Angie and Robert have a fun, casual wedding at the Duke Gardens Ampitheater, July 10, 2009

For Angie and Robert, their wedding was to be casual, fun and all about being with their family and friends. The wedding took place in the beautiful Duke Gardens Ampitheater that sits behind the Doris Duke Center in the gardens. It was a perfect place for a light, carefree wedding like this one and it matched Angie and Robert’s personalities to a T.

The semi-circular Ampitheater sits beside a lily pond and is so lovely that the only decorations they used were tall, water-filled glass cylinders in which floated an orchid and a candle. It was simple, elegant, modern and beautiful.

The music for the ceremony was provided by friends of the Bride and Groom - Toby Weinstein on violin and Dave Spencer, of Spencer Music, on guitar. The melodies they played floated across the Ampitheater and hung in the summer air, reflecting the emotions of the beautiful vows that Angie and Robert had written to each other.

The reception was held on the lawn and terrace behind the Doris Duke Center, with tables set up inside and out. Even the food was light and airy - delicious salads of all sorts. Such a clever idea and just the right choice to match the heat of the day.

The table decorations were simple hydrangeas in clear vases with leaves wrapped around the inside of the vase. It was a pretty effect and so simple to achieve!

One of my favorite aspects of the Doris Duke Center is the airy spaciousness of the room and the beautiful, unique, vine motif chandeliers that hang from the ceiling. Between the light from the wall of windows on both sides of the room and the soft light from these chandeliers, that room always has a special glow, day or night.

The wedding cake was actually a tower of cupcakes, provided by Kelley Gill, of Kelley G. Cupcakes. Now these weren’t your ordinary cupcakes! They were the most unusual flavor combinations I had ever tasted and they were all delicious. There was a chocolate cupcake with a lavender oil-infused icing, a pistachio/rosewater cupcake that tasted just like a rose, a blueberry cupcake with blueberry icing and even a gluten-free strawberry creme cupcake for those who have trouble with wheat. They were all gobbled up quickly and I can’t ever remember hearing adults go on and on about cupcakes like that before!

There were very few of the normal, posed photos and even those that were taken were done light-heartedly. The photographer, Lashelle Chappell, of Chappell Photography, must have had a lot of fun taking all the candid shots of everyone. In looking at her work on her website and blog, there is a lot of heart there and when the photos from this wedding are posted, there are sure to be many gems among them.

Everything about this wedding was a beautiful, sparkly beginning for a marriage. Angie and Robert, may the sparkle of your wedding day remain with you always.

___

Jen and Brad marry in Duke Gardens - May 30, 2009

Amid sunshine and flowers, Jen and Brad exchanged vows on the steps of the famous pergola in Duke Gardens. Brad was smiling from ear to ear the whole time, pretty much as he looks here in this photo. He was a very happy man to be marrying Jen at last and it was touching to see how happy they were to be together - and how happy their families and friends were for them.

The Garden looked especially beautiful that day. There seemed to be an extra sparkle in the air and all the flowers were showing off their colors. The wisteria vines around the pergola were full of bright green leaves that made a beautiful frame for the wedding and picked up the color of the Bridesmaid dresses and the sash on Jen’s dress.

Jen and Brad’s friend, Tyrel, played acoustic guitar for the ceremony and another friend, Hope, sang, “It Feels Like Home.” Hope has an incredibly beautiful voice and it sent chills down my spine as I listened to her sing. It turns out she sings professionally, lives locally and can be hired for weddings, so if you are looking for a wonderful vocalist for your wedding, be sure to contact Hope Powell. She does not yet have a website, but if you click this link you can find all her contact information on my website under “Musicians.”

Children will always steal the show and adorable little Hannah, the Flower Girl, was no exception. What a beautiful child and only 2 years old. She made it down the aisle alone and over to her mother, who was one of the Bridesmaids. Someone coaxed her a little bit with a lollipop (a clever and effective idea) but Hannah was fine even without it.

The photographers for the day were Poiema Photography, a trio of very friendly ladies. Armed with cameras, heart and kindness - not to mention skill - Casey Chappell, Angey Price and Kristin Cook were all taking some really beautiful shots. It’s a nice idea to have three photographers on staff for an event like this because they can spread out and be all over the place at once, getting more perspectives and covering more territory for the final results. Can’t wait to see the photos when they are online!

Jen and Brad worked hard to put together a special wedding and they certainly accomplished their goal. There was a lot of love and friendship and caring, and isn’t that what weddings are supposed to be all about.

Jen and Brad, with so much love and support in abundance, you are sure to be very happy together as husband and wife.

Carol and Mike marry May 16, 2009 under a wisteria canopy at Duke Gardens

Carol and Mike wanted a wedding that was informal and fun, to match a day that was to be about sharing their love with their family and friends. Their children were to escort them in and their grandchildren were to be their Flower Girls and Ring Bearers - and how adorable they all looked!

Being scientists at Duke University, and Carol also a professor there, they naturally chose Duke Gardens for their setting and held their ceremony under the wisteria canopy of the pergola, a famous Duke Gardens landmark. The ancient wisteria vines are so old they have woven together over the years and are becoming a part of the structure of the pergola itself. It is beautiful to see. The green of their leaves above and around us provided a beautiful, private setting for the ceremony and with the soft guitar music provided by their friend, Kevin, we had our own secret garden under there.

The colors for the bridal couple and the attendants were white, ivory and khaki and these blended in beautifully with the garden setting. This was the first time I had ever seen a bride wear slacks and Carol looked wonderful in her flowing, chiffon slacks and beautiful lace overblouse. Topping it off was a stylish spring hat that doubled as her “something borrowed” and set the style for the Flower Girls, who all wore hats as well. 

I don’t think Mike’s big grin ever left his face the whole time. Everything felt warm and inviting, modern and old fashioned mixed together, and fit in perfectly with what Carol and Mike had envisioned. I wish them and their family all the best and know they will be very happy together.

___