Caroline and Varun's Wedding in the White Garden of Duke Gardens on August 25th, 2018

Neither Caroline and Varun nor their families live in NC but because these lovebirds met while attending Duke University, they chose to have their wedding here in the White Garden in Duke Gardens. This is a beautiful amphitheater that is a wonderful setting for a wedding. I've done many ceremonies here and watched the garden develop and become lush and full. See previous weddings HERE.

From the gazebo across from the ceremony area where the DJ is set up, you can see the circular ceremony area and the visitor's center behind it where the cocktail hour and reception will be.

Our wedding director, Amanda Scott with A Swanky Affair, is placing the fans in the chairs for the guests. The day was not too hot, in fact it was quite comfortable with a thin cloud cover. An exceptionally "cool" day for August in North Carolina!

Under the tent that covers the terrace, their guest book consists of a plaque of North Carolina for the guests to sign.

Caroline's aunt had given her a hankie for the wedding ceremony and our maid of honor, Allison, has just brought it to me to place in my ceremony book where I can hand it to Caroline during the ceremony when the tears appeared! And they did!

Inside the visitor's center the staff is getting the tables set and adding the decor for the reception. 

This later photo shows the tables set up with their color scheme of Duke blue--of course! Cateringworks was catering this reception.  

This beautiful cake by Ashley Cakes  is ready to cut and enjoy! 

Their photographer, Joe Payne, and Caroline and Varun did a First Look at Duke Chapel then came to the garden for more. And now they are heading back to the holding area within the visitor's center while the guests arrive and take their seats. 

Dave grabbed a photo of the three of us before the ceremony just in case we didn't get one afterwards!

They chose their mothers to be their witnesses on the marriage license. 

Alex Choi with Vox DJ is all set up in the gazebo. I plugged my mic into his body pack and we did a sound check. It was perfect! Thanks, Alex, it was great to work with you again!

This open air cathedral shaped structure is right behind where the guests will be seated and from which the bridesmaids and the bride and her parents will process in for the ceremony.

All the plants have matured and are immaculately manicured by the garden staff. Always beautiful!

It was time to begin. Amanda cued Alex to begin the music and I walked in to take my place followed by the groomsmen. 

Then Varun escorted his mother who traveled all the way from India for the wedding to her seat then joined me and the guys.

The bridesmaids processed in next. Allison has just walked in and is turning around.

Alex changes the music and the bride and her parents began their procession into the ceremony! 

After her parents were seated and she joined Varun, we began the ceremony with a welcome to all the guests. 

They took a look out at all their friends and families who had traveled from far and wide to be with them on this auspicious day.

After a blessing and remembering those loved ones who could not be with us, I stepped out to address their parents and tell them how much Caroline and Varun love and appreciate them.

Then I had the pleasure of telling the story of how they met and fell in love. 

It was back in 2013 when Caroline was a senior and Varun had just arrived from India to begin grad school.

They met one evening in a local bar when they were out with friends. Varun and Caroline gravitated to each other and had so much fun talking and laughing together, they decided to see each other again. It was not long before they were inseparable. Caroline graduated and began applying to law schools and working locally while Varun finished grad school. Then they both relocated to the DC area--Varun to begin his new career and Caroline to begin law school. Varun proposed on the peak of a mountain overlooking the Shenandoah Valley in May of 2017 by reading a poem he wrote to Caroline which ended with "will you marry me?" Of course Caroline said yes so they took a selfie then hurried down the mountain to share the good news with family and friends!

At this point in the ceremony I am sharing with each of them what the other told me in confidence about what they love about them, why they want to marry and what they are looking forward to in marriage. It is such a tender moment and Caroline got to use the hankie!

Then they shared their vows with each other.

Varun places the Mangulsutra--a sacred black necklace--around Caroline's neck as I explained that this is an Indian wedding custom symbolizing the groom's acceptance to share his life with the bride.

Then I called for the rings which represent the unbroken circle of love.  

Varun placed the ring on Caroline's finger as he said words to her after me. 

Then Caroline placed the ring on Varun's finger and said her words to him. 

Just making sure the rings is all the way on! 

We closed with a blessing to send them on their happy journey!

I pronounced them married and invited them to share their first kiss as husband and wife.

Loving that! 

The "after-kiss moment" when the reality that they are really married sinks in! 

Presentation of the newlywed couple to their guests!

Up close shot of this beautiful sacred necklace--the Mangulsutra. 

Varun and Caroline! What a beautiful wedding for a beautiful couple. I loved it and I think your families and guests did too. You were wonderful to work with. Thank you for giving me the honor of joining you in matrimony! My best for you always!

Nicole and Akira's Fabulous Wedding at The Cotton Room!

Nicole and Akira are a great couple! I enjoyed working with them to make their ceremony exactly what they envisioned. Officiating their wedding was even more fun! They chose The Cotton Room, a wonderful venue in Durham. It was perfect for them. The wedding day was January 6th, 2018. It was a very cold day outside but we were toasty warm inside.

When Dave and I arrived, everything was ready for the guests. This table was for the guests to sign the heart-shaped petals of the tree.

 View from the front of the ceremony area to the back where the bar is. 

 The best man signed the marriage license for me. 

 One of their guests is trying to decide which leaf to sign! 

 Photos of their years together leading up to this wonderful day! 

 James Walters, our esteemed photographer with Walters and Walters Photography. 

Ashley Cakes made this beautiful cake and the cupcakes. It is stowed away in the area where the reception will take place.

 A close up view of this beautiful cake. 

Alex Choi with Vox DJ was our DJ. Love working with Alex. He got me plugged into this sound system and we did a sound check before the guests were seated.

 Alex also provided this stunning uplighting. 

A peek behind the drapes reveals the reception area which will later be expanded into the ceremony area while the guests are enjoying cocktail hour. Petal and Oak were the florists. Triangle Catering is providing the delicious dinner.

 Summer is the event manager and wedding director for The Cotton Room. We love working together! 

 Stealing a quiet moment to review the ceremony script.

 Alex and Summer go over the cues for the processional. 

 Isn't this beautiful? So simple yet so elegant. Fabulous design. 

 Phil McInnis with Twenty-One Films is wiring me for the video. 

 So the guests have begun to arrive.

After the guests have been seated, the wedding party gets lined up. A moment to chat with James since the last wedding we did together.

 The groom and groomsmen and I were discussing something......

 I checked their boutonnieres and all were secure. 

 Phil is placing the video microphone on Akira. 

 Akira wanted to look at his vows one more time before the ceremony.

 Then our dog-sitter, Chase, came in with Sadie, Nicole and Akira's beloved fur baby. 

 She was so excited to see Akira and he had to calm her down. 

 Sadie's garland of flowers were placed around her neck. She was the Flower Dog, after all! 

Summer is cuing Alex to begin the first music for the processional as Pat, brother of the bride, escorts his mother, Merry Lea, into the ceremony then circles back.

 And down the aisle they go! 

 I go in next followed by Akira and Austin, the best man.

 Then the couples enter: Kelsey and Pat

 Alex and Zack

 Jessi and Sam

 Then it was time for Miles, our ring bearer.  He was not sure he wanted to do this.

 But once he got going and saw Akira and his grandmother at the end of the aisle, he speeded up! 

 Sadie couldn't resist greeting the guests as she made her way down the aisle to Akira!

 And here comes the bride and her dad, Chris! 

 Chris answered my question and transferred Nicole's hand into Akira's and then joined the guests. 

 I am checking Nicole's eyes for spillage of tears and got out my hankie. 

A warm welcome to all the guests was first. Then a tribute to those loved ones no longer living. Truly missed was Akira's mother, Machiko, as well as some of their grandparents.

 Meanwhile Chase has rounded Sadie up and taken her behind the scenes to wait! Such a sweet dog!

Next was a tribute to Nicole's parents, Merry Lea and Chris, and Akira's father, Robert. Always a sweet surprise for the parents. 

 After telling their wonderful love story, I revealed their secret paragraphs to them, so sweet. 

This was when I said to Akira from Nicole: "She can’t wait to have little quarter Asian babies with you and argue over how to raise them." Akira and the guests cracked up at that! 

 Then it was time for the vows.

 Akira read his promises from my book where they faced him. 

 He did a great job and Nicole told him so! 

 The lovely bridesmaids witnessing the ceremony.

 Then Nicole read her vows from my book to Akira. She did great too! 

 Best Man Austin handed me the rings.

 Akira said his words to Nicole as he placed the ring on her finger.

 Then Nicole placed the ring on Akira's finger.

 I pronounced them husband and wife after a closing blessing! 

 It's time for the kiss! 

A good one! Everyone was cheering.

The newlywed couple and the wedding party and parents recessed out and disappeared behind the drapes while I invited the guests to cocktail hour. When the ceremony space was cleared, we went back to the ceremony area for some photos.

Sadie is so patient! 

Nicole and Akira! Fantastic wedding! Great planning job. I loved working with you and I am so happy for you and wish you the best of everything forever!