International Wedding for Marcia and Hugo!

Marcia and Hugo planned a big party on April 28, 2012 at the Page-Walker Art and History Center to celebrate their marriage. They originally planned to just go down to the courthouse and get married the day before the party, then they began to have second thoughts about such an impersonal ceremony for this big milestone in their lives. Marcia called me in January to see if I could marry them before the party. I had a wedding at 4:30 that day but could marry them in my wedding garden earlier in the afternoon with just a few guests present. So, intrigued with the notion that they could have a custom ceremony if I was their officiant and curious about my garden, we set up a meeting.

They were thrilled with the possibilities of the ceremony, especially since I suggested they bring in elements from their diverse heritages. Hugo was born in Chile and his family moved to Los Angeles when he was 10 years old. Marcia's mother is of Italian lineage and her father Irish. I suggested the Wine Unity ceremony as a possibility and they ran with the idea. Hugo would get some Chilean wine and Marcia some Italian wine that they would pour together. Then they would do a toast after the ceremony with Irish Whiskey, Bushmills, to be specific. Bushmills distillery located at the very northernmost tip of Ireland is the world's oldest whiskey distillery--I happen to know because I was there last August and Marcia and Hugo were on a trip to Ireland last year as well. Hugo also wanted to include a reading by well-known Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda. So, we were good to go.

But plans changed a few weeks later when they decided that they would like to have the ceremony timed closer to the reception and in the garden next to the Page Walker Art and History Center in Cary where the reception was to take place at 7:00. We worked it out where I would get there as soon as I possibly could from the wedding before theirs, hopefully by 6:00.

Marty and I made it there easily and earlier than planned. When we arrived, Marcia was in the garden being photographed by Chad Williams, a talented young man still in high school just getting started with his photography career. This is our third wedding together this year! The CateringWorks truck was in the parking lot. Then Lenny Fritts, one of my very favorite DJs appeared on the scene! A surprise! I had recommended him to the couple but did not know they had booked him.

When we were ready to begin, Marcia's father, Ed, escorted her into the garden.

He started handing her off to Hugo when I said "Wait, I haven't asked the question yet!"

The question was "Who has the privilege of presenting this woman, Marcia, to be married to this man, Hugo?" He of course said he did and so the transfer was made.

Hugo's best friend. I am sorry I did not get his name! Maybe they will tell me and I will add it later!

On the left is Alexis, Hugo's sister, Chad Williams, and Lenny trying to duck out of the photo!

This was really a fun wedding. It was very loose and informal and we laughed a lot.

Marcia's brother Andrew, his wife, Michelle, Marcia's mother, Aggie, and her father, Ed.

Right here I am honoring and thanking everyone present at the ceremony and remembering Hugo's parents, Hugo and Pauline, who could not be with us this day.

Hugo made sure everyone heard his "I do!"  

Then Marcia said her "I do." 

Marcia's ring was snug and Hugo had to push it on her finger with some force but he made sure it got securely on her finger!

 "With this ring, I thee wed."

Pouring the Italian and Chilean wines together.......

 "Drink now and may your lives be full to running over!"

"As you have shared this wine, so may you share your lives. May you find life's joys heightened, its bitterness sweetened, and all of life enriched by a constant love." 

 

 The pronouncement of marriage.....

 And they kissed and kissed and kissed! 

 

Time for the Irish Whiskey! 

"To a long, happy and healthy life together. Cheers! Salud! Salute!

 

 

 

 

 

Marcia and Hugo, what a fun wedding! What a great couple you are. Thank you for allowing me to share a very important occasion in your lives. I wish you the very best life can bring your way....

Cindy and Bob's Long Awaited Wedding/Renewal of Vows!

Cindy and Bob are such an inspiring and "persistent" couple! They have both had many life challenges in common raising their families so when they met, their compatibility was almost overwhelming and it was obvious they belonged together.  They met with me in September of 2009 to plan their wedding scheduled for March 27, 2010 at the Page Walker Arts and History Center in Cary. We began working on their ceremony that would include their children from previous marriages but then they had to cancel the wedding due to employment fluctuations and other things that cropped up. Cindy and Bob told me that they planned to reschedule and would let me know when they came up with a plan. Cindy kept in contact with me and later in 2010, she told me that they had just gone to the courthouse and gotten married in March of 2010 for legal purposes to make their lives easier. (I only wish they had told me that they were going to do that because I would have loved to have done a private elopement style ceremony for them but they did not know that at the time.) So, almost a year went by before they contacted me again to find out if I was available for a date in March of 2012. We ended up settling on March 17, 2012 for their wedding celebration, technically now a renewal of vows ceremony. Cindy and Bob re-wrote the original ceremony and included secret vows to each other that they did not hear until the ceremony. All 6 of their combined children were present for the celebration and we included the Family Unity Sand Ceremony. The venue remained the Page Walker Arts and History Center pictured above. I have done a lot of weddings there both inside, in the courtyard and in the adjacent garden. Theirs was in the Gallery.

The sand ceremony was ready to go with a container for each member of the new family.

Amy Kortus got her harp all set up and was warming up. 

Michael Williams of Michael's Memories Photography and Design and his wife, Marcy, were on hand getting lots of photos. They had been on board for this occasion since 2009 too! Cateringworks was doing the catering and the cake from Blue Moon Bakery did not arrive before I left, hence no photo.

Bob and I were ready to begin the processional. Bob's son, Jeffrey, served as his best man and followed just behind us.

After all their children had processed in, it was time for Cindy. You can see her friend, Tamara, who was directing the wedding for them.

Bob met Cindy half way down the aisle and together they came forward for the ceremony.

 

You might be wondering what that white drape above the fireplace behind us is. There is an art exhibition currently at the gallery and the piece of art hanging over the fireplace was just not appealing as a backdrop for a wedding so they cleverly rigged a tension rod between the beams and hung the curtain to cover it up without damaging it!

After we remembered their loved ones who have passed on by lighting a memory candle, talked about love and marriage and Cindy and Bob and their special relationship and they exchanged their secret vows, it was time for the family sand ceremony. First Bob and Cindy each poured in 1/2 of their sand individually making two layers.

Then I poured a little of each of theirs to sanctify their union. 

Jeffrey and his wife, Michelle, and their son, Griffin, then poured in a container of sand representing the three of them. Griffin is 18 months old and their first grandchild and he has just learned to walk.

Kira, Cindy's daughter and maid of honor, then poured her sand into the container.

Then it was Bob's daughter, Callie's, turn to add her sand. 

Next to pour was Kenny, Cindy's son, with his caretaker and Cindy's help.

Jennie, Bob's daughter, added the next layer. 

 Then Callie and Jennie brought their younger sister, Megan, forward for her part.

The three siblings of Megan then poured her sand in on her behalf. It was such a sweet ritual for these two families who are now joined together.

Bob and Cindy then joined their sand together to make the tenth layer of sand in the family container.

This container now symbolizes all the layers of this family blended together into one container. 

The pronouncement of the recommitment........"By affirming your love and exchanging your vows, you, Cindy and Bob, have recommitted to your marriage and to each other. Please celebrate with a kiss!"

 And they did! 

 

 

Bob and Cindy, preparing for your long awaited "wedding" has been the longest one I have ever had! I am so happy you found each other and that you finally had the ceremony of your dreams surrounded by your families and friends. Thanks for being so persistent! (BTW, little did I know when I first met Cindy whose email is "persistentcindy" that would be so identifying of her character. I know she had to be very persistent as the mother of a handicapped child and her persistence sure paid off!) Congratulations to you all!