Short, Sweet, and Beautiful Wedding for Amanda and Tim!

The Oaks at Salem in Apex is a wonderful place for a wedding--large or small! March 15, 2014 was a beautiful warm sunny day and the tent on the terrace had been taken down for the good weather--soon to be re-erected for the unfavorable forecast the next weekend, though--what crazy weather this year!

April Maness, owner of The Oaks, realizing the need for a Director of Event Coordination hired Joslin Rodely (above) almost a year ago and had her watch as I conducted a wedding rehearsal there so she could learn the ropes.  She has done well and I see her often because I officiate a lot of weddings at this lovely spot!

Tim (groom) and his brother Pete (best man) and I assembled for the ceremony. There were 8 guests and our esteemed photographer Neil Boyd  can be seen in the background.

 Amanda's daughter and maid of honor, Abbey, made her entrance. 

 Then it was time for our bride, Amanda! 

 Standing with Abbey is her brother, Aiden,  both serving as their mother's attendants.

 We honored their parents for guiding them to this celebration of love. 

Then Tim had some sweet words for Abbey and Aiden which he read from my book. This day they all officially became a family!

  The vows and rings were exchanged. 

"Tim and Amanda, by the love that has brought you here today, by the vows you have exchanged and by the integrity of your commitment, it is my distinct pleasure to now declare that you are husband and wife!"

 Looks like Aiden is really happy to have Tim as his stepfather! 

Mothers of the couple, Kathleen and Jean, are now officially related, but the English language has no word for their relationship. Maybe we should create one! Any suggestions?  

Dave, my husband, was my photographer for the wedding. He and I both remarked how much Amanda looks like Sandra Bullock. She probably hears that all the time. Look at this beautiful mother daughter image. They are both so beautiful and personally, I think they look more like sisters! 

Amanda and Tim, I am so happy that you found each other and that you found me to join you in marriage. It was indeed an honor and a pleasure! I wish you the best always! 

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Tom and Colleen Danced Down the Aisle at Their Wedding!

One August evening in 2010 when they were both out with friends in downtown Raleigh on the Glenwood South strip, Tom and Colleen met each other. Tom loved the way Colleen could joke around with him. Colleen was intrigued not only by Tom's mischievous smile and his sense of humor but that he would get up on stage and sing "Ice Ice Baby" with her! They were friends for a couple of months until Tom got up the nerve to ask her out. For that first date he arranged for them to go see a particular musician that evening who sang "Here With You" and during that song, they both knew in their hearts that they were going to end up together. And so, less than two years later, they married on June 10, 2012 at the All Saints Chapel in downtown Raleigh. I was thrilled to officiate for them and we had a lot of fun creating their special wedding ceremony.

Colleen 's sweet mother, Donna, escorted her down the aisle and gave her a little kiss as she placed Colleen's hand into Tom's hand, blessing their marriage.

The bride and groom stepped up onto the altar and the Maid of Honor, Brianne, sister of the bride, fluffed the train. What a gorgeous wedding gown!

We began with a warm welcome and a prayer and remembered those passed on who could not be with us today.

I stepped out from behind the couple to deliver the tribute they wrote for their parents, thanking them for all their love and support.

Colleen's good friend, Laura, very eloquently delivered a contemporary reading of First Corinthians. This version is like a beautiful poem:

"Love never hurries, it is always kind.

It is not jealous, and never boasts of its greatness.

Love is not rude or selfish.

It is always ready to forgive and forget mistakes we make.

Love is no friend of wickedness, but delights in honesty and truth.

Love is strong and never gives up.

It never loses its trust in God or its hope for the future.

Love will survive all things because it is everlasting."

They were so quiet that I was unaware of these two little boys who entertained themselves during the ceremony with the flower petals in the aisle!

 Everyone is having a good laugh at their story! 

At one point I said to Tom: "Colleen treasures all the ways you are different from each other, but with the exception of your unprofitable bargaining skills at your recent yard sale!" They do have a great sense of humor!

 They read the vows they wrote for each other from my book then exchanged rings. 

Their excellent photographer, Neil Boyd, sent me this wonderful photo of the KISS! Thanks, Neil. Thanks to his second shooter, Rebecca too. I believe the last wedding we all did together was here at All Saints Chapel this past January--Daniel and Emily.  

It is my great pleasure to present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs., Tom and Colleen!

And they danced down the aisle! Thanks again for the photo, Neil! 

 

 And the wedding party danced down the aisle too!  

Before the guests headed to Caffe Luna for the reception, we got a group shot! 

 

Colleen was telling me how thrilled she was with the ceremony and that it exceeded her expectations. I am always so happy to hear that! 

Congratulations and best wishes, Colleen and Tom! You are a great couple and I wish you the very best life can bring your way!

Professional Photos by Neil Boyd of Emily and Daniel's Wedding!

 

Kristie Boyer at Neil Boyd Photography just sent me some photos of Emily and Daniel's wedding on January 7, 2012 which I wanted to post here. Neil is such a great photographer and I am so happy to have these. Thanks Kristie and Neil!

 

What a great wedding! Emily and Daniel, I am sure that by now you have returned from your honeymoon, settled into marital bliss and happily pursuing your dreams. I wish you the very best life has to offer! 

Jennifer and Seth Have a Great Wedding at Peace College Chapel!

It did not take Jen and Seth long to realize that they were meant for each other. Four months after meeting, Seth proposed and the rest is history. They planned their wedding for September 12, 2010 at the Peace College Dinwiddie Chapel. It is such a pretty chapel.  (The 1870 Pomplitz organ, a rare antique pipe organ, has been restored to superior working condition but I have yet to hear it played.) Their ceremony music was provided by some very young men who are very talented musicians.

Someone told me they found these little guys on the internet. They are Joshua (12), Jacob (10) and Luke (7) Henderson and their mother told me she guessed they would be called the Henderson Trio. They take lessons at Meredith and their music was excellent. They even learned "Viva La Vida" for the recessional and did a great job with it. They came to the rehearsal and were playing at the wedding before the guests arrived. Wow!

This is the wooden wedding box into which Jen and Seth placed a bottle of wine, two wineglasses and love letters to each other which they did not read. They locked the box during the ceremony and are to open it on their first anniversary and read their letters to each other.

After the trolley arrived with the bridal party and we got everyone upstairs and lined up, we began the processional. Seth escorted his grandmother, Patty, in then returned to the line-up.

Jen's brother, Chris, escorted their grandmother, Bernice, in and Chris returned to the line up.

The father of the groom, Dan, who was also our best man, escorted in the mother of the groom, Kathy, but we did not get a photo of them. Above are the parents of the bride, Sheryl and Ralph. Ralph circled back to bring in the bride.

 Then it was time for Seth and me to make our entrance.

The bridesmaids and groomsmen came in as couples next and are all lined up by Dawn, Jen's aunt, our day of wedding coordinator.

Here comes the Maid of Honor, Meagan, and the ring bearer, Brayden. He was one happy little boy and had no trouble coming down the aisle. There was a flower girl who was 2, but apparently she opted out of her petal sprinkling duties!

I had told Ralph that it was his job to keep the bride from galloping down the aisle and he told me afterward  that he had to hold her back twice!

Everyone enjoyed hearing Jen and Seth's story, especially the proposal details! Here Jen is reading her vows to Seth from my book.

They locked the wedding box then I made the pronouncement of marriage and you know what comes next!

The Kiss! 

And out the newlyweds go! 

I sent all the guests to Caffe Luna for the reception and the wedding party and parents stayed back for photos. Here is our photographer, Neil Boyd, getting a good one of the couple.

Jen and Seth, you are meant for each other and are so devoted. You will have a great marriage. Both of your parents have provided you with great examples of good marriages. I wish you all the best!