Sarah and Clayton's Wonderful Wedding at the Barn at Valhalla!

Sarah, Clayton and I met in August of 2018 to plan their wedding ceremony for May 25th, 2019. Their event planner was Lillian Suarez Events and their DJ Rodney Holmes. They had chosen the Barn at Valhalla for their wedding ceremony and reception. Their photographer was Richard Barlow and videographer Twenty-one Films. Caterer was Fords Fluent N' Food, and wedding cakes/cupcakes by Cupcakes D'Amour. I was happy to join this extraordinary team of vendors! 

The wedding day arrived and it was beautiful! A bit on the toasty side but with the shady spot for the ceremony, we were good. I was delighted to find that the new owners of the venue had expanded the deck so that there was plenty of room for more guests and moving about without being scrunched in.

I first got plugged into the DJ sound system and did a sound check. Then I went over the processional and recessional cues for Rodney. He was excellent to work with and the sound was impeccable! 

The barn itself was ready for the guests after cocktail hour. 

I sat down to review the ceremony script ahead of time in the house where the wedding party and families were hanging out.

When all the guests were seated and before the ceremony started, I entered and made the unplugged announcement. Then the wedding party processed in around me.

Clayton's parents, Reba and Skip, entered first. Skip and I discovered that we were both students at the University of Georgia at the same time many decades ago!

Clayton and Baxter enter next. Baxter is an amazing well-behaved pooch!

The bridesmaids and groomsmen entered next. 

Then it was time for the many children in the processional including a little one in a wagon. 

I invited everyone to stand in honor of the bride and her beautiful mother who was dressed in traditional Korean wedding dress. (Sadly Sarah's father had passed away just two months before, but not before giving Sarah and Clayton his blessings and his wish that their wedding not be postponed.)

Sarah's mother placed Sarah's hand into Clayton's and was seated with the guests. 

On behalf of Sarah and Clayton, I welcomed their guests for this once-in-a-lifetime gathering of the unique and cherished people who have touched their lives throughout the years.

The words of welcome were followed by a prayer and remembrance of their loved ones who could not be present including Sarah's father and her grandmother in Chicago and many relatives in Korea.

Looks like Baxter is enjoying the ceremony! 

Then it was time to honor Sarah's mother, Sue, and Clayton's parents, Skip and Reba. 

I love to tell the story of how the couple met and fell in love and bring the guests from that day to the wedding day. It all began back in 2013 when Clayton was a post-doctoral fellow and Sarah a grad school student at UNC. They ended up working in labs next to each other. And since they were both single then ended up going to many events together and got to know each other. There were some laughable times for sure! Eventually they realized they really enjoyed being together and after a few rocky starts and stops, they fell in love.

Sarah is hearing for the first time what Clayton told me in confidence that he loves about her, why he wants to marry her and what he is looking forward to in marriage. Then Clayton heard what Sarah told me in confidence. Such a sweet moment for both.

They made their vows of marriage and sealed them with the exchange of rings. 

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

And so the marriage is signed, sealed and delivered! Everyone was cheering them on. 

And out they step into their new married lives--Baxter is smiling too!

Can you tell that I am a dog person and was smitten with this cutie pie of a dog in his tux? 

Congratulations, Sarah and Clayton! It was a wonderful wedding and I am so glad you decided to go forward with this celebration with your family and friends. I wish you the very best always!

Ashley and Justin's Fabulous Wedding At Highgrove!

Ashley and Justin planned a gorgeous wedding all the way from New York City where they live and where they met. They chose the historic Highgrove Estate in Fuquay-Varina for their wedding on June 2nd, 2018. The day was beautiful but on the warm side.

Highgrove is a great place for weddings. They make planning your wedding as easy as possible so it was perfect for Ashley and Justin since they did not live locally.

Flowers on Broad furnishes the florals many times at Highgrove because they are also located in Fuquay-Varina. The portico is beautifully decorated with swags, lanterns and greenery.

The Arioso Strings quartet has been setup in the shade under the overhang of the garden ballroom.They provided heavenly music for the ceremony and cocktail hour. 

In lieu of wedding programs this lovely poster gives all the particulars of the ceremony. 

Back in the manor house, the dining room is set up to receive the gifts and cards from the guests. 

Sweet!

After doing a sound check for the ceremony, Phil with Twenty-One Films videography wires me for sound. We work together on a lot of weddings and I always have a pocket or loop to wear his recording device for the video sound.

The florist has hung mason jars of pretty flowers on shepherds hooks flanking the aisle. 

Justin and Ashley chose to do the Anniversary Box. The night before the wedding they wrote love-letters to each other, sealed without sharing, then placed in this box which holds a bottle of wine to be shared on their first anniversary and the letters opened and read. Then they write another and seal without sharing to be read on each subsequent anniversary. A real legacy of their love!

Pretty hanging lanterns in the portico. 

View of the house in the center, garden ballroom on left, and covered terrace with bar on the right. 

Back inside the house, the guests can enjoy a glass of wine and sweets before being seated for the ceremony. 

Angela Wright and her mother Vickie own Highgrove and have made it a beautiful choice for a wedding in the Triangle. They furnish the wedding director, the catering, the bartending, the venue with a Plan B in case of inclement weather, and parking for all. It is an all in one venue.

The guests are arriving and making their way to the ceremony area. 

Jason Huggins, owner of Stylus DJs adjusts my microphone. He is so conscientious and I really appreciate his professionalism. He will be the music for the reception.

Grabbing a quiet moment to review the ceremony script. 

I entered first to begin the processional.

Justin was escorted in by his parents in the Jewish tradition then they were seated and Justin joined me up front. 

The bride's parents entered then the groomsmen and bridesmaids entered as couples. The two cute ring bearers were next.

Our beautiful bride was escorted in by her father. 

Hooman Bahrani our photographer with Vesic Photography gets a good shot. 

And so we began with a welcome to all the guests who had traveled from near and far. Ashley's family is from the Raleigh area and Justin's family are from New York.

After the prayer and in memoriam section I stepped forward to address their parents--a surprise to them. Usually evokes some sweet tears.

Then I had the great fun of telling the story of how Justin and Ashley met. It was a great story to tell and quite involved but so good that I could not leave anything out.

There were a lot of funny parts of the story 

Ashley blots Justin's face as he has begun to perspire a little!

Justin took over.

And now to reveal to them what the other told me they love about them. A tender moment. 

They read their vows to each other from my book where the words were printed facing them while placing the rings on each other's fingers. Justin goes first.

Now Ashley says her vows and places the ring on Justin's finger. 

My turn to mop Justin's face! 

They place their love-letters in the box with the wine. 

An explanation of the breaking of the glass in the Jewish tradition.

I placed the glass wrapped in a cloth at Justin's feet. 

I pronounced them husband and wife, asked Justin to break the glass and kiss the bride. 

The guests and I shouted Mazeltov! 

They turned and faced their guests and I introduced them to their guests for the first time as a married couple.

And away they go!!

The wedding party recessed. 

Parents of the bride! 

Parents of the groom! 

Justin and Ashley! Congratulations! What a fabulous wedding! I hope your dreams were fulfilled. I loved working with you and making your wedding ceremony unforgettable. Best wishes always!