Andrea and Warren Celebrate Their Love at Their Raleigh Home

 Andrea and Warren wanted their wedding to be a fun, casual celebration at their home, surrounded by their family and friends. They both have a great sense of humor and that was going to come out in the celebration for sure... starting with the wedding entrance music. Warren is a member of a Barbershop Chorale group and many of the other members were guests, so the wedding processional was an a capella rendition of “Here Comes the Bride,” or as Andrea describes it, “the dum-dum-de-dum” version. I knew right away I was in for a fun time at their wedding.

They have a lovely home with a lush yard and the ceremony took place out in the yard under an arbor decorated with flowers and ribbons. Tables and chairs were set up in another part of the lawn and as I was leaving later, I noticed kids playing in yet another area. It was all very sweet and Norman Rockwell-ish and it was wonderful being a part of it all.

After the ceremony, Andrea and Warren had a very nice welcome for their guests, followed by a toast. 

After the toast, and as all the mingling began, there were some photo ops over by the arbor. Here’s one of me taken with the happy couple.

Over by their deck was a display of plastic pink flamingoes. I grew up in Florida, where plastic flamingoes are common, but in NC? And not even by the beach? I had to ask. Turns out that the flamingoes are an inside family joke that relates to Warren’s mom, who has now passed on, and the flamingoes were there in her honor. I’ll bet she would have LOVED that.

Before the wedding was to take place, some renovation work was going on at their home and it was supposed to have been completed by the wedding date but, of course, it began to look doubtful as the wedding date got closer. The workmen, God love ‘em, worked almost around the clock to get the walls up and painted and things finished enough to have the festivities take place in the addition, but there were some nail-biting moments to be sure for Andrea and Warren. I loved getting Andrea’s update emails about the progress. She could write a humorist’s column, she is so witty.

Inside that dining room renovation was laid out a splendid buffet of all kinds of delicious treats. Overseeing this sumptuous feast was the Chef, Kevin Ingram, of KSI Catering, proudly and ably being assisted by his son, Gregor. What you see here was just the beginning. Much more was to come later but I was not able to stay and see what that was to be. It was sure to be just as amazing, though.

 Their absolutely beautiful cake was created by Simply Cakes and with that pedigree, I am sure it tasted every bit as good as it looked.

In a corner of their living room sat this magnificent old jade tree. For those who don’t know about jade trees, they can live to a very ripe old age with care and this particular one is very old. When I asked about it, the tree had belonged to Warren’s mother and they had taken it into their home to love and care for it when she passed. How touching that is.

Andrea and Warren, I wish you all the many special years you see ahead for yourselves. May your family jade tree be a perfect harbinger of the friendship, luck and prosperity it portends and may your love thrive as well as has this tree.

Melissa and Rex Exchange Vows at an Intimate Family Wedding in Durham, April 8, 2011

Melissa and Rex met a few years ago when they were both stationed in the same country overseas - but in different branches of the military. Rex has been stationed in San Diego while Melissa (now out of the military) is living and working in Virginia as a vet tech. So they have had a long-distance relationship for quite a while. Because Rex is soon to ship out to Bahrain for a tour of duty there, they decided to take advantage of some leave he had coming and get married before he left.

When it was decided that they would get married here in her parents’ yard in Durham, Melissa’s mom, Suzanne, contacted me to be their minister and I was so happy I could be available for them.

Their wedding day was a beautiful, sunny day and it fit the happy energies of their low-key wedding plans perfectly. It was a family affair and they had done everything themselves, creating a completely charming environment from beginning  to end. This is the lovely arbor, wrapped with ribbon and flowers.

Tables were set up in the yard for the reception and single roses were floating in square, glass vases on the tables.

When we were ready to begin the ceremony, we all lined up and entered from the porch over to the arbor. Melissa’s brother-in-law, Andy Whitfield, was taking photos and almost all of the shots in this post are by him. Great job, Andy, and thanks for letting me use them.

Melissa’s dad and grandmother

our pretty Flower Girl

Rex escorted his mom

Melissa’s sister / Maid of Honor, escorted the Ring Bearer

Dad presenting Melissa to Rex

Melissa and Rex wanted to include a Handfasting ceremony, an ancient ritual of commitment and equality in a marriage. They had braided the cord we used for their binding and had placed all their hopes and dreams for their future into it with their prayers. This is such a lovely and symbolic ceremony and one of my favorite additions to a wedding.

Andy caught some great shots of Melissa and Rex right as they were pronounced husband and wife.

Don’t you just love Melissa’s unusual dress. It was made from a type of heavy cotton or muslin that had a great drape to it. It was perfect for Melissa and totally suited her personality.

After the ceremony came all the obligatory photos and Andy was right there with his camera, capturing all the happy memories. I love this shot of the whole family, complete with the Ring Bearer, and Andy even managed to get one where he was included.

Melissa and Rex, you are used to separations and the military’s way of doing things so I know you will be alright during your separation while Rex is overseas. I hope Rex returns home safely and that your life together - once you get to live under the same roof at last - will be as sweet, happy and thoughtful as your wedding day.

Maureen and John Surprise Their Guests When a Housewarming Turns Into a Wedding, April 2, 2011

Everyone thought they were coming to celebrate Maureen and John’s lovely new home in Cary but little did they know what a momentous occasion this was going to turn out to be.

I had been contacted by John a couple of weeks before the appointed day and we put together all the necessary arrangements so I could arrive right before they made the announcement to their guests. But I guess Maureen and John just couldn’t contain themselves any longer and when I arrived someone opened the door and said, “And here’s the preacher!” so I knew they had already told the plans.

You can imagine the excitement level in the house as we waited for Maureen and John to get their children and grandchildren ready for the ceremony. None of them had known they were to be in a wedding so of course there were thousands of questions about what their part in the ceremony was to be... not to mention all the happy guests coming up to me to chat about what a great couple Maureen and John are and what a surprise this was and wasn’t it great. A woman with a beautiful voice even volunteered to sing for the wedding processional. It was all done on the fly and it touched my heart completely.

John calls Maureen “Betty Boop” and his grandkids call him “Hip” so we used those names in the ceremony, except for the vows. You could tell the guests loved this and the grandchildren giggled whenever they heard me say, “Hip.” Very cute.

John had somehow found a Betty Boop doll in a wedding dress and, as we were to stand in front of the fireplace for the wedding, we placed her on the mantle as a unique wedding decoration. It was a perfect addition!

For those of you too young to know about Betty Boop - or if you are just curious - here is a Wikipedia link with lots of good information. She was a cartoon creation of the 1930s whose fame was reignited in the 1950s when TV was in its infancy. All the old movie cartoons found their way onto early TV and that’s how I became familiar with her. This is the first time she’s ever been at a wedding I’ve done, though, and there were many of us at the ceremony old enough to remember Betty Boop fondly.

After the ceremony there were more rounds of hugs and kisses and much joviality. I got a couple of shots of the happy couple and this one always makes my heart smile. Notice the fingers behind their heads, courtesy of John’s son. Yep, families are families no matter what the occasion and kids will certainly be kids.

Maureen and John, you created a memorable ceremony. With your family standing with you and your friends encircling you, there was so much love all around you. What a happy start to what is sure to be a very special life to come. May you have many, many happy years together. 

And, as Betty Boop herself would say, “Boop boop ee doop!”

April and Harry Surprise Their Guests with a Wedding, December 18, 2010

April and Harry have a Christmas party at their home every year but this year there was going to be a difference; they were going to be married at the party and nobody was going to know until it started!

First, the guests started gathering for the party about 2 hours before the wedding was planned to begin. About an hour before the start time, April and Harry left to go get ready and hoped that nobody would miss them while they were gone. Then, once they had returned, their friend was to make an announcement about how important everyone there was to April and Harry and then tell them that they were actually there for a wedding! At that point, lights would come on in the back yard and we would enter from the side of the house where we had been hidden during the announcement. My goodness, you should have heard the cheer that went up when the guests learned they were to witness a wedding!

photo by Diana Matthews of Creative Moments Photography

It was a beautiful ceremony, all about their love for each other, their friends, and most especially their families. It couldn’t have gone off any better no matter what and the roar that went out from the guests when I pronounced Harry and April husband and wife was absolutely deafening. My eardrums were vibrating like I was standing in front of a giant speaker! Then the Confetti cannons went off and there was confetti coming from everywhere. It was WONDERFUL!!

photo by Diane Matthews of Creative Moments Photography

After the ceremony, everyone was hugging and kissing and laughing, having the time of their lives. April and Harry were beaming and so was everyone else. They really put one over on their guests and nobody will ever forget this amazing wedding. It was a special treat for everyone there and what a tremendous way for April and Harry to share their love with the people who mean the most to them.

Here are some photos...

With friends immediately after the ceremony.

With her Great Aunt.

Confetti was everywhere!

The little sailboat in their yard was festively strung with lights.

photo by Diana Matthews of Creative Moments Photography

Love this photo of them with Harry’s niece, who was also having the time of her life.

 April and Harry, thank you for allowing me to be a part of such a special time in your lives. That deafening cheer when you were pronounced husband and wife will stay with me forever; there was such love and happiness in it.

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The professional photographers for the event were Diana Matthews and Monica Dechene of Creative Moments Photography. I can’t wait to see their photos when they are online and Diana has graciously provided some to add to this post. Thanks, Diana!

Kim and Beau Marry Under an Historic Oak Tree in Raleigh, September 18, 2010

When I was a child, I remember my grandmother used to say that God’s first temples were the trees. Through the years I have often been struck by the beauty of trees but I was not prepared for the incredibly magnificent white oak tree that awaited me at the wedding site that Kim and Beau had chosen. The site was his parents’ home in Raleigh and their yard contains the oldest known tree in Wake County (over 350 years!). Under the sheltering branches of this beautiful tree we held the ceremony and there could not have been a more spectacular and spiritual location. I fell immediately and completely in love with that tree. Unfortunately this photo of it does not even come close to doing it the justice it deserves..

Adding to the charm of the location, Kim and Beau had created some wonderful accents, like the wedding sign that greeted us as we came up the driveway,

and the aisle flowers that were duplicated at the sign and in the unique potted flowers along the walk,

and the floating balls in the back yard.

From beginning to end it was a fairy tale setting with lots of Beatles music for the wedding, kind and happy people all around and a beaming Bride and Groom. Here they are after the ceremony, on the porch for photos.

Kim and Beau, I wish you all the wonderful things a good marriage can bring and I hope you will celebrate your anniversary every year by spending some time under your magnificent wedding tree.
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