Jaime and Gerald's Fabulous Wedding at Duke Gardens on September 18, 2010!

This beautiful bird was an uninvited but welcome wedding guest! He was at the Duke Gardens amphitheater  while we were setting up the sand ceremony table. We noticed him and got this photo! 

This "bird" was there also when Marty and I arrived and is DJ, Troy Wilson, with DJ Professionals and Video out of Winston-Salem. He is a good friend of Gerald's. He easily plugged my wireless receiver into his system and we did a sound check. He did a great job providing their quite non-traditional music for the ceremony and then moved inside for the reception. Thanks, Troy!

Inside Marty scouted out the wedding cake which was baked by Guglhupf's Bakery in Durham.They make really delicious cakes and this is not the first time I have seen one of their cakes with the replicas of the bride and groom on top. They do a fantastic job with the likenesses. Jaime gave Gerald strict instructions not to look at the cake before the wedding because he would see her dress! The cake was vanilla with mocha mousse and chocolate with white chocolate mousse and raspberries. Yum!!  Another "yum" goes to Durham Catering who provided the wonderful food for the reception.

So, when all the guests were seated and we were ready to begin, the couple's friend, Leah, serving as our wedding director, lined us all up for the processional . When this picture was taken, Gerald, the best man and I had already walked down the aisle followed by the grandmothers and mothers and their escorts to the Beatles' instrumental version of "Love Me Tender." After them was our junior bridesmaid, Gerald's pretty 9 year old daughter, Madison, escorted by groomsman Patrick, followed by the other bridesmaids, groomsmen and maid of honor to the Beatles' instrumental version of "Here, There and Everywhere." 

After the wedding party was in, the music changed to the Beatles' instrumental of "Here Comes the Sun" for our beautiful bride.  At the same time she was walking toward the ceremony site, Gerald was walking toward her so that they would meet at the top of the steps.

What a special moment for the bride and groom as the guests are standing in their honor.

Here is a view of the entire wedding party and guests from across the lily pond. If you look closely you can see tissues in use by two of the bridesmaids and a few of the parents. This is the part in the ceremony where we remembered the couples' fathers who are deceased and a tribute to their mothers.

The bridesmaids were in navy blue. When I told Jaime at the rehearsal that I would wear a lighter blue prayer stole she told me that would be great if it were Carolina Blue because they had some trepidations about having their wedding at Duke Gardens, lovely as it is! 

 

After two readings by friends, I told the story of  Jaime and Gerald meeting in the workplace and how their friendship developed into love.

Then we had a blessing for Madison and the three of them poured their sand together symbolizing family unity. 

 

I have never seen the sand layered in such a beautiful configuration. Jaime and Gerald are the blue and green sand and Madison is the stripe of purple sand! I have the couple pour 1/2 of their sand in first in layers, then have the child's sand next then cover that with the sand of the couple blended together. The symbolism is really awesome. 

 

Gerald read his vows to Jaime from my book and placed the ring on her finger.

Jamie read hers to Gerald as she put the ring on his finger.

A good one!

 

They exited out around behind the guests to a private area with a pretty footbridge for some privacy and a few photos. Jennifer Kidd of Kidd Photography was our photographer and Michelle was her second camera person.  Jennifer referred Jaime and Gerald to me. Thanks, Jennifer!

 

New daughter, new mom! I could tell that Jaime and Madison are really quite fond of each other.

Daddy's little girl!

The new "official" family!

What a good-looking couple! Fabulous together, too!  Gerald and Jaime, congratulations on your marriage. I wish you a lifetime of happiness together!

Michelle and Steve's Wedding at Blackhorse Run Clubhouse!

Michelle and Steve came to see me on August 19th about officiating their wedding on September 18, 2010. It was short notice but I had an opening that afternoon and we were all happy that I could officiate for them. (They told me that the person that was supposed to officiate their wedding canceled. I did not question them but I suspected that it might have been someone who got ordained on line to do a wedding then found out it was not an easy task to write a wedding ceremony and rather daunting to deliver a wedding ceremony!) 

When we were ready to begin, Michelle was escorted in by her son, Josh. Michelle did all the flowers herself and they were so pretty. Her theme was hot pink, one of my favorites. The ceremony music was provided by James Mount, a DJ with whom I had worked before but neither of us could remember whose wedding!

The clubhouse sits on some land with a pool, tennis courts and a playground. Michelle and Steve chose a location that backed up to a wooded area and rented the elegant white columns that were decorated with mums and a large topiary ball of fabric.

Michelle's beautiful daughter, Kaitlyn, was her maid of honor. Steve's best man was his handsome son, Bryan. Josh, Michelle's handsome son who escorted her in, stepped over to the side as a groomsman. It was all family for this bride and groom. Both sets of parents were in the front row and we paid tribute to them.

Their guests cheer them on as they make their way up the aisle as  newlyweds!

Time to celebrate! Michelle and Steve, it was an honor to officiate your wedding and a pleasure to work with you. I wish you tons of happiness and contentment!

Raleigh Rose Garden Abloom for the Wedding of Cristina and Colby!

Cristina and Colby are such a wonderful couple. They have so much fun together and laugh a lot as you will see in these photos. You can tell!Cristina thoroughly enjoyed her wedding! It took place on Saturday morning, September 18, 2010 at the beautiful Raleigh Rose Garden.

 

They planned a simple wedding with no wedding party and one musician--Daniel Baucom who played the guitar, violin and sang.  When I gave him the signal, he began singing a chosen song. 

Then Colby and I walked out from behind the roses and took our places in front of the guests.

That was his cue to then switch to the violin for Cristina's entrance as I reached into my pocket to turn on my microphone..

She chose to be escorted in by her father and stepfather down the long walk from the entrance of the garden to the back of the chairs where the guests sat. In the meantime, Colby started walking up the aisle to the back of the chairs.

Then Colby shook hands with both fathers and they circled around to their seats while Cristina and Colby walked down the aisle together to be married. I had suggested they do it that way and they loved the symbolism of "walking into their marriage together."

We are standing in front of the small fish pond which you can hardly see for all the abundant foliage and flowers around and behind it. The sun was bright and it was getting quite warm as noon time approached.

We started off with a welcome to the guests then I asked:  "Do you give your blessing to this marriage and promise to keep them in your hearts?  If so, please respond by enthusiastically saying, 'We Do.”'" Of course they did and Cristina loved it.

Then I asked the parents of the couple to stand for the Parents' Blessing . It is always such a sweet moment as I express the couple's thanks to their parents.

The vows, the rings, the pronouncement and then Colby nailed Cristina with a kiss!!

It's a done deal!! We're married! 

What a fun wedding! Cristina and Colby, you were such a great couple to work with and thank you for choosing me to be your wedding officiant. I loved every minute of it! Congratulations and keep laughing!