Sweet Wedding for Patricia and Jason!

Jason and Patricia's wedding started off as a very small elopement style ceremony in my wedding garden on November 3, 2012 but as more and more friends wanted to be present for the ceremony, the venue changed to the Green Road Community Center. They chose one of the shelters on the property between the baseball fields for the ceremony and the reception following was in the Community Center gymnasium. Jason's parents came from New York for the wedding festivities. Unfortunately Patricia's parents in Mexico were unable to be with us.  When Marty and I arrived at 5:30 for the 6:30 ceremony, the sun was beginning to set.

The lighted arch was set in place along with the sand ceremony vases on my little table and the guests gathered around.

 It's getting pretty dark now! 

The bride was waiting in a car parked nearby and when we were ready, she and her 9 year old son, Lisandro, walked down the aisle lined by luminaries.

 And so we begin.....

 Patricia's wedding gown was gorgeous--and so is she!

Retrieving the rings from the pillow so responsibly held by our 4 year old ring bearer!

 Time to celebrate!  

Jason and Patricia, congratulations! Your wedding was lovely and so special. I wish you all the best!

Our Favorite Bridal Trends for 2013

SimplyBridal.com is an online retailer of bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses and bridal accessories. Natalie with SimplyBridal has written a guest post about upcoming trends in wedding gowns that I thought would be of great interest to all of you.  

The 2013 bridal collections ended last week and of course, many designers knocked it out of the park. Their creations were amazing and although we’d be more than happy to wear each and every dress, there were a few similarities among our favorites that made us sit up and take notice.

Sleeves

You may notice that sleeves first became popular in 2012 and the trend is still picking up steam for 2013. The Duchess of Cambridge gave sleeved wedding dresses the spotlight and with the very recent appearance on another royal bride (Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie of Luxembourg) as well as making multiple appearances on the runways proves that we will see many of these dresses gliding down the aisle.  Inspiration: Elie Saab

Princess Silhouette

Every bride wants to be a princess right? Well 2013 is the year of the princess. The trend could be attributed to the many real princesses getting married in 2012 or the culmination of brides’ dreams finally materializing in sartorial form. Whatever the reason, we are happy to see this trend in the next year.  Inspiration: Vera Wang

Trains

With so many guests staring at brides and grooms’ backs, you would think that this trend would have appeared sooner. Regardless, we are loving the focus that designers are giving to brides’ backs everywhere. This is most evident in the show-stopping trains we saw traipsing all over the runways. To put it simply, they were stunning and your guests won’t mind staring at them for hours on end.
Inspiration: Kenneth Pool

Volume

Go big or go home is the inspiration for this trend. While it is easy for many brides to shy away from volume, those that choose this style won’t be disappointed. The volume that was showcased on the runways was created from light and airy materials which produced drama without creating heft. Do us a favor and at least try on a voluminous dress, you might be pleasantly surprised.  Inspiration: Marchesa

We are certain you’ll love these trends as much as the Simply Bridal team. Spring’s 2013 bridal offerings were the prettiest yet diverse group of dresses we’ve seen in a long time. We are definitely jealous of all of you brides-to-be. Have fun trying on all of these fabulous trends and dresses for the upcoming year!


SimplyBridal is an online retailer of quality wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, and wedding accessories. In addition to creating our own jewelry line, we recently partnered with LA designer May Yeung to launch a collection of pearl and crystal jewelry.

Emily and Andy Wed at Barclay Villa!

On November 18, 2011, I met Emily and Andy. They had set their wedding date for November 3, 2012 and chosen the fabulous Barclay Villa for their venue. They had been friends since freshman year in college but did not discover that they were perfect for each other until they had both transferred to other colleges. It took a while before they reconnected but this time the spark of love was ignited and for the past 6 years they have been a couple buying a house together and traveling the world together. In May of 2011 Andy proposed while they were on an amazing vacation in Mexico, although according to Emily, she would have said yes a couple of years earlier! 

Barclay Villa in Angier is so beautiful--and an unexpected sight. It looks like a castle and is in striking contrast to the acres of farmland surrounding it. The beautiful grounds and the gazebo indeed make a beautiful place for a wedding.

The family of Cathy Honeycutt, co-owner of Barclay Catering and Event Planning, owns the property and Cathy and Cindy Ebersbach run the events there including catering as well as the directing for the couple. This is the doorway where the wedding party will process down the aisle.

 In the garden next to the area for the ceremony is this wonderful gazing pool!

I went upstairs to the elegantly appointed rooms where the bride and bridesmaids were getting ready and to get Emily's sister, Julie's, signature on the marriage license. On the way I ran into the bride with our photographer, Megan Kime, Megan Kime Photography, making their way to a spot by the pool for photographs. Emily whispered to me that she was feeling really nervous and to please speak slowly at the ceremony! I assured her that, unlike the rehearsal, I do speak very slowly and deliberately for the ceremony!

Next it was a visit to the Billiards room where the groom and his guys (and gals) hang out. Got the signature of Andy's brother, Rick, on the license here. Andy was cool as a cucumber.

 The Ballroom was all decked out for the reception. 

 This is the bride and groom's table in front of the huge fireplace. 

This is the view of the ballroom from the fireplace showing the stairs which lead up to the loft and balcony area.

Cinda's Creative Cakes provided this gorgeous cake! 

Dogwood Tree Floral Design provided the beautiful floral decor, the bouquets and the boutonnieres.

My good friend and colleague, Randy Bennett with Joe Bunn DJ Company, was there to run the music for the ceremony and the reception. He is always prepared and I never worry about the sound or music when he is on the scene!

First to be escorted in is Andy's mother, Peggy, by his father, Robert. Andy and his parents hail from Taiwan.

Emily's mother, Susan, was escorted in by her brother, Michael.

Peeking around the corner to see when it is time for me to start walking.

 It's time! 

 Followed by Andy and his brother Rick, best man. 

Brigid and Terrence 

Tina and Timothy

Leisa and Peter

Amy and Sean

 Julie, Maid of Honor, enters solo before the bride. 

Cathy readies the train as Emily and her father, Richard, begin the walk down the aisle.

I think Daddy was probably reassuring Emily here but once she got down the aisle and we got started, she relaxed and was fine! Believe me, it is normal to be nervous on your wedding day!

After welcoming all the guests, we had a prayer and remembered those loved ones who could not be with us. Then we had a tribute to the parents and got their blessings for this union. A reading of First Corinthians, Chapter 13, followed which teaches us about love which flowed into the love story of Emily and Andy.

I stepped out from behind the couple to speak to the guests. This is where the sweetness and the humor are all stirred together in to a moving story.

I believe this is where I was telling Andy why Emily loves him. "Emily loves both your maturity and your sense of humor and that sometimes when you are driving, she gets to see her life flash before her eyes!

....Because of you, she gets to watch ESPN every single night before going to bed." 

After the sweet funny stuff come the more serious words about love and marriage, the vows and the exchange of rings, a closing blessing wishing the couple well, then the pronouncement of marriage. 

 Sealed with a kiss! 

 Julie moves the train around to the back as I introduce our newlyweds!

The really special thing about Barclay Villa is that Juliet balcony. The bride and groom recess, go inside the ballroom, up the stairs and out onto the balcony and watch the recessional. Of course they get a big round of applause too!

Andy and Emily, what a great wedding! I hope your are still celebrating as I write this!  I think you are a wonderful couple and I wish you all the happiness and adventure in the world!