Christina and Erik Wed at King's Daughters Inn!

Christina and Erik are a delightful couple! I enjoyed getting to know them during my Marriage Optimization course they took. They wanted to double-check their compatibility and be sure they were beginning their marriage with a firm foundation in relationship skills. I might add that their instincts that they were very compatible were right on!

They chose to have their wedding at the King's Daughters Inn in Durham on November 8th, 2014. It is a lovely old historic building that has been used for many purposes through the years including a retirement home for old ladies! You can read all about it on their website. For the past 6 or so years it has been a venue for weddings and other events. They have suites where the families and guests can stay, a dining room, and a large lower level for a fun reception. It is very homy and comfortable. When Marty and I arrived, our photographer--Ashley with Story Photographers--had their families and wedding party assembled for photos in the front of the inn.

 Our sweet little flower girls, Adalyn and Caroline, were eager to make their walk down the aisle. 

 This is a very interesting collection of information about our couple for the guests to read! 

 Erik poses with his father, Frank, in the center, and his Uncle Tony on the left.  

 The dining room....Rocky Top Hospitality was their caterer.

 Strawberry-Kiwi jam or Blueberry-Peach for the guests to take home......

The two mothers--Dory, Erik's mom on the left, and Terri, Christina's mom on the right who might have just heard some surprising news!?

 Erik's parents are ready to enter first. 

 Erik, his best man--Bolton, and I follow mother of the bride's entrance. 

 Our Maid of Honor, Sara, enters, followed by our flower girls!

Then our beautiful bride makes her entrance from the doorway at the back of the room. I asked the guests to stand in her honor. 

As she began walking down the aisle, Erik began walking toward her. They met in the middle and walked the rest of the way down the aisle together to be joined in marriage. Love that symbolism!

The parlor is such a pretty and soft setting for these small intimate weddings. The acoustics are fabulous without any amplification.

The light from the windows behind us render us back-lit so without a good strobe light on my camera, the photos are a bit dark.  I know Ashley got some fabulous pictures with her professional equipment!

After the welcome, a tribute to their families and remembrance of Christina's father who unfortunately had passed away in September, Erik's sister Amanda read a sweet poem. Then it was time for the story! Erik and Christina met at a speed dating event and both felt an attraction which resulted in their first date a few weeks later. From then on they became inseparable. They felt so comfortable together and Erik was good at planning adventures for them from seeing live comics, to visiting museums and historical places and zoos, to snuggling on the couch with their good friend Netflix! They took a trip to New York for Christina to meet Erik's family and not long after that, Erik surprised Christina with a proposal during a trip to the Biltmore.

I stepped back behind the couple to reveal what each had told me in confidence about what they love about their partner and are looking forward to in marriage. The tears started flowing for Christina and she grabbed the not-very-absorbent handkerchief out of Erik's breast pocket before I could hand her a much more absorbent hankie I always carry for that purpose. Everyone was laughing at this point.

A few more tears as Erik put the ring on her finger and repeated after me: "This ring is a symbol of my love, my promise to you, and a sign that from this day forward, you will be surrounded by my love." 

 Christina said the same words to Erik and placed the ring on his finger. 

Then it was time for them to place their love letters to each other into the lovely wooden box that also holds a bottle of wine that they are to open, pour each other a glass, and read the letters for the first time on their first wedding anniversary so they can remember how madly in love they are with one another. And, pass this custom along in their family as an example of true eternal love.

 The pronouncement of marriage.....

 The kiss and the "after-kiss" moment that is always so sweet as their wedded state is really sinking in! 

And away they go! 

Christina and Erik, finally you are married and can live happily ever after! You are a wonderful match and with your determination, compatibility and understanding of each other, I know you will have a fulfilling and enduring marriage!

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Trish and Colin's Warm and Wonderful Wedding at The Stockroom!

Trish contacted me last September by email about officiating her wedding downtown Raleigh at The Stockroom on April 26, 2013: "We live in NY state but my family lives in NC.  We are getting married at the Stockroom in downtown Raleigh. Your wedding blog has been instrumental in my wedding planning due to the list of vendors and venues you provide.  We haven't really looked into who will marry us yet but I felt like it was a sign when I saw that Andrea is your daughter.  I haven't seen or spoken to her in quite some time but I used to work with her at Michael Dean's many years ago.  We'd love to get some additional information from you, primarily if you are available on our wedding date.  We look forward to hearing from you."

Of course I was tickled to reply to her that I was available and would love to officiate for her and Colin. They completed the contract I emailed them and mailed it to me with their check and we got started on their ceremony. I did not meet them face to face until Monday 4/20 when we did a run through rehearsal with just the 3 of us. I appreciate them being so understanding of my having to miss their large rehearsal due to a memorial for a family member I had to attend out of town. Thankfully their wedding planner/director, Sally Oakley, was happy to conduct the rehearsal the night before their wedding without me present.

Dressed in my charcoal gray dress and shoes to match the bridesmaid's dresses and "armed" with my wireless theater microphone outside the entrance to The Stockroom!

Mahlers Fine Art Gallery is such a lovely space. Libby and Ethem's wedding was in this space last October. For Colin and Trish's wedding the gallery was the "holding area" for the bridal party prior to the ceremony then the site for the cocktail hour after the ceremony while The Stockroom was being converted into the reception area.

 The Stockroom configured for the ceremony....

 View from the windows......

Trish and Colin had seen this arrangement of vine wreaths, draping fabric and florals in a photo of a wedding here and so they shopped around at Michael's and JoAnne Fabrics and duplicated it.

Sooooo glad Sally Oakley, Sally Oakley Personalized Wedding Planning, was heading up the wedding vendor team! I always look forward to working with Sally. I can rest assured she has taken care of every little detail.

Kevin Majoros, DJ, was on hand to handle the ceremony and reception music! Thanks, Kevin, for plugging in my microphone and monitoring the sound for the ceremony! I know you must have rocked the reception later!

Rocky Top Hospitality was the caterer of course, since Trish had worked at Michael Dean's which was one of their restaurants. Kevin DeHimer was there, of course, and although he told me he was a guest, I caught him working!

The guest book was a lovely tree image upon which the fingerprints of the guests were imprinted and signed.

A trip downstairs to the gallery to see the bride and get her sister's signature as witness on the license.

Our photographer, Ashley with The Story Photographers, was on hand to get pictures of the bride while her counterpart, David, was busy with the groom and groomsmen upstairs.

After the parents were escorted in, Colin and his guys followed me in to the front. Then the bridesmaids entered.

I invited the guests to stand as Trish and her father entered.

Colin and Trish have such a wonderful love story. Even though they lived more than 3000 miles apart, the universe rearranged itself so that their paths would cross in Atlantic Beach NC one fateful evening in 2009. Their lives were forever changed and distance was only a trivial obstacle that their love for each other overcame with victory and celebration! Their guests loved hearing their story and Trish wrote me after the ceremony: "I can not tell you the number of compliments we received about our ceremony. Everyone was so impressed with you. Not only did we get multiple comments, they thought you had known us for years. Many also stated that it was the best ceremony they had ever witnessed. Others said they have been to many weddings and yet they will never forget this one due to how personal it was. We were beyond pleased but it meant so much to us to know how much our guests enjoyed it as well. So, thank you for your professionalism and attention to detail that made our ceremony and commitment to one another truly unique, memorable and so special for us." 

They couldn't stop kissing! 

Trish and Colin, you are a very special couple. Trish, since you are a friend of my daughter, I feel like you are my daughter too. And, although at times I felt like a midget standing between the two of you tall beings, it was my great pleasure to get to know you and I am honored to have been part of your wonderful wedding and sending you off into marriage on a firm footing.

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To contact me:

kayelily@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

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