Alanna and Chris' Fabulous Wedding at The Sutherland!

Alanna and Chris' wedding took place on October 20th, 2019 at the lovely historic The Sutherland in Wake Forest. It was a beautiful day for a wedding. Donna with the venue was our wonderful director.

The pavilion is all set for the reception. Rocky Top Catering was in charge of providing their delicious food for all the guests. I know the reception was great and I heard the next week from their photographer at another wedding he was shooting that Chris injured his knee during the reception ):

I placed the keepsake certificate of marriage into their card holder inside a vintage wagon ready to receive the gifts and envelopes from the guests.

In the Settler's Cabin, Chris and his guys were hanging out before the ceremony. They all had their ties tied in the celtic knot--something I had never seen before.

When it was time to begin, I entered first and made the unplugged announcement and then Chris and the groomsmen entered and joined me.

The bridesmaids were next and the Maid of Honor Rachel was the last to enter before the bride. 

And now we wait for our beautiful bride and her dad to enter. I invited the guests to stand. 

Alanna and her father Lenny begin the walk down the aisle. 

Rachel helps straighten Alanna's dress and train. Our photographers were Chris Nieto and his team and our videographers were Nathan and his Oak City Films crew. Our DJ was Randy Bennett with Bunn DJ Company The Purple Poppy was their florist.

And so we are all in place, the guests are seated and the ceremony begins. 

I began by welcoming all their guests with "Cead mile failte"--one hundred thousand welcomes in Gaelic! 

The parents stand to be given tribute by their children. Such a sweet surprise for them. 

Then I had the fun of telling Chris and Alanna's story which spanned 9 years. These two are quite unique individuals and do things in their own way, in their own time--as their guests well knew.

There was a lot of laughter as their guests heard their story for the first time from both perspectives. 

Next it was the secret paragraphs. Each of them told me in confidence what they loved about their partner. Then that was revealed for the first time at the ceremony.

The story wrapped up bringing our guests from the day they met to the wedding day. 

I asked them to them make their promises of marriage to each other. They had each written vows that were secret from the other. The words were printed in my book facing the couple.

Despite the wind blowing his hair in his face, Chris said his vows without once looking at the words!

Alanna read her vows to Chris from my book, in shock that Chris had memorized his! 

Next the rings. They said their words to each other after me. Chris went first and placed the ring on Alanna's finger.

Then Alanna. 

They chose to do the Anniversary Box for their unity ceremony. They had each written love letters expressing all he feelings and emotions they were experiencing during this exciting time in their lives and sealed them without sharing.

During the ceremony they placed the letters in the box to be opened on their first anniversary along with the wine and the letters. Then they are to write another love letter, seal without opening, replace the bottle of wine and place the old and new letters back in the box and repeat on each anniversary creating a legacy of love for the generations to follow.

A closing blessing followed.

I placed my hands on theirs and pronounced them married and invited Chris to kiss the bride!

Deed done!

What fun! 

I introduced them to their guests as husband and wife and the cheering began! 

We gathered inside while the guests went to the Groom's Terrace for cocktails.

Alanna and Chris! What a fabulous wedding! Despite hurting your knee at the reception, Chris--probably doing some wild dancing--I know you are enjoying wedded bliss. I loved getting to know you and collaborating on your fabulous ceremony! I wish you the best always!

A Wonderful Wedding Day for Emily and Evan!

Emily and Evan live in Tennessee and contacted me back in July of 2018 about officiating their wedding on October 5th, 2019 at Highgrove Estate. We spoke on the phone and made all the arrangements on line. We did not meet in person until the rehearsal on October 4th.

 The wedding day was beautiful with some threat of rain but it held off. 

Our videographers were Armin and Bernhard with Happy Tears Video. Bernhard is pictured above talking with our DJ.

Craig with Showtime Productions was their DJ and I plugged my microphone into his system for the ceremony. Sound was great!

 Before the ceremony I sit down in the dining room and review the ceremony script. 

After our photographer, Justin Robinson, had finished with photos of the groom and groomsmen, I got Alex, best man and brother of the groom, to sign the marriage license for me.

 Our handsome ushers were seating the guests as the time to begin drew near. 

Instead of doing the Anniversary Box during the ceremony, Evan and Emily had wine boxes made for their first, fifth and tenth anniversaries and had their friends sign them as their guest book.

 Looks like the guests are all seated and it is time to begin.

 I made my way down the steps and made the unplugged announcement before the processional began. 

 Evan escorted his mother, Kristin, in followed by his dad, Mike. 

 Then the mother of the bride, Cynthia, followed by the wedding party. And we await the bride! 

 Patrick, father of the bride, escorted his beautiful daughter, Emily, down the aisle to be married.

 I invited all the guests to stand in honor of the bride. 

 Grace, our maid of honor, fluffed the bride's train as the couple turned to face each other. 

 Welcome to everyone who has traveled from near and far for this wonderful occasion! 

 Then I stepped forward to address their parents in a surprise blessing for them. Such a sweet moment!

Then I got to tell the entertaining story of how Emily and Evan met. They met at NC State back in 2015 when they were both students there. The attraction was there from the beginning.

 They began dating right away but soon afterwards, Evan left for Tennessee for an internship. 

They decided to give long-distance dating a try and spent many hours traversing I-40 between Raleigh and Knoxville.

It was not long before they professed their love for each other, then Evan came back to Raleigh to finish up his degree and the relationship shifted from seeing each other occasionally to every day!

Evan proposed on a cruise on spring break of their senior year and Emily accepted but it also meant a move to Knoxville where Evan had accepted a job. Emily shifted her career goals and they moved to Tennessee and planned this wedding from there.

Emily is hearing for the first time what Evan told me in confidence he loves about her and what he is looking forward to in marriage.

Evan is now hearing what Emily told me about what she loves about him and what she is looking forward to in marriage.

They declared their intent to be married.

Then it was time to exchange rings as Evan places the ring on Emilys finger and reads the vows from my book. 

 Emily makes her vows to Evan and places the ring on his finger. 

 A closing blessing was next. 

 I placed my hand on theirs and made the pronouncement of marriage and invited them to kiss! 

 Grace handed Emily her bouquet and I introduced them to their guests as husband and wife!

 Sometimes the groom has to hold the bouquet for the bride to lift her dress to get up the steps! 

 One more kiss! 

 Bride's parents exit after the wedding party leaves then I invite the guests to enjoy cocktails on the terrace. 

Evan and Emily, it was a gorgeous wedding and I hope it fulfilled your dreams of your wedding day. You were a pleasure to work with and I wish you the very best always!