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!

Dana and David Wed at The Cotton Room on Mother's Day!

Dana and David are such a wonderful couple! Dana contacted me in September to see if I could officiate her wedding on May 13th, 2018 at The Cotton Room. She said she and David were "looking for a fun, happy ceremony that will reflect our love for one another as we start the next chapter of our life!" I was delighted that I was available so we met and they hired me. In the process of creating their ceremony Dana and I found out that we also might be distant relatives!

Cinda's Creative Cakes baked this beautiful wedding cake! 

Dana and David graduated from Duke Medical School the Friday before their Sunday wedding so it was a double celebration! And it was also Mother's Day! A trifecta!

The place cards are artfully arranged for the guests to pick up during cocktail hour while the reception area is being flipped.

A very nice guestbook full of photos of Dana and David and their adventures together. 

The guests are seated and Kylah, the event coordinator with The Cotton Room, has gotten the processional all lined up.

Making sure David's boutonniere is secure. He will escort in his grandmother then join me up front.

Petal and Oak were the florists who furnished the bouquets, boutonnieres and floral arrangements.

After the parents were escorted in, Dana's twin brother, B.I., escorted in his fiancee, Katharine.

The remaining 4 couples took their places and it was time for the bride to enter.

Bill proudly walks Dana down the aisle to begin her new married life! 

Once Bill placed Dana's hand into David's and got to his seat, I invited all the guests to be seated. 

We began with a warm welcome to all who had traveled from far and near, then remembered those loved one's who could not be present.

Then we had a sweet blessing.

I stepped out to address Dana and David's parents and tell them how thankful their children are for all the love and support they've given them through the years.

From there I had fun telling everyone the story of how Dana and David met and fell in love and all their adventures together, especially medical school!

Meanwhile their wonderful photographer, Hooman Bahrani with Vesic Photography, and Kylah are capturing the moment.

Hearing what they love about each other!

Making their vows to each other.

David places the ring on Dana's finger to seal the vows.

Then Dana says her ring vows to David and encircles his finger with the ring.

The pronouncement of marriage followed a closing blessing. 

Sealed with a kiss!

And here they are, folks, now husband and wife!! 

Dana's mother, Mary, is telling me how much she loved the ceremony!

And Dana too! 

A chat with Bill, father of the bride, about our heritages that go back to South Carolina. 

Had to get a photo of Bill and his sisters!

A last shot with Kylah before I left.  

Congratulations to you, David and Dana! I loved working with you and getting to know you and finding kindred spirits and likely some DNA in common! I wish you all the best not only in your marriage but also in your careers!