Candace and Pesh's Fabulous Wedding at Prestonwood Country Club!

Sally Oakley of Sally Oakley Personalized Wedding Planning sent Candace and Pesh (full name Rupesh) my way back last September. We met and because I have done quite a number of Hindu/American blended ceremonies, they chose me to officiate. They were delighted that their ceremony could be very couple-specific which includes the story of how they met and fell in love, what they love about each other, and they could write their own secret vows. They have a great love story! See the story of their engagement at this post: Candace and Pesh.

Their gorgeous wedding was held at the prestigious Prestonwood Country Club in Cary. Sally and her staff had worked hard to make the couple's dream wedding a reality. Their photographer was the famous Dara Blakely and her crew. Their videographer, Rob, was with Twenty-One Films, and Udeshi Hargett, violinist, provided the lovely music for the ceremony.

 Fresh Affairs did the florals. 

This is the setting for the ceremony. An air wall at the back of the guests was opened up to flow into the adjoining ballroom after the ceremony and the ceremony area was flipped with tables and chairs.

After the entrance of Candace's grandmother and the parents, Pesh and his groomsmen and I entered and waited for the bridesmaids to make their entrance and take their places on the steps. Then it was time for Candace to enter. She was escorted in by her grandfather and her stepfather.

And so we began with a warm welcome, prayer, tribute to the parents, and remembrance of those who could not join us.

 Then I had the honor of telling their story which garnered some good laughter from their guests. 

At this point I am telling each of them what the other told me in confidence--what they love about their partner and what they are looking forward to in marriage.

 Again, we had some good laughs! 

For the vows we incorporated the Hindu tradition of Sapta Padi and I ascended the steps where the Maid of Honor and Best Man were waiting. Then the couple took a step for each of the seven vows.

They had written secret personalized vows with a touch of humor and they read them from my book as they exchanged rings.

 The pronouncement of marriage! 

 Ahh! The Kiss, Looks like a scene from a movie! 

 It is done! 

 The new Mr. and Mrs. step into their future! 

Candace and Pesh--what a romantic and meaningful ceremony! Thank you for giving me the honor of  joining you in marriage. May you always be happy and satisfied beyond your wildest imagination!

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Pam and Sam's Wedding at Capital City Club!

Pam and Sam are such a fun couple. They designed a wedding celebration that was relaxed and fun, yet elegant and meaningful. They loved writing their ceremony from my material and I enjoyed putting together their story from the questions they answered for me. We all were really excited for the wedding day to get here! It took place on September 11, 2010, a date that many couples shied away from, but Sam and Pam did not have a problem with that date. It took place at the lovely Capital City Club overlooking downtown Raleigh. They hired Arioso Strings (Ed on guitar and Craig on violin) for the ceremony music, Steve Stowe of Joe Bunn DJ Company for the reception, Fresh Affairs for the flowers, Miel Bon Bon for their wedding cake, and Chris Ferrer with Dara Blakeley Photography for their photographer. What a team! I love working with all of theml.

Marty and I arrived and set up my sound system at the ceremony site and admired the pretty altar flowers and candles.

We said hi to Ed and Craig with whom we just did a wedding together a couple of weeks ago.

The pretty table decorations were all ready for the reception. They planned on about 50 to 60 guests.

The cake was amazing. I knew it would be when they told me that they were having Miel Bon Bon do it. All their cakes are quite unique and original and this one was no exception.

And when it was time to begin, Kristen Duvall, with Capital City Club cued me to enter, followed by Sam and his mother, Diane. You can see Chris in the background. His wife, Kristen Ferrer, was the second camera.

Pam was escorted in by her sons, Paul and Chris. Halfway down the aisle, Sam met them and brought Pam the rest of the way down the aisle.

Pam got a little tearful so out the hankie came! I bring hankies to weddings to give to the bride and/or groom that need it.

Marty thought she had missed the kiss because Chris got in her way but she got it after all! The professional photographer gets priority, of course! I am sure Chris got some great photos. All the ones on this post are with my simple digital camera which does not have much flash power so some of these photos have been lightened up a bunch!

Here they are, folks: Sam and Pam, husband and wife and so happy to be!

Pam and Sam, you are terrific! Congratulations on your marriage and for planning a great wedding! Hope to see you doing your music thing at Piper's Tavern sometimes!

Very Special Wedding for Jenn and Andy at Duke Gardens Pergola!

Originally Jenn and Andy wanted to have their wedding in Henderson but when they could not find an officiant there, they decided to have it in the Triangle. The noon slot at Duke Gardens pergola just happened to be available on their wedding day of May 22, 2010. And, as luck would have it, I was available too having already booked the wedding at the pergola following their wedding. So, it all worked out great! The weather on Saturday was unstable and rain was threatening. But, we made it without a drop falling! Here are some behind the scenes photos of what takes place at the pergola beforehand to get ready for a wedding. 

One of my very favorite groups, Arioso Strings, sets up to provide the ceremony music.

Our Event Planner and Wedding Director with An Elegant Affair, Sally Oakley Herring, is putting on the chair covers and ties to dress up the plain green folding chairs that the Gardens furnish. Each wedding gets 50 chairs. If more than 50 guests, they stand to the sides of the chairs in the grass.

Sally did an incredible job of organizing this wedding and bringing all the vendors together as well as directing the ceremony. Thanks, Sally! 

Dara Blakeley, our photographer, and I go over the ceremony logistics and from which directions the wedding party will enter. At the pergola, the minister, groom and best man usually enter from the rear of the pergola once the mother of the bride has been escorted up the aisle below and seated. Today, since Jenn's mother and father were escorting her in, and Andy's mother, Carol, was being escorted in by her son, Buck, who was also the best man, Andy and I entered first with Dave, groomsman, and took our places first. Then Carol and Buck entered and he stepped up into his place, then the bridesmaids and so on.

Fresh Affairs delivered the bouquets and boutonnieres to the pergola. I pinned on the boutonnieres and Sally took the bouquets and rose petals down underneath the tree behind the bushes where the bride was hidden.

The cinematographers doing the wedding video were Chris and Toni of Barton Creek Weddings. They covered everything!  

Dave, our groomsman, was in charge of the couple's beloved beagles, Marcy and Max, before the ceremony. Marcy had not yet put on her veil or Max his bow-tie !

And so it is time to begin. I cued the musicians and Andy, Dave and I walked forward to the top of the steps.

Buck and Carol get ready to enter when Sally cues them in. Our flower girl and ring bearer are patiently waiting their turn.

Next our pretty bridesmaids, Heather and Deb, enter. Jenn's color scheme was black and platinum with multi-colored flowers.

Next our junior attendants, Coby and Alexa, enter with Marcy with her veil on and Max with his bow-tie and eager to get going!

Finally it is time for Carter, our ring bearer, and Chloei, our flower girl, to enter and sprinkle the petals.

Cloei did not fully comprehend her job as the flower girl and balked along the way finally dumping the basket of rose petals out and moving right along. Carter is unsuccessfully trying his best to get her to do her job right!

And now, the big moment, the bride and her parents enter. Dara is ready and Chloei has found her mom. I ask all to stand in honor of our beautiful bride.

Beautiful bride, happy parents, Mariellen and Phil.

As they come up the aisle, Andy comes down the steps to receive his bride from her parents as they "hand her over!"

Jenn and Andy were so ready to get married. During the ceremony I told their love story including how Andy had pursued Jenn persistently until she finally agreed to have dinner with him. He knew there was something really special about her and he wanted to find out what it was. Theirs is a match made in heaven! 

From the grin on Jenn's face, I think I must be telling the story of Marcy and Max and how they came to be part of this new family. Marcy was being a bit vocal here and wanted to run up the steps and be with her two favorite people in the world. Max was pretty laid back about it all though. 

Jenn's best friend since childhood and maid of honor, Debbie, read a quote from Oprah magazine by Natalie White which was quite touching and perfect for this couple. She got a bit choked up at first then did quite well. Thanks, Debbie.

Jenn is reading her vows to Andy from my book while putting the ring on his finger. They wrote their vows themselves and they were so sweet with some really funny lines too.

Okay, they are now married, at last! Happy, happy couple and I am so happy for them. They are really great together and I know they will have a great marriage.

Here are the two families and the wedding party. Everyone is ready to celebrate except Chloei who did not like it when her daddy made her take the bubble bottle out of her mouth!

All the best to you, Jenn and Andy! I hope you will keep in touch and I know we will run into each other from time to time.What a wonderful wedding!