Raleigh Wedding Blog

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Beautiful Wedding for a Beautiful Couple--Becky and Paul--at The Pavilions!

Becky contacted me almost exactly a year ago about officiating her wedding to Paul on May 18, 2013 at The Pavilions at Angus Barn. So happy I was available because working with Becky and Paul was certainly a treat. They met at a party in 2009 that both of them almost didn't go to. But they did and spotted each other "across a crowded room" right away because they both are very tall and stood head and shoulders above everyone else. Paul slowly made his way over to this blonde beauty and they spent the evening talking with eyes only for each other. Their lives were forever changed that fateful evening and they have been a couple ever since. When Marty and I arrived at The Pavilions for the wedding, the weather was threatening rain but it held out and was very pleasant. Kelly Joslin and her assistant Sarah were in charge of this wedding and had everything under control, as usual! The staff does an amazing job and I love doing weddings there.

The tables were set and Another Level, a Sam Hill band, was setting up.

The Mr. and Mrs. table!

Of course the menu is loaded with great food!

They had a tabletop filled with photos of their many trips all over the world together.

They used a map in their color scheme of "apple green" for their guests to sign.

Pretty wedding programs.....

Clever cake topper--Paul is from North Carolina and Becky from Maryland.

Cake for cutting and the cupcakes are by Sugarland.

Time for the "First Look" and I am so happy that Marty happened to be watching and snapping these photos from a distance. Paul is facing the other way as Becky approaches.

Cyn Kain, our photographer, follows.

Lindley is ready to sprinkle the petals.

I show this photo because it is a very interesting way of dressing the table with two table cloths. Apparently the top one is a square and each corner is fashioned into a knot. It holds securely and no danger of being blown off by the wind or swiped by a dress.

Dave Spencer from Save the Date Music provided music for the ceremony.

Simple yet elegant!

The guests assembled on the terrace prior to being seated at the ceremony site on the water.

I have noticed that every rehearsal and wedding lately, the young ladies are all wearing the beige/nude patent shoes of every heel height. The shoes do go with everything!

The Pavilions staff having a pow wow on the audio system for the ceremony.

They know I bring my own microphone and have their bodypack ready for me to just plug into. Couldn't be easier. Then they control the sound.

All the guests are seated. The parents were seated last but not part of the processional. Paul and I head in.

The groomsmen followed and stopped along the sidewalk. As each bridesmaid walked up the "aisle" a groomsmen offered his arm and escorted her down the steps then they took their positions up front.

Lindley and her Uncle make the long walk!

She was adorable. She threw one petal at the time so it took her a while to get down the aisle!

Standing in honor of the bride. Usually I have all the guests sit while the bride walks from the pavilion so that the groom can see her. But in this case, since Paul is so tall, he could see just fine!

Becky's father, Keith, transferred her hand into Paul's and had a few quiet words!

And the story began. There was a lot of humor because Becky and Paul are such a fun couple and gave me lots of good material to work with! Afterwards Becky's father told me he had never heard the whole story of how they had met before and really enjoyed hearing it.

Paul is a die-hard Wolfpack fan so Becky promised to wear red from time to time and not to cheer too loud or gloat when the Tarheels win!

The ring exchange.

Before the pronouncement of marriage, I asked them look at each other and feel the happiness of the moment and let that feeling really register in their hearts and minds. Then I asked them to gaze around at all their loved ones and take that scene in because they will never see that particular scene again.

It is The Pavilions tradition to ring the bell when a couple is married!

Do notice what tall and beautiful people Paul and Becky are. I am 5'5" and had on 3" platform shoes!

Congratulations, you two!! I know you are going to go far in both your careers and in creating a wonderful marriage that stands the test of time! I wish you the best of everything in life!

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revk@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

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Sunday, June 2, 2013

Amanda and David Wed at The Stockroom!

Amanda and David tied the knot on May 17, 2013 at The Stockroom. They are such a neat couple. They've known each other since high school in Roanoke Rapids and many years went by before they discovered they were meant for each other. We met last August and got their wedding reserved on my calendar. I sent them a ton of ceremony material to go through and pick the words that spoke to them. In March we started in earnest constructing the ceremony which included their "story" and why they love each other and what they are looking forward to in marriage. The wedding day arrived and it was a beautiful day in downtown Raleigh. The color scheme of the wedding was navy blue so here I am wearing my new navy outfit for the wedding.

They chose not to have any decorations up front because the architectural elements of this very popular repurposed space is so interesting and speaks for itself.

Gwen Stevens of Harris Teeter did the florals. Sweet little vases of yellow flowers hung on the aisle chairs. Joseph and Andrea of Connection Photo out of Charlotte were our photographers.

Stephen Scott was our wonderful DJ. He is so good to work with. It is a pleasure!

On the gift table.....

Outside on the sidewalk our two little flower girls, Madelyn and Tenley, ages almost 2 and almost 3, were being entertained before the ceremony. Unfortunately they never made it down the aisle. At the very last moment when we were lining up to process in, one of them began crying and then the other chimed in and they both had to be taken back to the gallery during the ceremony.

The guys are occupying themselves with talk and cell phone!

Amanda was escorted in by her father, Gordon.

Their friend and neighbor, Sarah, read "How Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog" by Taylor Mali. She did a really good job. We dedicated the poem to Walter, the couple's lovable pooch.

They had this photo of themselves and Walter that was displayed during the reading. Walter is really quite special to them. Seems that he was brought into the vet clinic where Amanda works with a diagnosis of Parvo. The owner surrendered him because he could not afford the treatment and Parvo can be fatal. The vet treated Walter and Amanda and David fostered him. He recovered with no ill effects and then it was time to put him up for adoption. Amanda and David could not bear the thought of giving up this wonderful dog they had both fallen in love with so they kept him. A sweet story and what makes it even sweeter is that before Walter, David had never been particularly fond of dogs. Now he is a committed dog lover! Of course all this was part of their story for the ceremony which the guests really loved.