Hurricanes Fans, Trish and Jim, Come from Cape Cod to Get Married!

Trish emailed me last March inquiring of my services. She and Jim are huge Hurricanes fans and come to Raleigh several times each year from their home in Cape Cod to see them. She explained that Jim was a big fan of the Whalers in Rhode Island who became the Hurricanes. She has loved hockey since she was 8 years old and quickly adopted the Hurricanes as her team too. I was happy to make plans with Trish and Jim to have their wedding in my wedding garden. Little did we know that November 7, 2010 would be rather frigid and felt more like Massachusetts than North Carolina with temps in the 40s. But the garden was beautiful and we braved the chill and they are now married! They hired Amanda Byrnes to take some photos but the ones here were taken by Marty with my digital camera.

Jim and Trish met a few years ago when Jim was in rehab for having a heart attack. Trish worked in the rehab center and that is where they met. She jokingly says that Jim had to have a heart attack in order for them to meet. They both had been divorced since 1991 and were so happy to find one another.

 

 

 

 

The ceremony was sweet but brief and we were glad due to the cold weather. They exchanged their vows and rings. Then I pronounced them husband and wife and they were just like a couple of kids they were so thrilled.

They sealed their vows with a kiss and the deed was done! Time for some more photos then a celebration dinner for two at the Carolina Inn. 

Trish and Jim, I am so delighted that you found each other and that you wanted to get married in North Carolina and chose me to officiate your wedding. I know you are going to be such a happily married couple. The next time Dave and I visit our relatives who live on the Cape 5 minutes from you, we will definitely get together!

Kristen and Josh Wed at Pop's: A Durham Trattoria!

Kristen and Josh and I met last July about their wedding November 6, 2010. They were having their wedding at Pop's: A Durham Trattoria, a place I had never been. They explained that the restaurant had recently moved and were renting out their old space on Peabody Street for events. They wanted a casual fun reception for all their guests and the old dining room was where the ceremony would take place. We had no rehearsal, so Marty and I arrived, sight unseen. Turns out the acoustics are really good in the room so I did not need my sound system at all. The primary dining room was all set for the reception. 

 

 The cake had been delivered and was baked by Once in a Blue Moon Bakery, all decorated with blue birds!

Matthew Kanon, classical guitarist with whom I have done so many weddings, was already set up and ready to start. Then the couple and Kaz, their photographer who is with F8 Photo Studio, arrived. I have worked with Kaz several times and always enjoy doing weddings with him. (The photos on this post, however, were taken by my "roadie," Marty, with my simple digital camera.)

After a slight delay because the shuttle to bring guests to the location never showed and the father of the bride was making round trips bringing everyone, we got started. Here is Nancy, our maid of honor, with Kristen and her father, Frank, entering next.

 

Kristen and Josh met at work in 2007. They discovered that they both have an offbeat sense of humor and are connoisseurs of  "shoddy cinema" (i.e. the infamously bad horror flick, Troll 2), board games, and crossword puzzles. Their guests really enjoyed hearing their story, especially Josh's creative proposal involving fictitious ice sculptures at a nearby park.   And, I had fun telling it!

 

They exchanged their vows and rings.

Unfortunately the photo of the kiss was a big blur but the kiss was a good one and I almost had to say "break it up!"

 I introduced the newlyweds to their guests and amid much applause they exited to the main dining room where they greeted their guests.

 

Kristen and Josh, you are such a well-matched couple and I predict you will have a wonderful life together! I wish you all the best!

Rachael and Kevin Celebrate their Marriage at The Umstead!

Rachael and Kevin planned their small intimate wedding at The Umstead Hotel and Spa for Thursday November 4, 2010 surrounded by their parents, Kevin's grandmother, and Rachael's 4 year old daughter, Claire, who was our flower girl. I was thrilled that they chose me to officiate for them. They had wanted to have their wedding on the wedding lawn but the chilly, rainy weather dictated otherwise so Ami and her staff set up in front of the fireplace off the lobby area. When Marty and I arrived for the wedding Kevin Milz was busy taking photos of the couple before the wedding. When they were done, we were ready to begin the ceremony with the procession of the bride!

Rachael is such a strikingly beautiful bride in her gorgeous wedding gown! 

Her father, Dan, was delighted to escort her in. Claire wanted to look at her mother too and so she backed down the "aisle" tossing flower petals and then turned around and tossed some more. I think she tossed more flower petals than any other flower girl I have ever seen! She was so precious.

 

I don't know what florist did the flowers, probably A Watered Garden, but they were so pretty. I love lilies!

Sitting on the left is Kevin's grandmother, his father, Jerry, and his mother, Sharon. then on the right are Rachael's mother, Jennifer, and Rachael's father holding Claire.

 

I wrote a "proposed" ceremony for Rachael and Kevin and invited them to edit it to their liking. We recognized and thanked their parents and acknowledged how important Claire is in the new family they created today.

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations and best wishes are definitely in order for the newlyweds. They planned a sumptuous dinner at Heron's after the ceremony to celebrate.

Rachael and Kevin, I wish you much happiness and joy and prosperity! Blessings to you always!

Halloween Wedding for Stacey and Stewart at Angus Barn!

Stacey and Stew met with me last August to plan their wedding for October 31, 2010. They did not specifically choose the date because it was Halloween. The date simply worked the best for them. Stacey told me she did plan to use orange and black as her colors but was not going to play up the Halloween theme. They chose to have their wedding at the wonderful Angus Barn restaurant in front of the huge fireplace near the front entrance.

Right down the hall from the ceremony area is where the dinner reception was to be held. The menu looked wonderful and they even reserved a place for me but I could not stay and enjoy the delicious food there. I did notice that Angus Barn is having a Thanksgiving Day buffet and my family and I may decide to do that this year instead of cooking! A nice discovery.

Cinda of Cinda's Creative Cakes was really busy this weekend. I think about 3 of my weddings had her cakes! She does such a great job. Here we have the black/orange scheme in the cake.

Stacey could not resist throwing in a little Halloween humor. Photos of her and Stew in regular garb and a contrasting photo of them as a Frankenstein bride and the vampire!

Sherry Lattin was on hand to grace us with her beautiful violin music. She is so good. Always a pleasure to work with her and her group, Florian.

When it was 4:00, we were ready to begin. Stew, his two sons, Bret and Bryan, and I took our places in front of the fireplace. Note the bright orange ties! You cannot see it but they also have on matching orange socks! I saw them later.

Stacey's two pretty daughters, Madison and Lindsey, then entered. My, they look like twins in this photo although Madison is 13 and Lindsey 16. Behind them is Michelle Gunton, our photographer.

Stacey had been tucked away up in The Wild Turkey Bar and now makes her descent to the wedding. Michelle is getting ready to take her photo and Sally Oakley, our wedding director, is so happy to get to this wonderful moment for Stacey and Stew. Congratulations on another great wedding, Sally!

As I had suggested, Stew met her at the bottom of the steps and escorted her in. What a great looking couple! Gregg Kennedy of Brides and Bouquets did the lovely floral arrangements and bouquets.

Flanked by their children, we begin the ceremony. Stacey had written a wonderful analogy of marriage and the change of seasons for the ceremony.

 

 

 

They included the Family Unity Sand Ceremony. Stacey and Stew poured in part of their sand and then I poured in one container of sand that represented all their children, then Stacey and Stew poured in the rest of their sand.

Prelude to the kiss right after the pronouncement.

Finally married. They are so happy to be with each other.

I wanted to show you that Stacey wore a black rubber spider ring on her right hand during the ceremony!

Stacey and Stewart, I am so happy that you found each other to share your lives and your love! You deserve each other and a lifetime of happiness together. I wish you all the best!