Joe and Karissa marry at Brier Creek Country Club, December 5, 2009

Marrying in December, the obvious choice for a design theme would be to use all the Christmas decorations in abundance around you - which is exactly what Karissa and Joe decided to do. Everything they chose had an elegance to it and Brier Creek Country Club - always an elegant setting for a wedding to begin with - was a perfect backdrop. The club is a beautiful, upscale wedding location but at Christmas they simply outdo themselves with style, color and abundance. The beautiful setting Karissa and Joe created with Brier Creek was elegant, warm and welcoming - just like they are.

The wedding planner Karissa and Joe chose to work with for their wedding was Joy Edwards of A Joyful Occasion. With her personable assistant, Lindsey Moyer, the two were an unbeatable team of efficiency, complete with walkie-talkies. It was fun to watch them work as they maneuvered us all through our paces.

Also on hand to help with the background details was Kristie Taylor, the Catering Director with Brier Creek Country Club. She, Karissa and Joe were responsible for the beautiful surroundings of the wedding and reception and they certainly did themselves proud.

All the florals for the wedding and reception were provided by Mel Day and kenju of Dogwood Tree Floral Designs. I had thought this was the first time I had seen their work but it turns out I have been an unknowing admirer of theirs for many years. They did all the glorious Christmas decorations at Brier Creek and have been doing that for quite a long time. Their work is always beautiful and for the wedding it also had a unique and elegant flair, which was a winning combination. Here is a photo of the reception centerpieces with roses hanging from golden stems.

The colors for the evening were ivory and gold amidst all the Christmas decorations and it was simply beautiful. Even the cake, provided by Donna Ford of Sweet Memories, took up the color scheme in a dazzling display of cake artistry with a golden bow at the top. I am always in awe of the wedding cake creators and Donna is certainly one of our finest in the area. I have never seen her duplicate a single cake at another wedding and every design seems more amazing than the last.

The photographer for the event was Mike Bayley of Mike Bayley Photography. I have not seen Mike in a while so it was good to work with him again. He had a lovely second photographer with him that night, Kathleen Kelly, and between the two of them they were taking what looked to be some very sweet and heart-warming shots. Can’t wait to see the photos when they are posted online.

And last but not least for the ceremony was an excellent string duo from Florian Music. What can I say - perfection as always.

Karissa and Joe, it was a wonderful wedding full of celebrating life, love and family and I don’t think I will ever forget seeing your four little stepping-stone Flower Girls in their beautiful white dresses, coming down the aisle in a line, holding hands. That was just adorable. And Karissa, wearing your mother’s wedding dress to the rehearsal was such a sweet and thoughtful homage to your mom. She must have been very touched.

I know you are going to have a grand life together and can’t wait to find out where you decide to go for you honeymoon in a few months. Have a spectacular time wherever it is!

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Update 12/14/09

I have just learned from Karissa the name of her invitation and program designer; Mindy Sorboro of Sorboro Smiles in Cary, NC. All of the women at the reception were raving about the beautiful programs for the wedding and how unusual they were. If you are looking for something handcrafted and out of the ordinary in the way of invitations and other decorative stationary for weddings, you owe it to yourself to check out Mindy’s work.

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Jenny and Matt marry July 18, 2009, in The Barn at Fearrington Village

Sometimes our good friends really do know us better than we think. Five years ago, a friend set Jenny and Matt up on a blind date - unbeknownst to Jenny, as it turned out. On July 18, almost five years exactly from the day they first met, they were married. Obviously their friend saw something good.

Jenny and Matt live in Virginia but with Jenny’s family living in our area, they decided to come to NC to marry and chose The Barn at Fearrington Village as their setting. On hand at Fearrington Village to make sure all went well for them was the very capable Gilda McDaniel, the Special Events Manager, and she is a whiz. Nothing is ever left to chance with her and she makes things go so smoothly through the whole event that she can become invisible. A real professional.

Who would have ever thought that an old dairy barn could have been turned into such a wonderful location for a wedding? It has a rustic charm all its own and its honest dairy barn heritage gives no outward hint of the change it undergoes when it is all set up for a special event. But my goodness, when all the white lights that are twined around the inside pillars and the giant tree-branch chandeliers are all lit up, it takes on a magic you seldom see. And it was perfect for Jenny and Matt’s wedding.

The music for the ceremony was provided by a wonderful string trio from Florian Music and for the reception, a DJ from Island Sound, Frankie Hagan, did the honors. The Barn can go from classical to any-style music in the blink of an eye and it still works well no matter what. Very versatile.

The DJ, Frankie Hagan, is also very versatile. One of the many hats he wears is that of a dance instructor, so those of you wanting to learn how to wow your partner on the dance floor - or wow your guests with your first dance as husband and wife - check out his personal website.

Covering the photography for the event was Rob Tomlinson of Cutting Edge Photo. Nice man, very kind, and a great photographer. I can’t wait to see the final photos from Jenny and Matt’s wedding. Not only are they a handsome couple to begin with, but watching Rob work I could tell he has a good eye and Jenny and Matt are probably going to have a hard time choosing which photos to pick... they’re all going to be great!

There were also two videographers on hand, Carroll Herndon and James Tigner, both of Island Sound, which I learned that night is a DJ and videography company. They are sure to put together a great final video of the wedding because with two cameras they were able to cover a lot of ground. It was such a fun and happy wedding and the location was so scenic that the video is sure to be full of the many charming and wonderful moments we all experienced.

So take the simple elegance that Jenny and Matt chose for their wedding, add an old dairy barn with a hint of magic and you have the makings for a really special event. Jenny and Matt, I hope the magic lives within you both all the rest of your lives.

(In case you’re wondering, this is the life-size topiary cow that stands in the courtyard of the barn. Nice touch.)

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