Lisa and Fred Wed at 214 Martin Street!

Lisa and Fred wanted a small wedding surrounded by close friends and their families. They chose 214 Martin Street for their venue for their wedding date of November 19, 2016. It is very conveniently located on Moore's Square in downtown Raleigh. They do their own catering and the food is delicious. They also cater off premises as well. 

The entrance to the building that is located in what once was Greenshields, a historic landmark in Raleigh. Also occupying the same building is Market Hall, also an event venue, that opens out into City Market. The two occupancies share the same bathroom facilities and some walls. Unfortunately the walls between the two venues are very thin and not sound-proof and the sounds in each bleed over into the other. 

This is the ceremony area as viewed from the bar area from which the wedding party processes. For this wedding, Valerie Wood played the keyboard for the processional.

View from the "altar" area to the front of the building on East Martin Street across from Moore's Square. I was here in August attending the wedding of my nephew as a guest.

Nick, our DJ with Oak City Entertainment, was set up on the side to provide music for the reception after the ceremony. Nick saved the day! He provided a lapel mic for me. (I did not bring my own as I did not know that Lisa and Fred had hired a DJ.) Fortunately Nick had one and it was definitely needed because as I began speaking the ceremony the very loud, overwhelming sound of cheering and music came right through the wooden wall behind me rendering the couple unable to hear what I was saying in their ceremony and I could not hear myself speaking as well. Nick had the speakers pointed at the guests so my voice came through to them and they were able to hear better than the bride and groom and I could because we were standing right at the wall. It was not a good situation and something needs to be done about these two venues sharing the same space. They need soundproofing on common walls and also to coordinate their events so that one side does not drown out the other. Same thing happened in my nephew's wedding during the speeches at the reception so this was not an isolated event.

Fred was the typical nervous bridegroom and stood off to the side to calm himself! Meanwhile we are waiting on all the parents to get lined up and the signal from the bride that she is ready. Helping the bride get ready was her friend Ivy who along with her husband Todd were the witnesses for the marriage license. I did not recognize them at first but later realized I had joined them in marriage in 2004. I was happy to reconnect with them on Facebook after this wedding!

It is time to walk, Fred! Let's get this ceremony started! (It was very quiet at this moment!)

Fred and I took our positions up front and waited for Lisa and her dad, Mike, to enter. 

Lisa handed her bouquet off to her mother and I asked: "Who presents this woman to be married to this man?" Her father replied "Her mother and I do." Then he placed Lisa's hand into Fred's and everyone was seated. And the the loud music and cheering behind this wall began in earnest.

I stepped out behind Lisa and Fred to welcome our guests, pay tribute to their parents and tell the story of how they met and fell in love.

Lisa is smiling at her beloved and I think he is smiling a back at her. I did not know until after the ceremony that they could not hear what I was saying.

Like many modern couples, they met three years ago in  2013 having been matched up on line. After meeting in person they found they were quite compatible--they both describe themselves as "quiet people." Fred proposed in December of 2015 and they began planning this wedding.

Fred gets to try to hear what Lisa told me she loves about him, why she wants to marry him, and what she is looking forward to in marriage with him.

After the vows and ring exchange and a closing blessing, I pronounced them married!

Fred was most happy to kiss his beautiful wife and that the ceremony was almost done!!

Lisa and Fred, despite the distractions during the ceremony, your wedding was beautiful and so heartfelt. I am so happy you found each other and that you gave me the honor of joining you in marriage! You are so well matched for each other and I know you are enjoying wedded bliss!

Gorgeous Wedding for Katie and Brad at Barclay Villa!

Brad and Katie's wedding at Barclay Villa in Angier on November 12th 2016 was so beautiful. The colors and the setting were simply stunning. 

Katie and Brad are the third couple in a group of good friends that I have had the pleasure of joining in marriage. So, it turns out that I already knew quite a few in their wedding party. It was good to see everyone again! I got a photo of most of them here. On the left are Trina and Mark, the first of the couples to be wed by me. Their wedding was at Rose Hill Plantation. It is not really noticeable in this photo but Trina is pregnant and two weeks later they welcomed their sweet baby girl, Harper, into this world. On the right is Jason. I married Jason and Jessica a year ago at the Doubletree at Brownstone. Here is the post for their wedding. Jessica was at the wedding but not in the wedding party and was unfortunately not around for this photo. 

When Dave and I arrived for the wedding, I discovered that the DJ for the wedding was Gerald Morris, also a former groom I married! His and Jaime's wedding was at Duke Gardens in 2010. Fantastic to see him again. His business is Sweet Sound Productions, Inc. 

The tables were set and you can see that the wedding color is burgundy. Catering by Design was on duty! 

The wedding cake was by Publix and Katie found this cute cake topper. 

The wedding was at 3:30. It is about 3:00 at this point and the shadow is gradually covering the gazebo which is a good thing because the sun won't be in the eyes of the wedding party and me!

The guests are beginning to arrive. This is the view from the gazebo back toward the villa. 

Another beautiful fountain on the lovely grounds of the villa. 

It is time to begin. I strolled in first to make an "unplugged" announcement. The guests, and one in particular, reluctantly put away their cameras and cell phones for the ceremony to honor Katie and Brad's request.

Brad followed me and behind him were the groomsmen and bridesmaids and flower girl. 

The best man and brother of the groom, Brandon, escorted in their mother then joined Brad.  

Now we await the bridesmaids who came down the aisle one by one. 

Last in before the bride was our Matron of Honor, Jacki, also wife of Brandon, and their daughter Bridget who is age 2.

Katie and her dad, Keith begin the walk down the aisle!

Katie was just beaming!

Keith answered my question to him and transferred Katie's hand into Brad's. Notice the line of the sun. 

What a beautiful and handsome wedding party!

Jacki straightened the train while I recognized the parents of our couple and then launched into their story!

And what a great story they have! They met on Memorial Day in 2009 in upstate New York. Our Matron of Honor and Best Man, Jacki and Brandon, invited Brad who lived in NC and Katie who was Jacki's friend from college. They definitely noticed each other but because they lived hundreds of miles apart, nothing happened. They saw each other at several other social events for the next few years.

In 2013 while Katie was hanging out with Jacki and Brandon one day, Brad's name kept coming up in conversation and they found themselves imagining what it would be like if Katie and Brad got together. That prompted Brandon to give Brad a call. Then Brad called Katie and things started happening. In July, Katie flew to NC for the most expensive first date of her life!

They officially became a couple after that amazing date and for the next year they carried on a long distance relationship.

(While I was telling their story, Bridget was alternating between her mother and father and finally Brandon handed her off to her grandparents--but she did not stay with them for long!)

The stress of being together for short periods and then saying good-bye finally got the most of Katie and she made the big move to NC in August of 2014.

Brad began to plan a proposal in 2015 and decided Memorial Day would be the most fitting since they had met on Memorial day 6 years prior. Although his original plans hit a snag, he did propose and Katie could not say yes fast enough. They called their friends and family and started planning this wedding!

Bridget has found her way back to Mom!

Time to reveal the secret paragraphs to each of them which were so sweet and funny too.

The vows and rings were next.

Katie puts the ring on Brad's finger as she said the words after me. 

It was a big ring. Brad is a big guy. But she got it on his finger finally! 

So happy to pronounce these two husband and wife! 

A sweet kiss--their first as husband and wife!

Let the party begin!!

The newlyweds recessed into the house followed by the wedding party. Then I asked the guests to step into the aisle and turn around to face the villa for a group photo taken by our photographer Erica Akroyd from the Juliet balcony.

Then the wedding party filled in the front for the photo.

Our wedding planner and director for this wedding was Kathy Lusk of Pink Lillie Planning. This was our first wedding together and we loved working with each other to make Katie and Brad's dreams come true for their wedding day. We have another one together at Barclay Villa in March 2017.

Brad and Katie! What a wonderful wedding you put together. Everything about it was so carefully thought out and brought into reality. Thank you for choosing me to join you in marriage--I am honored! I wish you the best life can give you!
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