Mary and Phil Wed at The Stockroom!

Mary and Phil are a delightful couple! They chose to have their wedding at The Stockroom at 230 in downtown Raleigh on August 27, 2016. Everyone, especially me, appreciated that they chose to have their ceremony indoors during this exceptionally hot month! 

There is a large chalkboard that couples can use to put their favorite quotes on. 

The Stockroom is a repurposed space in downtown Raleigh that has wonderful texture and little nooks and crannies to put things. These bottles painted gold with flowers will be on the tables after the ceremony when the room is flipped. Eclectic Sage was their florist.

Another chalk board reflecting the "crab" theme! 

Always a good message and very popular these days. 

A close up of the many gold bottles. 

All Events DJs Nina and Amy are all set for the ceremony and the reception. Love working with them.

Getting the signatures of the witnesses......

Best man signs......

Will Greene, our photographer, is getting some casual shots in the Glass Box where the wedding party is sequestered until the guests have arrived.

Jenni Lynn and Leonard, our flower girl and ring bearer, are ready and a bit rambunctious. 

Mike, best man, is assuring Phil that he has the rings. 

Mary chatting with her bridesmaids before the wedding. Love the pink! 

Downstairs The Stockroom is filled with the guests waiting for the wedding to begin. 

Jessica King with Happily Ever After Events is our wedding planner and director. She gets us all lined up. 

We have all processed in and now Mary is escorted in by her father. 

"Who has the privilege of presenting this young woman Mary to be married to this young man, Phil?" 

A warm welcome to all! 

After sharing the story of how they met and fell in love, they got to hear what the other told me in confidence that they love about each other.

They exchanged their vows.

Then exchanged rings.....

"I pronounce you husband and wife!"

Their first kiss as a married couple!

Presentation of the happy couple!

They recessed amid the cheering of their guests!

Mary and Phil, what a sweet wedding you made happen! I loved working with you to create your very special ceremony and appreciate your creativity and participation. I wish you the best always!

Hannah and Teddy's Wonderful Wedding at Highgrove!

Hannah and Teddy's wedding was August 20, 2016 at the historic Highgrove Estates in Fuqua-Varina. It was a bright sunny day and rather hot!

Highgrove is such a wonderful venue where you have everything in one place and it is a well-oiled smooth-running wedding machine giving peace of mind to wedding couples and their vendors. Love doing weddings here.

The pergola had been hung with curtains and a chandelier!

View from the pergola to the manor house. Flowers on Broad Street had graced the aisle with pedestals topped with floral arrangements in keeping with the "blush" color scheme.

Even the corn hole boards were decorated! 

John Williford with Carolina Productions and Entertainment was our DJ and I plugged my mic into his system. 

Florian Music was all set up and tuning their strings! 

Inside the garden ballroom the tables and place settings were ready. 

Sweet Memories Bakery provided the pretty wedding cake!

When the guests were seated we began the processional directed by Grace, the director provided by Highgrove for this wedding. The parents were escorted in first then I entered.

Teddy followed and took his place next to me. 

After the bridesmaids and groomsmen had entered, it was time for our sweet flower girls! 

Our beautiful bride was escorted in by her father. 

When they stopped in front of Teddy and me, Hannah's mother and Teddy's parents stepped forward to join them. Then I asked each set of parents if they gave their blessings for this marriage. Of course they did! Then everyone was seated. I really like it when all the parents are involved in the presentation of not only the bride but the groom also.

So Teddy and Hannah turned and faced each other as I welcomed everyone who had traveled from near and far for this wedding. An opening prayer and reading of First Corinthians followed.

Then it was time to tell their love story! They met when they both moved to NC for their surgical residencies. Teddy was entranced by Hannah's beauty and intelligence and prompted a mutual friend to introduce them. On their first date, they became aware of their compatibility and knew they had something special and just naturally became a couple. For the next two years they supported each other in getting through the grueling years of residence but also found time to have fun together. 

After hearing for the first time what each of them told me in confidence they loved about each other, they exchanged their vows. 

It was definitely hot that day and so I mopped Teddy's face a bit.

The exchange of rings.....

The actual moment they become married! 

Sealed with a kiss!

The music begins and everyone is cheering! 

Stepping into marriage! 

Hannah and Teddy, what a great couple you are! I thoroughly enjoyed working with you on the ceremony and feeling you get so excited over what we prepared together. It was truly a reflection of the two of you. Congratulations and I wish you the best forever!