Raleigh Wedding Blog: Viva L'Event

Showing posts with label Viva L'Event. Show all posts

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Stefanie and Will Wed on July 3rd, 2016 at The Carolina Inn!

A few days after their wedding, Stefanie posted this review on Weddingwire.com and it tells the story of how their wedding came about and appreciated words of praise for my services:

Kayelily is fantastic, and I would highly recommend her to anyone and everyone. We wanted a secular ceremony because my husband's family is Jewish and mine is not. Kayelily was incredibly accommodating and flexible and helped us craft the perfect ceremony that was non-religious and incredibly personal and meaningful. We met with Kayelily in advance of the wedding, and she read us a sample ceremony. It made me cry because it was so beautiful. Kayelily let us personalize our ceremony a great deal. We wrote a long passage about how we met that she included. We also each separately wrote and sent her a passage on why we love one another, which she kept private until the actual ceremony. She included a section honoring and thanking our parents that we know they loved. I cried throughout the ceremony, and my husband shed some tears as well. Our parents were definitely crying as were many others in attendance. The ceremony was touching, moving, and also appropriately light and humorous at a couple points. I think I must have surprised her with all my crying, but she rolled with it and made sure we were all in sync. Overall, it was the perfect ceremony we were hoping for that pleased everyone in attendance. On the logistics side, Kayelily was so helpful and flexible throughout the entire process. We initially wanted to have a private ceremony for about 10 people in the morning, and we ended up changing that to about 40 people in the evening, which Kayelily effortlessly accommodated. Kayelily comes across as a very sweet person, and her speaking voice is calm and soothing and has a rich Southern charm to it that added to the character of the experience (we are transplants to the area!). Overall I cannot say enough positive things about Kayelily. Thank you for making our day perfect!

This is the Bryan Courtyard at the Carolina Inn like I have never seen it before! It is gorgeous and all set up for the reception. Viva L'Event did the florals. I did not know they offered this service but it is beautiful! Since there were no bridesmaids or groomsmen, no need for bouquets and boutonnières except for Will.

Sugar Euphoria made this pretty cake!

They had fans for everyone but the heat was not bad, especially for July.

So when everyone was present, we gathered on the terrace. Note how many have their cell phones ready!

I looked over and saw most of the guests gathered on the other end of the terrace. We had put out benches for the parents so they could sit and have front row seats for the wedding. I had to coax them to come over and tell them where to sit and encourage the guests to gather in closer. I was wearing a mic though. Our fabulous photographer, Brian Mullins, watched with amusement as I rearranged the guests!

Waiting for the parents to get seated. The woman in blue I believe is an aunt of Will's who is Skyping the wedding to his grandparents on her iPad. She stood in very close so that she could pick up my voice but afterwards she said that they could not hear me well despite the microphone and asked if I could send her the script of the ceremony. I simply took the script out of my ceremony book and handed it to her. She was tickled at that.

Hmmmmm. I think we are all set now to begin!

Stefanie teared up right away. But I had a hankie handy for that.

Will was quite serious in the beginning and I was afraid he would not loosen up but he did. Just a little humor did it!

Then Will started tearing up and I whipped out a second hankie from my pocket! Never fear! We are on a roll!

After telling the story of their meeting and courtship which was quite entertaining, they heard for the first time what the other had told me in confidence about what they love about each other.

Then it was time for the vows.....

and the rings.

After the closing blessing I pronounced them husband and wife and invited them to kiss!

Not a problem!

Presentation of the newlyweds to their thrilled guests!

Big grins from them both! Now to celebrate!

Stefanie and Will, you are an amazing couple and perfect for each other. I love how you are such independent thinkers and not willing to go with the norm and blaze your own path. It was a delight to work with you and to join you in marriage. I wish you the best always!

Friday, May 16, 2014

Gorgeous Wedding at Rose Hill Plantation for Trina and Mark!

May10, 2014 was simply a beautiful day in North Carolina and especially at Rose Hill Plantation in Nashville NC. It is about a 50 minute drive from Raleigh and is an old plantation of hundreds of acres of unspoiled land.

When Marty and I arrived, Laura Simson, their photographer, had our bride, Trina, and her maidens out on the steps of the manor house for photos.

As we walked around the property, there were little signs the couple had made for the wedding. Mark told me he did this one!

So, instead of the ceremony taking place at the gazebo in front of the lake, Mark and Trina chose to have their wedding in the pecan grove area with the gorgeous back drop of pretty yellow flowers in the field across the road. It is on a slight slope which makes it easy for guests sitting in the back to see well.

Josh, our DJ, and his assistant, Brandon, with Island Sound, had set up the speakers and sound board for the ceremony. I plugged into their system and we did a sound check. Perfect!

This is Nathan Hall where the reception will take place.

I bet Mark made this sign too!

The Rose Hill Plantation catering staff under the supervision of Chef Michael are getting ready for the festivities.

Our pretty cake was baked by Tishre Hunter of Dreme Cake Artistry.

The manor house is used as headquarters for the wedding party to get dressed and to hang out in prior to the wedding.

Another cute sign directing the guests from the parking area to the ceremony area.

Wide view of the ceremony site right before the guests are seated.

The pretty young lady on the right is Jamie with Viva L'Event. She and Stephanie were the wedding planners and directors for the day. Great job, ladies!

Here we go! Following Mark and me is Curtis, Mark's brother and best man. He is engaged to our Maid of Honor, Ashley, who told me that when they marry, she and Trina will really be sisters! Neat!

The rather large wedding party comes in as couples except for Ashley, maid of honor, who comes in solo.

One couple brings in one of our ring bearers, Blake. He was adorable in his gray suit!

Another......Glen!

And a junior groomsman, Tyler!

Our two "older" flower girls, Grace and Kiersten. The youngest, Gianna, was carried in earlier.

And here we all are, awaiting the entrance of our bride and her father, Frank.

So beautiful!

Love this picture!

You cannot tell from the photo here but a few tears leaked out of Mark's eyes and his mother reached over and handed him a tissue!

And we begin!

Pretty bridesmaids all in a row!

Mark and Trina's paths first crossed in 2006 in New York and they were just friends until three years later when they began dating. Shortly thereafter Mark moved to North Carolina for work. He really did not enjoy this long distance relationship thing so the next Christmas he went up to New York and brought Trina back with him. He proposed on Christmas Eve of 2012 and then wisely kept a low profile amidst the frenzy of wedding planning!

The middle bridesmaid is Nikki, sister of the bride, all caught up in the emotion of the wedding.

Those handsome guys! All behaving themselves!

After the vows, I asked the couple to join left hands so that they are holding the hand they will put the ring on and even though they had rehearsed the day before, it took a minute which tickled Trina!

Mark repeats his ring vows after me as he slides on the wedding ring.

Trina's turn!

As a closing blessing, I ask the couple to look at each other and feel the happiness of the moment, then close their eyes and let that joy really sink in. Then I ask them to open their eyes and look around at all their loved ones who are honoring them on their wedding day. I think Mark made a funny remark at that point!