Megan and Michael's Wonderful Wedding at Home!

Megan and Michael and their two pups live in the most wonderful, secluded home in Apex. In fact, it is almost in New Hill near the place where I officiated my first wedding in 1997. You truly could say their house is "out in the sticks!" I am so happy my GPS found it. Their wedding was originally scheduled to be on Saturday March 29, 2014 but the weather forecast was dismal. So since their guests would still be around on Sunday, the date was changed to the 30th of March. It was still overcast but no rain or thunderstorms. 

When Dave and I walked up the driveway we could see the house and the multilevel decks that are designed so that you feel you are truly in the woods. The guests arrived at noon and I got there shortly thereafter. Their DJ, was BJ with DJ America. Got my microphone plugged in and we did a sound check and were ready to go.

Then I met Michael and Megan who have been together a long time. They had told me they are looking forward to their friends never asking them again "so when are you getting married?!" We actually put that in their ceremony!

Their photographers, Paul and Melissa, with Wake Forest Portrait Shoppe, were busy shooting and they had also brought their Photo Booth. The kids were having a great time dressing up!

 Nice flag!

 The reception took place around the back of the house on another set of multilevel decks plus a tent. 

Confectionate Cakes did the beautiful wedding cake and the groom's cake. Michael must be into computers! 

Megan has two sweet dogs who are also service dogs. Gracye is retired though. She is a min pin. Ava, her Italian greyhound, is an active service dog who can sense when a seizure is coming on and signals Megan who was injured in Iraq and subject to seizures. Megan has her own training school for these talented  pooches. It is called Triumphant Tails and she trains dogs to be of service to people with all kinds of medical conditions. I learned a lot just reading her website. What a great service! Thank you, Megan!

 Another nice touch.....

Lucky me, I could dress warmly. It was not quite 50 degrees outside that Sunday afternoon. We are ready to begin!

 Here come Gracye and Ava carrying the rings! 

Close family sat up on the deck and the rest of the guests watched the ceremony from the surrounding area. 

Here comes the bride escorted by her father.

 I think Michael was shedding a few tears by this point! 

They wanted a very brief ceremony and it was not quite 10 minutes in length. 

 But sweet nonetheless! 

Dave was taking photos from the ground and could not capture the moment of the pronouncement of marriage but he got that kiss! 

 Finally at last! A big round of applause! 

 Ava and Gracye having done their ring bearing duties are ready to get back inside to the warmth!

My heartfelt thanks go out to this talented young woman, Heather Miller, who heads up her own florist business (Eclectic Sage) and also does event design and wedding planning! She actually brought me on board to officiate. She pulled all this together for the couple and then rose to the challenge of switching all the vendors to another day on short notice. She was a dream to work with! You are going far in the wedding business, Heather! 

Megan and Michael, I am honored that I got to hitch you together in marriage and be a part of your special day. I am so happy for you and I wish you the best of everything!

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To contact me:

mailto:kayelily@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

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Beautiful Wedding for Lauren and Brandon at the Garden on Millbrook!

Lauren's mother, Judy, called me on October 9th to inquire if I was available for Lauren and Brandon's wedding on November 30, 2013 at The Garden on Millbrook. I was delighted that I was so Judy and Lauren and I met on October 17th and got the date reserved on my calendar and the couple and I got started on the ceremony. 

This venue was formerly owned by Sisters' Catering but was purchased by a new owner in 2011. They have done quite a bit of refurbishing. Look at that magnificent chandelier! The carpeting and wall color has changed also. The three Christmas trees were gorgeous! It is a beautiful setting for a wedding and when the weather is nice, they have a wonderful patio with a huge tent for outdoor ceremonies.

Can you tell the color scheme was red? So pretty at this time of year! Katie is signing the marriage license here. I collect the signatures of the witnesses before the ceremony once I know it is going to happen. The document is not legal and final until I sign it after the ceremony.

My colleague Lawrence with Anything Music was their DJ. We worked a wedding together a few weeks ago! He is so nice and all I had to do was plug my microphone into the body pack he provided.

This cake is simply stunning! It was baked by Lynn's Catering in Franklinton. The Blonde Buttercup in Louisburg provided the floral arrangements. (Neither the baker nor the florist have websites to link to.) Melissa and Paul with Wake Forest Portrait Shoppe were their photographers.

The line-up: Brandon's parents, Kathy and Bob, are first to process in. 

Then it is Judy and Eric's turn. Eric, father of the bride, circled around to come back and escort the bride in.

Brandon was really happy the ceremony was starting. He's waited 4 years for this day!

Then the rest of the guys followed. 

Our bridesmaids' dresses were gorgeous. Red weddings are so pretty! 

Here comes the bride! They used Jonathan Cain's fabulous rendition of the Bridal March. It is my favorite!

The parents are standing for a tribute to them and for their blessing for this marriage!

Their story was pretty funny too! Then came the sweetness where they heard what they loved about each other and what they are looking forward to in marriage.

And they said their vows and sealed them with the exchange of rings. 

The pronouncement of marriage........

Did not get a photo of the kiss but Brandon really laid one on Lauren as everyone applauded!

Brandon and Lauren, what a wonderful wedding! I know you are so happy to finally be husband and wife. Thank you for giving me the honor of joining you in marriage. I wish you all the very best!

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To contact me:

mailto:kayelily@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

My Website

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Or leave a comment below!

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Beautiful Sunny Wedding of Becky and John at Highgrove!

I met Becky and John in June of 2011. They are a delightful couple and were planning their wedding for Sunday May 6, 2012 at Highgrove Estate in Fuquay-Varina where I have been doing weddings since the gorgeous venue first opened many years ago. John and Becky loved hearing one of my ceremonies and wanted to be involved in creating their own one-of-a-kind ceremony that included their story, what they loved about each other, why they wanted to marry and what they were looking forward to in the next chapter in their lives together--their marriage. We signed a contract and reserved their dates on my calendar and got started on it right away.

In contrast to the wedding I did the day before which was forced indoors due to stormy weather, Becky and John's wedding day could not have been prettier. The temperature was pleasant, the humidity low, and the sun shining. 

The garden ballroom was all set with the pretty table linens and our DJ had set up the nice up-lighting.

Patrick Cooke of PC Productions was our reliable DJ. We have worked together at many weddings and it is always a pleasure to work with Patrick. I know I can count on him!

This beautiful wedding cake was baked by Sweet Memories Bakery and has the monogram of the couple's last name.

The lovely floral arrangements and bouquets were provided by Expressions of Love Florists.

 

Paul of Wake Forest Portrait Shoppe, and his assistant Melissa, were on hand to document this wedding. Here on the side of the estate, Robert and his groomsmen and groomslady were posing for some incredible shots.

Here they are! Don't you love the way that beautiful pewter dress and the bright colors of the flowers pop?

John's mother, Nan, and I discovered we had a common link. We both belong to Unity Churches and she used to live in Raleigh and attended a Unity Church. We know many people in common. She moved to Texas to be near grandchildren about 7 years ago and wanted to catch up on all the news.

Look at these gorgeous bridesmaids dresses in rose. The maid of honor wore a dress in watermelon.

Ann Eberle with Highgrove was our wedding director. She is great. We love working together at the rehearsal and the wedding. Part of the wedding package at Highgrove is that you get your own director who is in charge of the day so the bride and groom can relax and enjoy their day.

Becky's father, Sam, brought Becky down the steps and down the aisle to John.

After he answered the question, "Who presents this woman to be married?" Becky gave him a little kiss and he was seated.

Between 5:00 and 6:00, if it is a sunny day, the sun spotlights the wedding party at the pergola. Lake Laurel is in the background.

 

 

The parents are standing here as I deliver the sweet parents' blessing, moving the mothers to tears!

 

John's sister Amber did the first reading which was the Indian Wedding Prayer.

 

John's sister, Lynn, gave a delightful reading from the children's book, "Guess How Much I Love You" by Sam McBratney. She was good!

 

Now the story of how they met--John clearly remembers it was at a pool hall but Becky thought it was later at the Longbranch! A key player in this romance is Christine, Robert's groomslady, who thought they should meet and pushed them together.

 

 

 Time for the rings and vows.....

 And now the pronouncement of marriage...

 Followed by the kiss.....

 And some laughter.....

 The deed is done, it is time to get out of the sun and have some fun! 

 Let's go..........

Becky and John, what a great wedding! Your careful planning paid off. I know you will be so happy together! I loved working with you and wish you health, happiness and prosperity!