Kaitlyn and Cody's Wonderful Wedding!

Kaitlyn and Cody met in Raleigh on a blind date back in March of 2015 arranged by a friend who even guaranteed it would go well! And it went extremely well! The attraction was immediate and they have been inseparable ever since. They now live in Tennessee for the time being but wanted to get married in the city where they met and fell in love and so they chose the historic Melrose Knitting Mill in downtown Raleigh for their wedding on November 11, 2017. 

Here are almost 200 chairs with a nice wide aisle. The chandeliers give this old mill with arched windows just the right touch of bling to add to the quiet elegance. The side on the right is draped to conceal the other half of the room for the ceremony.

Expressions of Love Florist created the beautiful backdrop for the ceremony. Note the chalk marks on the floor so that the wedding party knows where to stand.

Ed and Craig with Arioso Strings are tuning up. It was good to be working with them again. They are a great duo.

Simply Cakes provided this stunning cake which is hidden from view on the other side of the drapes.

The tables are all set and ready to be moved out into the ceremony area after the ceremony. The band, Bantam Rooster, is getting ready too. Our professional photographer for the wedding was Kelsey Nelson.

In the back of the space is the bar where the groom and groomsmen and I hang out before the ceremony. We will enter from the side and take our places up front. Steph and Emily, our two venue coordinators are talking logistics. Love the weddings here and the professionalism of the wonderful staff that direct the activities.

The guests are arriving and being seated. 

I am ready!

Emily keeps the guys talking in whispers so the guests can't hear! They are so excited to be in this wedding and to see their buddy, Cody, get married!

It is almost a full house with guests still arriving.

Time to get the groom and groomsmen all lined up. Two of them are escorting the mothers and will join us in the line up.

Here we go!

Then the bridesmaids process in one by one!

Steph peeks out to see when to send the next two bridesmaids, sisters of the bride.

Our Maid of Honor, Alyson.

Our sweet flower girl begins her trek down the aisle!

Oops! She threw all the petals at once! Steph is trying to signal her to go on down the aisle. 

But she stalled! Father of the bride, Craig, watches while Steph helps our flower girl retrieve a few petals then process in. 

She made it and rushed up to Cody for a hug then he directed her to her mom waiting in the second row!

Here comes the bride!

The wedding began with some good laughter because the father of the bride nervously answered my question "Who presents this woman to be married to this man?" with "My mother and I" which he quickly corrected to "Her mother and I!" Then he transferred his daughter's hand into Cody's, almost tripped on the bride's dress on his way to his seat, and everyone was seated. 

We began with a warm welcome to all who had come from all over the state and all over the country and even some from out of the country.

I stepped out and addressed the parents of Kaitlyn and Cody and congratulated them for providing such wonderful role models of marriage for their children.

Then I told the story of how they met and fell in love and recognized Breada in the guests--their friend who set up the blind date and guaranteed it would go well. The story continued with their move to Tennessee and concluded with the surprise proposal in July of 2016 at the Jersey Shore with the help of Kaitlyn's sisters.

Kaitlyn hears for the first time what Cody told me in confidence that he loves about her and what he is looking forward to in marriage.

Cody was enjoying watching Kaitlyn's reaction to what he had told me. 

Then it was Cody's turn to hear what Kaitlyn had told me she loves about him and what she is looking forward to in their future.

They exchanged their promises to each other then sealed them with their rings.

I asked them to think of the happiness they were feeling in the moment and to close their eyes and let it really sink in to their hearts and minds.

I asked them to open their eyes and gaze around them at their friends and family honoring them on their wedding day.

A closing blessing......

The pronouncement of marriage! 

Followed by the kiss!

That exhilerating moment when reality sinks in! 

Presentation of the Newlyweds!

Kaitlyn and Cody! Such a grand wedding--all planned from afar! I loved it and I loved working with you to make your ceremony so specific for the two of you. Thank you letting me be part of your big day! I wish you health, happiness and love all the days of your lives!

Kayleigh and Dave's Beautiful Wedding at Highgrove Estate!

October 28th 2017 was a beautiful fall day in North Carolina. Perfect for Kayleigh and Dave's wedding at the historic Highgrove Estate in Fuquay-Varina. We had met in January to begin work on their ceremony script. And so by the time their wedding day rolled around we were eager to see all their wedding planning come into reality!

The garden was ready and I did a sound check with Craig, the DJ with Showtime Productions. The florals were furnished by Flowers on Broad. Notice the signs that line the aisle.

A closer look at the signs and on them are written out the verses of a contemporary version of First Corinthians 13 which teaches us about love. 

The "altar" area was filled with meaningful items on an ornate table flanked by the urns filled with mums in fall colors.

On the table was the Anniversary Box in which there is a bottle of wine and in which during the ceremony the couple will place their sealed without sharing loveletters to each other. On their first anniversary they will open the box, pour each other a glass of wine and read their letters from each other, have a conversation about their wedding day and the year that has passed. Then write new loveletters, seal without sharing, place the old and the new letters in the box with a new bottle of wine  and repeat on each anniversary creating a legacy of love for their children and future generations. This is my favorite Unity Ceremony.

On the terrace at the entrance to the garden was another table where the guests signed in. They added photos of their parents's weddings.

Although it did not get chilly for the ceremony, the couple were so thoughtful to have these colorful wraps handy if a guest needed one.

 Their place cards fitting for a Fall theme wedding.

 The Garden Ballroom is all set. Highgrove does their own catering and the food is wonderful!

 The Sweetheart Table.

 Sweet Memories Bakery provided this beautiful wedding cake. The topper says "Fall in love." 

  Some candy apples for treats!

 Before the ceremony I was chatting with Dave's parents, Elissa and Eddie. 

 Our Highgrove director, Amanda Shepherd, got us lined up inside the house and then began the processional. 

Dave followed me and picked up his parents waiting for him at the top of the steps so that he could escort them in.

After the mother of the bride, Vicki, was escorted in, the groomsmen and bridesmaids took their places. 

Then it was time for Kayleigh and her father, Tom, to make their entrance. Amanda straightens the train.

I asked Tom: "Who gives their love and support to Kayleigh as she comes to join in marriage to David?" He answered:  "Her mother and I" then took his seat as the guests were seated.

I welcomed the guests and told them how important it was to our couple that they join them as they took the next step in their relationship--the joining of their lives in the covenant of marriage.

I stepped out to address the parents with a surprise tribute to them and thanked them for providing examples of marriages that have stood the test of time.

At this point it was my pleasure to share with the guests the story of how Kayleigh and Dave met and fell in love. It began with their first meeting in a Starbucks a little over 4 years ago. Since then they have been on many adventures and bought a house together. Dave proposed in May of 2016 but they wanted to wait to have their wedding after Kayleigh finished grad school.

Then I told them what the other had told me they love about each other and what they are looking forward to in marriage. A sweet moment.

 A little humor was sprinkled into the story and the secret paragraphs!

 They made their promises of marriage and exchanged their rings. 

 I placed my hand on theirs and pronounced them husband and wife and invited them to kiss!

 And they did!

 That after-kiss moment as reality sinks in! 

I thought the first kiss was too short for our photographer to get a good picture so I asked them to kiss again! They were happy to oblige!

 I invited the guests to stand and join me in congratulating our newlywed couple!

Amanda is happy that this wedding is flowing along smoothly as the wedding party and parents exit into the house for photos and the guests are invited for cocktails on the terrace before the reception begins.

Kayleigh and Dave! What a fabulous wedding! I trust you are enjoying wedding bliss now that the big day is done and the wedding planning is over! It was my honor to join you in marriage and I wish you the best of everything!