life-and-living-under-coulds: Jaime and Gerald's Fabulous Wedding at Duke Gardens on September 18, 2010!

This beautiful bird was an uninvited but welcome wedding guest! He was at the Duke Gardens amphitheater while we were setting up the sand ceremony table. We noticed him and got this photo!

This "bird" was there also when Marty and I arrived and is DJ, Troy Wilson, with DJ Professionals and Video out of Winston-Salem. He is a good friend of Gerald's. He easily plugged my wireless receiver into his system and we did a sound check. He did a great job providing their quite non-traditional music for the ceremony and then moved inside for the reception. Thanks, Troy!

Inside Marty scouted out the wedding cake which was baked by Guglhupf's Bakery in Durham.They make really delicious cakes and this is not the first time I have seen one of their cakes with the replicas of the bride and groom on top. They do a fantastic job with the likenesses. Jaime gave Gerald strict instructions not to look at the cake before the wedding because he would see her dress! The cake was vanilla with mocha mousse and chocolate with white chocolate mousse and raspberries. Yum!! Another "yum" goes to Durham Catering who provided the wonderful food for the reception.

So, when all the guests were seated and we were ready to begin, the couple's friend, Leah, serving as our wedding director, lined us all up for the processional . When this picture was taken, Gerald, the best man and I had already walked down the aisle followed by the grandmothers and mothers and their escorts to the Beatles' instrumental version of "Love Me Tender." After them was our junior bridesmaid, Gerald's pretty 9 year old daughter, Madison, escorted by groomsman Patrick, followed by the other bridesmaids, groomsmen and maid of honor to the Beatles' instrumental version of "Here, There and Everywhere."

After the wedding party was in, the music changed to the Beatles' instrumental of "Here Comes the Sun" for our beautiful bride. At the same time she was walking toward the ceremony site, Gerald was walking toward her so that they would meet at the top of the steps.

What a special moment for the bride and groom as the guests are standing in their honor.

Here is a view of the entire wedding party and guests from across the lily pond. If you look closely you can see tissues in use by two of the bridesmaids and a few of the parents. This is the part in the ceremony where we remembered the couples' fathers who are deceased and a tribute to their mothers.

The bridesmaids were in navy blue. When I told Jaime at the rehearsal that I would wear a lighter blue prayer stole she told me that would be great if it were Carolina Blue because they had some trepidations about having their wedding at Duke Gardens, lovely as it is!

After two readings by friends, I told the story of Jaime and Gerald meeting in the workplace and how their friendship developed into love.

Then we had a blessing for Madison and the three of them poured their sand together symbolizing family unity.

I have never seen the sand layered in such a beautiful configuration. Jaime and Gerald are the blue and green sand and Madison is the stripe of purple sand! I have the couple pour 1/2 of their sand in first in layers, then have the child's sand next then cover that with the sand of the couple blended together. The symbolism is really awesome.

Gerald read his vows to Jaime from my book and placed the ring on her finger.

Jamie read hers to Gerald as she put the ring on his finger.

A good one!

They exited out around behind the guests to a private area with a pretty footbridge for some privacy and a few photos. Jennifer Kidd of Kidd Photography was our photographer and Michelle was her second camera person. Jennifer referred Jaime and Gerald to me. Thanks, Jennifer!