Kate and Josh Have a Glowing Wedding at the Rand-Bryan House in Garner, March 12, 2011

This beaming couple met over three years ago through a mutual friend and they have been together ever since. You can see in both their faces a love of life and they really are a great match for each other. Their wedding day was a glowing spring day, perfectly reflecting the happiness on their faces and those of their family and friends. It looked like a lively wedding celebration was getting started as I was leaving and I can only imagine what a great time was surely had by all.

When I arrived for the wedding, 30 minutes early, Josh and his Groomsmen were hanging around, trying to find things to do while the ladies were sequestered away.

                                                                                                                               

Kate and the Bridesmaids were in the dressing room with the photographer, finishing photos and all the little final details that ladies always do. Kate was absolutely glowing in her beautiful dress and she and her Bridesmaids were having a great time kidding each other and laughing all the while.

It turns out Kate has an amazing tattoo of a phoenix that runs the length of her back and her wedding dress showed just enough of the tattoo to make it a perfect accent.

The moms were in the dining room pinning on corsages and being tons of help in all the many ways that moms know how to do. Where would we be without our moms?

Kate and Josh chose the sparkling Rand-Bryan House as the perfect wedding location for the day they had in mind. Owned and managed by Martha Bryan Liles, Martha had her daughter, Audrey, there that day, helping make everything perfect for Kate and Josh. 

I really enjoy doing weddings at the Rand-Bryan House. The house and grounds are bright and airy, full of sunlight and gorgeous trees. This day I noticed that three young cherry trees were in bloom behind where the arch stood for the ceremony in the side lawn and they were just beautiful. Once they are fully grown, early spring weddings are going to be beyond spectacular there.

Here are some photos of the house and grounds. The weather was so glorious that tables were set up on the lawn and a perfect breeze was blowing. It was like a Hollywood production company had put together this wedding.

The breeze had a field day with Kate’s veil throughout the ceremony but it was beautiful as it blew around, glowing in the afternoon sun. It made Kate look like an angel. Hopefully the photographers got some amazing photos of it.

The photographers for the day were Josh’s sister, Nicole Lupton, of Nicloe Louise Photography and her assistant, Amber Warlock.  Despite Nicole’s baby being due almost any day, she and Amber were there for Kate and Josh, catching wonderful memories of the day. Can’t wait to see their photos. (update 3/23/11 - Nicole has just posted the photo previews in Facebook and here is the link to her great photos, one of which is included at the end of this post! Thanks, Nicole.)

Kate’s grandfather was in a wheelchair and I love this shot of her showing the wedding ring to her grandparents. It was a touching moment.

Other wedding professionals on hand that day to help make the wedding such a success;

DJ - Ross Denson of J. Ross Party Productions

Caterers - Catering Works

Florals - Gregg Kennedy of Brides and Bouquets

Kate and Josh, yours was such a happy wedding and I know you and your friends and family had the time of your lives. With your zest for life and your eye for the special little things that make living such a pleasure, you are sure to have a romantic, happy life together. I hope you will stay in touch so I can keep up with you as your lives go forward. And although he couldn’t be there that day because he is so “sweet, loving but seriously crazy and rambunctious,” please be sure to give your beloved Rocky a hug and a treat for me.   :-)

Leigh Ann and Mark Become Husband and Wife at The Rand-Bryan House on February 20, 2011

It was a GLORIOUS day for a wedding! The sun was shining, the weather was springtime-warm and beautiful and Leigh Ann and Mark were every bit as glowing as the day. After so much cold weather this winter, it was a welcome respite for a wedding day and a fine omen of things to come for Leigh Ann and Mark.

They chose as their wedding location the very special Rand-Bryan House in Garner. A renovated farm-style house located not far from where they both work (and their reception location), The Clubhouse Restaurant, it was a perfect setting for the glowing couple and the glowing day.

Here is the front of the house

And the back.

All around the house are open fields and a Christmas Tree farm. It has a wonderful open, airy feeling and fit Leigh Ann and Mark’s personalities perfectly.

When they initially decided on The Rand-Bryan House for their wedding, they did not know it was going to be such a beautiful day so they had planned for the wedding to be held in the bright, cheery and inviting sunroom of the house. I absolutely love this room because even in overcast weather the light just sparkles in there.

They had decorated the room with beautiful flowers and ferns ( I did not get the name of the florist, unfortunately) and put rose petals on the floor along the aisle. It was simple, elegant and beautiful.

On hand from The Rand-Bryan House was Martha Bryan Liles, the owner and Manager, and as usual she did a wonderful job of making sure everything was ready for Leigh Ann and Mark’s special day. After the wedding, I noticed Martha was speaking with an engaged couple who had attended the wedding. They were so taken with the place that they had approached her about it. Hope they have their wedding there. They are sure to love it if they do. (Update 2/27/11 - they did sign for their wedding in May of this year - smart couple!)

The DJ for the day was Rick Barefoot of Absolute Entertainment. He was very professional and you could tell he knew what he was doing. Music is such an integral part of a wedding and he was a real asset for the event. Here he is standing behind his equipment.

Taking all the great photos of the day were Sue Mitchiner and Johnny Johnson of Zoom in Photography.  (Their website is currently undergoing renovations so the link will take you to their email. I will update it when their site is back online.) Here’s a touching shot taken by Sue as the newly married couple headed back out the aisle.

Photo by Sue Mitchiner of Zoom In Photography

Sue and Johnny were also very skilled at getting everyone organized for photos after the wedding so people could head on over to the reception. Bet all those in the photos really appreciated that.

As I was leaving after the wedding, I noticed the Bride’s dressing room was awash in sunlight and couldn’t resist snapping a couple of photos. It’s such a nice room for getting ready for a wedding.

Leigh Ann and Mark, I really enjoyed being a part of your wedding day and know you are going to be very happy together. May all your dreams come true in unique and wonderful ways.

Rebecca and Mike Celebrate a Love Story with a Happy Ending, November 6, 2010

 

Many of us have gone to the movies to watch a love story, but Rebecca and Mike’s own love story actually started at a movie theater when they were working together in high school. Life took them in different directions after graduation, but Mike's feelings for Rebecca never changed. He said he was just waiting for Life to bring her back to him... which it did about 2 years ago. And low and behold, Rebecca's heart was still open, too, so that little spark from long ago grew into a mighty flame.

Naturally, they could not have their wedding without some reference to their relationship's beginning so everyone received a familiar popcorn box full of the traditional concession stand candies we all love. Attached to each box was their story and the Carmike tickets decorating the boxes were saved from the actual movie theater at which they worked so long ago. You would have thought they were saved just for this day! It was absolutely charming and a big hit with all the guests.

They chose as their wedding location the bright and cheery Rand-Bryan House in Garner. I love doing weddings there because all the sunshine streams into the house from the expansive grounds and it always feels so clean and happy. Here are the tables set up from the front room into the sunroom.

And notice the clean and simple centerpieces which, along with all the wedding florals, were provided by Tre Bella Florist.

On hand to coordinate everything and make sure it all went off perfectly was Jenn Carlin of Triangle Catering. Not only in charge of the food and decorations, she was a wiz at keeping everyone on schedule so Rebecca and Mike's plans were handled in style. Very efficient and most patient and kind, I will certainly be looking forward to working with her again at future weddings. Here she is directing guests when they arrived.

It was a glorious day for a wedding and even the trees were in full autumn splendor for the celebration. Although you can't see it very well in this photo, the DJ, Frank Meldau of Joe Bunn DJ Company, was on hand to provide the musical backdrop for the day and he placed himself inside the little brick shelter under the tree. The wedding was held in the lawn to the right of this tree.

The clean, simple elegance of the day was picked up in the cake by Jennifer Stevens of  Ambrosia Cake Creations. Her cakes are always so beautiful.

After the wedding, where Rebecca and Mike had spoken beautiful, hand-written vows to each other, the guests went to the house for refreshments. These inviting tables were placed along the front porch area of the house.

This table was set up to hold the guest book and gift cards as well as the unique cake plate that all the guests were to sign as a wedding keepsake for the Bride and Groom.

Rebecca and Mike had contacted me for their wedding because a few years earlier I had ministered the wedding of Mike's sister, Christiana. Christiana and her husband, David, were in Rebecca and Mike's wedding party and it was great to see them again and see them still blissfully in love. I always love running into couples I've married and this happy occasion was especially nice for a reunion.

The photographers for the day were Karen Bonneau and Monte Mauney of Bonneau and Mauney Photography. They were all over the place and surely must have gotten some amazing shots.

Rebecca and Mike, your love story touched my heart and most assuredly the hearts of everyone who knows and loves you. So now you start on the sequel. There are so many wonderful story lines ahead of you and I hope every one of them continues to have a happy ending.

Erin and Mark Marry at the Rand-Bryan House, October 23, 2010

Erin and Mark met as college sophomores and after years of graduate school and starting careers, they were finally able to marry. Their smiles here are every bit as bright and sunny as the day of their wedding. It was an absolutely glorious day for them to begin their married life and everyone in attendance was as happy as they were.

They chose as their wedding location the lovely Rand-Bryan House in Garner, NC. Situated atop a hill in a Christmas tree farm, it is a secluded setting that lends itself beautifully to special events.








The ceremony was held in the bright, cheery sunroom of the house.

To commemorate their marriage, Erin and Mark planted a young butterfly bush during the ceremony. Over time that bush is going to get very tall and every year they are going to have a lot of butterflies around their home. What a great remembrance to have of such a happy day.

The music for the ceremony was provided by Pavelid Castaneda on electric harp. It was exquisite. If you have never heard electric harp before, you are in for a treat when you do hear it. What a wonderful sound. And it was perfect for Erin and Mark’s wedding.

Here’s the adorable little Flower Girl who was quite the hit with everyone.

The beautiful program design was created for them by a good friend.

The photographer for the day was Curtis Brown of Curtis Brown Photography and here he is taking photos after the ceremony. His fun personality brought out everyone’s natural smiles.

It was a happy wedding, a perfect, beautiful day and I loved sharing in the joy. Erin and Mark, I hope your life together is filled with as much sunshine and happiness as your wedding day and your yard is always full of butterflies.