Denise and Keith Tie The Knot at The Matthews House!

Denise and Keith found themselves sitting at the same kitchen table at a mutual friends' engagement party in March of 2011. Keith was attracted to Denise's gorgeousness and Denise to Keith's personality and easy going nature. Their conversation flowed easily and it felt like they had known each other forever. After many attempts to get together they officially became a couple whereupon Keith promptly asked Denise to come with him to a friend's wedding. She asked where the wedding would be. He told her Poland. She asked "Poland, the country?" He replied yes and she eagerly accepted the invitation. That's when Keith new Denise was The One! They both love to travel. Keith is good at planning adventures and Denise is good at coming along with him! Keith proposed in August of 2013 while on a trip out West and they chose the wedding date of August 16, 2014 at The Matthews House in Cary. 

I've been doing weddings at the lovely historic Matthews House for at least 12 to 14 years and the property has undergone many changes and developments over time. This view above is of the side of the house. At one time a huge old tree stood between the house and the chairs but it was lost to decay a couple of years ago. In the early days of weddings here the chairs were placed to face the house and porch creating an L-shaped aisle from the front door. 

The beautiful fence was added and an arch was created so that the guests face toward the back of the property where there now stand a beautiful reception hall. It used to be just grass and an unsightly view of the backyards of the neighbors on the street over. Adding the reception hall not only added wonderful space for the reception and Plan B if the weather was not cooperative but also gave more privacy!

Inside the reception hall is this lovely cake by Patisserie which is the in-house bakery for the Matthews House. 

 The beautiful floral designs are by Gregg Kennedy of Brides and Bouquets.  Gorgeous as usual! 

Our DJ, Cody Ross with Touch of Class DJs, is set up in the reception hall and a mobile unit is out on the side porch for the ceremony. Ross had an ear mic ready for me and the sound was perfect!

Warren McCormack is our very capable photographer and brought along a second shooter to cover the festivities. Warren and I have worked many weddings together and he is always so easy going and fun to work with.

The guests are seated and we are ready to begin the processional. You can see the reception hall in the background.

The parents and wedding party get all lined up in the front of the house.

Preeti Waas is the manager of The Matthews House and usually directs the weddings there. She has recently begun her own event planning and directing business called Mehar Events. She specializes in Indian weddings and the blended Indian/American weddings! Go check out her website! I know she will be a grand success.

 Entering is the groom's parents, Ruth and Glenn. 

Then Daniel escorts his mother and Mother of the Bride, Christine. Daniel then circled around to escort in the bride with his father, Paul.

 Ready, girls? 

 Preeti stands watch to cue Cody for the entrance of the wedding party.

 So pretty in their mint dresses! 

 So now for the bride! 

 Please stand for our beautiful bride!

 Presentation of the Bride....

 Here we go! Preeti straightens the bride's train.

 Welcome, prayer, then their love story......

 Some good laughs all around......

 Vows and rings....

Feel the happiness of this day. Feel the love of your family and dearest friends surrounding you as they honor you on your wedding day!

 The official pronouncement of marriage.....

 Kiss!

 Stepping joyfully into their future! 

Denise and Keith--a wonderful wedding! I know you two are so happy together and off on more adventures! I wish you all the best.

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revk@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

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New Year's Day Wedding for Kristen and Greg!

Kristen called me on December 14th to see if I could officiate her wedding on January 1, 2011.  It was quite late to be finding an officiant but she explained that she had just been able to book the NC Museum of Art for her reception on that day. She was so thrilled that it became available even if it was last minute. She wanted to have her ceremony in a church and one of the closest was Community United Church of Christ at the corner of Dixie Trail and Wade Ave and they were available too. So the pieces started falling in place for her wedding to happen on New Years Day. Thankfully I was available. In fact, I was amazed that I had not gotten an avalanche of requests for this numerically significant date! Kristen met with me on the 14th and decided on the 17th that she wanted me to officiate. She later found out that I had officiated another couple's wedding that were friends of hers. We started immediately constructing her ceremony to include everything that she wanted. Greg had apparently told her to make it hers and to my knowledge, I don't think he ever read the ceremony and heard it for the first time on his wedding day! 

The groomsmen and I were the first to enter for the processional followed by Kristen's grandparents, then Greg escorted in his mother and joined us.

The bridesmaids were all ready to go in their lovely "fern green." (David's Bridal's color)

It was really important to Kristen that Greg's daughter, Lauren, her niece, Madelyn, and her nephew, Micah, be part of the wedding. Ironically, I learned at the wedding that Lauren was the flower girl in another wedding I did last year!

Kristen wanted both parents to escort her down the aisle. But, at the rehearsal we discovered that the aisle was not wide enough for all three of them so they decided that her father would escort her in and when they got to the first row her mother would stand up and join them for the transfer of hands.

I don't know the seating capacity of the church, but it was filled up that evening. Everyone was standing as our beautiful bride and her father, Bob, swept down the aisle!

You can tell that the aisle only could accommodate one bride and one father!

 

Here I am delivering the Children's Blessing to Lauren, Madelyn and Micah. They were so good (and quiet during the ceremony)! The girls actually scattered the flower petals very nicely and consistently. This does not always happen as you may have noticed in prior posts. Both these girls were 5 years old and could understand what they were supposed to do as compared with younger flower girls.

 

The ceremony was about 20 minutes, the ideal length. They made their vows and exchanged rings. Then I declared them husband and wife and Gregory really nailed his beautiful bride with a kiss! Good going, Greg! Everyone applauded.

And, out they go, all officially married and ready to kick up their heels at the reception.

 

It was great to work again with Warren McCormack, their photographer. (Photographers are not used to having their picture taken!)  I look forward to seeing his pictures of this wedding and the reception which I did not attend.  It was a rainy evening and I stepped in mud on the way to my car so I decided to just go on home although I had been looking forward to seeing the reception and getting a photo of the wedding cake at the Museum.

This gentleman is Doug Barrick who played the piano for the prelude and then switched over to the organ for the processional and recessional. He is with the church and was so helpful in showing me where the sound system was and getting my microphone plugged in to it. He is also a great pianist and organist! Thanks, Doug!

Greg and Kristen, congratulations on your marriage! I think you pulled off a wonderful wedding and I know you are dedicated to each other in your marriage. I wish you all the best forever!

Kiersten and Andrew's Wedding at the Crabtree Marriott on May 1, 2010!

Kiersten contacted me in early April for her May 1st wedding. I was so glad that I was available to officiate for her and Andrew. They put together one fabulous wedding!

Here is the line-up after all the guests were seated. They each had a set of grandparents in attendance. Then Andrew's mother, Gale, was seated by his father, John, followed by the mother of the bride, Irene, who was escorted in by Kevin, the best man. Then Andrew and I entered followed closely by Kevin and the groomsmen. The bridesmaids then entered in their pretty black dresses holding one calla lily each wrapped in red ribbon.

Kiersten is not only beautiful, but she is one determined young woman who knows what she wants. She was so composed and confident at the rehearsal that I think she surprised herself (and me!) when she teared up as her father, Michael, proudly escorted her in. Look at that beautiful bouquet with the lilies and the graceful spray of white orchids. I had a hankie waiting for her.

I was so amazed that Marty, using the zoom on my simple digital camera, got these photos from the back of the room. Of course I did lighten them up a good bit. The expressions on Kiersten's and Andrew's faces are priceless and show how much they were enjoying getting married, despite the tears that kept coming from Kiersten's eyes. Andrew just held tight to her hands to steady her. We included their "story" in the ceremony and everyone got a good laugh when I said "Andrew, you were first attracted to Kiersten’s eyes and her killer instinct. She is a tough one to get along with but you have been able to put up with her wonderful personality all this time and are now taking it on for life." Their vows to each other had some funny and sweet lines in them too.

Finally the pronouncement and the kiss as everyone applauded!

There they go! Mr. and Mrs. now!

Here is the wedding party and parents assembled outside the hotel. The rain was barely holding off.

Andrew, you are right about Kiersten's "killer instinct" and with her ability to make things happen like this beautiful wedding, I know you two will have a great marriage. I wish you all the best!

Our Vendors:

We thank the Crabtree Marriott Hotel and Connie Kendricks and her staff for providing the venue and fabulous service for this wedding.I really enjoy doing weddings here.

This is the ballroom being readied for the reception.

This lovely and whimsical cake with the princess kissing the frog on top was provided by Cinda's Creative Cakes. 

The music for the reception was a band put together by Steve Stelmaszekout of Norfolk, VA. He is a saxophonist and can provide live music for all occasions.

The lovely flowers were provided by The Flower Cupboard in Cary. 

Our photographer was Warren McCormack and he was assisted by Brian.