A Gorgeous Wedding at Long View Center for Lindsay and Kyle!

It is a small world! On June 22, 2013, I officiated the wedding of Lindsay and Kyle at the lovely Long View Center leased by Unity Church of the Triangle--my church. The day before, at a retirement party of a former co-worker, I discovered that Lindsay's mother and I worked at the same agency many years ago but not at the same time. You just never know who will cross paths with you and I think it was meant to be that I officiate Ann's daughter's wedding. Lindsay and Kyle met with me last August and they loved the opportunity to write the ceremony of their dreams with my guidance and tons of material I gave them to go through. Their photographer was Elizabeth Myers with Sweet Life Studios, another great person to work with again! Scott McKenzie, Music Director at Unity Church of the Triangle and classical pianist and conductor, provided the beautiful music. Mel Day with Dogwood Tree Florals provided the pretty flowers  and Make-up For Your Day had all the women looking gorgeous. 

 Lindsay's father, Rolland, helped her float down the aisle!

Everyone is standing in honor of the bride's entrance and as her father places her hand into Kyle's hand.

Tia Jones with Erin McLean Events was their wedding planner and so I knew I did not have to worry about the processional and the little behind the scenes details. It also meant I did not have to train a "friend" how to do the processional.  Thanks for a great job, Tia! 

Almost 5 years ago, Kyle and Lindsay met at a party in Durham. Kyle lived in Virginia at the time and was in the area visiting with his friends here for the 4th of July weekend. The more they talked, the more they found they had in common but since he lived so far away, neither of them expected anything to come of it.

But, they could not stop thinking of each other and the next time Kyle came to Raleigh he called her and they saw each other again. From that point on they were a couple and eventually Kyle moved back to NC again. He proposed in December of 2011 via an elaborate scheme to elude Lindsay's suspicions of getting the ring. It worked and of course she was thrilled to say yes!

They each told me in confidence what they loved about the other and got to hear what they told me for the first time during the ceremony. A sweet moment.

Sorry this photo is blurry but it is the only one I have of the kiss!

 And off they go, married! 

Scott and I have known each other for several years, ever since he became the Music Director and Choir Director for my church, Unity Church of the Triangle. I sing in the choir so I see him at least twice a week. He is an accomplished pianist (and maestro) and for this wedding he had the arrangement by Jonathan Cain of the Bridal March--my very favorite music for the bride's entrance. It is simply magical and evokes such emotion. I had never heard it played live! And, Scott had never heard me do a wedding. After the ceremony I went over and asked him what he thought. He told me he had heard hundreds of wedding ceremonies and that I was the "queen" of wedding ceremonies. He said he laughed and cried through the whole ceremony!

Lindsay and Kyle, thank you for choosing me to be your officiant. I truly enjoyed officiating and working with you to put it all together for your special day. I wish you all the happiness and love in the universe!

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To contact me:

mailto:kayelily@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

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A Bright Sunny Wedding for Jessica and Chad on an Overcast Chilly Day!

Jessica and Chad are a remarkable couple. They are so well matched. Maybe that is because they have known each other practically all their lives; maybe because their core values are the same--probably both! They grew up in Lynn Haven, FL but got to know each other in high school when they were both on the math team and in the band.  There is definitely a lot to be said for hanging out together as friends first, just being mall rats spending many weekends at the Panama City Mall with their friends, wasting quarters at the arcade, playing with wooden puzzles at the nature store and sitting around reading books in the book store. Once they discovered that they were perfect for each other they became inseparable and eventually ended up here in North Carolina. After Chad's proposal while on a vacation to the Bahamas, they began planning their wedding at Duke Gardens Amphitheater for Sunday October 7, 2012. Chad contacted me in August looking for an officiant. A bit late, but thankfully I was available since the wedding was on Sunday and besides, I love doing wedding at Duke Gardens.

The forecast for the wedding day was dismal but as it turns out, although unseasonably chilly for early October, the rain held off. And with the beautiful soft lighting provided by the low-hanging clouds we succeeded in having the wedding ceremony outdoors in the lovely amphitheater which changes every time I go there. Jessica and Chad decided to see each other before the wedding so a "First Look" was orchestrated by their talented photographic team of Elizabeth and Frank Myers with Sweet Life Studios, a team I love to work with often. Frank was even at our rehearsal Saturday morning while Elizabeth was doing a photo shoot in the gardens with another bride.

If you notice in the top photo of me with the couple, Chad is really really tall! So when we met, I happened to mention that I had another bride and groom with the same height discrepancy and she stood on a stool for the kiss. Jessica loved the idea of kissing Chad at his own level (or close to!), so she asked her father to construct a stool for the wedding. And he made this fine piece of furniture they will cherish always! 

There is a new addition to the amphitheater that I immediately noticed at the rehearsal that enables the couple to have a center aisle down which to process rather than the steps at the side.

They have built beautiful and substantial stone steps down the center. Much better than the temporary wooden ones they had earlier. This was great and with the new gazebo behind the amphitheater, it was perfect to begin the processional there.

The White Garden, as it is called, is so pretty and lush! 

Jeremy, with the Serendipity Jazz Band which was playing for the reception, provided our ceremony music. We are going over the cues for the processional.

The lovely visitor center at Duke Gardens was the reception site and Durham Catering Company was doing the serving. Jessica is very crafty and creative and for the most part, this was a DIY wedding that came off very successfully. I love their choices of bright honey yellow, happy vivid sunflowers and blue for the groomsmen. They followed through with the tablecloths and place settings. Jessica told me she "thrifted" all the dishes from thrift stores! Each table has different ones and they are so cute.

They made the cupcakes themselves! Note the little sign made out of Scrabble tiles. I bet they are Scrabblers!

Getting in the line-up!

The guests are all seated and we are lining up for the processional. Their friend, Elizabeth, did a terrific job of directing for us. 

I did not have a yellow prayer stole so I joined in the DIY theme, went to Goodwill and found a lonesome yellow satin skirt that had lost its matching top, cut it up in panels and made one the night before their wedding adding a bit of fringe and a tassel found in JoAnn's fabrics.

Jessica's parents, John and Terry, proudly bring her in! All the flowers the couple picked up at the Farmer's Market and made their own arrangements and bouquets. 

John lifts the blusher veil then places Jessica's hand into Chad's and she gave Dad and Mom a kiss.

We began with a welcome and a tribute to those who could not be with us.

They asked their friends, Claire and Peter, to read an excerpt from J. R. R. Tolkien's The Two Towers.

And then it was time for their sweet story that had a some funny lines that everyone enjoyed.

Then I stepped back behind the couple to tell each of them what the other had told me about why they love each other and wanted to marry. They had not heard that until their wedding day.

Looking way up high! 

They read their vows to each other from my book then exchanged rings.

The pronouncement of marriage! Then I turned around and retrieved the stool and put it between them. 

Chad, you may kiss the bride! 

And he did and she did--from a new perspective! 

At the rehearsal, Jessica decided she would stay on the stool for the Presentation of the Newlyweds.

Elizabeth snaps a picture as they head for the bridge! 

Wow! Chad and Jessica, you did a terrific job putting this wedding together and all your careful planning sure paid off! Congratulations! I wish you the very best!

Ashleigh and Scott Get Married in a Beautiful Wedding Ceremony at Highgrove!

Ashleigh and Scott are so perfectly matched! A line in the ceremony: "Who would have guessed that two people with Canadian backgrounds, one a bartender and the other a barfly, would find each other in Wake Forest NC and decide to spend their lives together? Well the love story we all celebrate today did indeed begin just this way! Back in September of 2008, Ashleigh was bar-tending at the Carolina Ale House in Wake Forest and got to know one of the regulars who distinguished himself by leaving gracious and generous tips." Ashleigh really liked that Scott was taller than she was so she decided to "give it a shot" when he asked her out! As you can see in the wedding photos here, they are both really tall and once again, I was dwarfed!

When Marty and I arrived for the wedding on 5/18/2012 at Highgrove Estate, Elizabeth Myers with Sweet Life Studios was busy taking shots of the bride with her parents out front.

Ashleigh's bridesmaids in beautiful purple were ready for their photographs. Dee and Kristin with Makeup for Your Day did their hair and makeup. The girls were beautiful and picture-perfect!

Meanwhile, in the back of the house, Frank Myers was getting shots of the groom and his groomsmen.

Frank, you got the memo about purple! Once again, it was great working this wedding with you and Elizabeth! You are both such talented photographers. 

The couple had wishing stones on which the guests wrote their wishes for the couple and signed. These will be displayed in their home as a reminder of all those who were at their wedding.

The Garden Ballroom was all decked out with pretty centerpieces by Fresh Affairs and up-lighting by Island Sound.

 

 Beautiful cake by Lori with Simply Cakes. 

 

 The gorgeous "Newlywed Table!" 

 Scott and Ashleigh had lots of photographs scattered around. Such a nice touch.

Jason, with Island Sound DJ and Videography, was our great DJ and provided both the ceremony and reception music. I know he kept that dance floor filled all night for this fun crowd! Thanks for plugging my microphone into your system for the ceremony, Jason.

 For all the wedding envelopes.......

 Table seating chart with photo--great idea! 

And so we begin......Ashleigh's pretty mother, Connie, was escorted by her nephew following the seating of the grandparents.

 My turn...I love that I found purple shoes that match my purple dress for weddings!

Scott has the honor of escorting in his beautiful mother, Jan.

 Then the rest of the bridal party comes in as couples. 

Patrick, father of the bride, was so thrilled to walk Ashleigh down the aisle. I enjoyed chatting with him after the wedding. Anne Eberle with Highgrove directed the wedding and makes sure the bride's train is flowing. Anne and I work together very often and I appreciate being a preferred vendor there. I will see her again this next weekend making three weekends in a row at Highgrove! Such a pleasure doing weddings there. It is the perfect setting for a wedding and the staff really knows how to run weddings without any glitches. Highgrove also does the catering and the food is delicious!

Such a pretty backdrop for wedding photos with Lake Laurel in the background. With all the rain we have had, the foliage is a lush green. At this point in the ceremony we have welcomed everyone, honored the parents and then I told their story and added what they loved about each other and what they are looking forward to in marriage. There was a lot of humor because Ashleigh and Scott are such fun people, gave me lots of great material to work with, and I truly enjoyed every minute co-creating their very special, unique, and romantic ceremony with them.

"Scott, take this ring and with it my promise of faith and patience, friendship and love for the rest of my life."

 Making sure that ring is securely on Scott's finger!!

"Scott and Ashleigh, in the serenity of nature surrounding us, in the spirit of joyful commitment, you have declared your love and devotion to each other. I now pronounce you husband and wife!"

Ahhhh....the kiss! (Scott is being careful not to dislodge the veil, just as I warned him about at the rehearsal!)

They are married! 

 

Ashleigh and Scott, it was such a pleasure and an honor to work with you to create your dream wedding ceremony and officially hitch you two together in marriage. You are such a great couple and I know you are going to be so happy as husband and wife! I wish you all the best in life!