Raleigh Wedding Blog

Monday, January 6, 2014

Farm and Filigree Vintage Rentals for your Wedding!

Just a quick post here about this wonderful resource for props for weddings--Farm and Filigree Vintage Rentals. What led me to discover this is the wonderful mantle below that one of my brides rented for her wedding. She worked with Kristal Cloer who even delivered the mantle but this is just one item of many fantastic vintage pieces that would be fabulous for weddings.

On their blog is a wedding in which an "altar" area was created in front of a tree with a very long drape of tulle over one of the branches that draped down behind the couple and officiant. Photos are on their Blog. They rent vintage doors, glassware, furniture--including church pews and plantation benches, chandeliers and other lighting, signage, galvanized tubs and so much more! Have fun!

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Elizabeth and Kyle's Wonderful Wedding at Barclay Villa!

Beth first contacted me in July about officiating hers and Kyle's wedding on December 29, 2013 at Barclay Villa in Angier NC. Then I met them via Skype on August 22nd. We did not meet in person until their rehearsal because they live in Orlando FL and we co-created their ceremony via email. Kyle's parents live in Raleigh and we had the rehearsal at their home the day before the wedding instead of us all traipsing all the way to Angier to the venue.

The wedding day arrived and it was rainy and a bit on the chilly side but you would never guess from this photo. Gradually the rain disappeared and the temps warmed up a bit. Overcast skies mean wonderful color saturation, no shadows and no squinting for photographs!

Barclay Villa is a magical place. Looks like a castle and the interior decor is consistent. So rustic yet royally elegant.

In the garden in the back is what I call the "gnome house" where we have weddings in the warmer seasons of the year. Today it was looking festive with lighted garlands adorning it.

Inside the ballroom is the beautiful staircase that leads down to the ballroom from the second floor and loft area with a balcony that overlooks the garden (not in picture). Our groom and groomsmen are coming down for photos.

So, this is the view of the magnificent ballroom area from atop the stairs.

Looking up from the fireplace you can see the large door at the top through which is the Juliet balcony. Gregg Kennedy of Brides and Bouquets was in charge of the floral decorations and they were breathtaking! Gregg was still on site when we arrived and it was good to chat with him for a bit! I have known him for almost 15 years of doing weddings together. He is a "personal florist" and does not have a retail shop. His floral creations are definitely one of a kind for each bride and always stunning.

The tables were pushed to the sides of the room for the ceremony. Here is a beautiful floral arrangement with the lights of the trees reflected in the mirror.

Kyle and I are discussing how far over the last groomsman needs to stand for the ceremony.

Then there was the cake table! I count 9 cakes plus some cupcakes, all made by Blue Moon Bakery.

They are all decorated individually and have different flavors.

The "top" tier!

Drema Joyce, the Barclay Villa event director, and I met for the first time today. She made sure all was perfect for the day. Our Wedding Coordinator and director was Brooke Everhart with Belle's Catering who catered the wedding. No chance of anything going awry with these two ladies in charge!

After all the attendants and I had entered, it was time for Mark, father of the bride, to escort Beth down the steps and up to the altar area. The steps are rather steep and so we rehearsed that he would precede Beth step by step as she descended in her lovely wedding dress.

Made it just fine!

Mark transferred Beth's hand into Kyle's then took his seat as the guests were seated.

Aren't those lights dazzling? So pretty.

The bridesmaids' dresses of coral really popped in front of the lit trees.

What a beautiful setting for a wedding. Travis Gales was our DJ from Blue Box Weddings and the sound was perfect!

Beth and Kyle's wedding ceremony was very personalized and the guests loved hearing their love story and what they treasure about each other.

They made their vows to each other and exchanged rings. Then they placed love letters they had written to each other into the Memory Box to be opened on their first anniversary.

The pronouncement of marriage....

Almost got the kiss!

And off they go into their new adventure--marriage!

Since the rain had stopped, we went outdoors for pictures. David and JR with Blue Box Weddings were our photographers.

What a great wedding party!

Beth and Kyle, what a great wedding you had. It was the last one of 2013 for me and a wonderful way to end the year. I hope you danced till you dropped and had a wonderful time celebrating your marriage with all your friends and families. It was my pleasure to work with you and officiate your beautiful ceremony! I wish you all the best forever!

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To contact me:

mailto:kayelily@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

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Friday, January 3, 2014

Liz and Jeff Marry at Bass Lake Park!

Liz and Jeff set their wedding date for December 29, 2013 at 1:00 PM hoping the weather would be nice and we could have the ceremony outside on the deck at Bass Lake Park in Holly Springs. But, it turned out to be a cold rainy day that gradually cleared up and the sun came out later in the afternoon.

No matter the weather, it was warm and cozy inside with a view of the lake through the windows. Really impressive was the mantle that Liz rented and not only that, it was delivered! (Addendum: Here is the wonderful website for Farm and Filigree Vintage Rentals where Liz got this lovely mantle. I went to their website and it is amazing what props they can furnish for weddings! Go take a look!) She decorated it with floating candles, lanterns, photographs of loved ones and a wide ribbon of burlap pulled it all together. It definitely warmed up the reception area and, set on an angle in the corner,ly mantle. I went to their website and it is amazing what props they can furnish for weddings! Go take a look!

Sweet Cheeks baked this sweet little cake adorned with flowers and a veil! There were about 40 guests and so the size was perfect. Liz and Jeff's moms catered the food. Flowers on Broad provided the beautiful flowers.

A saying that is so true!

Jeff told me that Liz was going to put some floating candles around the legs of the mantle until he reminded her that I was going to be standing pretty close with my back to it. Thanks, Jeff, although that would have been a pretty touch.

The time drew near to start and the guests took their seats.

The rest of us were standing around waiting to get started. On the left is Mark Jacoby, photographer. Mark and I have known each other for many years through weddings. He is also Jeff's stepfather so he was doing the honors capturing this sweet wedding in pictures for Liz and Jeff.

And so it was time to get started, a little late, but that was okay.

Jeff's beautiful daughters, Amber and Madison, in their pretty blush pink dresses and cowboy boots followed.

Our beautiful bride was escorted in by her sons, Sam and Jacob, who got a case of the "shys" as you can see in some of the following photos!

The back of Liz's dress is so beautiful!

And so we began......

Mom turned around and gave the boys a "look!"

Then it was time for the children's blessing. Jeff had some sweet words for Sam and Jacob and funny thing, after that they seemed to calm down and we did not hear another peep from them!

And Liz had some sweet words for Amber and Madison as well.

Then I got to tell their story which is a good one. It began "Like many modern and savvy couples these days, Jeff and Liz met on e-Harmony around Thanksgiving of 2012."

Eventually they met in person and some time later met each other's children. The big test! My favorite line from the story was about this first time meet-up with the kids: "Jeff had gotten Liz's boys some small toys to break the ice and Jacob, the youngest, sat right up in Jeff's lap, carried on a conversation with him then asked Liz if Jeff could be his step-daddy. Liz replied 'Eat another fry!'"

They wrote their vows to each other and read them from my book where they are printed facing them in large bold font.

Then the rings.....

The pronouncement......

Yep, the KISS!

Whoopee, married at last! Such a happy couple to finally tie the knot and officially all become one big family!

Jeff and his beautiful daughters!

Jeff and his new sons, Jacob and Sam! They are three happy boys!

Liz and Jeff, thank you for giving me the honor of joining you in marriage. I know you are so happy and looking forward to a wonderful life together and co-parenting your lucky children. I wish you all the happiness in the world!