Leanna and Bill Wed at All Saints Chapel in Raleigh!

Leanna and Bill did a superb job planning their May 10, 2009 wedding! When they met with me last September, I immediately picked up on Leanna's determination and organizational skills. This was her big day and she wanted it to go perfectly. And it did! She and Bill had great wedding programs printed up with their photo on them and a guest book with a place to write messages to the couple. Flowers on Broad in Fuquay-Varina did a lovely job with the florals. I had never seen the railing at the door of the Chapel decorated before and it was beautiful. On the altar there were beautiful white flowers and the bride and bridesmaid bouquets were hot pink flowers--a great contrasting color with the "pool" color of the bridesmaids dresses. Note: I got in on the color scheme too by wearing a "pool" prayer stole! Something amazing that I did not see during the ceremony, probably because I was on the other side of the bride and groom, was the color of blue-green light reflected on the couple and floor in front of them from the sunlight streaming through the stained glass window behind us. When I opened up the photos from my camera and saw that beautiful reflection, I was awed with the celestial feeling of the photos! I am sure that our photographer, Neil Boyd, and fellow photographer helping him out, Jonathan Kaz of f8 Photos Studio, took advantage of that phenomenon in their shots of this amazing wedding!

Once again it was great to be doing a wedding at All Saints Chapel! Sarah Morris from the chapel was there and expertly directed the wedding. There is a photo of her here getting candle wax out of a votive for the arrangement of candles that Leanna wanted at the entrance to the aisle. Thanks, Sarah! And, it was good to see Laura Byrne, our harpist, again. Laura is such a wonderful harpist and harp music is so appropriate to the chapel where we have done several weddings together.

Just a few minutes before ceremony start time the groomsmen and I were crowded in the little room to the right of the altar where we wait until it is time for us to enter. Bill noticed a gift box about the size of a shoe box with his name on it and wondered what it was. There was a note on the outside that said something about "bouts" and so we encouraged him to open it. Lo and behold it was boutonnieres for the groom, groomsmen, and fathers. So I quickly pinned them on the groom's party and sent one of their wives to quickly pin them on the fathers. Whew. Close call! This brought up a wedding attire "rule" about wearing boutonnieres and pocket handkerchiefs. The rule says to wear one or the other but not both. So, the groomsmen got rid of their "pool" handkerchiefs (their ties were "pool" too) but we all decided Bill looked best with both the boutonniere and his white handkerchief--so much for the rule! Bill asked me if I ever got nervous before a wedding. I told him rarely because I have done over 1,000 weddings since 1997. It was obvious that he was a bit nervous though--normal for the groom from my experience!

By then it was time for the wedding to begin with the seating of the bride's mother and the groom's stepmother. Then the guys and I entered. The lovely 7 women entered in their pretty pool dresses. Then it was time for Dad and Leanna to make their grand entrance. Leanna was beaming and her dress was exquisite! Bill stepped down from the altar for the transfer of hands. Then the couple stepped up together to the top of the altar steps--symbolic of taking their relationship to a higher level. The lovely ceremony that they put together included a tribute to their parents and a reading by their friend Colleen. The wedding address included the blessing on the hands which flowed into the vows then the rings. After the pronouncement, we got to see the kiss they had been "practicing" since I assigned that for homework at the rehearsal! The guests applauded and we ended with a prayer and presentation of the happy couple. Then I sent the guests to Caffe Luna for the wedding reception. Bill told me later when we were taking pictures that my voice had calmed him right down and he actually enjoyed the ceremony! Bill and Leanna, I hope all your dreams come true!

Carrie and Russ Marry at St. Mark's Chapel, Raleigh!

If I was planning my own wedding, I would have it at St. Mark's Chapel. It is located on the Mordecai House Campus in downtown Raleigh. It was built in the 1800s and moved to its present location. It is very simple, rustic, and cozy with maximum occupancy capacity of 55 . The chapel can be left plain without decorations or it can be decorated to the hilt! It is air conditioned too! Carrie and Russ thought this was the perfect setting for their wedding too. They wanted to be surrounded by family and close friends and to include Dino, Russ' 8 year old son, in the ceremony. Dino is just adorable and was so excited to be all dressed up and in his Dad's wedding. He really enjoyed the sand ceremony as he and the couple had fun layering their three colors of sand. Afterward, as a sweet surprise, he gave Carrie a rose!

Marty and I arrived for this late Sunday morning wedding on May 10th which was also Mother's Day. Carrie looked so pretty in her simple but elegant wedding gown. Her sister, Erica, was her maid of honor and Russ' friend, Michael, was his best man. Carrie's Aunt Martha was our director who expertly got everyone in place. The beautiful and uplifting music was very unusual and something I had never heard or seen! John McHugh plays the Uilleann Pipes and Tin Whistles. The pipes sound just like a bagpipe but not nearly so deafeningly loud. It is played by pumping the bellows with his elbow and depressing the numerous keys. He also played the tin whistle. He plays for weddings and special events and I would highly recommend him, especially for anyone wanting an Irish/Celtic wedding. His information is at this website. Amanda Byrnes was our photographer and it was good to be working with her again! She took the top two photos and send them to me for this post. Thanks, Amanda!

All the best to you, Carrie, Russ and Dino!

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!

Patrick and Becky Tie the Knot in an Interfaith Wedding Ceremony!

Becky and Patrick were married on May 2, 2009 at Gerrard Hall on the UNC campus. It is an older building with lots of character. I had never been there before the rehearsal. Apparently there was a fire in the building sometime in the past and it has been restored. The walls were painted a warm rose color with white trim. It has a wrap around balcony and beautiful woodwork. Becky and Patrick told me that theirs is the last wedding in the building due to a policy change that will no longer permit weddings in the building. At first they were told that no candles would be permitted for this event but acquiesced so the couple could have a Unity Candle.

The couple wisely hired Cori Stocum as their wedding planner/director. A smart move. I have worked with Cori before and she is a pro! For this wedding she enlisted the assistance of her husband, Brad, and I could tell he had helped out a time or two. I was delighted when Kristin, founder of KPO Photography, arrived. I had not seen her for at least a couple of years although we have done many weddings together in the past. It was good to re-connect. She takes a photojournalistic approach to weddings and tells the story of the couple and their families and guests in pictures. The musicians were a violinist, cellist and flautist from Florian, another group of wonderful musicians I have worked with before.

Becky is of Jewish heritage and Patrick is of Christian heritage and they wanted to blend wedding customs of the two faiths together in their ceremony. I sent them plenty of examples of interfaith wedding ceremonies and my special collection of ceremony components. They chose to incorporate the Christian elements with a reading of First Corinthians by Patrick's grandmother (she did a fantastic job!) and the Unity Candle. On the Jewish side we had a Kiddush cup of wine representing the cup of life and Becky's brother, David, presented these words in Hebrew and English. He did a superb job as well. Then at the end of the ceremony Patrick smashed the glass in keeping with the traditional Jewish wedding custom as all the guests shouted Mazel Tov, which means congratulations and good luck. As part of the wedding address, Becky reworded the seven blessings into a contemporary rendition which fit so well. They married under a beautiful canopy called the Chuppah. It was fashioned out of plastic piping then wrapped with fabric and decorated with lovely greenery and colorful flowers as you can see. The actual fabric of the canopy was made especially for the couple by a friend of theirs who put a monogram of their combined initials on each end. This is very special and something that can be passed down in their family for generations.

It was time to begin the ceremony. After the grandparents and the groom's parents were escorted in, the groom and his groomsmen entered with me, and the lovely bridesmaids in their pretty champagne taupe dresses and matching high heels processed in, Becky's mother and father escorted her in and placed her hand into Patrick's then lit the candle for Becky. I began with a warm welcome to everyone, an opening prayer, and a blessing for their parents with a tribute to them for modeling happy marriages that have stood the test of time. We continued with the reading, the wine ceremony, the vows, rings and Unity Candle. Then it was time for the final blessing and pronouncement followed by the kiss and glass breaking. Everyone was jubilant when Patrick smashed the glass and we shouted Mazel Tov! I introduced them as Mr. and Mrs. and they swept out followed by their very large wedding party. I invited the guests to proceed to the Carolina Inn which is only a block away for the reception. Marty and I followed the wedding party to get some photos. Isn't Becky's dress just the prettiest one ever? She was radiant and so was Patrick. It was a grand wedding! All the best to you, Becky and Patrick!

Celtic Wedding for Robyn and Tom!

When I met with Tom and Robyn last August to plan their wedding, they told me that they wanted to create their dream wedding in full Celtic regalia on May 2, 2009 at Jones Chapel on the Meredith College campus. And so they did! They put together from my ceremony material a nice blend of contemporary wedding customs and the centuries old Celtic customs including handfasting. As you can see from the photos, Tom and his men were decked out in their kilts and all the trimmings! Even their wedding programs included Celtic images and seals. They had a bagpiper play on the lawn outside the chapel before the ceremony. I am sorry that I did not get his name but I did not want to interrupt his breathing and playing that bagpipe--I just walked up beside him and Marty snapped the photo! Maybe Tom or Robyn will put a comment on this blog post and let us know who the bagpiper is. The Jones Chapel is a regal place to have a wedding. It is so magnificent with the organ and carillon. Marilyn Wienand not only played the harp but switched over to the organ for the recessional. She is certainly multi-talented. Kim Allemang played the flute and the combination of harp and flute was beautiful. Jonathan Young was our capable photographer for the wonderful wedding.

The wedding started right on time and Tom's sister-in-law, Maura, did a fine job of directing the wedding party and parents in. Robyn was escorted in by her father and then Robyn and Tom stepped up to the top of the altar and we began. After a warm welcome to the guests, our opening prayer was A Wedding Prayer by Robert Lewis Stevenson. We paid tribute to their parents who were beaming--along with their grandparents, too! Following the handfasting, vows and rings, they lit the Unity Candle as harp music wafted softly through the chapel. I pronounced them married and they departed for the Hibernian restaurant for a suitable wedding feast! Congratulations, Robyn and Tom--great wedding!