Michael-Anne and Michael's Surprise Wedding!

Michael-Anne and Michael's wedding was a surprise for their guests! They had gathered to celebrate their engagement at Michael-Anne's parents' home in Louisburg and enjoy a barbecue dinner. Michael-Anne and Michael had met with me a few weeks earlier and booked me as their officiant for their wedding planned at St. Mark's Chapel in Raleigh in October. Then Michael came up with the idea of surprising the guests at the engagement party on September 22nd 2018 and Michael-Anne loved that plan. They called me and I was able to do it! It was my 4th wedding of the day but the timing worked out perfectly.

This cake is a lot bigger than it looks in this photo! Made by a friend of the bride's mother. 

Michael-Anne's mother is a collector of everything mermaids. They are everywhere! 

The table with the Family Unity Sand Ceremony components are ready for the ceremony on the deck. 

Because this was a surprise wedding, we had difficulty pulling the guests away from their barbecue dinner to come around to the deck for the big announcement.

Finally with everyone in place for the ceremony we began. After making the surprise announcement that the guests were here to witness not an engagement but a wedding, I welcomed them all then we had an opening prayer.  Here I am addressing their kids and telling them how important they are in this marriage we celebrate today. Michael's daughters are Grace and MacKenzie and Michael-Anne's son is Tyler. 

After a few words on love and marriage, I invited them to share the vows they had written for each other. 

Michael went first. His words were so touching. He put a lot of time and thought and emotion into his promises of marriage to Michael-Anne.

Then it was her turn. She also had very touching things to say to Michael with her heartfelt promises to him. 

Then it was time to put the rings on. I began with some words on the meaning of the rings. 

So they placed the rings on each other's fingers after saying their ring vows after me. 

For the unity sand ceremony they each poured ½ of their sand into the container making 2 layers. 

Then each child poured all their sand into the container one at the time. MacKenzie went first. 

Then Tyler followed by Grace. 

The bride and groom then blended their remaining sand on top to complete the ceremony. 

I placed my hand on theirs and pronounced them husband and wife and invited them to share their first kiss as a married couple!

Dave missed the kiss but look at the happiness on their faces! 

Michael-Anne and Michael, you did it! It was a great way to get married and avoid all the fanfare and formality. Thank you for choosing me to join you in marriage. I know you will be very happy and wonderful parents for your blended family. All the best!

Sarah and Alex's Surprise Wedding at The Stockroom!

Sarah and Alex contacted me by email last September having been given my name by their wedding planner, Katie Dunn with Events by La Fete, about officiating their surprise wedding on February 19th, 2016 at The Stockroom downtown Raleigh. They live in Charlotte but they met in Raleigh and most of their family and friends live here. Their families knew they were getting married but it was a surprise wedding for their friends who thought they were coming to an engagement party, not a wedding! 

The Stockroom was all decked out by their florist, Heather Miller with Eclectic Sage. Tables of candles and florals flanked the back of the chairs and floating candles lined the aisle.

Looking from the "altar" area back to the steps. 

I don't know who did the nice chalk lettering but it is a wonderful way to announce a couple. 

Heather and her team framed the window with a magnolia garland then hung clear glass lights. The yellow glow is from the uplighting.  So creative.

On the upper level of the room is the cake table. The center coconut cake is very special cake for Sarah and Alex from the Peninsula Grill in Charleston. The two white cakes are by Edible Art.

The cute handprinted wine glasses for the bride and groom! 

Randy Bennett with Joe Bunn DJ Company is ready to begin! Always a pleasure working with Randy. We have got hooking my mic not his wireless body pack down to a science!

Catching Katie off guard as she is running around making sure everything is ready to go. 

Alex and Sarah greeted their guests as they arrived and it was fun to watch their friends' faces as they noticed Sarah was wearing a wedding dress and the dawning of the realization they were here for their wedding! After all the guests had arrived and were seated, the ceremony began with the entrance of Alex's mother, Peggy, escorted by Tyler, our best man.

Then the mother of the bride, Kathy, was escorted in by the father of the bride, Ralph, who circled back to bring in Sarah.

Alex, Tyler and I then entered down the aisle. 

Jennifer, maid of honor, makes her walk down the aisle. 

And now for Sarah and her dad. 

And so the ceremony began--a surprise and warm welcome to all and an opening prayer. 

A tribute to their parents was next and then the story of how they met and fell in love and the journey to this day. 

The big reveal of what they each told me they loved about each other and what they are looking forward to in marriage--along with some good humor too!

A few words on marriage........then their vows.

They read their vows to each other from my book. Sarah first.

Then Alex....

The exchange of rings and ring vows.

The pronouncement that they are now husband and wife!

Ooops, camera froze and missed the kiss. This is that sweet "after-kiss moment." 

Alex and Sarah, wonderful surprise wedding! You did it! Congratulations and best wishes for the grandest marriage and life happily ever after! 

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The Surprise Wedding of Tamra and Charlie!

Charlie and Tamra originally planned to get married on Easter Sunday with just family present and booked me to officiate. We met in early January and discussed what they wanted in the ceremony. They definitely wanted to include Charlie's kids in the ceremony and recognize Tamra's parents. A few weeks later on January 23rd My husband Dave and I were at the airport waiting to catch a flight to Atlanta, then on to Puerto Rico for a getaway vacation while the wedding season was slow. At the same gate, Tamra and I spotted each other! She and Charlie were on their way to Beaver Creek for a skiiing trip. And, not only that, our seats were side by side! Imagine that. We had chosen our seats way before we ever met each other. We got to know each other better and I watched Charlie finish two crossword puzzles furiously and perfectly with an ink pen! The synchronicity of the Universe boggles my mind!

Not too long after returning from their trip, they contacted me to see if they could change their wedding date to April 20, 2013. They had decided they wanted a more festive wedding with more family and friends present. They had already planned a cocktail party for that evening at Chapel Hill Country Club to announce their marriage. The plans changed so that instead of announcing their marriage, the actual wedding ceremony would take place at the party with all their friends and family in attendance. I am always up to do a surprise wedding because they are so much fun so I was on board. And, we pulled it off beautifully!  Marty and I arrived about 8:30 and Jennifer Viscosi with Jennifer V Event Planning met us and got my microphone hooked into the Band's system.

Fresh Affairs had decorated the fireplace with pretty candles and flowers earlier in the day. Mark Holland with Moonstruck Video was already filming. Jeni Dwyer, photographer, was there too.

At about 9:00, the band "took a break" for Charlie to make some announcements. Charlie thanked everyone for coming and for supporting his F.I.N.N. Foundation which he founded to help fill the gap between medical needs and medical resources for those in need of facial reconstructive surgery and other plastic facial services. He is truly a very generous person and Tamra was right there by his side supporting his passion for helping people.

Finally they got to the announcement about their big surprise and I walked into the room on that cue.

 And so we began the nuptials! 

Charlie's kids, Garrett, Caitlin and Liam watch the ceremony and we recognized them during the ceremony.

 A funny story about Charlie's proposal here! 

 The legal moment--the pronouncement of marriage! 

Yay! 

 It's done, it's finally done! 

 I am so happy to have been a part of these two remarkable people's lives!

 Cupcakes and cake by Mindi Berke.  

 The band E3 with Sam Hill Entertainment provided the music. 

Tamra and Charlie, I am so happy you found me and gave me the honor of tying the knot for you. It was so much fun working with you. I love your spontaneity and your generosity! All the best!

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To contact me:

kayelily@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

My Website

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