Ariel and Trey's Wedding at Bay 7!

Ariel and Trey chose Friday March 4, 2011 as their wedding date and Bay 7 of the American Tobacco Campus as their wedding venue. They met with me in October and we got started on their ceremony. Finally their big day arrived!

Simply Delicious was their caterer and cake baker and the place was all set up for the reception. The ceremony took place up in the loft. Bay 7 is such a spacious place and a great wedding venue. The whole thing is a dance floor!

Eric Hodgden with All Around Raleigh DJ Company was on hand when we arrived and we set up speakers up in the loft and got my microphone all plugged in. We did a sound check and everything was fine. But, when he was working with the musicians for the ceremony, my AC adapter conked out or shorted out or something. Fortunately Eric is very adept in handling the sound equipment that he was able to switch his adapter to mine before I needed to speak. Thanks so much, Eric! It was great working with you.

Here are three of our musicians. Jennifer Paschal and Marshal Carter, vocalists, were accompanied by Jim Barden on keyboard. They were wonderful and sang during the processional and again during the Covenant of Salt ceremony.

Doing prelude music and the music for the entrance of the grandparents and parents were Hilary Attanas and Brittany Pierce. They were so good! I loved their beautiful harmony!

This set up was for the Covenant of Salt ceremony. This is similar to the sand ceremony but salt is used instead of sand. Salt to seal contracts harks back to Biblical days. According to tradition, the wedding contract can only be broken if each grain of salt can be sorted, identified, and then returned to its rightful owner. Trey and Ariel liked this ancient ritual. They also stood under a Chuppah to pay tribute to Ariel's Jewish heritage.

Debbie, owner of Simply Delicious, just finished decorating the wedding cake with the flowers. Her assistant, Lisa, was busy pinning on boutonnieres on the groomsmen.

A closer view of the cake. The wall behind it is panels of stainless steel that usually has water cascading down but the water was turned off for the ceremony because it can be noisy.

We stashed the groom and groomsmen in the men's room while we got the bride inside and into the elevator. When she was well out of sight, Trey and his groomsman, Chris, and I went to the far end of the area and took our places on the steps. Then our director, Laura, a friend of the bride's, got the grandparents and parents lined up to process in. There were quite a few grandparents present which is so nice to see. These are Trey's paternal grandparents in the front followed by his maternal grandmother escorted in by Daniel, our best man. She was supposed to be escorted in by her grandson and younger brother of the groom, Cash, but unfortunately Cash, got quite ill the day of the wedding and could not be with us. Behind Daniel are Ariel's grandparents.

Trey's mother and father, Doricia and Ben, are ready to walk in. Behind them are Ariel's mother, Lisa, escorted in by her son, Ian. She is speaking to one of the staff at Bay 7.

 

Now for the bridesmaids. Notice to the far left is our bride in the elevator! 

 

Ariel's father, Joel, is holding that door open as they get ready to walk out. 

Isn't Ariel's wedding gown dreamy? So soft and full. To the left is Stacy Borelli of Swank Photo Studio getting the photos. I wonder what Joel is looking at on the floor? Ariel's red shoes? Nope. Lisa told me later that he was looking down trying to figure out how to NOT step on The Dress!

And so the ceremony begins. Ariel, Trey and Joel together made the lovely chuppah we are standing under. The ceremony contained an explanation of the symbolism of the chuppah. 

 

You can get an idea here of how large this space is and how the loft is positioned around three sides of the space. I had not done a wedding up in the loft space before. There is actually plenty of room and a very long aisle! The guys and I entered from the right side where you see the musicians and DJ seated during the ceremony. Because of the length of the aisle, Marty was not able to get very close to take photos for me. 

It is all over! Let the party begin!

She really did float down the aisle!

They look pretty happy to me!

After getting my microphone packed up, I chased after the wedding party that was headed out to take photos around the American Tobacco campus. I had to get Jenny, our maid of honor, to sign the marriage license before they all scattered. Lisa, mother of the bride, on the left, is so happy the way the wedding went. She told me she loved the ceremony and I saw her shed a few tears during the parents' blessing too.

I could not resist putting both of these photos on the blog because Ariel's dress is so pretty and suits her so well.  Trey and Ariel, you have a lot going for you and I know you will be so happy! I wish you all the best life has to offer!

The New Garden Ballroom at Highgrove!

Angela, one of the wedding consultants at Highgrove, told me last year that their huge ballroom tent was going to be transformed into a permanent structure with windows all around and a fireplace at the far end.  Curiosity got the best of me and I took a trip down to Fuquay Varina last Thursday to see for myself how the construction was coming along. The photo above was taken of the mansion in 2004.

  

The two photos above were taken before a wedding in 2004. The landscaping had not matured at that point and the vines had not yet grown onto the portico. 

I have been doing weddings at Highgrove since they opened almost 10 years ago. I believe I officiated the first or second wedding they had there. The estate was originally the home of a prominent dentist in Fuquay Varina. When the property went on the market, two enterprising women (Maria and Vickie) bought the old place and turned it into a gorgeous wedding venue--one of the loveliest around. I love doing weddings there. I remember when they started out, there was no patio or tent in the backyard. There was only the portico and steps. Then they added the concrete patio and base for their large ballroom tent and put in beautiful landscaping. They enlarged the kitchen and the dining room and eventually transformed the bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs where the bride and her bridesmaids get ready and a holding room for the groom and his groomsmen! 

This wedding of Erin and Tom was September 2010. Note the vines on the portico and the larger bushes framing the steps. In addition to adding the garden ballroom, they are also extending the portico on both sides and altering the seating area configuration to accommodate 200 guests.

Here are Tom and Erin and their rather large wedding party. This was taken on the front porch. (You can view other weddings I officiated at Highgrove since 2008 here.) I did not realize that the exterior of the mansion was vinyl siding. In addition to building the Garden Ballroom, the owner has removed the vinyl siding and restored the original clapboard exterior. It looks better than ever. They also have expanded the kitchen again. 

Maria, one of the original owners, built Chateau Bellevie on the adjacent property a few years ago which is a bed and breakfast and where smaller weddings can be held.

So, this is how the mansion looked last Thursday. There was a big pile of discarded white siding in the parking lot and the house looked pristine! 

From the parking lot, you can see the new ballroom where the tent used to be. It is every bit as big and spacious. I walked around to the back to see what it looked like from the patio area. 

This is the grand entrance from the patio. The patio will be bricked over in a pattern that will reflect the unusual pattern of the glass fretwork in the entrance and be continuous with the brick steps to the portico. No more loud A/C unit blowing us as we enter for the wedding and interfering with the music. Yay!

 

As I was wandering around out back taking a few photos, Susan Blakeslee, stepped out of the house. Susan has been in the wedding industry for many years and has recently joined the Highgrove staff. It was good to see her. She graciously took me inside the ballroom for a good look and so I could get some photos! 

It is huge! And, so bright and light inside even with no lights installed yet. Look at all the windows.

Here's the fireplace. That is such a wonderful new feature for this ballroom. I forgot to ask what the floor covering would be but I know they will have a large dance floor and of course the beautiful chandeliers like they had in the tent. They also plan to drape the ceiling like the tent as well.

This is the tent last September. The new ballroom will be just as beautiful and more! I am looking forward to my first wedding there this year on May 14th. There is also an announcement on Highgrove's blog that there will be an Open House to showcase the new Garden Ballroom on April 30 from 10AM to 1PM. I will probably be there since I have a wedding at Chateau Bellevie that day and that they still have a few openings for 2011 weddings!

Professional Wedding Guild Luncheon at Hilton Garden Inn!

Once a month, except in December, Gail Galloway of the Perfect Wedding Guide hosts the Professional Wedding Guild luncheons in the Triangle and in the Triad areas of North Carolina. I have been enjoying these luncheons for years. These luncheons are such great opportunities to meet and get to know my colleagues in the wedding industry at a non-wedding setting. The luncheons are held in different venues each month. The latest luncheon was on February 23, 2011 at the Hilton Garden Inn at Triangle Town Center in Raleigh.

This was my first time at this site. It is a lovely setting for a small wedding and reception and/or rehearsal dinner. They have a fully equipped restaurant and the food was delicious!

Our vendors contributing to the luncheon are announced on a card on each table. My friend, Reverend Robin Renteria, had a great idea for the three of us ministers--herself, myself and Reverend Barbara Lodge--to contribute a large box of Godiva chocolates for a door prize. Get it? "God"-iva? And there is the word "diva" as well! How clever she is. Thanks, Robin!

The two women on the right represented the Hilton Garden Inn. On the left is their colleague from the Holiday Inn. Apparently both hotels are owned by the same owner. Thank you for posing for me, ladies.

Amanda Scott with A Swanky Affair (wedding planner) and Monica Bishop with Bedford Blooms exchange business cards.

Kate Mejaski with This Little Light Photography is talking with Lisa Jacobs, wedding planner.

In the foreground Bradley Junell, DJ, speaks with Barbara Lodge, wedding officiant. In the background, Amanda Scott and Lisa Dupree find out about each other's business. Lisa is a cruise and vacation specialist with Expedia Cruise Ship Centers.

Lisa and Monica with Bedford Blooms exchange their business cards. 

 Brian McGuire of McSound Productions was our DJ and sound man for the luncheon. Thanks, Brian.

Gail Galloway, our hostess, tries unsuccessfully to hide behind Randal Quantas whose DJ name is Qfocus. Randal is with K2 Productions.

Diane McDaniel with Unity at Long View Center chats with Karen Bishop of Bedford Blooms.

Our honored speaker for the event, and a delightful person to chat with, is Tammy Elliott, President/CEO of  the Perfect Wedding Guide national. Her talk was on the 7 Habits of Highly Profitable Wedding Professionals. Her talk was inspiring and quite engaging. Thanks, Tammy, it was an honor to meet you!

Ten Tips for Walking Down the Aisle!

I just looked at my Facebook page and saw that my friend and wedding colleague, Craig Carpenter of Luster Studios, has posted a few tips on looking your best walking down the aisle. They are great and I thought I would add some more from my 12 years of experience watching brides walk down the aisle toward me. (All the photos are from my weddings in 2010 and have their own posts of the complete wedding on this blog.)

1.  Who walks the bride down the aisle? Some brides tell me that they do not want their father or mother or anyone else walking them down the aisle because they are independent women and fully capable of walking themselves in. I agree with all that but it stills looks kind of lonesome when the bride walks down the aisle all by herself. I suggest to the bride and groom that the bride walk about halfway down the aisle or from the entrance to the back of the rows of chairs alone while her bridegroom starts walking from his spot next to me toward her. They meet in the middle and come to their positions in front of me together. They and I just love that idea and the symbolism of them coming together to be married.  Christy and Charles above decided that is what they wanted to do. Wedding was at The Umstead.

Shelley was counting on her father walking her down the aisle--and she needed his help getting up those stairs with that gorgeously full wedding gown!This wedding was at Haywood Hall in Raleigh.

Danielle wanted her mother to walk with her down the aisle at Duke Gardens.

Lia chose to have her mother and her grandfather escort her down the aisle at Barclay Villa.

Krystal makes sure she does not fall behind her parents as they walk down the aisle. This photo is courtesy of Amy Turner. The wedding was at Brier Creek Country Club.

If both parents are escorting you in, it is really important that it does not look like they are "dragging" you down the aisle, so step a little ahead of them rather than lagging a little behind.

2. Make sure your wedding dress is not too long.  I can't tell you  how many times I have seen brides stumble and almost trip on the front of their dresses! Take into account the shoes you will be wearing and if you will be walking on carpeting or grass as it will make the front of your dress drag making it too easy to step on the front hem. If that happens while you are walking down the aisle, the only alternative at that point is to gently kick the front of your dress forward as you walk! Remember, you will not have an extra hand to lift the front of your dress because you will be holding your bouquet in your left hand and your right hand will be on your father's arm.

3. Beware aisle runners! The vision of a beautiful white aisle is tempting but the only suitable aisle runner is a strip of carpet or heavy fabric that has been affixed to the surface underneath it. The runners that are sold to brides in bridal shops or on line that are on a cardboard roll with ropes at each end are really paper or paper-like and will not lay straight on carpet, grass or wooden floors (unless taped down). They will catch on the attendants' heels, fly up if there is the least bit of a breeze, twist and wrinkle and become hazardous. A pretty option for aisles is to sprinkle or line them with flower petals. See my prior post about runners here. 

 

These bridesmaids are entering a wedding at the new NC Museum of Art on Blue Ridge Road. 

  

 Janice and Luke at Duke Gardens pergola, photo courtesy of Melissa Kay Photography.

  

This is a wedding at Caffe Luna. The girls are holding their bouquets just right! 

  

Wedding at The Umstead. Ami Wheeler has the bridesmaids all lined up and cues them one at a time.

4. Bouquets should be held at belly-button height. I like Craig's suggestion of making a diamond shape with your arms. Clever! And this goes for the bridesmaids as well.

5. Dad's job as the escort: At rehearsals I tell fathers escorting their daughters in that they have two important jobs:
    a. Keep the bride from galloping down the aisle so she can "float" down the aisle smiling and making eye contact with him, the guests standing in her honor, and her waiting groom.
    b. Look down after he has transferred the bride's hand into the groom's hand so he won't trip on the bride's train on the way to his seat.Yep, it happened once. Thankfully the father did not fall down and the bride's train did not rip. It was a scary and embarrassing moment though!

 

Laura is escorted by her father at Anderson Point Park. 

 

Our Maid of Honor enters the altar area created at Solas for Jonell and Scott's wedding.

6. What's the hurry! Bridesmaids tend to hurry down the aisle but should "float" down the aisle as well, taking their time and walking in time with the music of the processional.

Here is another one at Duke Gardens pergola. Danielle's mother transfers Danielle's hand into Chris' hand before they ascend the steps to the top.

Another bride at Duke Gardens pergola escorted in by her mother. Janice is handing off her bouquet to the Maid of Honor who has come down the steps to get it.

A kiss for Mom, then she is seated as Janice and Luke go to the top of the steps to join me for the ceremony.

 

Jessica is escorted down the aisle by her very proud papa at The Umstead. 

Carolyn and her father made the very long walk from the pavilion to the lakeside terrace for her wedding ceremony at the Pavilions at Angus Barn.

7. It is customary for the father of the bride to escort the bride in on his left side which is nearest to his heart. Once the bride and her father have arrived at the end of the aisle, the bride hands her bouquet off to the Maid of Honor who hands it down to the next bridesmaid so she can fluff the bride's dress when she turns to face the groom. When the music fades, the officiant asks the father the question of the bride's choice (i.e. "Who blesses and support this woman as she comes to be joined in marriage with this man?") and he answers. Or there is no question asked. Then the father transfers the bride's right hand into the groom's left hand, bride gives Dad a little kiss, he turns and goes to his seat while the guests are seated and the bride and groom turn and face each other holding both hands, centered in front of the officiant. Maid of Honor fluffs bride's dress if needed then retrieves the bride's bouquet from the next bridesmaid.

At the Grand Marquis Ballroom, Patty was escorted in by her dad while Steve waited at the foot of the steps for them and the transfer of hands. See the bridesmaid on the left who walked over and took the bride's bouquet so that the bride will have a free hand to lift up her dress as she goes up the steps.

This is a wedding in Long View Center taken in 2008 when Unity of the Triangle was renting the space. It is now owned by another church and not open to the public for weddings. 

8. How to handle steps: At the pergola at Duke Gardens or Long View Center or the Grand Marquis Ballroom or any other venue where there are steps to get up to the "altar" where the bride, groom and I will stand for the ceremony, I like to have the father transfer the bride to the groom at the bottom of the steps. There are several reasons why. First of all it saves the father (who may not be very agile or may be really nervous) from having to go up and down the steps. Second, the ascent from the ground level to the top of the steps is symbolic of the couple taking their relationship to a higher level. So, logistically, here is how we do it: When the bride and her father or escort begin walking down the aisle, the groom then steps down to the ground level to await the bride. When father and bride reach the bottom of the steps, the bride hands off her bouquet to the nearest bridesmaid who passes it to the Maid of Honor. The father transfers the bride's hand to the groom's right hand. Then the groom places his left hand on the small of the bride's back to help support her up the steps as she uses her left hand to lift the front of her dress. Once up and in place, the Maid of Honor fluffs the bride's dress.

9. Walk naturally and leisurely.  Please, please,  please, do not do the "two step" down the aisle. Know what I mean? Take a step, stop, then take another step. This looks so stilted and especially awkward because Dad has to do it with you. I remember doing a wedding about 4 years ago when the bride did the two step all the way around the swimming pool. Her poor brother who was escorting her had to do it too and it was really silly looking--and it took forever! This goes for the bridesmaids too.


10. SMILE! This is your wedding day! Relax and look around and make eye contact with your friends and loved ones who are honoring you this day. Needless to say, this goes for the bridesmaids too!

Happy Wedding!