life-and-living-under-coulds: Elegant Ensembles

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Such a Sweet Wedding for Alison and Michael at The Oaks at Salem!

Last July, Alison and Michael and I met to talk about their vision for their wedding ceremony. Their wedding date was almost a year in the future on June 14, 2014 and the venue they had chosen was The Oaks at Salem in Apex. It is a fabulous venue with everything in one place.

This wedding is the first one I have done under the big tree across the lake from the main house. Other weddings have met with adverse weather conditions forcing us to do the weddings under the tent over the terrace. So glad that spell is broken now! See those heart-shaped things in front of the chairs? Well, clever idea by either Alison or her wedding planner, Gretchen with Red Bird Events, or Pinterest, for the bride and her bridesmaids to stand on in the event the ground is soggy and their heels would sink. The wooden boards were painted pink to match the color of the girls' dresses.

The duo from Elegant Ensembles was all set up and tuning for the ceremony.

The shepherd's hooks lining the aisle were loaded with the hanging jars full of pretty flowers by Kelly Kennedy of Teacup Floral.

Nearby there was a table with a basket full of programs in the form of fans. And containers of iced water and lemonade. It was rather steamy hot--up in the 90s that afternoon.

Back on the other side of the lake under the tent, the tables and chairs were set and ready for the guests. The fans in the ceiling of the tent were creating a very pleasant breeze and it was quite comfortable.

Each table was assigned a year with a photograph of the bride and groom from that year. It was in September of 2009 that Alison and Michael started dating although they had worked together at the UNC Ram Shop since 2008.

There was a little tree with leaf name tags for the guests to find their seats by.

Their photographer, Rebecca Ferguson, created a photo album for them. Her second shooter for this wedding was another photographer I work with frequently, Kate Pope.

For their guest book, they created this original painting for the guests to add leaves to the tree.

This unusual wedding cake by Cinda's Creative Cakes carries out their "leaf" theme and there are two little squirrels on the bottom tier. To the right is a photo cutout of their beloved kitty, Lumos. And there are photos of their parents at their respective weddings.

Joslin Rodely, event manager with The Oaks, is holding down the fort on this side of the lake!

Jeff Simpson with Simpsound DJ & Lighting Services, is getting his DJ station all set up before he changes into his tux. We have worked weddings together for many years. At this wedding though, he was on the other side of the lake from the ceremony and we had live music by Elegant Ensembles so I brought my battery powered sound system to amplify my voice.

And so now we begin. The grandmothers have been brought around via golf buggy and seated. Entering above are Michael's parents, Linda and Wayne.

Jo Anne, mother of the bride, is escorted in by her son, Aaron who will meet up with the groomsmen as we enter next.

So, ready for the wedding party. The cross you see has very special significance. It was made from a tree that Alison's grandfather cut down as a logger. In the ceremony we mentioned the significance and "Let us see this beautiful cross as a symbol of love and a memorial to all the ancestors of the two families joined here today."

It is a long walk around the lake! We have received the signal to start!

Aaron has joined us now as we take our places up front (facing the sun, I might add)!

The bridesmaids made their way around the other side of the lake. I wonder what Robin Crew, our videographer with Bay Leaf Video Productions is looking at up in the sky! A bird? A plane?

Our honorary ring bearer and flower girl obviously enjoyed being pulled in a wagon around the lake. They were very well behaved and I did not hear a peep out of them during the ceremony!

So, now for the bride and her father to come around the lake and join us!

Alison's father, Jerry, asked me if it would be okay to kiss Alison's hand. It loved that sweet idea. He told me that he had seen it in another wedding. So that is what he is about to do here then place her hand in Michael's. He told me he also had seen in another wedding where the groom kissed the bride's hand before he kissed her lips at the end of the ceremony. Like that too!

We began with a warm welcome, a prayer, remembering the ancestors, a blessing for the parents.

I know Kate Pope is getting some great shots of the wedding here.

Although I might look like I am frowning, I am really squinting since the sun is right in my eyes.

Loving their story here. It was a good one with some good humor that we all enjoyed.

Michael was dripping so I mopped his face off. He really appreciated it.

Their secret paragraphs about what they love about each other were revealed!

They read their vows to each other then we had the blessing of the hands ceremony.

The rings sealed their vows followed by a closing blessing.

I noticed before the pronouncement that Michael's face was wet again so I did some more mopping!

"Gotta be ready for the kiss that's coming up soon, you know!"

Now you are husband and wife!

Another kiss for the camera and many more to come!

Michael and Alison, I hope you loved hearing your wedding ceremony as much as I loved delivering it. You were such a joy to work with and I think you are a great match and will be very happily married! I wish you all the best!

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Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Beth and Mike's Fabulous Wedding at The Stockroom!

WOW! What a great wedding! Beth and Mike married at The Stockroom in downtown Raleigh on March 8, 2014. They assembled a great team to pull it all together. Kailey with A Southern Soiree was their wedding planner and director. Her boss, Megan (a former bride of mine), came to the wedding as Kailey's assistant because she was friends with one of the bridesmaids and wanted to see this beautiful wedding.

Expressions of Love was the florist. The wispy silver branches dripping with bling and flowers made a wonderful backdrop for the ceremony. In the middle is the table holding their Wedding Wine Box.

The ceiling lights were hung in a starburst pattern with a lovely chandelier in the center. Get Lit Special Events Lighting created this along with some up-lighting along the walls for the reception.

The Stockroom@230 has become a very popular and special place for weddings. It is right downtown--230 Fayetteville Street. The art gallery next door serves as the holding area prior to the ceremony for the bridal party and after the ceremony it is where the guests go for cocktail hour while The Stockroom is being flipped for the reception.

Beth and Mike chose the Wooden Wedding Box Ceremony. This beautiful box holds a bottle of wine and during the ceremony they add sealed hand-written love letters about all the qualities they love in each other.

Flower petals and floating candles lined the aisle. (So much better than an aisle runner! If you read this blog you will know I have a thing about aisle runners and how dangerous and messy they can be!)

Elegant Ensembles provided the beautiful music for the ceremony.

Their photographers, Charo and Mike, provided photographs for their guest book where the guests could write notes to the couple. Belle's Catering and The Cupcake Shoppe provided the food and cake.

Andraya is our sweet little flower girl and she did her job perfectly!

This is the sign she is bringing down the aisle. I bet Beth got that idea from Pinterest. In fact, she told me that is how she found me! Pinterest!

Mike and I are laughing as Andraya comes down the aisle.

Our gorgeous bride and her father float down the aisle while the guests are standing in her honor.

Beth had the most exquisite dress that fit her to a tee.

Andraya is holding her mother's bouquet while her mother, Shannon, Matron of Honor, holds Beth's bouquet.

The ceremony begins. They each had 10 attendants. The guys were dressed in medium gray suits and navy blue ties. They were so handsome.

Beth and Mike worked hard getting their story worded just right. I loved it. And so did their guests.

There was quite a bit of laughter as you can see. Especially when I told of Mike's predetermined steps a relationship must go through before making a permanent commitment, being the orderly, detailed engineer that he is!

Then what they each told me in confidence they loved about each other was revealed for the first time.

They read their vows to each other from my book.

Beth shed quite a few tears during the ceremony and we passed the hankie back and forth. Here I am going to dab the tears that were running down her cheeks during her vows.

They exchanged rings and it was time for them to place their letters in the wooden box with the wine and lock it.

Phil and his associate with 21 Films was videoing the ceremony.

Their friends Heather and Erica presented the Irish Wedding Blessing.

The pronouncement!

KISS!

"We're really married!"

Yes! Throughout their courtship, Mike was a persistent and patient pursuer of Beth. Now, it's done! He got THE girl of his dreams! Of course Beth would tell you she got THE man of her dreams!

Taking the scene in!

The bride and groom and wedding party and parents disappeared into the stairwell to wait for the guests to clear the room. Then we came back in to take a few photos.

I wanted you to see how gorgeous Beth's wedding gown is. It is one of the prettiest I have ever seen and I see a lot! It was a soft champagne with just a touch of blush. So perfect for this beautiful bride!

Mike and Beth, you were a joy to work with and your love is so inspirational. You are just perfect for each other and I think you know it! My best wishes for your happiness forever!