The simple yet elegant sheer fabric in graceful drapes was gorgeous topped off with a pretty chandelier.
A closer view.....
What wonderful words Joe and Gina had for their loved ones.
Great signage for the bar!
Upstairs in
The Glass Box, the wedding party was hanging out before the wedding. This is the bride's beautiful bouquet resting on an acrylic table.
Petal & Oak furnished the florals.
And here is our flower dog, Lucy! She is so excited and well-behaved. Rick is the designated dog handler!
A quiet relaxing moment while waiting for the guests to arrive for the ceremony.
The gift table greeted the guests when they stepped out of the elevator.
Lyla's furnished this beautiful wedding cake.
Beau's Catering was all set up and waiting for the room to be flipped after the ceremony.
Ben Felton with
East Coast Entertainment was ready to go. Thanks to Ben for plugging my receiver into his system and running the sound for me. What's the point of writing a fabulous ceremony if the guests can't hear it?
The guests have all arrived and the sun was setting right on schedule for us to begin a few minutes after 5:00. Our wedding planner and director was Becky Chapman with
Lily Rose Events.
The parents of the bride await the processional to begin.
And so do Joe's parents.
Joe and I take our places at the top of the steps.
After the parents had taken their seats, Joe and I entered together and took our places up front.
Mark escorts Tracy down the aisle.....
Then Gabrielle (Gina's daughter) is escorted by Richard (Joe's son).......
And last is our Matron of Honor, Tina, escorted by the Best Man, Len (brother of Joe).
Then Mason (Joe's grandson) accompanies Lucy and Rick down the aisle. Like most Golden Retrievers, Lucy wanted to greet every guest as she walked down the aisle.
The music changed and I invited the guests to stand as our beautiful bride and her son Ryan entered.
Ryan placed his mother's hand into Joe's left hand, shook Joe's right hand, then took his place as a groomsman.
The ceremony began with a warm welcome and thank yous to everyone for traveling from near and far, followed by a tribute to the couple's parents and recognition of their children.
Then we remembered those not with us.
Lucy let out a few sweet whines at this point. She really wanted to be right in the middle between Joe and Gina!
I stepped out and presented a reading "To Love" and then launched into the story of how Joe and Gina met. It was really quite a fun and funny story and many of the guests had traveled along with them so there was lots of good laughter.
After meeting at a business trip to Michigan in 2011, these two who were smitten with each other early on, spent the next 2.5 years traversing the country seeing each other about every 3 weeks thanks to business conferences and trade shows. Joe lived in California and Gina in North Carolina. In September of 2013 Joe relocated to North Carolina to be with Gina and her kids. They were inseparable and Joe proposed which brought them to see me last August about officiating their wedding.
I thoroughly enjoyed working with Joe and Gina making their ceremony very specific to them. I know from personal experience that when you've been married before, it is a priority that this ceremony really be a reflection of your beliefs, your personalities as well as your love and commitment. Joe and Gina felt the same way.
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. Then this sweet information is revealed to them during the ceremony.
Then we came to the time in the ceremony for them to make their promises to each other.
They read their vows to each other from my ceremony book where the words were facing them.
Then they sealed their vows with their rings. Joe places the ring on Gina's finger.
Gina places the ring on Joe's finger.
A closing blessing for Gina and Joe.......
I pronounced them husband and wife and invited them to share their first kiss as a married couple!
Perfect!
There is that "after-kiss" moment when reality hits!
Married...at last!
Stepping into the future!
The wedding party and parents exited to
The Glass Box while the guests moved to the upper level of
The Stockroom while the main area was being flipped for the reception.
Our photographers were Kerri O'Brien and Dee Bowers capturing this wonderful occasion.
Gina and Joe, you are perfect for each other!! What a great wedding you pulled off. It was definitely well planned to be exactly what you wanted. I congratulate you on your marriage and may your marriage be a grand adventure!
