Brooke and Chase's Wonderful Wedding at Solas!

Brooke and Chase chose Solas in Glenwood South downtown Raleigh for their wedding venue. The wedding date was September 22nd 2018. They live in Greenville NC but Brooke's parents live in Raleigh. Brooke's mother was helping her line up her officiant and contacted me. We did all the planning by email and text without meeting in person until the rehearsal.

And so the day finally arrived and all is set. 

Fresh Affairs erected this beautiful backdrop of drapes and flowers for the altar area. 

Looking down at the side walk in front of Solas. Little did we know at that point that there was going to be a block party going on during the ceremony with lots of very loud music.

Jenni, our DJ with Stylus, wisely pumped up the volume of my microphone so everyone could hear my words over the music playing on the streets below. Thanks, Jenni! Brad with Big Dog Little Bed was our videographer and Tracy Timmester was our professional photographer. Dionne with Carolina Fete was the planner and director and had her team taking care of everything. A great team of vendors!

On the second floor the space is ready for the reception. 

Love Cake furnished this beautiful cake. Just putting the flowers on for the finishing touch.

The guests are ready for the ceremony to begin on the open air rooftop. 

We have all processed in and are awaiting the entrance of our bride. 

Brooke and her father, Michael, enter and head down the aisle. 

Love the carpet runner. The only kind of runner that really works! 

Michael transferred Brooke's hand into Chase's hand and the guests were seated. We began with a welcome to all, a prayer and remembrance of loved ones not with us.

Then I stepped out to address the parents of the couple and thank them on behalf of Brooke and Chase for all their love and support.

The really fun part was getting to tell the story of how Brooke and Chase fell in love and their journey to their wedding day.

They enjoy hearing for the first time what their partner told me in confidence that he or she loves about them, why they want to marry and what they are looking forward to.

Tracy gets a shot of me wiping Chase's forehead. It was hot that day and he was sweating a bit! 

Then we continued with the vows which they read to each other from my book then placed the rings. 

Chase goes first. 

Our pretty bridesmaids all in a row!

The significance of the rings. 

Brooke places the ring on Chase's finger.

They had written love letters to each other the night before the wedding which they placed in the Anniversary Box during the ceremony where they will open and share them on their first anniversary.

A closing blessing came next.

The pronouncement of marriage!

Aaah! The sweet kiss! 

Chase and Brooke! Congratulations! I loved your wedding (except for the loud music in the street) and I appreciate your working with me to create the perfect ceremony for you. I wish you all the best forever! And thanks for this wonderful review: Reverend Kayelily Middleton is an expert at what she does. She comes very highly recommended by several vendors, and stellar reviews. We didn't meet Ms. Middleton in person until the day of the rehearsal. We communicated via email and phone prior to that. She sends you a detailed questionnaire that you and your fiancé fill out together about your story and then has you write secret paragraphs about each other. She melds these together to tell a beautiful love story on your wedding day. Somehow without even meeting us she made it seem like she had known us forever! She customizes the ceremony exactly to your liking. All of my guests ranted and raved about how beautiful the ceremony was. Thank you so much for everything Reverend!!

Anita and Seth's Family Wedding at Ashley Park!

Anita and Seth were such a great couple to work with for their wedding ceremony in which we included their children. It took place on September 22nd 2018 at Ashley Park apartment complex in Brier Creek. They also did my Marriage 101 course and we got to know each other quite well. It was a pleasure to see these two people so much in love and willing to make their marriage the best possible!

They thoughtfully provided a doormat for me to stand on so I would not sink into the ground! 

The kids came in first--Mary (Seth's daughter) and Deen (Anita's son) entered first. 

Then Gena (Seth's daughter) and her brother Bryan (Seth's son) came in together. 

Anita was escorted in by her son Kyle who flew in from out West to be with them. 

Kyle takes charge of his younger brother during the ceremony. 

We began with a welcome to all the guests who were gathered together on the other side of the sidewalk.

Then a sweet prayer. 

We remembered their mothers and Seth's father and other family members present for this sweet occasion. 

Then I addressed the children and told them how loved, special and important they are in the marriage we celebrate today.

I gave a brief synopsis of how Seth and Anita got to this moment in time and welcomed them into the unparalleled promise called marriage. Then they exchanged their vows and rings.

The Family Unity Sand Ceremony was next. Seth and Anita each pour ½ of their sand into the container making two layers representing them as individuals.

Then Gena poured all her sand in.

Bryan poured his in.

Kyle added his to the container. They used measuring cups as individual containers of sand. 

The two little ones, Deen and Mary who had poured their sand in earlier, watch as Anita and Seth blended their sand in for the final layer uniting this blended family.

I pronounced them husband and wife and invited them to share their first kiss as a married couple! 

Presenting them to their guests. 

Anita and Seth! I loved our work together! You are a great couple and I know you are so happy together--finally living in the same place with your kids under one roof. Bless you!

Jesse and Richard Wed at Rollingview Community Center!

Richard and Jesse originally thought they would like to have their wedding in my wedding garden. But as they told their friends and family about their upcoming wedding on September 22nd, 2018, they decided they would like a  place where they could combine the ceremony and reception space. So the venue changed to Rollingview Community Center that is part of Falls Lake Recreation area.

When Dave and I arrived, the guests were there and the place was all decorated in the bright colors of red and orange. I wore my coral prayer stole to color-coordinate.

Jeff then Jody (not pictured) entered carrying the components of the Covenant of Salt ceremony. 

Jesse was escorted in by his parents, Lynn and Craig. 

Richard's sister, Sharon, escorted Richard into the ceremony space. 

Jesse and Richard wrote a masterpiece of a wedding ceremony. A lot of it was original material as opposed to using material I shared with them. I was so impressed--and so were their guests. It was so heart-felt and authentic.

We started with an invocation and welcome to all. 

Then Jeff shared a reading from "The Book of Love" by Magnetic Fields. 

Then we remembered those no longer with us followed by a tribute to their families.

Then I got to tell the story of how they met and fell in love. It was full of humor. 

What they love about each other heard for the first time! 

After a short ready by Jody, we moved on to the rings and vows.

The vows consisted of 6 deep questions for both of them to which they said "I do" to each question. 

At that point I pulled out my hankie and wiped away some tears of the grooms!

I explained the meaning of the Covenant of Salt to the guests.

Then the pouring of the salt together. A very meaningful adaptation of this ritual by Jesse. 

Following a closing blessing, I pronounced them husbands for life!

Hugs and kisses as the guests cheered and applauded! 

Presentation of the Newlywed Couple!

Jesse and Richard, Congratulations and thank you so much for your reviews: She was nothing but the best that the universe could give us for our ceremony! From the first meeting, until the ceremony ended, Kayelily delivered professionally and was very flexible to work with. Everyone in our wedding loved her, the reading, and delivery.