Carolina Inn Wedding for Blair and Greg!

Blair and Greg's wedding was Saturday December 28, 2013 at the wonderful Carolina Inn! 

The Inn was still aglow with their usual stunning Christmas decorations and so warm and welcoming. It is a joy to officiate weddings here. So I was quite happy when the couple's officiant found out she was not going to be able to officiate for them and sent them my way. They were a delight to work with and so very creative despite Blair's arduous medical school curriculum and Greg's demanding work schedule. But all in all, together we created a wonderful ceremony for this momentous occasion.

Cinda's Creative Cakes baked this beautiful cake and it was in place for the reception in the Old Well Room.

Tre Bella provided the beautiful floral arrangements and the wedding bouquets. 

The music for the reception was provided by the Groovetown Band. Their guitarist played for the ceremony. It was very pretty.

Our wonderful wedding coordinator and director, Tia with Erin McLean Events, is speaking to our reader, Emily. That is Jason, one of our photographers with Michael Moss Photography in Asheville. The couple asked me to announce when I entered for the guests to put away their cell phones and cameras so that they could truly be present with them as they made their vows to each other.

Greg and I entered first followed by the seating of the parents and the maid of honor. 

Blair and her father, Bob, made their grand entrance. Blair's elegant wedding gown was simply perfect for her! 

Bob transferred Blair's hand into Greg's and she gave Dad a little kiss. 

And so the ceremony began--a warm welcome to all, an opening blessing, a tribute to their parents, and remembrance of those loved ones no longer with us physically.

Their friend, Emily, shared the words of Roy Croft's poem "Love" and did a wonderful job of projecting her voice so all could hear.

And then it was time for their story. I loved the opening line and so did our guests: "Greg and Blair met the old fashioned way--she picked him up at a bar!" It got everyone to laughing and the rest of the story brought more chuckles too.

They met almost exactly 2 years ago in Chapel Hill at Top of the Hill and Greg wasted no time inviting Blair to a New Year's Eve party. Blair cancelled her other plans and went with him--probably one of the wisest decisions of her life!

The relationship was long distance between Chapel Hill and Arlington VA until Greg found an opportunity to relocate to Chapel Hill. They quickly adopted their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Wally.

Greg proposed in December of 2012 and Blair wasted no time saying "yes!" 

Being a very decisive woman, she just as quickly chose the Carolina Inn, the photographer, the florist and her beautiful dress. 

And now they hear for the first time what they each told me in confidence they loved about each other! 

They exchanged their vows and rings. 

We closed with a blessing and the pronouncement of marriage.

Of course then the kiss! 

The quick exit to go spend the first few minutes of their marriage in private until time for photos. 

Greg and Blair, what a pleasure to work with you and be a part of your big day! It was simply stunning. All your careful planning and originality paid off big time. I am so happy for you and wish you the best of everything!

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To contact me:

mailto:kayelily@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

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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

My Website

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Facebook

Or leave a comment below!

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Beautiful May Wedding for Kacia and Andrew at Highgrove!

Kacia and Andy met while in high school in Wisconsin, dated steadily a few years then went their separate ways. After college, their paths crossed once again and the romance was rekindled. Andy soon moved to North Carolina to follow his career as a coach and Kacia followed not too long after that. They soon became engaged and set the wedding date for May 27, 2012 at the lovely Highgrove Estate in Fuquay-Varina, one of my favorite wedding venues. In October they met with me and we worked diligently to construct a beautiful, personal, romantic ceremony that focused on their love and commitment. The wedding day was absolutely gorgeous! 

This pretty cake was created by Cinda's Creative Cakes. 

David, Lydia and Dana from Arioso Strings provided the ceremony music. Here they are chatting with Ann Eberle, our wedding director with Highgrove.

Inside was a tree onto which the guests imprinted their fingerprints with white paint and signed.

 When we were ready to begin, Andrew and his father, John, walked in together. 

The groomsmen and bridesmaids followed, then Kacia and her parents, Sam and Katina, made their entrance down the aisle.

Notice the pretty hanging pomander balls, little lanterns with candles, and clear vases of flowers by  Fresh Affairs. In the photo above, their friends, Garrett and Erinn, shared the words of "A Blessing for a Marriage" by Unity Minister, Rev. James Dillet Freeman. 

We paid tribute to their parents and then I told their story and included what they love about each other and why they want to marry.

The words really got to them and we had to take a break for both of them to blow noses and wipe tears away! It was a "two hankie wedding!"

 

 On with the vows, the ring exchange then the pronouncement! 

 Great kiss! (I think they had been practicing for a few years!) 

 

 Stepping into their new life as husband and wife!

Andy and Kacia, you take your love and relationship very seriously and because you have so thoroughly planned not only your wedding but also your marriage, I know you are going to be fulfilled and happy. I wish you only the best! Thank you for choosing me to be a part of your big day!