Brenna and Jacob's Wonderful Wedding at Shady Wagon Farm!

Brenna and Jacob chose the fabulous Shady Wagon Farm for their wedding and the date was November 8, 2019. The day was sunny and sparkling and the temps were a little chilly, but pleasant.

The gazebo and chairs were in place. Daniel's Florist had the shepherds hooks lining the aisle with hanging jars of colorful flowers.

First thing I do when I arrive for a wedding is find the DJ and get the sound hooked up and do a sound check. 

Our DJ was Bill Freeman of Freeman Productions. Bill does lots of weddings at Shady Wagon and we made a good team. The sound was perfect!

The couple thoughtfully put out the hand warmers for their guests.

When the guests had arrived and were seated, it was time to start the ceremony. I walked in first and made the "unplugged" announcement asking the guests to put away their phones and cameras and truly be with Brenna and Jacob without the distraction of technology.

Jacob escorted his mom Renee in to her chair then joined me up front. 

Mother of the bride, Bethanne, was escorted in by her son, Connor. 

Then all the groomsmen made their entrance and took their places up front. Handsome guys!

The bridesmaids come in one by one and filled in the front. Above is our Maid of Honor, Meghan.

Our flower girl Jillian and ring bearer Landon got a ride in the wagon down the aisle!

After their wagon ride, the kids were retrieved by their parents.

Brenna and her dad, Scott, had been waiting in the house for the signal to begin their walk to the ceremony. 

What a happy moment! 

As they made their way down to the gazebo bridge, our photographer Amy with Your Still Life Photography was stationed on the bridge and her second shooter, Scott, was covering the aisle.

At this juncture I asked Scott: "Who gives their love and support to Brenna as she comes to join in marriage to Jacob?" He answered "Her mother and I do" and placed Brenna's hand in Jacob's. Brenna gave dad a little kiss and he carefully skirted around her dress to take his seat with the guests.

And so Brenna and Jacob turned and faced each other holding hands centered in front to me. If you look closely, you can see Amy on the gazebo getting some amazing shots!

After a warm welcome to all the guests, a prayer and remembrance of those who were not present, I stepped out from behind the couple to address their parents and give them a sweet blessing from their children. "And so with this marriage a new branch of the family tree is born and will be strengthened and enriched by the love, traditions and knowledge of their family roots." 

Then the storytelling began as I started telling the story of how Brenna and Jacob met. Most couples love adding in some humor here and Brenna and Jacob were no exception!

Reminiscing about their college years and watching Big Brother together at their dorm. 

Then there were the challenges of being apart while Brenna went to London for school then after graduation to Disney College. The proposal took place on the bridge where they first fell in love and of course Brenna said yes. The next challenge was to find Jacob a job in North Carolina which was accomplished in May of 2018 and the wedding planning hit high gear!

Next I revealed to each of them what their partner had told me in confidence about what they love about each other, want to marry and what they are looking forward to in marriage.

Next came the vows--their promises of marriage to each other. 

I called for the rings which had been brought in on Brenna's grandmother's Bible--a family tradition. 

Brenna said the words after me as she placed the ring on Jacob's finger. 

They chose the Anniversary Box for their Unity Ceremony. The box was in the gazebo. 

They had each written loveletters to each other and sealed without sharing. During the ceremony I handed them the letters and asked them to put them in the box to be opened on their first anniversary.

Now it was time for the closing blessing. 

During the blessing I invited them to turn and gaze at their guests and feel the love surrounding them on this very important day in their lives.

The pronouncement of marriage--the moment they become legally married to each other.

Jacob goes in for the kiss as I get out of the way! 

I thought the kiss was a bit too brief for their photographers to get a good picture so I asked them to kiss again.

Not a problem at all! 

The bride has her bouquet and I introduced them to their guests for the first time as husband and wife and invited them to join me in congratulating them!

As the guests walked over to the barn for cocktail hour, the geese decided it was time to go for a swim! 

Chatting with Monica, the venue manager and our very capable and experienced director, about how well everything went.  We love working together!

Brenna and Jacob! What a wonderful and beautiful wedding! I loved it and I loved working with you to write our ceremony. Congratulations on your marriage and I wish you all the best forever!

Samantha and Brent's Fabulous Wedding at Shady Wagon Farm!!

I met Samantha and Brent in July of 2018 to plan for their wedding on April 3rd, 2019 at Shady Wagon Farm--a rustic, comfortable, professionally operated, all-in-one wedding venue. They are such a fun couple and I knew I would have fun telling their story to all their guests.

The wedding day arrived and although it was not actively raining, rain was in the forecast and it had rained for several days beforehand so the ground was wet and soggy. So, the call was made to have the wedding in the terrace off the barn which is the reception site.

Samantha and Brent had brought photos of all their loved ones who were not present but had been important in shaping them into the people they are today.

They had fun photos everywhere depicting what a fun-loving couple they are. 

Daniel's Florist assembled this perfectly themed backdrop for the altar area with an old arched screen door with draping behind it, flanked by two wooden doors and all topped with gorgeous floral arrangements. Its was really beautiful!

Samantha and Brent included the Anniversary Box as their unity ceremony in the ceremony. 

Their unique "guest book" was a glass front shadowbox to be filled with hand signed corks of the guests! 

After the ceremony the guests would be invited into the foyer area of the barn for champagne and finger food while the terrace was being flipped.

A friend made this beautiful cake which I am sure was yummy! 

The barn is all ready for the reception!

Reverend Kathie McCutcheon was with me for the ceremony because I had lost my voice the week before due to laryngitis. She was there as my back-up just in case my voice gave out. We were both wearing mics.

The guests are arriving and taking their seats. 

While Kathie and I are going over the ceremony script in the background, Marcus, our DJ with Morse Entertainment, and Monica West, event manager and director at Shady Wagon Farm, are going over the musical cues for the processional. I love working with both these people. They are so professional and never miss a beat! Our other professional wedding vendors were Amy and Scott with Your Still Life Photography, Kissing Toad Productions (videography), and Funky Fresh Catering. Dream Team!

So, it was time to begin! I walked out first and made the "unplugged announcement" greeting the guests and asking them to put away their phones and cameras and be present in their hearts as Samantha and Brent joined their lives together in marriage.

I also told the guests that I had had laryngitis and that I had brought another minister with me to step in for me if my voice gave out. I am glad I explained that because when Kathie did have to step in, they knew what was happening.

The groomsmen and the bridesmaids processed in and then it was time for the bride to enter. 

Monica and her husband flung open the barn doors to reveal our beautiful bride and her sweet daddy, Paul! 

"Who supports and blesses Samantha as she comes to join in marriage to Brent?" Paul: "Her family and I do." Then the guests were seated as the bride and groom turned and faced each other.

Brent's eyes had gotten a little leaky as he watched Samantha walk toward him, so I blotted his tears!

Then a warm welcome to everyone thanking them for being there. This was followed by a prayer and remembrance of those loved ones no longer on this earth but with us in spirit.

A surprise for the parents was when I stepped out and spoke to them telling them how thankful Samantha and Brent were for having them in their lives and for all their support and unconditional love.

I loved telling their fun story! Brent's brother Sean (best man) and his wife Teresa who worked with Samantha had been trying to match them up for a while but they both resisted. Finally, on June 5th 2015 the opportunity came when they met each other at that really classy place in Fayetteville called Bubba’s. And just as Teresa and Sean thought, it was immediate attraction! Their personalities just meshed and they laughed a lot.  Samantha was intrigued by Brent’s piercing blue eyes, his blond hair and his chuckle. Brent was particularly impressed that Samantha ordered a 32-ounce beer. And not only that, she was hot! He was sold on the spot!

They soon became inseparable and went on many adventures together. At Christmas of 2017 Brent proposed and we all know what Samantha's answer was!

I am telling each of them what their partner had told me in confidence about what they love about each other, why they want to marry and what they are looking forward to in marriage. Sweet and funny stuff!

Just as I was speaking to Brent, my voice was beginning to crack. So I motioned for Kathie to step in and continue the ceremony as I rested my voice.

The transition flowed so smoothly and I had prepared Brent and Samantha of the situation and I thank them for being so kind and understanding. Kathie did a fantastic job. She has a nice voice and diction and is a great officiant herself.

The exchange of rings took place and then my voice was better so I stepped back in to hopefully finish the ceremony--and I did!

They put their love-letters into the Anniversary Box then we closed with a blessing. 

It was my great pleasure to pronounce them husband and wife and invite them to share their first married kiss!

Sealed with a kiss! 

Honored guests, it is with great pleasure that I present to you for the first time Mr. and Mrs., Brent and Samantha Mullins! Please stand and join me in congratulating them! 

And down the aisle they came amidst cheering and applause! 

A surprise for the bride and groom was having a bagpipe player in full regalia play following the wedding ceremony. Robert White and I have done a few weddings together in the past 20 years!

Samantha and Brent! What a fantastic wedding! I loved every minute of working with you to create your ceremony and loved telling your story. I could tell the guests enjoyed themselves by their laughter! You are a great couple and I thank you for choosing me to join you in marriage! Bless you always!