An artist paints Leigh and Tony’s magical wedding at St. Mary’s Chapel in Raleigh, November 28, 2009

Leigh and Tony are a unique couple in many ways. How many people do you know who had their first date in a police car?! And who would have ever thought that a police car could become a romantic environment.

Tony is a police officer in Durham and he and Leigh have been friends for many years. They met in the tenth grade. About a year ago the friendship started deepening and Tony asked her to go with him for a “ride-along” while he was on duty. Leigh accepted this unusual offer and - as she puts it - she got into the car a friend but came out a few hours later as a girlfriend. I love their story.

They hired a local artist, Tesh Parekh, to do paintings of the wedding and reception while they were actually happening. A reproduction of Tesh’s wedding painting is included here by his kind permission and the original is sure to become a beloved keepsake in Leigh and Tony’s home. If you would like Tesh to do the same for your wedding - or any other important function - you can contact him through this link.

The wedding was held in the wonderful old St. Mary’s Chapel on the campus of St. Mary’s School in Raleigh. Built in 1852 and still an active church to this day, it is on the National Historic Register and has a distinctive old-world charm. The chapel is really quite special and it is much larger inside than what the exterior would lead you to believe. It has a palpable spiritual feeling from the 157 years of prayer and human emotions that have taken place within its walls and I found that to be very comforting. This was the first wedding I had ever done there and I will be looking forward to more in the future. I guess you could say I fell in love with it as much as Leigh and Tony and it was absolutely perfect for the religious sincerity of the ceremony we had worked together to create.

Here is a photo of the chapel, taken by Michael Zirkle Photography.

Leigh and Tony had set out clear glass vases of water and candles all around the entrance and along the walkway as you approached the front. The vases were of differing shapes and sizes, with floating white candles lit in every one. With dusk upon us, the flickering candlelight was reflecting in the water and glass and combining with the rich, warm glow of the church interior coming through the open doors. It made for a magical setting right out of Hollywood. As Leigh stood in the doorway to make her entrance, the outside light was shining on her perfectly and her veil took on a beautiful glow around her. Yes, this was a magical wedding indeed.

Leigh and Tony very wisely chose Cara Zeulke of A Southern Soiree as their wedding planner. She and her assistants made sure everything was handled with efficiency and kindness, which is part of why Cara is so successful in her work. And why I always enjoy working with her so much.

On hand to photograph the event was Shane Snider. He has an eye for the unexpected and unusual and his rapid-fire trigger finger allows him to get some very creative shots. All the beautiful photos in this post were provided by Shane (thanks, Shane), including this touching one of Leigh as she was listening to Tony speak the beautiful vows he had written to her. His vows were so tender and heartfelt that I don’t know how she managed to read the equally beautiful vows she had written to him when it was her turn. What a moving photo this is of love given and returned.

The artful flowers decorating the church and carried by Leigh and her Bridesmaids were provided by Fresh Affairs. I have seen their work many times before and it is always beautiful. Cara calls them “floral genius” and they certainly are.

Leigh and Tony, you were both aglow in your love for each other and your hopes and dreams for your future. I know you will have many wonderful times ahead - and may all your dreams come true.

Mimi and Tanner blend Hindu and Christian traditions to create a unique ceremony - July 24, 2009 - The Forest Theater, Chapel Hill

Mimi and Tanner, coming from Hindu, Baptist and Catholic backgrounds, wanted to honor and include all the traditions in their ceremony so they contacted Guru Shukla (a Hindu Priest) and myself to work with them to create a ceremony that would do exactly that. I have worked with Guru Shukla before and his ceremonies are always special for he takes the time to explain to all assembled what the significance is of each portion of the Hindu wedding ceremony. Because at their root all religions profess the same values, it is much easier than one might expect to blend the Hindu and Christian texts and traditions to create a beautiful ceremony - and this wedding was quite touching with the mix chosen by Mimi and Tanner.

Here is a photo of Guru Shukla as he sets up the stage for the Hindu portions of the ceremony. Normally, a Hindu wedding takes many hours, but our ceremony had to be limited because of time constraints.

The ceremony took place in the beautiful old Forest Theater on the UNC campus in Chapel Hill. The theater dates back to 1916, when it was first used as an outdoor theater. Hewn from the rock of the hill on which it sits, there is a marvelous old world charm about it that I love

This photo is Guru Shukla in the side entrance to the stage. You can see the stones used in the wall from the building of the theater.

This next photo is the amphitheater seating cut into the stone, going up the side of the hill. (It is much more steep than it looks here.)

And here is the actual stage itself, set up for our ceremony. The ceremony took place within the yellow rose petals strewn on the ground. The chairs on each side were for the parents to sit and participate in the ceremony. The dark spots in a line on the right center of the photo are actually leaves that mark the Seven important elements of a couple’s life together and therefore the seven steps that are required to begin them. Looking carefully at the far chairs, you can also see the two garlands that the Bride and Groom will exchange during the ceremony.

Because the ceremony was to be about including everyone, there were no specific dress styles required. Some wore western style clothing and some wore saris, but all the bridesmaid dresses were soft neutral tones that picked up the various colors of the stones. I thought Mimi’s dress was one of the most exquisite wedding gowns I had ever seen and she looked beautiful in it. It had the perfect feel for their wedding in Nature. And Tanner’s tennis shoes - what a great, unexpected touch!

Mimi and Tanner were initially attracted to each other because of their shared love of philosophy so it came as no surprise when they told me they wanted to write something to each other and keep it secret until the wedding. As you might imagine, their choices were personal and touching and Tanner’s was a poem he wrote for Mimi. Couched inside both readings were secret meanings that only they understood and I could see that they were both affected by each other’s words. It was another sweet part of the ceremony.

Mimi and Tanner are soon to move to New York to start out on a new phase of their lives, but I know they will always hold a special place in their hearts for the unique way they chose to begin their married life. Being pronounced husband and wife in both the Hindu and Christian traditions, they go forward with the blessings of all those who love them dearly.

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Other vendors on hand to make the wedding a success;

Wedding Planner - Cara Zuelke of A Southern Soiree (what an INCREDIBLE job she did!!)

Photographer - Meredith Davenport of Christian Oth Studios

Sound Equipment - Ken Holmes of Joe Bunn DJ Company

Musicians - Elegant Ensembles

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FYI; I have recently learned that 2009 will be the last year weddings are going to be held in the Forest Theater. Such sad news. I am going to miss it. If you are thinking about having your ceremony there, you should contact the theater right away to learn if your date and time are still available.

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Melissa and Alan - a classic Hollywood style wedding at Brier Creek Country Club, Raleigh, June 12, 2009

This was a fun wedding from beginning to end and I will never forget all the surprising and amazingly creative things that Melissa and Alan did for their wedding. They wanted the feel of old, classic Hollywood and they created it right down to the smallest detail - and most of the creations they did themselves. The theme was “Feathers-n-Pearls” and the colors were black, white and hot pink, used creatively in everything they did. Melissa even wore a feather and pearls in her hair and made beautiful pearl necklaces for her bridesmaids.

While planning their wedding, Melissa wrote a blog, appropriately called Feathers-n-Pearls. I encourage everyone to read it if you haven’t already. She has so much great information there and you are sure to find it very useful as you plan your wedding. And it’s a fun read. Here’s a link to a post I wrote about it some time back.

The ceremony took place in the wedding garden at Brier Creek Country Club in Raleigh. There is a large arbor there and for weddings white sheers are hung amongst the beams and they billow with the wind. It makes an incredibly beautiful backdrop and suited Melissa and Alan’s plans perfectly.

The pink pomanders that hung from the chairs and were carried in by the flower girl were hand made by Alan and Melissa. They were so beautiful you would never have guessed they were actually made of tissue paper. They found the directions for them online - so there is sure to be a post about it in her blog.

Also in her blog, Melissa mentioned she was dying her wedding petticoat hot pink and I couldn’t wait to see it at the wedding. Here’s a photo of the finished product - it perfectly matched her bouquet. Nice touch.

Unbelievably, with all the many other things Alan and Melissa did for their wedding, they also found time to write a beautiful ceremony that reflected their feelings for each other as well as their guests. They included a lovely Sand Ceremony and one of their guests caught a great shot of them pouring the sand. (Love those smiles!)

Once the ceremony was concluded, we all went inside for the reception and what a treat for the senses awaited us there! There was the tallest chocolate fountain I had ever seen and lots of hors d’oeuvres, all laid out beautifully. Yum!

But the real treat were the table decorations. Following the feathers and pearls theme, the table centerpieces, created by The English Garden, were very Norma Desmond (Sunset Boulevard)

and absolutely perfect for the occasion. The tables glistened with the crystal, pearls and candles and each table was named for a Hollywood Icon - Audrey Hepburn, James Dean, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Cary Grant... just to name a few.

The beautiful cake, created by Cinda’s Creative Cakes, was a knockout and the topper was absolutely perfect for the event. Everywhere you turned it was one amazing thing after the other and it was a total delight to be a part of such a fun and creative evening. I am sure their friends and family will be telling them for years how great their wedding was.

Alyse Woodward of Alyse Woodward Events was the wedding planner and she kept everything rolling along on schedule. There was a lot to oversee for this wedding and she seemed to take it all in stride. I had never worked with Alyse before but she was a lot of fun to be around and I can see why Melissa and Alan chose her.

The photographer for the event was April Sirit of Evoke Photography. I watched her work from the sidelines and she took so many wonderful-looking photos that Melissa and Alan are going to have trouble deciding on just a few hundred. That’s going to be a huge wedding album! Can’t wait to see the final shots once they are online.

And of course, where would an event be without a great DJ? Bethany, of All the Right Grooves (an all female DJ company) was on hand to create the musical backdrop for the evening and she had plenty of Ol’ Blue Eyes in there for the theme of the event. And many other classic greats as well, all chosen by Melissa and Alan. I am always amazed at the range of music that DJs have and Bethany is no exception. Good job, girl!

It was a great evening, and as Alan and Melissa sail off into the sunset, I know they are going to live happily ever after.

(cut - print - that’s a wrap!)

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Other vendors who helped make the wedding a success;

Hair and Make-up - Elizabeth Tolley

Video - Keith - K A Studios

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Update -  Melissa and Alan became the proud parents of Dylan Alexander on August 29, 2010. Congratulations, Mom and Dad!

Here are two great photos, taken by their wedding photographer, April Sirit, of Evoke Photography.

Sharing the love of a child brings an incredible new depth to a marriage.
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the Knot serves up a fun buffet for local wedding vendors, June 11, 2009

If you have been planning a wedding, you probably already know about the knot and their highly successful wedding magazines. They have become the go-to website for all things wedding and are always being quoted and interviewed in the media. Not only do they provide useful information, but they have also grown into a community of couples planning their weddings and much more. The knot has now added a website for the newly married (the nest) and for those expecting a baby (the bump), so the knot family continues to grow.

Last week (6/11/09) the knot came to Raleigh to host an appreciation dinner for their local wedding vendors and it was a great evening. Samantha Dockery of Bliss by Sam, is one of our Raleigh wedding planners and she handled all the local details for the knot. Wakefield Plantation, a beautiful golf community clubhouse with a great lay-out and perfect for weddings, provided the location. And the food they provided was delicious! To add to the fun, a couple of local vendors added some unique additions of their own.

One was Sugarland, a shop in Chapel Hill that makes wedding cakes and other confections. But for this evening they brought along their Italian gelato bar. I had never tasted gelato before but it was exquisite. No wonder so many of us kept going back for more! They had tiny sugar cones they served the gelato in and of course we all had to try the different flavors they brought - each one better than the last. Although they only brought four flavors in their smallest gelato bar, their website shows many, many other flavors as well. I can certainly see how this would be a huge hit at a reception or a rehearsal dinner and I can’t wait for my first excuse to visit their shop in Chapel Hill!

The other fun thing going on that evening was the photo booth, provided by Shutter Booth. Remember when you were a kid at a fair or some arcade and they had those photo booths you’d go into with friends (or your siblings if your parents made you) and you mugged into the camera? Well, this is the same thing - only nicer. And if you want to revert to a kid again immediately, go into one of these! I have been hearing that this is becoming popular at weddings and I can certainly see why. Shutter Booth provided some fun dress-up paraphernalia for the photos and everyone was thoroughly enjoying themselves! I have included some photos from the booth with my good friend and colleague, Rev. Kayelily Middleton, and our willing husbands - all of us hamming it up like a bunch of kids. Because this was a knot event, the knot logo was on the bottom of each set of four photos printed, but for your event the text on the bottom will have your name and information, based on the specs you provide. Very clever. And waaaay too much fun. Within a few days they post all the photos taken at each event on their website (in case you lose the ones you got at your event).

One of the favors the knot gave out that night was delicious cookies with the knot logo as the icing on the cookies. The cookies were great and the reproduction in the icing was superb. This is not your mother’s icing decorations. Their brochure says, “full color images on cookies, chocolates and sugar lays” (yum!) and it appears they can do any text or photo in any color. This would be a great wedding favor or gift to be sure. The name of the company is FB&C (Freedom Bakery & Confections) and you might want to check out their website for the full range of what they can provide.

If you are looking for something really fun and/or different for your wedding or event, you can’t go wrong with any of these companies!

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Also on hand to help make the event a success were the following;

Photography - Emory Lane Photography

Rentals - Classic Party Rentals

Programs and Invitations - Twin Dogs Stationery

Floral Arrangements - Queen Ann’s Florist - 919-360-8383

Audio Visual Equipment - Total Production Services

Entertainment - DJ 360

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Here’s a crop of one of the photos in a set of four, (taken of my husband Bill and I) so you can see the quality of the photos Shutter Booth takes. Bill is such a sweetie and looked too cute here when he stepped out of his normal quiet-self mode, so I couldn’t resist adding one more photo of us together...

Bridal Bouquets That Reflect Your Style

In March 2009, before I was writing this blog, I was asked to be the minister for Crystal and Ben’s wedding. They wanted their wedding to be different from the norm and Crystal even went so far as to not want flowers for her wedding like everyone else. 

So what to do about a bouquet and boutonnieres? Why, make them out of candy, of course! The bouquet and boutonnieres were so unusual that I am sure their guests commented all night long about how clever they were. And how nice for Crystal and Ben that they had the courage of their convictions to take such a unique and unexpected approach.

The point here is to make your wedding flowers (as well as your whole wedding) be reflective of who you are and what is important to you. Have fun with your special day and make it even more special by designing your flowers (or anything else) with mementos that will have a special meaning for you.

I recently came across a blog post on this very topic from Kate Foster, a wedding planner in Raleigh, NC.  She has a very nice blog with all kinds of creative ideas for weddings and wedding decorations and you can read her bridal bouquet post here.

Happy creating!

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photos by Page Dunlap of Cirba Photography

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Kathryn and Mark marry May 2, 2009 at The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill

So would the rain hold off or not? That was the big question through the day, but in the end, it was perfect weather for this lovely interfaith ceremony in the intimate Bryan Courtyard of The Carolina Inn.

I had not met Kathryn and Mark before their rehearsal, although we did correspond before then to put together the framework for the wonderful ceremony they had written themselves. Being a Jewish-Christian relationship and wedding, it was very important to them that they honor and incorporate both traditions and blend them into a beautiful celebration of both. To that end, I co-officiated the ceremony with my friend and colleague, Rabbi Andrew Ettin. It turned out that he had known the groom and his family years before when they were all at the same Temple when the groom was in grade school! Mark’s family had long since moved away, but Life had brought everyone back together again for this very special day. It must have been fun for them to reminisce.

The wedding directing was in the very capable hands of Cara Zuehlke of A Southern Soiree and her assistant, Stephanie Cisko. Cara is a joy to work with and things always go smoothly. This wedding presented her with an unusual challenge and she found a very clever solution; the chuppa as designed was not working out well so she creatively wound the cloth of the chuppa into the branches of the tree in front of which the ceremony would take place. Mixed in with that were flower pomanders of varying sizes and voilà - you have one of the most beautiful chuppas I have ever seen. As soon as I have a photo of it I will add it here. 

And speaking of photos, the photographers for the day were the talented husband and wife team, James and Meredith Walters, of Walters and Walters. I have worked with them before, quite recently, and loved watching them work. They have such unique ideas for capturing the special and touching moments of their clients and I am looking forward to seeing their photos of the wedding when they are available. 

It is always illuminating when a couple write their own ceremony for in the words they write you find the depth of what’s important to them. For Mark and Kathryn Sweet, what’s important to them is that they love each other and continue to honor the different traditions they bring together. The breaking of the glass at the end of their ceremony symbolized for them “the breaking down of barriers between people of different cultures and faiths. May the day soon arrive when all people live together as one.”  Amen.

Kathryn and Mark, I hope all your dreams come true!

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