McKayla and Omar's Beautiful Wedding!

McKayla and Omar's wedding was so pretty. All the flowers by Embellished Blooms and colors were gorgeous. Of course the setting in the courtyard of The Umstead Hotel and Spa is so elegant. The perfect place for a beautiful wedding. The date was August 30th, 2019 at 5:30 PM.

This sign greeted our guests along with bottles of cool water for a hot August day.

I post this photo to show you the shadow line. The courtyard is on the east side of the hotel and as the sun sets on the west side, the shadow grows so that by the time the ceremony starts, the ceremony area will be in the shade.

My sweet husband, Dave, was unable to come with me to take photos of this wedding so I brought along my daughter's sweetheart, Johnny Kusnic, who was happy to go with me and take pictures with my iPhone. He did a really good job too. Thanks, Johnny!

Triangle String Quartet was tuning up to play for the wedding. A superior set of musicians! 

This arbor is beautiful and the knock-out roses behind it are in full bloom. 

Close-ups of the florals.

Flowers on the chairs and rose petals flanked the aisle. 

The pretty fountain in the lake behind the courtyard is a stunning backdrop. 

As you can see the shadow line has made it up beyond the chairs on the front row. 

The professional photographers for this wedding were with Moving Mountains Studios. They did still and video. 

And now the guests are taking their seats and the ceremony area is completely in shade. 

Megan Gillikin with A Southern Soiree was our wedding director and cued me when to make my entrance.

I asked the guests to please put away their cameras and phones and truly be with our bride and groom in their hearts as they joined their lives in marriage.

Omar and our maid of honor and best man entered and joined me up front. 

Our sweet little flower girls! 

This is Mia, the little daughter of our bride and groom. She is so cute! 

Now the bride starts her walk down the aisle as Megan lifts her train to straighten it. (I officiated Megan's wedding to her hubby Jason back in 2015.) 

What a beautiful bride! Please notice that amazing bouquet which is all white orchids!

She handed her bouquet to the maid of honor who rearranged the train as the guests were being seated.

And so we began. The first segment was a welcome to all their friends and families. 

I stepped out to pay tribute to their parents and tell them how much McKayla and Omar appreciate their love and support.

Then I spoke to Mia telling her how important she was and how much her parents love her. 

Then some words on love and marriage.

I asked them each a series of questions to which they each replied "I do." 

The best man handed me the rings and McKayla and Omar joined left hands. 

Omar placed the ring on McKayla's finger as he said the words after me. 

Then McKayla did the same. 

A closing blessing followed but the pronouncement of marriage was next. 

I invited them to seal their vows with a kiss! 

Introducing the newlywed couple to their friends and families! 

Their guests stand as they walk out into their new life together! 

McKayla and Omar! What a gorgeous wedding! I am honored to be a part of your big day.  I wish you and Mia the best always!

Leslie and Rich Get Married at The Umstead

The wedding of Leslie and Rich on June 1st, 2018 at The Umstead Hotel is particularly sentimental and emotional for me. Leslie's mother, Cynthia, was a dear friend of mine who passed away from Alzheimer's about 2 years ago. It was my honor to join Leslie and Rich in matrimony and include their amazing life journey in the ceremony.

Leslie's son, Dylan, needed his boutonniere secured, so I got that done while the bridal party waited out of sight for the guests to arrive.

Frank Mauldin with Bunn DJ Company was our DJ for the wedding. Here Stefan with the hotel is setting up the house system which Frank will operate.

After doing a sound check, I sat down to review the script. 

Our wedding director, Kelly Ann Ward, on the right is ready to direct the processional. She is with A Southern Soiree. The woman on the left was the caretaker for Leslie's mother and so happy for Leslie.

Everyone but Leslie and Dylan are assembled in the lobby outside the garden. I got Rich's beautiful daughters Kelly and Quinn to sign the marriage license for me then.

Rich and I processed in first. 

Then Kelly......

Then Quinn....

Then Leslie's lovely daughter, Nia, took her walk down the aisle. 

The ring bearer, Jonah, and the flower girl, Marin, entered next. So sweet! 

Dylan proudly escorts his beautiful mother down the aisle. 

The guests are standing in her honor. 

And so we began with a welcome to all and a tribute to their parents, all deceased. I mentioned to the guests how sweet it was for me to officiate this wedding. Leslie's mother and I sang in our church choir together and had many good times together. She was such an elegant and dignified woman and it was so sad for us and especially for Leslie who took care of her to watch her decline. We all know she is in a better place now. And so now Leslie's life moves on.

And then a blessing for their children: Kelly and Quinn, Dylan and Nia. 

And now for their wonderful love story. 

Leslie and Rich met 30 years ago in medical school. They fell madly in love and dated for about a year then split up and went their separate ways.

They married other people and had their wonderful children. No regrets whatsoever. Their lives were like stepping stones, all necessary to get them back together.

About 5 years ago, Rich emailed Leslie--she is so thankful she never changed her AOL email address! They found out that they were both single again and quickly reunited. This time they resolved to stay together for good!

There were many humorous moments in the ceremony as I told the story of how they fell in love all over again. Their children were also enjoying this exquisite moment.

They had each told me what they love about each other and so I am revealing that to them during the ceremony. 

They chose to use the lyrics of a Bruce Springsteen song "If I Should Fall Behind" for their vows. 

Rich read the first verse from my book.

Then Leslie the second verse. Then they read the chorus together.

It is time to put the rings on the fingers! 

First I had to do a little "housekeeping" with my hankie! 

Then the rings went on the fingers! This photo is by our professional photographer Cara. 

Following a closing blessing, I pronounced them finally and forever, husband and wife. 

Hallelujah! 

The guests were invited to enjoy cocktail hour while the couple and their families were taking photos.

Cara Galati Powell (also a bride of mine) with f8 Photo Studio was our wonderful photographer. Here she is in action!

Cara captured this sweet image of Leslie with her kids, Nia and Dylan.

Photo by Cara of mother and daughter.

Photo by Cara of Rich with Kelly and Quinn

The new siblings by Cara!

 Cara's photo of the new family born today.

Together again for good. Photo by Cara f8. 

A hug together in celebration! 

Leslie and Rich! I am SOOO happy for you for finding one another again and rekindling that long-ago love. You are perfect for each other. I love your attitudes and your devotion to your children. And I know that Cynthia is celebrating for you somewhere in another realm! May you love and live with wild abandon and have a happy, satisfying and enduring marriage!