Annie and Paul Celebrate a Christmas Wedding Miracle at The Arrowhead Inn in Durham

Annie and Paul wanted a quiet, intimate wedding and they came from Virginia with three friends to create a wonderful, private celebration of their love. It almost didn’t happen, though, because in August Annie had been thrown from a horse and had broken her back. She worked hard to regain all her functions and Paul had been there with her, helping her all the way. When the wedding day dawned, Annie gamely decided to dispense with her back brace and stand alone for the wedding. She even managed to complete their first dance after the ceremony! (The old-fashioned words pluck and spunk come to mind.)

They chose the lovely Arrowhead Inn for the ceremony and they could not have chosen a more perfect place for their wedding. Intimate, charming and tucked off the highway, it is a lovely little B&B in Durham. The main house has a beautiful parlor and the owners, Gloria and Phil, always have the most beautiful Christmas decorations. The room is beautiful any time of the year but at Christmas it takes on a special glow.

Paul had put together an iPod playlist for the ceremony music and Annie walked in to John Denver’s, “Annie’s Song,” escorted by her friend and Maid of Honor. Annie was looking beautiful in her lovely white gown and, knowing how brave she had been to get to this day, it touched everyone’s hearts. There were tears in all our eyes as she entered, especially Paul’s.

We stood in front of the beautiful fireplace for the ceremony and when the ceremony was finished we all took photos of ourselves together.

The lady in the white sweater in the photo above is the wife of the Best man and she was the photographer for the event. I’m the lady on the far left.

After the photos were finished, the happy couple took their first dance together in the parlor in front of the Christmas tree to Frank Sinatra’s version of “The Way You Look Tonight.” We were all loving what we were seeing; a miracle of medicine, determination and answered prayers was dancing right in front of our eyes.

After the dance, they headed to the dining room for the meal that Phil had been preparing. Not sure what they were having, but it did smell delicious! Here is the lovely little wedding cake Gloria and Phil had provided for them. Bet it tasted every bit as wonderful as it looked.

Annie and Paul, I so enjoyed getting to know you and being a part of your Christmas wedding miracle. You will always be in my heart.
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Krista, Drew and Carter Become a Family at The Arrowhead Inn in Durham, March 25, 2011

Krista is a teacher and Drew is a policeman. They are obviously a couple who care about their community. They care about each other so much that Krista moved she and her son, Carter, from Minnesota to start a life with Drew. They are in sync with each other in so many ways and their personalities were definitely shining through in charming ways on their wedding day.

They chose as their wedding location the wonderful Arrowhead Inn in Durham. With two cottages and the main house to choose from, they chose to stay in the quaint log cabin and stage the wedding entrances from there. The wedding itself was held in the beautiful white gazebo across the lawn from the cabin. It is a sparkling property and a delightful bed and breakfast and I can highly recommend it.

Here are some photos of the modernly rustic interior of the cabin;

 For her something old and new, Krista wore her Grandmother’s wedding ring and pinned her Grandmother’s beautiful brooch to the inside of her dress.

As the wedding began, I saw immediately how their perfectly honed senses of humor were going to come into play. Drew pushed a button on the iPod player and Adam Sandler’s voice started singing “I Want to Grow Old With You,” which was Krista’s cue to enter across the lawn, escorted by Carter. As she got closer to us I could see she and Drew were looking at each other, mouthing the words. It was the only time I have ever seen that song used as a Bridal Processional and it was absolutely perfect for them.

After the ceremony, as they stepped out of the gazebo together for the recessional, they stepped off on the same foot and started singing, “We’re off to see the wizard...” as their son and the Best Man’s daughter, Brittany, ran along beside them taking photos. It made my heart smile watching their happiness.

Eventually they all came back to the gazebo for some formal photos and enjoyed looking at the back of Brittany’s camera, checking out her handiwork, which led to more fun photo ideas from everyone. Note Drew’s retro shoes and the cool dude leaning against the post, not to mention that steamy kiss!

As a special wedding gift to Carter, Krista and Drew had given him a watch they had made with a photo of the three of them together and their wedding date at the bottom of the photo. It was a great gift and Carter was so proud of his new watch.

One thing you can’t see in the photo above, unfortunately; Krista had her manicurist paint, “I do” on her wedding ring ringer. Now that’s a way to help the groom not get confused which finger the ring goes on!

Here is Carter reading the engraving on the back of his watch. 

Krista and Drew, your beaming smiles, your adorable son acting so grown up, your happy friends, the beautiful location and especially your obvious love for each other completely made my day. Every time I watch The Wedding Singer from now on I will always think of you. May you continue to have a happy life together, taking care of each other and helping Carter grow to manhood.

Erica and Michael Celebrate their Wedding at The Arrowhead Inn in Durham, December 18, 2010

Erica and Michael met in a Spanish class at UNC many years ago and it was three months before she finally got up the courage to ask him out. They’ve been together ever since that first date and on a very cold and sunny day this December they married under a beautiful white gazebo at The Arrowhead Inn.

Originally, the wedding was to have been a surprise for all their guests, with them being invited to what they were to think was an engagement party, but Erica and Michael just couldn’t contain themselves and eventually spilled the beans. That didn’t stop their families from celebrating with high excitement and joy and despite our all standing outside in the cold for the wedding, Erica and Michael said their vows in the outdoor wedding that was very important to them. So important, in fact, that even though Erica was sleeveless in her lovely wedding dress while the rest of us were shivering in our coats, she says she never even felt the cold.

They chose as their wedding location the very special Arrowhead Inn, lovingly cared for by the innkeepers, Gloria and Phil Teber. Decorated up for Christmas, it lent an even more special ambiance to the house and grounds and it matched the festive mood of the wedding couple and their guests.

After the ceremony, everyone lingered outside a bit, waiting for the photographer to get a group shot. Their families had come in from all over the USA and it was very important to Erica and Michael that they get a shot of everyone together. While we waited, I was able to catch a couple candid moments with my camera while the happy couple greeted their guests. It was all very sweet.

And someone even got a shot of me with the handsome newlyweds.

Afterwards, they all went into the house to share a meal at a beautiful table set up beside the Christmas tree in the back parlor.  It looked so charming and inviting, like a Norman Rockwell painting.

The simple, elegant cake was provided by The Cake Lady, who always does lovely cakes.

It was a cold day, but all the emotions were so warm you would have almost never known it. Erica and Michael, I hope you are always surrounded by the warm, kind love that was so evident on your wedding day.

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Others on had to make the day a success;

Flowers - Nancy Dawson of Special Event Florals

Photographer - David Gardner ( I only got his name, but I will add his information here once I get it)

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Gloria - Thanks so much for sending me out with that warm and delicious apple cider. It was wonderful!

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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