Christee and Jim Tie the Knot at Crenshaw Hall!

A year ago Christee and Jim contacted me about doing their wedding on May 4, 2012 at the beautiful Crenshaw Hall in Wake Forest where I have been doing weddings since 2004 and watched the beautiful restoration of this old plantation estate. It is truly lovely and a wonderful spot for a wedding.

For at least 3 years, the roads around this lovely venue have been under construction as part of the Wakefield development involving Falls of Neuse Road and re-routing of Highway 98 but at last it is now quite easy to get to from Capital Blvd/Rt. 1 and soon you will be able to travel up Falls of Neuse directly.

This is the side entrance that opens out onto the wedding terrace from which the bride enters. The decorative trim is beautiful.

This beautiful stage has been built and now the green vines are gracing it with this lush foliage.

The first wedding I did here in 2004, the interior of the house had been stripped down to bare walls. Now it is elegantly appointed and quite comfortable.

In the foyer stood this beautiful cake by Rachel Smith of Tartlette Treats. You can see our groom, Jim, in the background looking this way. I am behind him with his mother, Angela, having her sign the marriage license.  We Cook For You was catering the reception and Julie Liles provided the beautiful flowers.

Jim waited a long time to find the woman of his dreams. Actually Christee found him as the story goes.  They have known each other more than 10 years so it was about time to get married!

John Bennett, owner of Crenshaw Hall, graciously escorts the couple's mothers, Angela and Georgine, into the ceremony.

Then he came and joined me and Jim before we were cued to walk in.

We pass by Christee's dad, Jerry, who will escort the bride in from the steps to the altar.

John tapped on the door with his cane, the signal for Christee and her brother to come down the steps.

Christie Fernandez, the events manager for Crenshaw Hall, directed the wedding party. She was good and I enjoyed working with her a lot! You could tell she knew what she was doing.

Our fabulous photographer, Michelle Gunton, gets a good shot as the bride and her father float down the aisle. Michelle is a really good wedding photographer--one of my favorites.

There were big ole tears rolling down Jerry's face as he answered my question: "Who brings Christee to be married to Jim?"

I have to admit that I felt like a stand up comedian in many parts of this ceremony because Christee and Jim have a wonderful sense of humor and put in lots of quips. The guests really loved laughing a lot too.

 There were wonderful and touching tributes to their parents. 

I am telling their funny story here! 

The temperature was in the mid nineties during the ceremony and not a whiff of a breeze. Although Christee had him put anti-perspirant on his head, we used up at least two hankies mopping his head and face!

 

 

I try to remember to step aside during the kiss so the photographer can get a good shot without my head in it.

Hugs all around! The parents were raving about the ceremony, how much fun and that it fit Christee and Jim perfectly. (Mission accomplished!)

Jim and Christee, you are a very special and lucky couple to have each other. I love how well-matched you are and your wedding planning skills were amazing. A beautiful day for you both. I wish you all the happiness, contentment and fun in the world! 

Heather and GW's Wedding--Another Fabulously Fun Wedding at Caffe Luna!

Heather and GW contacted me about a month before their wedding in a panic. They had been planning on GW's good friend, Chris Biancaniello, who had been ordained on line for the specific purpose of officiating their wedding, but when they went down to the Register of Deeds office in Wake County to get their marriage license, they inquired of the legality of having an on line ordained minister do their wedding and were given a statement that said: "In 1980 the NC Supreme Court ruled that a marriage performed by a minister ordained on line was invalid. The Marriage Statute has not changed since that ruling so there is no reason to believe the ruling would be any different today. However, nobody knows for certain." Not wanting to take any chances on their marriage one day being ruled invalid prompted Heather and GW to find someone not ordained on line to officiate for them. This is certainly not the first, nor will it be the last time a couple comes to me in this predicament. I honor that the couple really want their friend to officiate, that he or she has been chosen because they feel close to him or her and that it would be very meaningful to them. So, I told them that I would be honored to "co-officiate" their wedding ceremony with their friend. In fact, I have done this a few times before. And, as is so often the case, the friend, not being an experienced wedding officiant does not have the resources or experience to create a really special ceremony for them. GW and Heather signed with me the day we met and the three of us then created their special ceremony and included Chris in the loop for his input and then divvied up the parts between Chris and me to deliver in the ceremony. Of course it was critical that I make the pronouncement of marriage since I am legally authorized to do so. We were all set for the big day, April 15, 2012, at Caffe Luna, a really fun venue for this fun couple. We had the rehearsal the day before and I met Chris, really liked him and felt good about co-officiating with him. I printed out the ceremony for him and put it in my extra ceremony book for his use.

When Marty and I arrived, the two rooms behind the main room were ready for the reception.

 The cake and cupcakes were done by friends. Aren't they cute? 

Their friend Tracy was their honorary director. She was good. At the rehearsal she caught on quickly what she needed to do on the wedding day and everything went without a hitch! Thanks, Tracy!

Peter with Island Sound was our DJ. I have worked with Peter many times and he is a pro. GW used to work for Island Sound as a DJ and so of course he called on Peter for his wedding. Videoing the wedding was "Whitewater" Grigsby, also with Island Sound. I would love a clip of this wedding, you guys! 

At the entrance of Caffe Luna, they had a wishing tree on which the guests hung notes they had written for the couple as they entered.

This is Chris, my co-officiant! I really enjoyed getting to know Chris and he did a wonderful job. I told him afterwards that he should pursue going to seminary and becoming a professional wedding officiant like me!

After the family members and wedding party entered, it was time for our gorgeous bride to be escorted in by her two nephews. The pretty flowers are by Julie Liles, Floral and Event Design.

 

GW and Heather are BIG fans of Princess Bride. So, Chris opened the ceremony by brilliantly delivering these words: "Mawwiage.  Mawwiage is what bwings us togethaw today.  Mawwiage, that bwessed awwangement, that dweam within a dweam...and wuv, tru wuv will fowow you foweva.” It was a huge hit and the whole wedding party cracked up! At the rehearsal we had deliberately not revealed that Chris would be saying that so it was a real surprise. Our photographers for the wedding were Ashley and Austin Green of Windy Peak Photography. 

The two bridesmaids on the right are Heather's beautiful sisters. 

 

I am telling their story here. Both the bride and the groom had been married before--to the wrong people! This time they knew without a doubt they had found their one true partner and believe me, it showed in their faces all during the ceremony. GW hardly took his eyes off Heather. They are so much in love it is palpable! They ran across each other about 2 1/2 years ago on line. Heather was working at home and GW was going to nursing school during the week and working weekends pursuing his forever dream of becoming a nurse. Neither of them were in a position to meet people nor had the time to go out. Once they met in person, the sparks began to fly and soon they were a couple. After GW graduated they have been having fun adventures and as Heather told me, "With GW, there is never a dull moment!"

 

 Saying their vows and sealing them with their rings.....

 The official pronouncement of marriage!

 Celebrating with a kiss!

 Stepping into the next chapter in their lives--marriage! 

GW and Heather, you have been a delight to work with. I am so glad you found each other and found me and gave me the privilege of officiating for you. Chris, you were amazing and it was good to know you had my back during the ceremony, thanks! My best wishes for you all!