Sarah and Gabe's Sweet Wedding in My Wedding Garden!

Wednesday June 14th, 2017 turned out to be a beautiful day. It was warm but not stifling. Sarah and Gabe's parents and stepparents were their guests. Stephanie Smith was their photographer. (We had recently done a wedding at Duke Gardens together!)

 The garden is ready and Jeff, Sarah's stepfather, was admiring the landscaping! 

When everyone had arrived everyone took their seats and Gabe and I got into our places up front. Sarah and her dad, Al, entered from the deck.

All the parents answered "We do" to my question "Who blesses and supports Sarah as she comes to join in marriage with Gabe?"

 I welcomed everyone and told their parents and stepparents  how grateful Gabe and Sarah are for all their love and support throughout they lives.

 A few words on love and marriage. 

 They made their vows to each other.

 The exchange of rings.

 They become husband and wife joined in matrimony! 

 I rang the bell then stepped out from behind them.

 "We are really married!"

 Congratulations to the newlyweds! 

Sarah and Gabe, what a great couple you are. I could feel the love! Thank you for giving me the honor of joining you in marriage! I wish you all the best forever!

Iris and RJ's Wedding at the JC Raulston Arboretum!

Iris and RJ decided to have their wedding ceremony at the JC Raulston Arboretum and their reception at Caffe Luna on June 10th 2017. The day was beautiful and when Dave and I arrived, the 75 chairs were in place. 

They wanted to have the ceremony in the White Garden facing the pergola rather than the gazebo. 

Amy Kortus, our harpist, set up in a shady spot near the guests where she could see everything. 

Alex, our best man, prepares to sign the marriage license as one of their witnesses.

After the guests are seated, we get lined up on either side. First in is RJ's grandmother and his father, Richard who was lined up on the other side. They met in the middle and went to their seats.

You can see the others lined up on the other side. Our director, Christine, is in the middle cueing them when to walk. With her is Regina, one of our photographers with 1000 Words Photography.

After the parents of the bride processed in, the bridesmaids and groomsmen walked toward each other, met in the middle then entered down the aisle.

Meeting in the middle.

The bridesmaids were all lined up and the ring bearers were with Gabby, our Junior Bridesmaid.

Iris' sister, Holly, starts her procession, was met by Alex and entered.

Gabby wrestles with ring bearers Ryker and Sawyer to get them down the aisle despite the distraction of the guests while Maili, our flower girl and daughter of our bride, awaits with Karsten who is being very good!

Everyone made it  and now the kids are shifted into position to await our bride and groom. 

Waiting for the music to change for the bride and groom. (Kevin, with 1000 Words Photography, is ready to get a good shot of the bride and groom as they approach.)

Christine cues the music and then cues Iris and RJ to begin walking toward each other as I turned on my microphone and invited the guests to stand.

RJ got to the aisle first and awaits his beautiful bride! 

Closer and closer!

And so the ceremony began. There was a welcome to all their friends and family who had traveled from all over the place. Then the poem "Touched by an Angel" by Maya Angelou followed by recognition of their family members and remembrance of RJ's mother who was with us in spirit.

Then their story! In 2014 Iris was looking for a bass player for her band. So happened RJ is a bass player so a mutual friend introduced them. Although it was strictly business for Iris, RJ had been led to believe by his friend that there was a more romantic reason for them meeting. The friend in the long run was right because it was not long before they began dating and then officially became a couple. And, as they say, the rest is history!

Iris and RJ said their vows to each other while reading them from my book. 

Iris went first.

Then RJ.

The vows were sealed with their rings as they repeated lines after me to each other. 

A closing blessing from the Native American tradition.

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

Excellent!

I presented them to their guests and away they went! 

Holly, Maid of Honor, and Alex, Best Man followed. (Richard, RJ's dad in the black suit, waits his turn.)

Then the next couple.

And the next!

The last couple then Gabby and Maili without the children who had been intercepted by their parents!

Rudy and Lori, parents of the bride, exited then Richard and his mother. 

Iris and RJ, congratulations on your marriage and for putting together a great wedding! I hope it exceeded your dreams! I wish you all the best forever!

Brooke and Chris' Fantastic Wedding at Rock Quarry Farm!

Brooke and Chris are the sweetest couple! I really enjoyed working with them to create a very special ceremony for their wedding. It was June 3rd, 2017 at Rock Quarry Farm. The owners are relatives of Chris and that made this DIY wedding planning a bit easier. Brooke graduated from Veterinary School 21 days prior to the wedding and still managed to pull everything together for a fabulous wedding!

June 3rd was a beautiful day. It was not too hot in the shade and when we pulled up, we saw this old truck that served as the gift table and the welcome sign.

The guests had not yet arrived and all was being readied for the big day. 

I met Miles, son of the owner of Rock Quarry Farm, down at the ceremony site to hook my microphone into his sound system. He played guitar for the wedding. Worked perfectly!

Justin Robinson, their photographer from Virginia, had the groomsmen corralled behind the barn getting some good picture.

There they are! 

Inside the barn the tables were set up. They even had a small table for the children! The florals, cake and catering were done by their families. Everyone pitched in to make this a great celebration. 

A view from one end of the barn to the other. 

The Sand Band was set up to provide music for the reception and lots of dancing!

Chris' cousin Bobbie made this beautiful cake for them.

The ceremony site is mostly in the sun. Thankfully the wedding party area was in the shade. 

Nice wedding program fan-style!

The guests signed the board for their guest book. 

After most of the guests had arrived, the grandmothers arrived and were escorted to their seats. 

We had several grandmothers attending.

Speaking with Christina, friend of the couple who was their director. Because the guests would have to sit in the sun, we delayed seating everyone until the grandmothers had arrived.

A few guests chose to stand to the side in the shade rather than sit down. I was concerned that they might not be able to hear me. But I think they did judging by the laughter during the ceremony!

We got all lined up and the mothers were escorted in first. 

Time to walk! 

Now for the pretty bridesmaids in their pretty coral dresses. 

Kynlee, our flower girl, and Aubrey, our ring bearer, are just 3 years old. They did amazingly well! 

Here they go! 

Aubrey heads on down. 

Look at all those people! 

Then it was time for our beautiful bride and her proud father, Mike. 

After the transfer of hands, we began with a hearty welcome to all, a prayer and in memoriam. 

Then I stepped out to address the parents and surprise them with a sweet blessing that included their wedding dates and where they were married. Chris' dad was one of his groomsmen.

And now for the story of how their paths first crossed and what attracted them to each other. 

Their friends kind of pushed them together but it did not take them long to find out how compatible they were and how much they both love fishing. So for the proposal, Chris waiting until their trip to Costa Rica including deep sea fishing and dining on their catch to propose by candlelight. We all know how Brooke answered!

They wrote their own vows and read them to each other from my book. 

Sweet Kynlee really does not understand what is going on but she is quiet and fairly attentive! What a beautiful little girl.

Time to exchange their rings. Chris repeats after me as he slips the ring on Brooke's finger. 

Then Brooke slips the ring on Chris' finger as she says her ring vows. 

During the closing blessing I asked them to turn and look at their guests and feel all the love coming their way! 

Just a little mopping off before the pronouncement and kiss.

They become husband and wife!

Chris made sure the kiss was long enough to get a picture! 

That moment when reality sinks in! 

Presentation of the newlywed couple to their guests. 

And away they go! 

The guests exited quickly to get out of the sun and enjoy cocktails back under the shelter.

Chris and Brooke, congratulations on your marriage. I loved working with you and being part of your big day. It was fabulous. You did a great job! I wish you the best always!