Raleigh Wedding Blog

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Fabulous Interfaith Wedding for Alyssa and Jay at The Cotton Room!

When I met Alyssa and Jay, I knew they would plan a spectacular wedding day with all the nicest little touches and I was not disappointed! They are both ambitious, intelligent and gracious to boot. We met last February and decided we were a good fit and got started on the ceremony right away. They were referred to me by The Cotton Room where their wedding took place on July 13, 2013. It was my great pleasure to work with The Cotton Room wedding coordinator Amalia who had everything under control and moving right along.

This is a photo taken "behind the scenes" before the drapes are opened after the ceremony and the tables spread out. Isn't this a beautiful flower arrangement by Brandi Dennison with Triangle Catering? Notice the orange in it? How unique and fragrant!

This is one wedding cake but apparently more were coming because of the additional cake stands. Or maybe there were to be cupcakes which are all the rage these days. Once in a Blue Moon Bakery was in charge of these sweet things!

Ah, a menu after my own heart! I adore Indian food! Jay is Indian and of course this will fill the bill for those guests who prefer ethnic food. Too bad I had to dash off to another wedding or I would have hung around and tasted it all!

And for those guests with a preference for American fare, this is a sure to please menu. Yummy!

In the bridal suite, Alyssa's bridesmaid was attaching her veil as her mother and our little flower girl Olivia look on.

Olivia took her job seriously and very purposefully sprinkled the petals as she came down the aisle with her mother. She is just barely two years old and a very smart and determined little girl!

And this sweet baby girl is probably our youngest guest. There were lots of children present for the wedding and for the most part they were very well behaved, or at least while I was there!!

Our musicians from Arioso Strings were warming up and ready to go.

Just a few minutes after this was taken, the guests were asked to take their seats and we had a full house and even added a few more seats at the back.

The color theme was gray and yellow. Such a pretty buttery yellow.

I had the great pleasure to work with Hooman Bahrani with Vesic Photography for the first time! He is such a great photographer. I met him a couple of years ago when he was the presenter of a program about using Pinterest at the Professional Wedding Guild luncheon. He knows his stuff!

Mike Morse Entertainment DJ Rangananthan Rajaram provided amplification for me, the ceremony music and played the reception.

What a pleasure it was to have Alyssa's grandparents, Ken Sr. and Jean, with us for the ceremony. They are waiting to get in line to process in.

Amalia got us all lined up and cued us in. After the grandparents, it was time for Jay's parents, Amita and Dilip.

Next it is Mother of the Bride, Priscilla, escorted in by her son Michael who circled around to come in with the groomsmen. As it turns out a guest was sitting in her place on the front row so she sat next to Jay's parents.

Let's go, guys!

Last minute coaching for Olivia who truly did not need it!

On the other hand, Dylan, ring bearer, took one look and ran the other way. Someone turned him around and pointed him back down the aisle where he spotted his father and ran to him.

Here comes our gorgeous bride escorted by her proud father, Ken.

Oops! Almost tripped on the dress! A challenge for Fathers of Brides!

And so we begin.

When I stepped out from behind the bride and groom to do the tribute to their parents, I discovered Priscilla on the groom's side. She quickly got up and moved to her correct seat because by then the guest sitting there had figured out he was in the wrong seat! (~notice Alyssa fussing with her veil~)

Look! No veil. The veil slipped off and the maid of honor took it and I did not see it again! It was at this point that I began relating the amusing story of their courtship which took place at pharmacy school at Carolina. Many of the guests were their former classmates so they really related. I really can't remember hearing as much laughter at any other wedding. The guests just loved it--and looks like Alyssa and Jay did too.

In the Christian tradition they lit the Unity Candle which then served as the fire for the Mangal Fera ceremony in the Hindu tradition.

They walked counter-clockwise around the fire 4 times showing that each of them consents to the marriage in the Hindu tradition.

Each round signified a different aspect of life.

In the Hindu tradition of Sapta Padi, they took seven steps, one for each vow they repeated after me.

Then around Alyssa's neck Jay placed the Mangal Sutra--a sacred black necklace as a symbol of acceptance to share his life with her. So much easier to do without the veil!

In the American tradition they exchanged rings and read their American vows to each other from my book.

While the guests were enjoying cocktails, the wedding party and family gathered behind the scenes. Alyssa and Jay were so thrilled to be married and happy that the ceremony went so well, despite the lost veil!

Jay and Alyssa, what a fabulous wedding! Loved it. Loved your creativity and careful planning. It was a pleasure and an honor to be a part of your wedding day!

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Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Melissa and Chris' Beautiful Wedding in the Jasmine Court at Brier Creek Country Club!

Melissa and Chris are a dynamic couple who have definite ideas about what they want in life--and in their wedding! They were a blast to work with and we had to be mindful of keeping their ceremony to under 30 minutes in anticipation of the hot weather of their wedding day of July 6, 2013 at Brier Creek Country Club. When all was said and done, all the very important elements were included.

So, here is the Jasmine Court awaiting the arrival of the musicians--Arioso Strings--and the guests.

Their reception was held in the Palmer room and all decked out with their color called "guava." The English Garden did the florals for the wedding.

Their lovely cake was by Ashley Cakes.

Our musicians from Arioso Strings arrived and got set up 30 minutes before start time and began warming up--the instruments that is! It was plenty warm for us humans already.

Their DJ and Videographer, Damien Maas, put the video microphone and body pack on me so that my voice would be clear in the video.

Nicole with Premier Party Planners was on hand to be in charge of the day. Nicole and I have worked together in the past and she is really good and I really appreciate her expertise. She had gotten the guests from the lobby where they were congregated staying cool down to the garden and seated. Then she rounded up the wedding party. Here comes the groom!

Everyone entered down the center aisle from the pergola where there was shade.

Chris' parents, George and Belva, were the first to process down the aisle and take their seats.

Melissa's mother, Rita, was next. She was escorted in by her son-in-law, Clarence.

Now our pretty bridesmaids in their guava dresses.

Before the bride entered, our two Ring Bearers, Bryson and Avery, made their way down the aisle.

The guests stood in honor of the bride as her father, Jim, escorted her in and placed her hand in Chris' hand.

Their photographer is Christian Del Rosario with Attreo Studio.

Before they were seated, each guest took a stone from a basket to hold during the ceremony and infuse their blessings for Melissa and Chris into it then return it to the basket after the ceremony. The stones will be displayed in their home as a reminder of all who were present at their ceremony.

The parents stood as we paid tribute to them for all their love and support of Chris and Melissa throughout their lives.

Melissa's friend, Kelly, presented a reading from Richard Bach's book, Bridge Across Forever about soulmates.

Then it was time for their love story. They first met when salsa dancing in 2010 but both were too shy to ask each other out. Later on they both happened to sign up on e-Harmony and were matched up! It was just the jumpstart they needed. Their first official date in July of 2011 for the non-committal one-hour coffee date lasted 6 hours! Chris was smitten with Melissa's vibrant beauty, her bright smile and pleasant demeanor. Melissa was relieved to finally meet a man who was both very intelligent and handsome! It did not take them long to become a couple and embark on their lives together which included planning this wedding.

They chose the contemporary "I do" style vows and then exchanged rings.

After the vows and rings, Nanette Geiger, sang "Come What May" while the couple poured their sand together.

They added a unique twist to the sand ceremony by having a third bottle of sand that represented their future children and pets.

Melissa and Chris, it was my pleasure to work with you to create your dream wedding and officially join you in matrimony. I know your marriage will be enduring and immensely happy because you are such a good match. I wish you all the fun in the world!