"Outer Space" Wedding for Coley and Markus!

Coley and Markus are a remarkable young couple. They essentially grew up together from high school on and their romance gradually developed while they were in college--Markus at ECU and Coley at UNC Wilmington. They got to know each other well by sharing rides home from college and riding out Hurricane Ophelia together. They are both scientists and knew when they married they wanted a non-religious ceremony that reflected their beliefs and passions. And so they found me and were delighted to be able to design their own ceremony according to what they wanted. They are very creative, out of the box thinkers, to say the least and it was so much fun working with them. They carefully and appropriately chose the Museum of Life and Science in Durham for the ceremony and the reception. It was perfect for them and fascinating to see their vision come together. Instrumental in helping them was Kelly Taylor with the museum. Thanks, Kelly!

Their wedding was December 21, 2012, deliberately chosen since that was supposed to be the end of the world. In fact, my opening statement to the guests was: "Welcome everyone!  Today we gather to celebrate the marriage of Coley and Markus who cannot imagine a better group of people to spend the last day on earth with." Above you can see the reception area near the entrance to the museum.

Cinda with Cinda's Creative Cakes made this fabulous cake sitting on illuminated glass blocks resembling a spaceship. It was motorized and the world on top rotated. See the aliens invading the earth on the back of the cake.

On the front of the cake a robot was seated holding a small human figure like a ventriloquist would.

 A nearby poster....

 These fiber-optic lamps were on each table.....

Setting up when we got there was Randy Bennett with Joe Bunn DJ Company. Good to work with Randy again. He had his bodypack all set up for my microphone to be plugged into.

Back in the area of the museum near the lunar landing display was where we held the ceremony. The processional began with the entrance of the parents. These are Markus' parents, Barbara and Steve, entering.

Then Coley's  mother, Mella, was escorted in by her brother Shannon. The father of the bride, Larry, was already seated.

Then Markus and his best man, Aubrey, and I entered next. You can see Michelle Gunton in the background taking photos. Michelle is such a great photographer and so much fun to work with. I wore my black suit but it would have been more fun if I had come as an alien!

For the entrance of our bride, they chose the traditional bridal march into which Randy had inserted some Outer Space sound effects!

 Coley chose to walk herself in and Markus met her at the back of the chairs and escorted her on in.

So, this is what the area looked like. Very simple, no decorations other than the display case of animal skulls and shark jaws! The area was rather dark so most of my photos are not very sharp because the shutter had to stay open long enough to let light in but that allowed any movement of the subject to blur.

Markus is reading his vows to Coley who is having a good laugh!

Then we had a very unique unity ceremony designed by this creative couple. You know how a glow stick works, right? You break the barrier between two chemicals which then mix causing the fluorescent dye to glow. So, they had the two chemicals  in separate beakers which they then poured together. They had to wear protective gloves in case of a spill. It was all very scientific!

Coley is swirling the chemicals to get them to mix. 

And this is the final product! They sent me the scientific words describing the reaction of the solutions which I then related to their union: "The chemicals glow because the energy in the exothermic reaction is transmitted to the fluorescent dye and not lost as heat just as love is transmitted between two people who love each other rendering the whole greater than the two parts. Once the reaction occurs, it cannot be reversed, symbolic of your marriage--a molding of two individual personalities, bonding together and forming one heart and one life."

The pronouncement of marriage was made and I invited them to kiss.

An aside here--I was not at their rehearsal to instruct them to make the kiss at least long enough for Michelle to get a good photo. So, their kiss was just a little peck so I said "Let's see that kiss again!"

 Markus goes for it but Coley was a little shy! 

So here they are, husband and wife! Interesting shadow of Heather, the Maid of Honor, on the wall behind them!

This blurriness actually looks kind of other-worldish, don't you think? I thought so, so I kept it.

 Heather and Aubrey as aliens!  

I invited the guests to partake of cocktails while the wedding party departed to the lunar landing exhibit. I got Dave to take a closer photo of the bride's beautiful brooch bouquet. She told me she got it on eBay!

 Markus is wearing a handsome brooch too, instead of a boutonneire. 

So, here we are.......The world did not end after all! Coley and Markus, you are a brilliant and unique couple. A new chapter in your lives has begun and you have the rest of your life before you. I wish you tons of happiness, peace and love! (I saw some photos of your reception on Facebook so I know you had a fabulous celebration.)

Surprise Wedding for Amy and Jerry!

Amy and Jerry wanted a small intimate ceremony surrounded by their closest family members. They had both been married before and had no interest in going through extended wedding planning and all that entails, much less all the fanfare and hoopla.  So, they invited their guests to their "engagement party" at Rey's Restaurant on October 27, 2012. Little did their guests know they were actually coming to their wedding! They hired Michelle Gunton to photograph the event and she called me on the 18th to see if I was available to officiate for them. Fortunately I was and so Amy and Jerry and I connected and started on the ceremony. Thanks, Michelle! After officiating a wedding at Caffe Luna at 6:30, Marty and I rushed to Rey's where Michelle and Jerry met us while Amy was changing into her wedding dress.

After meeting the couple for the first time, I collected the marriage license and the rings, and pinned the boutonniere on Jerry.

The next step was for me to enter the private dining room and surprise the guests with the announcement that they were actually guests at Amy and Jerry's wedding that evening. They were all surprised and grinning widely. We all gathered down in front of the fireplace; the bride and groom entered and the ceremony began.

I don't know how Marty got this picture with "special effects," and she probably could never duplicate it, but I love the expression on Amy's face and the blurriness of the colors.

Amy works for an oil company and Jerry owns an oil transport company. They met when Amy walked into his office in Michigan to learn about DEF (diesel exhaust fluid). Jerry was smitten but Amy was headquartered in North Carolina.

It was several months before Jerry could get to NC for their first date but when he did, they both knew they were meant to be together. From that point on they became almost inseparable despite constant traveling on the job for Amy, starting new divisions and weathering storms in the corporate office!

What a kiss! Jerry was just about to dip her! 

Look at this cake by Sweet Memories Bakery! Although it serves as their wedding cake, it could not look like a wedding cake or it would have given away their surprise. There is even a little German Shepherd like their own Inga!

Marty and I don't usually get to see the cake cutting and the bride and groom feeding each other! It had been a long day so after I got the marriage license signed, Marty and I said our good-byes.

Amy and Jerry, this is THE one! I know you are so happy and will have a wonderful and enduring marriage! I wish you all the best ever!

Christee and Jim Tie the Knot at Crenshaw Hall!

A year ago Christee and Jim contacted me about doing their wedding on May 4, 2012 at the beautiful Crenshaw Hall in Wake Forest where I have been doing weddings since 2004 and watched the beautiful restoration of this old plantation estate. It is truly lovely and a wonderful spot for a wedding.

For at least 3 years, the roads around this lovely venue have been under construction as part of the Wakefield development involving Falls of Neuse Road and re-routing of Highway 98 but at last it is now quite easy to get to from Capital Blvd/Rt. 1 and soon you will be able to travel up Falls of Neuse directly.

This is the side entrance that opens out onto the wedding terrace from which the bride enters. The decorative trim is beautiful.

This beautiful stage has been built and now the green vines are gracing it with this lush foliage.

The first wedding I did here in 2004, the interior of the house had been stripped down to bare walls. Now it is elegantly appointed and quite comfortable.

In the foyer stood this beautiful cake by Rachel Smith of Tartlette Treats. You can see our groom, Jim, in the background looking this way. I am behind him with his mother, Angela, having her sign the marriage license.  We Cook For You was catering the reception and Julie Liles provided the beautiful flowers.

Jim waited a long time to find the woman of his dreams. Actually Christee found him as the story goes.  They have known each other more than 10 years so it was about time to get married!

John Bennett, owner of Crenshaw Hall, graciously escorts the couple's mothers, Angela and Georgine, into the ceremony.

Then he came and joined me and Jim before we were cued to walk in.

We pass by Christee's dad, Jerry, who will escort the bride in from the steps to the altar.

John tapped on the door with his cane, the signal for Christee and her brother to come down the steps.

Christie Fernandez, the events manager for Crenshaw Hall, directed the wedding party. She was good and I enjoyed working with her a lot! You could tell she knew what she was doing.

Our fabulous photographer, Michelle Gunton, gets a good shot as the bride and her father float down the aisle. Michelle is a really good wedding photographer--one of my favorites.

There were big ole tears rolling down Jerry's face as he answered my question: "Who brings Christee to be married to Jim?"

I have to admit that I felt like a stand up comedian in many parts of this ceremony because Christee and Jim have a wonderful sense of humor and put in lots of quips. The guests really loved laughing a lot too.

 There were wonderful and touching tributes to their parents. 

I am telling their funny story here! 

The temperature was in the mid nineties during the ceremony and not a whiff of a breeze. Although Christee had him put anti-perspirant on his head, we used up at least two hankies mopping his head and face!

 

 

I try to remember to step aside during the kiss so the photographer can get a good shot without my head in it.

Hugs all around! The parents were raving about the ceremony, how much fun and that it fit Christee and Jim perfectly. (Mission accomplished!)

Jim and Christee, you are a very special and lucky couple to have each other. I love how well-matched you are and your wedding planning skills were amazing. A beautiful day for you both. I wish you all the happiness, contentment and fun in the world!