

Looking down from the loft we see Anna and Brent Dietrich who own Live View Studios, our couple's official photographers. They are really good photographers and I like working with them.

Pretty image of the old lanterns that hang from the ceiling of the chapel. 

Sally has gotten the groomsmen to come up from the lower level and be ready to escort the guests in. 

In the meantime, I like to take a quiet moment to sit down and review the ceremony script. 

The guests are pouring in! 

Sally helps one of the grandmothers with her corsage. Not always easy to pin these on dresses. 

Pointing out to the ushers/groomsmen empty seats in the second row. It was almost full.

Grandparents were escorted in first, then the parents of the groom, Bonnie and Allen, entered. Then Kathryn, mother of the bride, was escorted in by Dylan and Ryan and they circled back.

The music changed then I led the groom and his men in to take our places up front. 

The bridesmaids entered one by one and filled in the other side of the altar. Then time for the bride.

Here comes the bride! 

Randy answered my question and then placed Jenn's hand into Matt's hand. She gave her father a little kiss then he was very careful not to step on her train as he took his seat.

A wedding is such a wonderful occasion filled with hopes, dreams, and excitement! Welcome! 

Following the Welcome was a sweet blessing for the couple.

Then I stepped out and spoke to their parents thanking them for their love and support.

Our pretty bridesmaids! 

Launching into the story of how they met and fell in love. It was destiny, of course. 

Once they met in 2013, they quickly became a couple and Matt proposed in 2015.

Then what they love about each other and what they are looking forward to in marriage. 

They made their vows to each other. 

May I have the rings, please?

They sealed their vows with their rings. 

Caught Matt looking at that ring on his finger! 

I pronounced them husband and wife and invited them to seal their vows with a kiss as I quickly moved out from behind them. I don't want to be in the photo of the kiss!

Good job, Matt and Jenn! 

What a nice looking couple who are so perfectly matched for each other. 

What's so funny? I don't remember! 

Jenn and Matt, congratulations on a wonderful wedding. I know you will have much happiness and joy!