Fabulous Interfaith Wedding for Alyssa and Jay at The Cotton Room!

When I met Alyssa and Jay, I knew they would plan a spectacular wedding day with all the nicest little touches and I was not disappointed! They are both ambitious, intelligent and gracious to boot. We met last February and decided we were a good fit and got started on the ceremony right away. They were referred to me by The Cotton Room where their wedding took place on July 13, 2013. It was my great pleasure to work with The Cotton Room wedding coordinator Amalia who had everything under control and moving right along. 

This is a photo taken "behind the scenes" before the drapes are opened after the ceremony and the tables spread out. Isn't this a beautiful flower arrangement by Brandi Dennison with Triangle Catering? Notice the orange in it? How unique and fragrant!

This is one wedding cake but apparently more were coming because of the additional cake stands. Or maybe there were to be cupcakes which are all the rage these days. Once in a Blue Moon Bakery was in charge of these sweet things!

Ah, a menu after my own heart! I adore Indian food! Jay is Indian and of course this will fill the bill for those guests who prefer ethnic food. Too bad I had to dash off to another wedding or I would have hung around and tasted it all!

 And for those guests with a preference for American fare, this is a sure to please menu. Yummy!

In the bridal suite, Alyssa's bridesmaid was attaching her veil as her mother and our little flower girl Olivia look on.

Olivia took her job seriously and very purposefully sprinkled the petals as she came down the aisle with her mother. She is just barely two years old and a very smart and determined little girl!

And this sweet baby girl is probably our youngest guest. There were lots of children present for the wedding and form the most part they were very well behaved, or at least while I was there!!

Our musicians from Arioso Strings were warming up and ready to go.

Just a few minutes after this was taken, the guests were asked to take their seats and we had a full house and even added a few more seats at the back.

 The color theme was gray and yellow. Such a pretty buttery yellow.

I had the great pleasure to work with Hooman Bahrani with Vesic Photography for the first time! He is such a great photographer. I met him a couple of years ago when he was the presenter of a program about using Pinterest at the Professional Wedding Guild luncheon. He knows his stuff!

Mike Morse Entertainment DJ Rangananthan Rajaram provided amplification for me and then played the reception.

What a pleasure it was to have Alyssa's grandparents, Ken, Sr. and Jean, with us for the ceremony. They are waiting to get in line to process in.

Amalia got us all lined up and cued us in. After the grandparents, it was time for Jay's parents, Amita and Dilip.

Next it is Mother of the Bride, Priscilla, escorted in by her son Michael who circled around to come in with the groomsmen. As it turns out guests were sitting in her place on the front row so she sat next to Jay's parents.

 Let's go, guys! 

 Last minute coaching for Olivia who truly did not need it! 

On the other hand, Dylan, ring bearer, took one look and ran the other way. Someone turned him around and pointed him back down the aisle where he spotted his father and ran to him.

 Here comes our gorgeous bride escorted by her proud father, Ken.

 Oops! Almost tripped on the dress! A challenge for Fathers of Brides! 

And so we begin.  

When I stepped out from behind the bride and groom to do the tribute to their parents, I discovered Priscilla on the groom's side. She quickly got up and moved to her correct seat because by then the guests sitting there had figured out they were in the wrong seats! (notice Alyssa fussing with her veil)

Look! No veil. The veil slipped off and the maid of honor took it and I did not see it again! It was at this point that I began relating the amusing story of their courtship which took place at pharmacy school at Carolina. Many of the guests were their former classmates so they really related. I really don't remember hearing so much laughter at any other wedding. The guests just loved it--and looks like Alyssa and Jay did too.

In the Christian tradition they lit the Unity Candle which then served as the fire for the Mangal Fera ceremony in the Hindu tradition.

They walked counter-clockwise around the fire 4 times showing that each of them consents to the marriage in the Hindu tradition.

 Each round signified a different aspect of life. 

In the Hindu tradition of Sapta Padi, they took seven steps, one for each vow they repeated after me.

Then Jay placed around Alyssa's neck the Mangal Sutra--a sacred black necklace as a symbol of acceptance to share his life with her. So much easier to do without the veil!

In the American tradition they exchanged rings and read their American vows to each other from my book.

While the guests were enjoying cocktails, the wedding party and family gathered behind the scenes. Alyssa and Jay were so thrilled to be married and happy that the ceremony went so well, despite the lost veil! 

Jay and Alyssa, what a fabulous wedding! Loved it. Loved your creativity and careful planning. It was a pleasure and an honor to be a part of your wedding day!

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Ilisa and Eric Wed at Embassy Suites in Raleigh!

Ilisa and Eric are a great couple. I first met Ilisa over a year ago to plan their wedding for June 25, 2011 at the Embassy Suites across from Crabtree Valley Mall. I did not meet Eric until May of this year to finalize all the details of the ceremony. Ilisa and Eric have a sweet story which began in July 2008. Eric and Ilisa were both stationed at Seymour Johnson AFB but they did not meet there. They met because Eric was the “boy next door” and Ilisa was the “girl next door.” Seems they each bought a house which happened to be right next door to each another. Even more coincidently, they closed on their houses only one week apart!

 

This is the Embassy Suites lobby area which is all set up with the chairs for the wedding guests. It is a lovely open area that gives the feeling of being outdoors. There are many lush plants and some palm trees and a beautiful waterfall feature. We must have amplification for the people speaking in the wedding to be heard because like being outdoors, there are no acoustical surfaces to contain the sound and also to be heard over the sound of the water. That was not a problem as Brian McGuire, DJ and owner of McSound Productions was on hand to provide the music for the ceremony and the reception. His mobile sound unit was set up on the first balcony overlooking the area so he could easily survey the wedding ceremony and adjust the volume. Thanks, Brian! 

 

This is the view from the other end on the lobby level. The bridesmaids and the bride will make their entrances from the first balcony level down the stairs. Kyle Adams, the event/catering manager with the hotel, took care of every detail. She is so good and gets things done and done right! Thanks, Kyle.

This lovely cake was right in keeping with the royal blue color scheme. It was provided by Blue Moon Bakery.

The reception area with dance floor were set to go. Again the royal blue theme followed through.

 

When it was time to start the processional, Marty stationed herself here to get photos of the ladies processing in. The photographer, Chad Smith with Imageworx Photography, had asked us not to use flash because he had some slave strobes that the flash from other cameras would trigger potentially spoiling photos he was wanting to make without flash. So, I set my camera to a no flash setting and the photo below and all the rest are what we got. 

A rather overexposed, washed out photo. Neither Marty nor I were aware that was the result until I looked at the photos last night for the first time. Consequently, I don't have very good photos of the ceremony to post here and what I am posting are pretty poor in quality. Apparently the shutter speed was slowed to allow more light and the photos are overexposed and most out of focus.

 

After the three bridesmaids entered, Ilisa made her long walk down the steps. Her brother, Chuck, was most happy to have the honor of walking her down the aisle since their parents are deceased.

It was a very lovely and fun wedding. Their guests really enjoyed hearing how Eric and Ilisa met. They were both outside their houses next door watching fireworks in the distance. Eric was sitting on the back bumper of his truck and Ilisa who had been standing on her front porch walked over and introduced herself. This began a long series of neighborly deeds helping each other out with yardwork and Ilisa wanting a lawnmower just like Eric's and the adventure of getting it! Gradually the friendship developed into great respect and then love. And, as they say, the rest is history!

Ilisa and Eric, if Chad sends you some good photos of the ceremony, and I am sure he got many, please forward them to me and I will post on this blog so folks can have a better image of how great your wedding was! In the meantime, I hope you two are on a well deserved honeymoon! I loved working with you on your ceremony and was honored to be your officiant. I thank you for your dedication to serving our country and your dedication to each other and your families. May you have a long marriage of love, peace and joy!

Kristen and Josh Wed at Pop's: A Durham Trattoria!

Kristen and Josh and I met last July about their wedding November 6, 2010. They were having their wedding at Pop's: A Durham Trattoria, a place I had never been. They explained that the restaurant had recently moved and were renting out their old space on Peabody Street for events. They wanted a casual fun reception for all their guests and the old dining room was where the ceremony would take place. We had no rehearsal, so Marty and I arrived, sight unseen. Turns out the acoustics are really good in the room so I did not need my sound system at all. The primary dining room was all set for the reception. 

 

 The cake had been delivered and was baked by Once in a Blue Moon Bakery, all decorated with blue birds!

Matthew Kanon, classical guitarist with whom I have done so many weddings, was already set up and ready to start. Then the couple and Kaz, their photographer who is with F8 Photo Studio, arrived. I have worked with Kaz several times and always enjoy doing weddings with him. (The photos on this post, however, were taken by my "roadie," Marty, with my simple digital camera.)

After a slight delay because the shuttle to bring guests to the location never showed and the father of the bride was making round trips bringing everyone, we got started. Here is Nancy, our maid of honor, with Kristen and her father, Frank, entering next.

 

Kristen and Josh met at work in 2007. They discovered that they both have an offbeat sense of humor and are connoisseurs of  "shoddy cinema" (i.e. the infamously bad horror flick, Troll 2), board games, and crossword puzzles. Their guests really enjoyed hearing their story, especially Josh's creative proposal involving fictitious ice sculptures at a nearby park.   And, I had fun telling it!

 

They exchanged their vows and rings.

Unfortunately the photo of the kiss was a big blur but the kiss was a good one and I almost had to say "break it up!"

 I introduced the newlyweds to their guests and amid much applause they exited to the main dining room where they greeted their guests.

 

Kristen and Josh, you are such a well-matched couple and I predict you will have a wonderful life together! I wish you all the best!