Melissa and Terri Tie the Knot in The Portofino Horse Barn!

April 9th, 2016 was a beautiful sunny day but the wind was so strong that Melissa and Terri wisely chose to move their outdoor wedding from the piazza into the beautiful immaculate horse barn at Portofino in Clayton. I loved working with Melissa and Terri. They have been together many years and are a perfect match for each other. They recently located to North Carolina to be close to family and because Terri has a passion for horses they chose the beautiful estate of Portofino which started as a horse farm to begin their new life and to get married there. 

They did a First Look with their esteemed photographer Jason Martin of Veritas Photography. This is a view from halfway down the corridor towards the ceremony area. Cleanest horse barn I have ever seen (or smelled!). All the horses had been moved into the pasture except Terri's horse, Rebel.

Terri checks in on Rebel who seemed inordinately excited!

He has been decked out with flowers interwoven into his mane and tail and senses something special is going on. His name is "Rebel Enough!"

Jason puts down his camera to tie Terri's errant shoelace. 

The amused Melissa watches!

The brides had matching tennis shoes to which they had affixed strips of bling which gradually fell off the shoes leaving bits of bling behind as they walked!

They are so happy on this day. They chose their dresses separately and make such beautiful brides. 

This is the only photo I have of me with the brides because Dave, my husband/photographer, thought we would get more after the wedding. Not so!

A great picture of Melissa and Terri with the Portofino staff. Sandra, right, is the owner and creator of Portofino--an amazing estate of beautiful homes, spectacular grounds, and of course the horse barn. It all started with a horse farm!

The upstairs of the barn has a gorgeous villa for guests. Melissa and Terri stayed there the night before and after their wedding. The wedding party all gathered there before the ceremony as the guest arrived.

 Waiting! So much time at weddings is spent waiting! 

The two beautiful bouquets are by MEWS Floral Design. 

Getting the witnesses' signatures on the marriage license ahead of time. Greg is Melissa's brother and Heather is Terri's sister. Greg escorted Melissa in and Heather was our Maid of Honor.

They are so ready for this! 

Jim Unger with Ninety-Nine Entertainment is our wonderful DJ. Jim really knows what he is doing and everything went smooth as ice! It is always good to work with Jim again.

The upstairs apartment has a Juliet balcony overlooking the barn. This is a photo of the ceremony site as the guests are being seated. The white runner has been firmly affixed to the rubber tiles--Yay!

Back downstairs it looks like the guests have arrived, and we are ready to get the processional underway!

So we got all lined up in the office. Sally, Terri's mother, is ushered in by Chris and Justin and Terri's stepfather, John, followed.

Then it was time for the wedding party as I led them down the aisle. 

Tammy enters. 

Then Heather....

Melissa with Greg, her brother, and her mother, Kathleen, are ready to go! 

The guests are standing in honor of our two brides! 

And now Terri and her father, Tom, begin their walk. 

There they go! 

And so we began the ceremony which the brides and I had collaborated on to make it truly theirs. They have a wonderful sense of humor and the ceremony reflected that, generating sweet laughter during the ceremony. 

I introduced Heather's reading and as I did so, Rebel let out a loud neigh as if he wanted to do the reading! Perfect timing, Rebel!

After telling the story of how Melissa and Terri met and fell in love and all their many adventures together, followed by what they love most about each other and what they are looking forward to in marriage, they made their vows to each other and exchanged rings. 

 The moment their marriage became legal!

 Sealed with a kiss--their first as a married couple!

The horse and carriage awaited them to carry them over to the clubhouse for the reception! 

And away they go! Veils whipping in the wind! 

Around the side of the lake with the photographers running behind them getting some great photos I am sure. 

"JUST MARRIED!" Melissa and Terri, what a fabulous wedding you created and carried out. It could not have been any better. I loved working with the two of you. Congratulations on your marriage and best wishes for the two of you as you begin the same journey you have been on for years, now sealed, signed and delivered!

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A Beautiful Highgrove Wedding for Ashley and Rodney!

Ashley, Rodney and I did all our planning long distance. They live in Georgia where Rodney is stationed in the military. We had a Skype session back in January and then began working on the ceremony for their wedding October 9th, 2015 at the beautiful Highgrove Estates in Fuquay-Varina.

It was a very pleasant Friday evening when Susan and I arrived. (Susan is a friend who came to take photos of the wedding for this blog for me.)

In the garden ballroom this lovely cake by Sweet Memories was on display. Ashley's color scheme was black, charcoal and glitter gold.

The sweetheart table is good to go!

The tables are set and the favors in place. In the background you can see Lenny Fritts setting up his DJ equipment that he will be plugging my receiver into so that my voice will be amplified.

Back in the house in the dining room, the guests were arriving and placing their gifts on the table along with the pretty bride and bridesmaids' bouquets by Expressions of Love florist.

Pomegranate mocktails awaited the guests next to a very pretty display of First Corinthians 13. 

The portico was hung with shimmering sheets of glass strands and two pedestals of flowers. 

A close up look at the glass beads--actually they were flattened like coins. Very striking effect.

The guests had arrived and we were ready to begin so I entered followed by Rodney and his best man, BJ. 

We watched the pretty bridesmaids enter coupled up with the groomsmen. 

Jason Martin of Veritas was our photographer. Jason is so talented with a very edgy style I like. 

At last Ashley's father, Brian, got to escort his beautiful daughter down the aisle!

Brian presented Ashley to Rodney with her family's blessings. 

And so we began. Welcome to everyone, a sweet prayer for Rodney and Ashley, then a tribute to their parents. Then I shared the story of how they met and fell in love with their guests. They met in Raleigh one night in March of 2012 when they were both out on the town with friends. They were instantly attracted to each other and after talking a while they were both smitten. From that point on they became a couple. There have been some ups and downs as Rodney's military service was a challenge to be together. After many 14 hour trips and a few speeding tickets later, Ashley relocated to be with him in Georgia. 

Ashley and Rodney chose to include the hand-fasting ritual where I wrapped the cord which represents their love around their left hands. Then they joined their right hands and made their vows to each other. 

Rodney did not divulge to anyone what he was going to say. He spoke without notes and his words were quite touching.

I removed the cord which was replaced symbolically by their rings. 

They exchanged their rings by each saying to the other "So, my love, my everything, take this ring as a symbol of my never-ending love."

Then I declared them husband and wife and invited them to seal their vows with a kiss! 

I am getting out of the way!! 

I introduced them to their guests and the cheering began as they scampered down the aisle! 

Rodney and Ashley, what a gorgeous wedding you created. And you are a gorgeous couple as well. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your special day! May all your dreams come true!

Our Vendors:

Wedding Director at Highgrove: Angela

Touch of Class DJ: Lenny Fritts

Photographer: Jason Martin with Veritas

Lighting: Ward Productions

Florist: Expressionsof Love

Wedding Cake: SweetMemories