life-and-living-under-coulds: Island Sound DJ

Friday, May 16, 2014

Gorgeous Wedding at Rose Hill Plantation for Trina and Mark!

May10, 2014 was simply a beautiful day in North Carolina and especially at Rose Hill Plantation in Nashville NC. It is about a 50 minute drive from Raleigh and is an old plantation of hundreds of acres of unspoiled land.

When Marty and I arrived, Laura Simson, their photographer, had our bride, Trina, and her maidens out on the steps of the manor house for photos.

As we walked around the property, there were little signs the couple had made for the wedding. Mark told me he did this one!

So, instead of the ceremony taking place at the gazebo in front of the lake, Mark and Trina chose to have their wedding in the pecan grove area with the gorgeous back drop of pretty yellow flowers in the field across the road. It is on a slight slope which makes it easy for guests sitting in the back to see well.

Josh, our DJ, and his assistant, Brandon, with Island Sound, had set up the speakers and sound board for the ceremony. I plugged into their system and we did a sound check. Perfect!

This is Nathan Hall where the reception will take place.

I bet Mark made this sign too!

The Rose Hill Plantation catering staff under the supervision of Chef Michael are getting ready for the festivities.

Our pretty cake was baked by Tishre Hunter of Dreme Cake Artistry.

The manor house is used as headquarters for the wedding party to get dressed and to hang out in prior to the wedding.

Another cute sign directing the guests from the parking area to the ceremony area.

Wide view of the ceremony site right before the guests are seated.

The pretty young lady on the right is Jamie with Viva L'Event. She and Stephanie were the wedding planners and directors for the day. Great job, ladies!

Here we go! Following Mark and me is Curtis, Mark's brother and best man. He is engaged to our Maid of Honor, Ashley, who told me that when they marry, she and Trina will really be sisters! Neat!

The rather large wedding party comes in as couples except for Ashley, maid of honor, who comes in solo.

One couple brings in one of our ring bearers, Blake. He was adorable in his gray suit!

Another......Glen!

And a junior groomsman, Tyler!

Our two "older" flower girls, Grace and Kiersten. The youngest, Gianna, was carried in earlier.

And here we all are, awaiting the entrance of our bride and her father, Frank.

So beautiful!

Love this picture!

You cannot tell from the photo here but a few tears leaked out of Mark's eyes and his mother reached over and handed him a tissue!

And we begin!

Pretty bridesmaids all in a row!

Mark and Trina's paths first crossed in 2006 in New York and they were just friends until three years later when they began dating. Shortly thereafter Mark moved to North Carolina for work. He really did not enjoy this long distance relationship thing so the next Christmas he went up to New York and brought Trina back with him. He proposed on Christmas Eve of 2012 and then wisely kept a low profile amidst the frenzy of wedding planning!

The middle bridesmaid is Nikki, sister of the bride, all caught up in the emotion of the wedding.

Those handsome guys! All behaving themselves!

After the vows, I asked the couple to join left hands so that they are holding the hand they will put the ring on and even though they had rehearsed the day before, it took a minute which tickled Trina!

Mark repeats his ring vows after me as he slides on the wedding ring.

Trina's turn!

As a closing blessing, I ask the couple to look at each other and feel the happiness of the moment, then close their eyes and let that joy really sink in. Then I ask them to open their eyes and look around at all their loved ones who are honoring them on their wedding day. I think Mark made a funny remark at that point!

I pronounce you husband and wife!

We're really married!!

Mark is so happy that the ceremony is over and it is time to celebrate! He is ready!

Trina and Mark, have a wonderful life and marriage. I know you will! Congratulations and best wishes always!

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Thursday, September 26, 2013

Wonderful Interfaith Wedding for Emily and Michael at the Carolina Inn!

Emily and Michael and I met in August of 2012. They were planning their interfaith wedding ceremony at the Carolina Inn set for September 21, 2013. They had spoken with Rabbi Andrew Ettin in Winston-Salem and he referred them to me. Since I was already on the Carolina Inn preferred vendor list, they contacted me. They wanted a co-officiated ceremony so that both faiths were represented. I explained how I work with couples in co-creating their ceremony so that it is exactly what they envision. They really liked that idea and so we signed a contract and began our work together. I sent them many interfaith ceremonies including ones I had co-officiated with Rabbi Ettin. They chose their elements and then sent the first draft to me. After editing it, we sent the ceremony to Rabbi Ettin for his review and input. They also answered questions about how they met and fell in love and what they love about each other which we incorporated into the ceremony. Then the Rabbi and I divvied the ceremony sections up between the two of us so that we alternated speaking during the ceremony. It was quite lovely, but unfortunately and to Michael's great dismay, the weather on their wedding day was not lovely. It was a rain-soaked weekend and there was no way to have their ceremony in the Ann Hill Courtyard. The Carolina Inn is well-prepared for Plan B and had this lovely ballroom ready for us. This ballroom is so cheery with its happy colors.

So, when Marty and I arrived, the room was all set up. The Chuppah was up but the table was too large for all 4 of us to stand under so I asked for a smaller table which we then relocated to the back corner of the Chuppah. (You can't tell in the photo but the column behind the table actually protrudes out about a foot.) The pretty florals were provide by Tre Bella. Suzanne Ledwith with Sally Oakley Personalized Wedding Planning was on hand to direct the entire event along with Melissa Sayre with the Carolina Inn. They did a fabulous job.

The Arioso Strings trio got set up and began practicing. The best man was so impressed at how good they were and whispered to me that there were many musicians attending this ceremony that would be very pleased. Michael, our groom, is also a musician. They chose well!

The Old Well Room was ready for the reception. See the projected "writing on the wall" for Emily and Michael.

They had not one but two great DJs for the wedding--Frankie and Jason from Island Sound. They provided amplification for me and the Rabbi for the ceremony and all the music for the reception. I know it rocked! James with Island Sound also videoed the wedding.

The line up! Rabbi Ettin and I have done many weddings together in the past 10 or 12 years and have become friends. If I ever have a question about a Jewish tradition, he is my resource! He is a dear to drive all the way to the Triangle to officiate.

The two lovely ladies in next are Emily's grandmother Anne and her daughter, Emily's Aunt Judie. I hope Anne does not mind me saying this but she proudly told me she was 92. She looks fantastic and I would be proud to tell my age too!

Michael's parents, Sandy and Bruce.

Best man, Eric, and Maid of Honor, Randall, ready to enter last before the bride and her parents.

Waiting for the bride!

And so we began. The room was packed and there were no side aisles to shoot photos from.

It was so much fun for me to share their story and their guests ate it up. Theirs is a really good story!

Vows and rings......then the Seven Blessings followed by the drinking of the wine.

The official pronouncement of marriage....

The blessing of the couple......canted by the Rabbi in Hebrew then translation: "May God bless you and keep you. May God's radiance shine on you and be bountiful to you. May God's goodness be upon you and grant you peace."

Michael broke the glass then we all shouted "Mazeltov" followed by the kiss....

Out they go! On to the South Parlor to sign the Ketubah!

On her way, Emily peeks at the beautiful cake by Ashley Cakes.

The Ketubah is written in Hebrew. It conveys the spiritual covenants the bride and groom make with each other. The couple signed, their best man and maid of honor, then the rabbi.

A final photo of the four of us! Terry with Carolina Mediastar, our official photographer, set this one up making the rabbi and I "bookends!" Michael and Emily, great wedding! I wish you the very best in life!