Danielle and Christopher Get Married at Duke Gardens Pergola!

After many years of trial and error dating, Chris and Danielle resorted to a very sophisticated and thorough matching system known as match.com. She winked at him and well, as they say, the rest is history. Their profiles revealed shared interests in music and food and as they emailed back and forth they enjoyed a lighthearted banter about random topics. They finally met on April 14, 2007 at Glass Half Full in Carrboro. They let their relationship develop slowly and found that they were really meant for each other. At some point they decided to marry. They reserved the pergola at Duke Gardens for September 4, 2010 and invited 50 of their family and closest friends with a reception afterward at the Four Square Restaurant. I met with Danielle and Chris last February to begin planning their wedding ceremony.  Together we created a beautiful ceremony that included the story of how they met, fell in love, and what they look forward to in the future. Chris is from England and his parents and sister came from "across the pond" for this wonderful occasion.

A friend of Danielle's, Kate, was our wedding director and she did a great job of lining up the processional and cuing in the parents and wedding party which consisted of Danielle's sister, Lindsey, as her maid of honor and Chris' sister, Lisa, as his "best woman." Doesn't Chris's mother look so stylish and very suitably British in her lovely hat?

Then it was time for the bride and her mother, Stephanie, to enter. Stephanie came from Iowa for this momentous occasion to escort her daughter down the aisle.

The transfer of hands from bride's mother to the groom's took place at the bottom of the steps. Then the couple and wedding party followed me to the top of the steps for the ceremony, symbolizing taking their relationship to new heights with their marriage.

This wedding day could not have been more perfect! The sun was shining but it was in the comfortable 80 degree range with not a cloud in the sky.

Since I stand furthest into the pergola, often I am in shadow but that does not matter because the couple is in full view and my sound system assures that all the guests can hear what I am saying.

A few minutes into the ceremony after the welcome and the prayer, I stepped out from behind the couple and asked their parents to stand for the parents' blessing. It is a sweet moment.

Telling the story here! A few good laughs about their adventures together.

Chris saying his vows and placing the ring on Danielle's finger. He had told me before the wedding began that he was feeling nervous. I told him to relax, that I had a very calming presence. He did and got through just fine.

Danielle puts the ring on Chris' finger. You can see in my hand the hankie I gave her for the tears that rolled out of her eyes and the sniffles in her nose.

 Take a deep breath! The moment of the pronouncement when they are legally husband and wife!

MMMMMM....... the KISS!

I stopped to speak with a couple who are friends of Danielle and Chris' whom I am marrying next April. Then I grabbed a quick photo with the happy couple, packed up the sound system, then dashed to the next wedding at Highgrove in Fuquay Varina, a 45 minute drive. Chris and Danielle, you are super and I am so glad you found each other. I wish you all the happiness in the world.

Our musicians for the occasion were with Arioso Strings. That is Rebecca Carlson on violin and Becky Lyman on cello. I feel like we are old friends because of the large number of weddings we are both at. Becky was at the last wedding I did at Duke Gardens and it was raining and we recruited a guest to hold an umbrella over her head while she played! Today's weather was so welcome!

Riley Maclean was our photographer. He is a friend of the couple who lives in the Reno/Lake Tahoe area but he is relocating to the Triangle area right away and I thought I would give him a little plug here. Would love to see his photos of this wedding.

Tre Bella Florists furnished the pretty flowers.

As always, thanks to Jenn Copeland of Duke Gardens for referring couples to me!