A Beautiful Wedding for Aaron and Chelsea at The Carolina Inn!

Chelsea and Aaron fell in love when they were students at UNC. They met during a Friday night tradition where the boys in the adjacent dorm would run through the women's halls shirtless--to celebrate the weekend! All the girls were standing outside their rooms expecting this weekly ritual when Aaron innocently stumbled upon this happening, glanced over at a pretty girl with a big smile who said "Come on, it's Friday" whereupon he whipped off his shirt and ran around a bit, shortly to return to check out this intriguing girl with the big smile, none other than Chelsea. He was intrigued by her sense of humor and kindness. She was impressed that he was such a good listener and she could talk his ears off. It did not hurt that he was tall and good looking with the nicest blue eyes she had ever seen. Five years and many adventures later, they were planning their wedding for June 1, 2013 at the Carolina Inn. The wedding day was gorgeous with a slight breeze. The Bryan Courtyard with the big tree was immaculately groomed and ready for the guests. Sally Oakley was on duty as their wedding director. 

This beautiful cake by Swank Cake Design was in its place in the Old Well room where the reception would take place.

The courtyard was filled to capacity with the white chairs and white flower petals down the aisle.

Arioso Strings had arrived, set up and were tuning up. Always heavenly music and I love working with them all.

When all the guests were seated and it was time to begin, the guys and I walked in down the side ramp and took our places up front.

Chelsea's mother, Lori, was escorted in by her son, Billy. She reminded me of a young Julia Child!

Unlike the day before at the rehearsal, our sweet little ring bearer, William, walked straight down the aisle and presented the rings to the best man then was seated. I don't know the bribe they used but it sure worked like a charm!

The guests stood in honor of our stunning bride as her father, Geoff, escorted her down the aisle.

 She gave Dad a little kiss and he was seated.

 Aaron's dad, Jeff, was his best man. 

Chelsea and Aaron were soooo ready for this day! They were both beaming at each other! Because we had collaborated on the creation of their ceremony, they knew what I was going to say and could relax, be in the moment, and really enjoy the ceremony which included personal and endearing tributes to their parents.

Brian Mullins, photographer, was getting shots from the back of the guests while his second shooter, Jen Aun, was roaming, like my assistant, Marty, getting this shot.

I loved telling their story and what they loved about each other which was secret to each of them not revealed until the ceremony.

 There was lots of good humor.  

 Then we had the "hands ceremony." 

"This ring is a symbol of my love. With it I take a piece of my heart and place it into yours. May it encircle our spirits and bind us together forever."

"It is my honor to pronounce you husband and wife. Aaron, you may kiss the bride!"

 And he sure did! 

 What! We kissed in front of all these people! Oh my!

 Chelsea, what's that on the bottom of your shoe? The tag? A message?

Beautiful people, beautiful couple, beautiful marriage! Chelsea and Aaron, I wish you a lifetime of happiness and love!

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Katie and Matt's Wedding Featured in Southern Bride and Groom Magazine!

I am so thrilled to discover that Southern Bride and Groom magazine chose Matt and Katie's wonderful wedding as a feature wedding for their new issue. Jenna just sent me the photo below so I could put it on this blog. I thank them for crediting me as the officiant. You can see a larger image if you click on it. To see the previous post of Katie and Matt's wedding on this blog, click  here.

Katie and Matt tied the knot this past summer on June 11, 2011 at the beautiful Highgrove Estate in Fuquay-Varina. Brian Mullins was the photographer responsible for these gorgeous images. They capture these two people so perfectly. The creative couple took my ceremony material and made it their own including a reading by a Catholic priest and the breaking of the glass from the Jewish tradition as well as personalized vows to each other. The ceremony started out like this: 

"Welcome! You have all come together to witness and celebrate the marriage of Matthew and Katherine. It was exactly eight years, three months and twenty-seven days ago that Matthew nervously asked Katherine to be his girlfriend." From that point on, the guests were enraptured with their ceremony which included the story of how they met and how their relationship blossomed in to love and then marriage. That sense of excitement and celebration flowed right on into their reception. It was a joy to work with these two love birds!  

Katie and Matt's Fabulous Wedding at Highgrove!

Katie and Matt met at Cary Academy. when they were both 15  After graduating from high school and college, they decided it was time to tie the knot! It was no surprise for either of their families and they were all so happy to see these two people so much in love get married and start their journey through life as husband and wife. They chose the lovely Highgrove Estate for their venue and set the date of June 11, 2011. Katie, Matt and I met one evening last August. They really liked the idea of creating their own interfaith ceremony including both Jewish and Christian elements, making it very personal and unique to them, and honoring their parents. And, so they chose me and I am so happy they did. The ceremony we created together has joined the ranks as one of my very favorite ceremonies.

The day was beautiful but a bit on the warm side. The cake was inside the garden ballroom. It was provided by Ashley Cakes. Gorgeous as always.

The garden ballroom was spacious and nice and cool! The florals were done by Jo Lynn at Victorian Seasons.

I got my theater microphone plugged into Ryan Pflumm's sound system and we did a sound check. He had put a speaker on each side of the portico and the sound was perfect.

Ryan and I have worked together for many years.

He is all dressed up for the wedding and ready for the ceremony to begin. Besides being such a very tall handsome guy, he is a great DJ! Ryan did this wedding for Island Sound DJs. He has since spun out on his own and his DJ company is appropriately named SPIN!

Katie and Matt hired one of my favorite photographers who is also one of the very best wedding photographers in this area--Brian Mullins. He and his second shooter, Jennifer Aanerud, look like they are shooting each other here! I think though that they are deciding which settings are going to be best for the intense sunlight that was beaming down at the ceremony site (and directly into my face)!

I processed in first to hold sacred space while the grandparents, parents and the rest of the wedding party enters.

I am followed by Matt and his best man, Brian.

The bridesmaids are all lined up to go next. First Christina, then Ariel (Matt's sister), then Katie.Their dresses were a beautiful soft coral which is becoming quite a popular color this year. It is a good color for everyone. I did not have a coral dress or prayer stole but since this wedding I have made one for future "coral" weddings!

Our lovely Maid of Honor is Katie's good friend, Sarah.

Here comes the bride with her father, Jeff. Katie is so pretty and her dress was perfect for her. Matt calls her hair "princess hair!"

 

 

Once we got started, I looked up at Matt through my squinted eyes (the sun was directly in my eyes when I looked at the couple) I saw sweat just dripping off his chin like a faucet! I had put one of those hand towels into my pocket and quickly retrieved it and mopped his face off many times during the ceremony. Katie did not sweat a drop! I asked her later how she managed that and she said she just "willed" it to be so!

In the beginning of the ceremony I said: "It was exactly 8 years, 3 months and 27 days ago that Matthew nervously asked Katherine to be his girlfriend..." Everyone loved that and so did Katie and Matt! 

I asked their parents to stand. Katie and Matt wrote a very special blessing for their parents and included the fact that this day was also Katie's parents' wedding anniversary.

They asked Father Daniel Nelson to share with us the words from First Corinthians 13.

 

And then I told the couple's story. Everyone enjoyed hearing all about their adventures followed by the reasons they want to marry each other.

 

 They made their vows to each other and  exchanged their rings.

Before the pronouncement of marriage I explained the Jewish custom of breaking of the glass at a wedding to honor Matt's Jewish heritage. Notice he has his foot ready!

 I made the pronouncement, he stomped the glass and we are all shouting "Mazeltov" as they kiss!

Either Matt is going for the kiss here or they have finished it!

 The new Mr. and Mrs.!

Looks like there were some latecomers who watched the ceremony from the patio.

 

Matt and Katie, your wedding was wonderful. I am so happy for you and I know you will have a wonderful marriage and life together. Congratulations to you both!