Corey and Tyler Wed at Cedar Grove Acres!

Cedar Grove Acres in Creedmoor is a pretty cool place! Corey and Tyler liked the rustic setting, the variety of activities for wedding guests and the easy-going nature of the owners, Richard and Paula Kolarov. This was the first wedding I have done there. 

Corey and Tyler's wedding was May 27th, 2017. It was a hot day made hotter by the humidity and the forecast was for spotty showers. We had our fingers crossed! But it turned out to be just fine!

Off to the side is a meadow that is the perfect place for the ceremony. There is a platform for the wedding party to stand on and an arbor to decorate. The walk is compacted sand with a brick frame. Much easier to walk on than concrete and does not snag the bride's train either! I think the two guys handing out programs are the bride's brothers, Joseph and Ian.

The structure behind the chairs is the site of the reception. It is called the Hay Shack. The sides are open with a deck overlooking the ceremony. That is also where our DJ, Eric Hodgden, All Around Raleigh DJ is set up.

I have plugged my mic into Eric's body pack and now making my way down to the arbor to do a sound check.

Eric is happy the way the sound works and agrees that this is a great place for a wedding! 

There are many different buildings. This one is where the bar is set up. 

Looking down the way from the drive up area is this wide expanse of gravel with cornhole boards. That is Paula in the red shirt on the left. The building on the right is where Southern Harvest Catering is set up to prepare the food. Just in front of it is a lemonade and water stand.

Quentin Dyson, day of planner with the caterer, got all the wedding party lined up and cued us in. I have already processed in with Tyler and now the guys are coming in. The bridesmaids are ready and the bride is hidden around the corner. 

It's a fairly good walk. You can see that I am almost at the arbor with Tyler. 

Here come the bridesmaids! Dave is shooting just behind Cristobal Perez with Azul Photography, our professional photographer who is so kind to let Dave snap these photos for this blog!

As the last bridesmaid makes her way to the arbor, the guests began to stand for the bride. Note all the cell phones ready to get a record of this!

Here comes our beautiful bride with her proud father, Paul.

After the presentation of the bride, all the guests were seated and Tyler and Corey stepped up onto the platform and faced each other for the ceremony. I began with a warm welcome to everyone.

Then I stepped out from behind the couple and thanked their parents on their behalf for all their love and support. 

Then it was time to tell the story of how Corey and Tyler met, how they fell in love and all their adventures together. We had some good laughs too!

Next were the secret paragraphs and then the exchange of vows and rings. 

Tyler placed the ring on Corey's finger as he read the words from my book.

Then Corey made her vows to Tyler and placed the ring on his finger. 

After a closing blessing, I made the pronouncement of marriage and invited them to kiss! 

No problem here! 

They turned and faced their guests. My mic kept sliding off my ear because I was perspiring so much! Introduced them as husband and wife to their guests and the recessional music began amid cheering and applause!

And away they go! 

Corey's mother, Margaret is escorted out by her two sons, Ian and Joseph, followed by Paul.

Kevin and Patricia, Tyler's parents followed. 

Quentin directing the guests where to go. They told me there were some raindrops falling but I never felt any and besides, they went away. I heard one guest say that there was a rainbow over the trees!

Getting unplugged now and relaxing. Eric is so much fun to work with. We are both members of the NC Wedding Ring and love working weddings together.

Quentin helped me round up the witnesses to sign the marriage license. 

Almost done! 

Meantime, Quentin and Eric are putting the fabric drape that was on the arbor onto the rafters over the sweetheart table.

Got a quick photo with Quentin. He is such fun! If you book Southern Harvest for your caterer, he comes with the deal! 

Watching the guests mingle while re-hydrating with a cup of water! 

Off toward the open field to the left of the catering barn is a great fire pit. 

Congratulations, Corey and Tyler! Fabulous wedding you pulled off! It was great working with you and getting to know you. My honor to join you in matrimony! I wish you a fabulous marriage and all the happiness in the world!

Beautiful Wedding for Marie and Eric at Duke Gardens Pergola!

Marie and Eric live in New York City. They contacted me by email in March. Their wedding was May 27th, 2017 at the Duke Garden Pergola. They wanted to return to Duke for their wedding since they had met there as freshmen in 2005. I was delighted that I was available to officiate for them and agreed to "co-officiate" with Eric's brother, Matt. We got busy collaborating on the ceremony and I met them for the first time at their rehearsal.

The Memorial Day weekend was fraught with forecasts of rain and thunderstorms but it turned out to be a sunny day with high humidity and temps in the low 90s. It was hot and everything seemed to move in slow motion! The chairs were set up and ready when Dave and I arrived to set up the sound system and mic both me and Matt.

Our guitarist, Dave Spencer, had arrived and set up his music stand and began tuning up. 

Matt arrived and we got him "wired" up for sound! 

Our wedding director, Barbara Gautier with Set The Date Wedding Planning, was dashing around getting everyone where they were supposed to be to process in.

The guests have arrived. I am in the background walking from one side of the area where the guys are to the other side where the bride and bridesmaids were hidden away.

The groomsmen with Eric and his parents, Tracey and David, await the signal to begin. I know these guys were sweltering in those suits! 

To begin the ceremony, Matt and I walked forward from the back of the pergola to the top. 

Eric escorted his parents in then joined Josh (best man), Matt and me at the top of the steps. 

Awaiting the bridesmaids and groomsmen......

The first couple.

Second couple.

Third couple.

Then our maid of honor Marifel is escorted in by groomsman David. 

Our handsome guys! 

Such pretty colors and such beautiful women. The beautiful bouquets were furnished by Maggie Smith of PineState Flowers.

Amelia, our flower girl, blows bubbles and is followed by the ring bearer carried by his father! Our photographer Stephanie Smith gets a picture of them. 

It is time for our beautiful bride and her parents to process in. Eric steps down to the ground level to receive Marie's hand in marriage.

Paul and Anecita proudly present their beautiful daughter Marie to be joined in marriage with Eric.

I asked "Anecita and Paul, do you support your daughter's decision to join together in holy matrimony with Eric, and do you vow to receive him as a member of your family from this day on?" Of course they answered "We do!"

And so Matt began with a welcome to all. Then I led everyone in prayer.

Then we blessed and thanked their parents for their love and support throughout Marie and Eric's lives.

Matt then stepped out to deliver the wedding address which consisted of the story of how they met and fell in love. He did a great job! It was so important to Eric and Marie that Matt be an integral part of their wedding because his presence in their relationship has been such a treasure.

          Marifel, being a dutiful maid of honor, stepped forth and fanned some fresh air on our bride. 

Then it was time for me to reveal their secret paragraphs we had created that each of them heard for the first time during the ceremony.

They make their promises of marriage to each other and seal them with their rings. 

Eric went first, then Marie. They read their vows from my book where the words were facing them.

Next in the ceremony as the Wooden Wine Box with the loveletters. Matt did this section. This photo was after they placed the letters in the box and came back to their positions. Helping Marifel straighten Marie's train.

I delivered a closing blessing. 

   Then invited them to look at their guests who had come from near and far to celebrate with them.

The legal pronouncement of marriage! 

Great kiss, Eric!!

"Hey, we are married!"

Matt presented the newlyweds to their guests and the bride and groom stepped into their future!

Everyone is cheering them on! 

The parents recessed together, now joined by their children's marriage!

Congratulations, Eric and Marie! It was wonderful working with you to create your amazing ceremony! Matt, you did a fabulous job delivering your part.  I wish you all the best!