Fabulous Wedding for Eleanor and Justin at The Oaks at Salem!

This pretty photo and the one below it were taken about 4:00 on Saturday April 25, 2014 at The Oaks at Salem in Apex. The weatherman had been predicting terrible rain and thunderstorms all day and it had rained on and off yet the sun was shining. Should we take a chance?

Joslin at The Oaks had put out all the chairs for the ceremony in front of the big tree about 2:30 but the clouds were building and the weather report predicted a thunder boomer would hit Apex at about 5:00--ceremony start time. Wisely at about 3:30, the call was made to relocate the wedding under the tent on the terrace--a beautiful Plan B for this venue. There was no time to retrieve the chairs. 

Brian Darocha, our DJ with Unlimited DJ Service, was all set up when Marty and I arrived. My microphone plugged into his body pack and we did a sound check and all was well. I was so happy to work with Brian again and I knew he would monitor the sound and raise or lower the volume as needed due to rain and thunder.

Bride are always disappointed when the weather does not cooperate but Eleanor was being a great sport about it. Might as well!

Sweet Memories Bakery made this gorgeous cake. The irises are all sugar and the colors are delicious! Crave was the caterer and the buffet was all set up in the downstairs area for the reception.

 It is raining now. Can you tell? Such a beautiful venue with the stately manor house, lake and terrace. 

You can see that the sky is darkening and the lights are on inside the tent. Exactly at 5:00 there was a huge downpour of rain. We decided to wait about 10 minutes for a lull.

And it is time to begin......I walked out first and Justin and his two sons, Jared and Jordan, escorted the mothers in and then they joined me up front.

 Justin brings in his mother, Cindy, followed by his dad, Terry. 

 Eleanor's dad has passed on so her mother, Marjorie, escorted her in. The English Garden did the flowers. 

Our two bridesmaids followed. Jacie, Justin's daughter, was first in and then Melissa, Maid of Honor and friend of the bride, who is expecting twins in just a few months--or sooner!

 Welcome, prayer, remembering loved ones who are no longer with us, honoring of the parents, and blessing of Justin's children. 

 Then their story began......

Eleanor and Justin started working at a local hospital in 2006 at about the same time. Their departments worked in close tandem with each other but it would be years before they knew each other's names and became acquainted--not that they had not noticed each other from a distance though!

 Justin flirted with Eleanor and kept asking her if she was on Facebook.....

Eleanor did not even text! However as her interest in Justin grew, she had a friend help her get on Facebook and out of the blue, Justin got a Friend request from her. And that opened up the lines of communication outside of work.

In 2010 when Eleanor needed a good friend to talk to, she called Justin and they went to a park to talk--for hours--and shared a kiss under the stars, each claiming that the other instigated it! And ever since, they have been inseparable.

On May 20, 2013 their lives changed forever when Justin planned an elaborate and intricate proposal on a boat. Justin pulled out the ring box and opened it. Eleanor, in shock, tearing up and at a loss for words, realized that they were holding a diamond ring on the bow of a boat over the water and quickly took the ring and put it on her finger. Justin asked "Does that mean yes?" Eleanor responded "You haven't asked me yet!"  Of course he asked quickly and she could not say yes fast enough. The wedding planning began!

They had written secret vows to each other that were printed facing them in my book. Justin had a bit of trouble getting through his. Eleanor had practically memorized hers but I heard a some tears in her voice too!

 Then they exchanged rings and received a blessing. 

 The big moment......

Justin and Eleanor, despite the weather, your wedding was wonderful and I know your marriage will be filled with love, happiness and satisfaction! I wish you only the best of everything!

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Emily and Andy Wed at Barclay Villa!

On November 18, 2011, I met Emily and Andy. They had set their wedding date for November 3, 2012 and chosen the fabulous Barclay Villa for their venue. They had been friends since freshman year in college but did not discover that they were perfect for each other until they had both transferred to other colleges. It took a while before they reconnected but this time the spark of love was ignited and for the past 6 years they have been a couple buying a house together and traveling the world together. In May of 2011 Andy proposed while they were on an amazing vacation in Mexico, although according to Emily, she would have said yes a couple of years earlier! 

Barclay Villa in Angier is so beautiful--and an unexpected sight. It looks like a castle and is in striking contrast to the acres of farmland surrounding it. The beautiful grounds and the gazebo indeed make a beautiful place for a wedding.

The family of Cathy Honeycutt, co-owner of Barclay Catering and Event Planning, owns the property and Cathy and Cindy Ebersbach run the events there including catering as well as the directing for the couple. This is the doorway where the wedding party will process down the aisle.

 In the garden next to the area for the ceremony is this wonderful gazing pool!

I went upstairs to the elegantly appointed rooms where the bride and bridesmaids were getting ready and to get Emily's sister, Julie's, signature on the marriage license. On the way I ran into the bride with our photographer, Megan Kime, Megan Kime Photography, making their way to a spot by the pool for photographs. Emily whispered to me that she was feeling really nervous and to please speak slowly at the ceremony! I assured her that, unlike the rehearsal, I do speak very slowly and deliberately for the ceremony!

Next it was a visit to the Billiards room where the groom and his guys (and gals) hang out. Got the signature of Andy's brother, Rick, on the license here. Andy was cool as a cucumber.

 The Ballroom was all decked out for the reception. 

 This is the bride and groom's table in front of the huge fireplace. 

This is the view of the ballroom from the fireplace showing the stairs which lead up to the loft and balcony area.

Cinda's Creative Cakes provided this gorgeous cake! 

Dogwood Tree Floral Design provided the beautiful floral decor, the bouquets and the boutonnieres.

My good friend and colleague, Randy Bennett with Joe Bunn DJ Company, was there to run the music for the ceremony and the reception. He is always prepared and I never worry about the sound or music when he is on the scene!

First to be escorted in is Andy's mother, Peggy, by his father, Robert. Andy and his parents hail from Taiwan.

Emily's mother, Susan, was escorted in by her brother, Michael.

Peeking around the corner to see when it is time for me to start walking.

 It's time! 

 Followed by Andy and his brother Rick, best man. 

Brigid and Terrence 

Tina and Timothy

Leisa and Peter

Amy and Sean

 Julie, Maid of Honor, enters solo before the bride. 

Cathy readies the train as Emily and her father, Richard, begin the walk down the aisle.

I think Daddy was probably reassuring Emily here but once she got down the aisle and we got started, she relaxed and was fine! Believe me, it is normal to be nervous on your wedding day!

After welcoming all the guests, we had a prayer and remembered those loved ones who could not be with us. Then we had a tribute to the parents and got their blessings for this union. A reading of First Corinthians, Chapter 13, followed which teaches us about love which flowed into the love story of Emily and Andy.

I stepped out from behind the couple to speak to the guests. This is where the sweetness and the humor are all stirred together in to a moving story.

I believe this is where I was telling Andy why Emily loves him. "Emily loves both your maturity and your sense of humor and that sometimes when you are driving, she gets to see her life flash before her eyes!

....Because of you, she gets to watch ESPN every single night before going to bed." 

After the sweet funny stuff come the more serious words about love and marriage, the vows and the exchange of rings, a closing blessing wishing the couple well, then the pronouncement of marriage. 

 Sealed with a kiss! 

 Julie moves the train around to the back as I introduce our newlyweds!

The really special thing about Barclay Villa is that Juliet balcony. The bride and groom recess, go inside the ballroom, up the stairs and out onto the balcony and watch the recessional. Of course they get a big round of applause too!

Andy and Emily, what a great wedding! I hope your are still celebrating as I write this!  I think you are a wonderful couple and I wish you all the happiness and adventure in the world!