Raleigh Wedding Blog

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Beth and Mike's Fabulous Wedding at The Stockroom!

WOW! What a great wedding! Beth and Mike married at The Stockroom in downtown Raleigh on March 8, 2014. They assembled a great team to pull it all together. Kailey with A Southern Soiree was their wedding planner and director. Her boss, Megan (a former bride of mine), came to the wedding as Kailey's assistant because she was friends with one of the bridesmaids and wanted to see this beautiful wedding.

Expressions of Love was the florist. The wispy silver branches dripping with bling and flowers made a wonderful backdrop for the ceremony. In the middle is the table holding their Wedding Wine Box.

The ceiling lights were hung in a starburst pattern with a lovely chandelier in the center. Get Lit Special Events Lighting created this along with some up-lighting along the walls for the reception.

The Stockroom@230 has become a very popular and special place for weddings. It is right downtown--230 Fayetteville Street. The art gallery next door serves as the holding area prior to the ceremony for the bridal party and after the ceremony it is where the guests go for cocktail hour while The Stockroom is being flipped for the reception.

Beth and Mike chose the Wooden Wedding Box Ceremony. This beautiful box holds a bottle of wine and during the ceremony they add sealed hand-written love letters about all the qualities they love in each other.

Flower petals and floating candles lined the aisle. (So much better than an aisle runner! If you read this blog you will know I have a thing about aisle runners and how dangerous and messy they can be!)

Elegant Ensembles provided the beautiful music for the ceremony.

Their photographers, Charo and Mike, provided photographs for their guest book where the guests could write notes to the couple. Belle's Catering and The Cupcake Shoppe provided the food and cake.

Andraya is our sweet little flower girl and she did her job perfectly!

This is the sign she is bringing down the aisle. I bet Beth got that idea from Pinterest. In fact, she told me that is how she found me! Pinterest!

Mike and I are laughing as Andraya comes down the aisle.

Our gorgeous bride and her father float down the aisle while the guests are standing in her honor.

Beth had the most exquisite dress that fit her to a tee.

Andraya is holding her mother's bouquet while her mother, Shannon, Matron of Honor, holds Beth's bouquet.

The ceremony begins. They each had 10 attendants. The guys were dressed in medium gray suits and navy blue ties. They were so handsome.

Beth and Mike worked hard getting their story worded just right. I loved it. And so did their guests.

There was quite a bit of laughter as you can see. Especially when I told of Mike's predetermined steps a relationship must go through before making a permanent commitment, being the orderly, detailed engineer that he is!

Then what they each told me in confidence they loved about each other was revealed for the first time.

They read their vows to each other from my book.

Beth shed quite a few tears during the ceremony and we passed the hankie back and forth. Here I am going to dab the tears that were running down her cheeks during her vows.

They exchanged rings and it was time for them to place their letters in the wooden box with the wine and lock it.

Phil and his associate with 21 Films was videoing the ceremony.

Their friends Heather and Erica presented the Irish Wedding Blessing.

The pronouncement!

KISS!

"We're really married!"

Yes! Throughout their courtship, Mike was a persistent and patient pursuer of Beth. Now, it's done! He got THE girl of his dreams! Of course Beth would tell you she got THE man of her dreams!

Taking the scene in!

The bride and groom and wedding party and parents disappeared into the stairwell to wait for the guests to clear the room. Then we came back in to take a few photos.

I wanted you to see how gorgeous Beth's wedding gown is. It is one of the prettiest I have ever seen and I see a lot! It was a soft champagne with just a touch of blush. So perfect for this beautiful bride!

Mike and Beth, you were a joy to work with and your love is so inspirational. You are just perfect for each other and I think you know it! My best wishes for your happiness forever!

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Monday, March 3, 2014

Beautiful Sunny Wedding for Rebecca and Greer at St. Mark's Chapel!

Imagine, freezing temperatures one day then 70s the next. That is what has made the winter of 2014 in Raleigh memorable. Rebecca and Greer lucked out and had their wedding on March 1, 2014 which turned out to be a beautiful, warm, sunny day at St. Mark's Chapel.

It is the sweetest place in town to get married, I think.

Rebecca and Greer's wedding program was OUTSTANDING! Don't you love the peacock theme and the unique design?

Rebecca ordered these from Zazzle on line and it is an amazing website.

Instead of a guest book, they had a platter for guests to sign which will later be glazed to be made permanent. It came from amazon.com.

Checking the boutonniere for Greer. It was a bit wobbly. His dad had pinned it on and so I re-pinned it more securely.

Greer with his two soon to be stepsons, Michael and Daniel. Rebecca's son John could not be with us due to his military service obligations. We thank him for serving our country.

Rebecca and her friend make their way to the chapel from the building where she was hidden away.

Greer met Rebecca halfway down the aisle and escorted her up onto the altar area and we began. His father, William, was his best man. Ashley with Arioso Strings was our violinist! She was great!

Rebecca's beautiful daughter, Emily, was her maid of honor. Rebecca's parents and sons are seated on the first row. Greer's children, Savannah and Jackson, sat on the other side of the aisle with their grandmother.

We had a blessing of the children in which I spoke to them on behalf of Rebecca and Greer. It was quite touching.

And then came the story! Rebecca is a real estate agent and Greer was looking for a new home to start his life over. Rebecca was the listing agent of the house he bought. It was instant attraction from the beginning which blossomed into true love. The guests enjoyed hearing all about it!

Greer spoke his vows to Rebecca. They had written vows secret from each other heard for the first time on their wedding day.

Rebecca says her vows to Greer. They were written out in my book in large bold font printed facing them but Rebecca almost had hers memorized.

Then they exchanged their rings......

A closing blessing then the pronouncement of marriage--I could feel the happiness!

The first kiss was too quick so I had them kiss again so we could get a picture!

Here they are, folks! Greer and Rebecca, husband and wife!

Married at last!

We asked all their guests to move forward to the altar area so that their photographer (and mine) could get a group shot from the balcony where only photographers are allowed. Liz Johnson was their photographer and a delight to work with!

Congratulations, you two! What a wonderful wedding you had. I enjoyed every minute and I could tell you did too! My best wishes for you both for a fabulous marriage and happy life together!