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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Sweet Wedding at a Beautiful Horse Farm in Raleigh!

My husband, Dave, accompanied me today to a wedding in N. Raleigh--a section of Raleigh we had never been before. It was such beautiful countryside and hard to believe it was so close to the city. The wedding was at the bride's aunt's horse farm and the landscape was breathtaking. The farmhouse and stables were up on a little knoll over looking the fields with horses, some goats and a few geese who came by. I could hear and see some peacocks nearby too. The weather was on the warm side but the breeze made it very comfortable.

What a treat to be a part of this special day for our bride and groom, Jo Ann and Mike, whom I met face to face for the first time today. We had made all arrangements for their small family wedding by email and snail mail. I could tell they were excited and a bit nervous too! Their family was gathered around to witness their union. Mike told me that all his living relatives were present and it was like a family reunion for this happy occasion. When I walked out the door to take my place on the steps I looked around and who did I see but a doctor that I had worked with for many years at Disability Determination Services! What a pleasant surprise. He had no idea that I was a minister--it just never came up at work before I retired in 2006. It was so good to see him and visit with him after the ceremony.

There were about 25 guests and I invited them to gather close by so they could hear all the words of the ceremony. After all the guests assembled in front of the steps, Jo Ann was escorted in by her grandson, Cole. Then she joined Mike and the ceremony began. Mike's sons, Sam and Michael, stood close by their father and Jo Ann's daughters, Katie and Jessica, stood close by their mother. I thanked them for being there and told them how happy their parents were to have them present. At some point during the ceremony Jo Ann's little granddaughter, Annemarie--about 2 years old--wandered up to them and just had a good look and remained silent! She was so cute. The ceremony was brief but touching and many of the guests commented on how personal it was and how much they liked it. It really fit Jo Ann and Mike who wanted a "short, sweet ceremony" but with meaning. And so it was.

What a pleasure to participate in the marriage of such a wonderful couple who seem so well matched for each other. I had their brothers sign as witnesses and the legal part was all handled. Dave and I prepared to leave but were not allowed to until we loaded up plates with the delicious buffet food and covered them with foil to take with us--a real Southern tradition! We did not hang around for the cutting of the cake but I know it was really good because Jo Ann's Aunt Elmo baked it for them. See how pretty it was! Oh, I couldn't leave without giving some loving to their dog, Heidi. I am a dog lover and especially sweet on schnauzers. This one is named Heidi, just like my schnoodle (schnauzer/poodle combo), Heidi. What a sweetie she is.

We left the guests and the couple having a fine time celebrating this beautiful and momentous day. Congratulations, Jo Ann and Mike!