Stephanie and Joshua Happily Married in Kayelily's Garden!

Stephanie and Joshua came to see me to plan their wedding in April. Within just a few days we changed the wedding date to February 20, 2016 in my wedding garden. As I am sure you all know, the weather in February can be just about anything with little to no warning. But God was smiling on these two lovebirds and their blended family for their wedding day.

Riley, Joshua's daughter, and Austin, the sweet little son of one of our bridesmaids, were ready to get this show on the road!

Our DJ (son of our Maid of Honor) and Groomsman Glenn hanging out before the ceremony starts......

Meantime I am filling the vessels with the pretty colors of sand. 

We are almost ready to begin! Notice the weather is really cooperating--no precipitation or freezing! 

After the bridesmaids and flower girl and ring bearer got into place it is time for the bride! Stephanie is escorted in by her mother, Kathy, and her son, Matthew.

The transfer of hands is made and the guests are invited to take their seats. 

So here is the whole wedding party: on the left is Morgan (Stephanie's daughter), Nicole (bridesmaid and mother of Austin), then Melanie (Maid of Honor), Austin and Riley, the couple and me, Patrick (Best Man) and Glenn (groomsman). There really was not enough room for Matthew to stand so I invited him to sit with his grandmother.

The view from the upper deck.

The ceremony included blessing the children and both Joshua and Stephanie having words for each other's children. Stephanie got down on Riley's level to make sure she understood.

Speaking to Stephanie's kids, Morgan and Matthew.

We also remembered Stephanie's father who passed away 3 years ago. A memorial candle was burning during the ceremony in his honor.

Exchanging their vows and rings......

Stephanie puts the ring on Joshua's finger.

For the family unity sand ceremony I poured in a layer of white sand representing God as the foundation for this family, invited Stephanie and Joshua to pour ½ of theirs in, then it was Riley's turn to pour in her sand.

Morgan poured hers in.

Matthew's turn.

Then Stephanie and Joshua poured the remainder of theirs in together. 

Making the pronouncement of marriage.

I rang the bell as they shared their first kiss as wife and husband!

There is that sweet after-kiss moment!

Introduction of the newlywed couple!

This beautiful family is now official! 

The customary pose of the couple with me!

Stephanie and Joshua, I am so happy that you found each other and found me to marry you! I think you are a wonderful match for each other and wish you all the happiness in the world!

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Sarah and Alex's Surprise Wedding at The Stockroom!

Sarah and Alex contacted me by email last September having been given my name by their wedding planner, Katie Dunn with Events by La Fete, about officiating their surprise wedding on February 19th, 2016 at The Stockroom downtown Raleigh. They live in Charlotte but they met in Raleigh and most of their family and friends live here. Their families knew they were getting married but it was a surprise wedding for their friends who thought they were coming to an engagement party, not a wedding! 

The Stockroom was all decked out by their florist, Heather Miller with Eclectic Sage. Tables of candles and florals flanked the back of the chairs and floating candles lined the aisle.

Looking from the "altar" area back to the steps. 

I don't know who did the nice chalk lettering but it is a wonderful way to announce a couple. 

Heather and her team framed the window with a magnolia garland then hung clear glass lights. The yellow glow is from the uplighting.  So creative.

On the upper level of the room is the cake table. The center coconut cake is very special cake for Sarah and Alex from the Peninsula Grill in Charleston. The two white cakes are by Edible Art.

The cute handprinted wine glasses for the bride and groom! 

Randy Bennett with Joe Bunn DJ Company is ready to begin! Always a pleasure working with Randy. We have got hooking my mic not his wireless body pack down to a science!

Catching Katie off guard as she is running around making sure everything is ready to go. 

Alex and Sarah greeted their guests as they arrived and it was fun to watch their friends' faces as they noticed Sarah was wearing a wedding dress and the dawning of the realization they were here for their wedding! After all the guests had arrived and were seated, the ceremony began with the entrance of Alex's mother, Peggy, escorted by Tyler, our best man.

Then the mother of the bride, Kathy, was escorted in by the father of the bride, Ralph, who circled back to bring in Sarah.

Alex, Tyler and I then entered down the aisle. 

Jennifer, maid of honor, makes her walk down the aisle. 

And now for Sarah and her dad. 

And so the ceremony began--a surprise and warm welcome to all and an opening prayer. 

A tribute to their parents was next and then the story of how they met and fell in love and the journey to this day. 

The big reveal of what they each told me they loved about each other and what they are looking forward to in marriage--along with some good humor too!

A few words on marriage........then their vows.

They read their vows to each other from my book. Sarah first.

Then Alex....

The exchange of rings and ring vows.

The pronouncement that they are now husband and wife!

Ooops, camera froze and missed the kiss. This is that sweet "after-kiss moment." 

Alex and Sarah, wonderful surprise wedding! You did it! Congratulations and best wishes for the grandest marriage and life happily ever after! 

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Snowy Wedding for Xiyu and Yu at The Umstead!

I had met with Yu and Xiyu a couple of weeks before their wedding and we planned their simple ceremony. They were planning their wedding at The Umstead in Cary and had hoped the weather would allow their ceremony to be outside in the garden courtyard. It was January 24th 2016 which turned out to be a snowy weekend in Raleigh. There was some question as to whether I could get out of my neighborhood onto a main road because I live at the bottom of a hill that was iced over. Thankfully it snowed on top of the ice the day before giving me enough traction to get up the hill where I left my car overnight. Then the morning of the wedding, Dave and I trekked to the car, and then just rolled down the icy slope onto the main road and made it!

 When we arrived one of the ballrooms had been set up for the wedding. 

 This is how it looked outside the ballroom that beautiful Sunday morning! 

We peeped into the ballroom across the hall from the ceremony to find the lovely wedding cake by Ashley Cakes having the finishing touches applied. 

 Gina Johnston with A Southern Soiree was their director and got everyone lined up.

 Yu, his groomsmen and I entered after the parents were seated. Then the pretty bridesmaids followed. 

 Time for Xiyu and her father to make their entrance. 

 Xiyu's parents traveled from China for the wedding. 

Yu was born in China but he and his parents relocated to the United States when he was a small child. Xiyu grew up in China and was here in the United States on a fiancee visa which required that she marry within a limited time frame if she wanted to stay. Of course she did and I am thrilled they chose me to join them in marriage.

They chose to have a totally American style wedding and Xiyu looked like a princess in her beautiful wedding dress.

  They exchanged their vows and then the rings. 

 I pronounced them husband and wife and invited them to kiss! 

 And so they did! 

 And away they go! 

 They headed out for some photos while the guests enjoyed some refreshments before the reception. 

Amanda, on the left, is The Umstead's Social Catering Manager, and Nicole on the right is her associate. Welcome aboard lovely ladies! Love weddings at The Umstead.

Before the reception, we got a photo of me with the happy couple! Congratulations Xiyu and Yu! You are a great couple and I wish you all the happiness in the world!

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