Lovely Hindu-Christian Interfaith Wedding for Lea and Rupal!

Lea and Rupal live in Austin, Texas and planned to marry at Rupal's sister and brother-in-law's home in N. Raleigh on April 6, 2013. Rupal grew up and went to school in North Carolina and his parents live here. Rupal emailed me in February to see if I could officiate for them. They found me on-line, probably because I have done many Hindu-Christian interfaith weddings. I was so happy that I was available for their date and so we made plans to Skype on February 5th which we did. We discussed what they wanted for their ceremony and the services I could provide. They mailed in their check and contract and we got busy putting together their ceremony.

Rupal told me that the wedding would be in his sister's yard in N. Raleigh. The above is not what I had pictured in my mind! When we drove up to this grand estate, there was a security gate beyond which was a pond and gazebo then the road would up to the "guest house" with 10 garages, tennis court and pool. Behind that was this mansion above! It was simply gorgeous! I stopped by the guest house where Lea was getting ready and her make-up artist and hair stylist, Donnie Whitsett of IC Beauty, was there. We had just done the wedding of Hewan and Clarence together a couple of weeks earlier!

Rupal, Lea's father, and her brother-in-law, Beau, constructed this wonderful mandap with direction from Lea for the placement of the fabric! Inside was the table with the fire, or Phere, in Hindu weddings. The gentleman tending the fire is making sure it does not catch the table on fire!

Rupal's parents arrived. His mother, Joystna, is in a wheelchair and his father, Harshad, was by her side.

Before the guests arrived, Brent and Anna Deitritch, Live View Studios, arranged for a "First Look" where the bride and groom see each other before the wedding ceremony. Lea's father, Amador, and Rupal's brother-in-law, Himanshu, held up a scarf in front of Rupal while Lea walked up to the other side of the scarf.

Then they dropped the scarf and they saw each other for the first time that day. In a traditional Hindu wedding the bride arrives to the ceremony hidden out of sight behind a veil so they cleverly adapted this custom to a "First Look" staging.

These young ladies provided lovely music for the ceremony are students of the math and science high school that Rupal attended. They were good!

The guests started tricking in and filling up the chairs but most stood around visiting until we shooed them into their seats. It was a full house!

Our director, Shelby Fisher, got everyone lined up to process in. Rupal's sister, Parul, with her husband, Himanshu, were first to walk.

Then Jaci, sister of Lea, with her husband, Beau, escorted in Janet, mother of the bride.

 Time for the groom and ring bearer and me. 

What a beautiful day it was. There was a slight breeze and the temperature was perfect.

 Sonia, our flower girl, did an excellent job and threw lots of petals on the aisle.

 Here comes our beautiful bride and her proud father!

 I stepped out to speak to their parents. 

 Here we are blessing the baby that will be born to them in July.

Then it was time for me to tell their story! It is a good one too. Everyone enjoyed hearing it, especially our ring bearer, Viraj!

It was time for the couple to make their marriage vows while walking around the sacred fire in the Hindu tradition of Phere. They take 4 rounds in all. These rounds show that each of them consents to the marriage in the Hindu tradition. The bride leads the groom during the first three rounds, but in the fourth and last round, the groom leads her.

This signifies that the bride would be free to take lead in matters of everyday life, but finally it would be the groom who would lead her through life.

Then we celebrated Saptapati where the bride and groom took 7 steps together around the fire and made promises to each other with each step.

The Mangalsutra is a black necklace that is placed on the bride by the groom and symbolizes the married status of the woman in Hindu tradition.

 Then in the American tradition, they exchanged wedding rings.

 The legal moment! The Pronouncement of Marriage! 

 Some cool refreshments were in order! 

Rupal and Lea, what a wonderful wedding you planned all the way from Texas! It could not have been more beautiful and wonderful. You are a terrific couple and your love shines all around you. I wish you all the best life has to offer and special blessings for your little one!

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To contact me: 

kayelily@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

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Did you know wedding dresses were not always white??

This fun video was created by SimplyBridal, a great resource for wedding dresses! 

Shonne and Denny's Sweet Wedding!

Shonne contacted me on February 16th about officiating for their wedding scheduled for March 30, 2013 in Raleigh. She wrote: We have been together for 5 years and are very much in love.  We want a small backyard wedding with family and friends that focuses on love, commitment and our bond with each other.  I heard the clip of you on the wedding video from your website and just know that you would be a perfect fit for what we want.  I look forward to hearing from you. Shonne and Denny live in Virginia but met in Raleigh six years ago. We made all the arrangements via email and did not meet in person until I arrived for their wedding celebration at Denny's mother Dottie's home in South Raleigh.

The backyard was all prepared for this small family wedding. They had several friendly dogs that they planned to lock in the house but that did not work. Since I love dogs I suggested they let them join our guests--and they were good dogs, in fact I did not even notice them during the ceremony.

Maddy, Denny's daughter, and Denny's nephew, Tyler, hold on to Drew, Shonne's nephew, as they walk into the ceremony.

 Drew thinks weddings are wonderful! 

 Here comes the bride with her parents, Kathy and Larry!

 A blessing for Maddy!

 A few tears!

Blessing for their baby daughter who is to be born to them in July as they place their hands on her.

With this ring....

The Family Unity Sand Ceremony which includes Maddy and the new baby as well!

And here they are, ladies and gentlemen, Shonne and Denny, wife and husband!

A walk through the bubbles! 

Hugs and tears all around for the happy couple and their families.

Shonne and Denny, congratulations on your marriage! You too, Maddy! It was my delight to marry the two of you and I wish you a lifetime of happiness and satisfaction!

Trisha and Kevin's Stunning "Red" Wedding at Landmark!

Last October I met Trisha and Kevin when they came to see me about officiating their wedding. They had chosen the date of March 30, 2013 at The Hall and Garden at Landmark, an elegant venue in Garner near the intersection of I-40 and Hwy 42. I have done many weddings there and have watched the landscape mature through the years into a gorgeous garden, an oasis in a busily traveled area.

The Ballroom is located on the third floor and is very spacious with elegant dressing room areas for the bride and her maidens and the groom and his men.  

This lovely cake was made by sister of the groom, Dawn Daughtry. 

This is where the wedding party emerges to line up for the processional into the garden. 

And this is what the garden looked like prior to the wedding. Who would ever guess there is a busy street behind that row of trees in the back.

The wedding day turned out to be a beautiful day! The flowers were blooming in abundance under the crepe myrtles who put out their leaves and blossoms later on.

At my recommendation to Trisha, Matt Kanon was on hand to provide the ceremony music.

The start of the wedding was delayed about 15 minutes and then we started. 

After the Kevin's grandmother and the parents and stepparents were escorted in, our bridesmaids carefully stepped onto the grass.

They were so worried that their spike heels would sink and so they put their weight on their toes!

Doing okay! 

The Maid of Honor takes her walk down the aisle. The bridesmaids wore these elegant black dresses and the large red flowers in their hair added just the right touch!

This wedding was filled with children of all ages. I could not resist putting all these great photos of them coming in. Love the red dresses!

They made it fun and were not the least bit intimidated by all the people watching them! We captured our photographer, Erika Sherrell, in the background of this photo! 

Our honorary wedding director, Brooke, had to get into the action to direct them in. 

This is Malachi, our ring bearer. He is Trisha's 6 year old son. 

Our final flower girls! 

Trisha looks so beautiful. Looks like she is taking a big breath seeing everyone standing in her honor as her step-father, Paul, escorts her in.

Welcome everyone! 

"Malachi, your mom and Kevin want you to know that you are very much a part of their relationship and you will always be loved and appreciated for who you are."

Now it is time for their "story!" Notice that we finally got a smile from J.B., best man and father of the groom!

They read their vows to each other from my book. 

"I give you this ring,
as a symbol of my love.
With it, I vow to honor the promises
I have made to you 
today, tomorrow and always."

They all pour their sand symbolic of family unity. 

"...we rejoice to recognize you as husband and wife. May you always hold one another in the light of all light, the love of all love and may all your days together be as the stars in the sky--numerous and bright. Kevin, you may kiss the bride!"

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Trisha and Kevin, I am so happy for you! May you be blessed with a lifetime of abundance and happiness!