McKayla and Omar's Beautiful Wedding!

McKayla and Omar's wedding was so pretty. All the flowers by Embellished Blooms and colors were gorgeous. Of course the setting in the courtyard of The Umstead Hotel and Spa is so elegant. The perfect place for a beautiful wedding. The date was August 30th, 2019 at 5:30 PM.

This sign greeted our guests along with bottles of cool water for a hot August day.

I post this photo to show you the shadow line. The courtyard is on the east side of the hotel and as the sun sets on the west side, the shadow grows so that by the time the ceremony starts, the ceremony area will be in the shade.

My sweet husband, Dave, was unable to come with me to take photos of this wedding so I brought along my daughter's sweetheart, Johnny Kusnic, who was happy to go with me and take pictures with my iPhone. He did a really good job too. Thanks, Johnny!

Triangle String Quartet was tuning up to play for the wedding. A superior set of musicians! 

This arbor is beautiful and the knock-out roses behind it are in full bloom. 

Close-ups of the florals.

Flowers on the chairs and rose petals flanked the aisle. 

The pretty fountain in the lake behind the courtyard is a stunning backdrop. 

As you can see the shadow line has made it up beyond the chairs on the front row. 

The professional photographers for this wedding were with Moving Mountains Studios. They did still and video. 

And now the guests are taking their seats and the ceremony area is completely in shade. 

Megan Gillikin with A Southern Soiree was our wedding director and cued me when to make my entrance.

I asked the guests to please put away their cameras and phones and truly be with our bride and groom in their hearts as they joined their lives in marriage.

Omar and our maid of honor and best man entered and joined me up front. 

Our sweet little flower girls! 

This is Mia, the little daughter of our bride and groom. She is so cute! 

Now the bride starts her walk down the aisle as Megan lifts her train to straighten it. (I officiated Megan's wedding to her hubby Jason back in 2015.) 

What a beautiful bride! Please notice that amazing bouquet which is all white orchids!

She handed her bouquet to the maid of honor who rearranged the train as the guests were being seated.

And so we began. The first segment was a welcome to all their friends and families. 

I stepped out to pay tribute to their parents and tell them how much McKayla and Omar appreciate their love and support.

Then I spoke to Mia telling her how important she was and how much her parents love her. 

Then some words on love and marriage.

I asked them each a series of questions to which they each replied "I do." 

The best man handed me the rings and McKayla and Omar joined left hands. 

Omar placed the ring on McKayla's finger as he said the words after me. 

Then McKayla did the same. 

A closing blessing followed but the pronouncement of marriage was next. 

I invited them to seal their vows with a kiss! 

Introducing the newlywed couple to their friends and families! 

Their guests stand as they walk out into their new life together! 

McKayla and Omar! What a gorgeous wedding! I am honored to be a part of your big day.  I wish you and Mia the best always!

Dana and Matt's Fabulous Wedding!

It has been many years since I had a wedding at the Governor's Club in Chapel Hill. It is a very beautiful campus and the day of the wedding, July 6th 2019, was bright and sunny and of course on the rather warm side. 

View of the lake and golf course from the terrace where the wedding ceremony was. 

Tre Bella Flowers furnished these urns filled with beautiful floral arrangements. 

Looking from the altar area to the club and terrace, you can see that a nice tent had been erected to provide shade from the sun. I really enjoyed working with Lisa Johnson with the club who was coordinating the ceremony and reception. She had everything under control.

The view from the back row of chairs. There were between 150 to 200 guests expected. 

This sign greeted guests in the lobby as they arrived for the wedding. 

Power 2 Party is the wedding band that would play at the reception. Their keyboardist, Alex, played for the ceremony procession and recession while James hooked my mic into their sound system to amplify my voice. Sound was perfect!  

Paying a visit to the groom and groomsmen and getting the witness signature on the marriage license too. 

Watching the guests arrive for the wedding. 

Once the guests were seated, the guys and I went around to a side terrace from which we would enter. 

Here we are waiting for our cue to enter. 

Our youngest guest!

While the groomsmen and I were taking out places, Matt escorted his mother, Rose, in then joined us. 

Mother of the bride, Debbie, was escorted in by Craig, father of the bride, and he returned to bring in the bride. Time for the bridesmaids to enter!

Laura entered with her daughter Cori, our flower girl, who then sat with her daddy during the ceremony. 

Then Aly entered, followed by our matron of honor, Kaitlyn, sister of the bride, for whom I officiated her wedding in 2017. (Here is a LINK to her wedding.) I invited everyone to stand for the bride and her dad who got to escort another daughter down the aisle! It was so good to see Kaitlyn and their  family again! Unfortunately Kaitlyn's husband, Cody, could not be at the wedding due to military service.

And so the ceremony began with a welcome to all then a prayer. 

I stepped out to tell our guests how Dana and Matt met and fell in love. It was in February 2017 in a bowling alley. It was not a planned meeting and Dana was not prepared to meet her future spouse that night! Funny moments in the story had everyone laughing.

Telling them what their partner told me in confidence what they love about each other and what they are looking forward to in marriage. Sweet and tender moment for both.

And a little laughter too! 

Some words on love and marriage and a welcome to the next chapter in their lives!

They made their vows to each other by answering "I will" to my questions to each of them.

I called for the rings and invited Matt to place the ring on Dana's finger as he said the words after me. 

Then Dana placed the ring on Matt's finger as she said the words after me. 

A closing blessing before the pronouncement of marriage. 

I placed my hand on theirs and declared that they are husband and wife. 

Their first married kiss! 

Introducing the newlywed couple to their family and friends! 

And out they go! 

Beaming! 

Matt and Dana! What a wonderful wedding. I loved it. It was fun and so sweet. I loved working with you both and know your marriage will be a grand adventure! I wish you the best always!