Melissa and Jim Marry in a Circle of Love at The Arrowhead Inn, October 10, 2010

Melissa and Jim wanted a small, intimate ceremony in a romantic setting to celebrate their love and commitment with their closest friends and family. They chose The Arrowhead Inn as the perfect setting for what they had in mind and indeed it was perfect for them. A wonderful Bed & Breakfast, it is charming, romantic and tucked away from the busy pace of life in Raleigh and Durham. The hosts, Gloria and Phil Teber, have put their hearts into creating something very special and I always love doing weddings there. Although they do not predominantly think of themselves as a wedding venue, they nonetheless know how to host a wedding with charm and style and Phil is their resident gourmet chef.

Here are a few photos from the grounds of the Inn that will clearly show why Melissa and Jim chose this location for their wedding;

This is the arbor through which you enter as you follow the walkway to the cabins or the gazebo.

Here are some of the many flowers that line the walkways.

This is the romantic gazebo within which we all stood, with the guests standing in a circle around us. You could feel the love so strongly from everyone.

The ceremony music was provided by Cindy Ribet on the hammered dulcimer, accompanied beautifully by a guitarist whose name I did not get, unfortunately. They made quite a duo and their music was perfect for the bright, sunny day of the wedding.

Here are Melissa and her sister, getting Melissa ready for the wedding. Look at that joy on Melissa’s face!

After the ceremony, everyone walked over to the patio where there were refreshments waiting for them, followed later by a luncheon in the main house.

I loved seeing these crystal goblets catching the dappled sun through the trees as they sat on a lace tablecloth on the patio.

It was a sweet ceremony for the tender love story of two very kind people and it was such a joy to be a part of it. This fun sculpture was at the back of the patio and it says perfectly what I wish for Melissa and Jim - Live, Love, Laugh!

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Others on hand to make the day a success;

Photographer - Brad Matthews of Brad Matthews Studios

Flowers - Nancy S. Dawson of Special Event Florals

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Katie and Chris Exchange Vows in the Raleigh Rose Garden, October 2, 2010

Some people know how to find enjoyment everywhere in life and Katie and Chris are just such a couple. They share a love of live music performance and their relationship developed traveling to and from concerts. This has become such a big part of their lives that they came up with the idea of making their Save-the-Date card into a VIP ticket for their wedding. Looking exactly like a concert ticket, it was a very clever idea.

Their ceremony took place in the Raleigh Rose Garden amid hundreds of roses. I had not realized that roses would bloom this late in the year, but there were glorious colors as far as the eye could see.

They set up the chairs in the center part of the garden with the beautifully simple arbor standing in front of the cherub fountain.

This was the view looking up through the top of the arbor. Despite its being so open, it still provided a charming sheltering feeling.

The colors of the Bridesmaid dresses and the matching accents in the Groomsmen's ties and vests were a beautiful compliment to the glorious colors of nature all around us. The flowers, provided by Jeffrey Surles of Jeffrey's Florist Limited (910-891-7000), were a beautiful mix of summer sunshine and autumn accents.

The day was beautiful, Katie and Chris were radiant, their vows were heartfelt and love was in abundance everywhere. Everything about this wedding was simple and elegant and I was so happy to be a part of it. My congratulations to you both. I wish you many great times ahead, attending concerts, living life to the fullest and enjoying each other's company as you know how to do so well.

Others on hand to make the event a success for Katie and Chris;

Photography - Martha Manning of Martha Manning Photography, assisted by Brad Matthews
Wedding Planner - Jeffrey Surles of Jeffrey's Florist Limited, 910-891-7000
Music - Matthew Kanon on classical guitar
Hair - Marigold Parlour, 919-833-0146
Make-up - Julie Hafer of Beauty Ethics
Limousine - Vern Bullock of Classy Transportation
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