Classy Elegant Wedding for Merab and Justin at Mandolin!

Merab and Justin met when they were both law students at UNC School of Law. They were friends and study buddies first then the relationship deepened into love. After 4 years together, they decided to marry. With the help of their wedding planner, Katie Dunn with La Fete, they put together a very unique wedding that was elegant yet cozy. Merab contacted me in mid-January to see if I could officiate for them on February 15, 2014 and I was able to coordinate their wedding with another one before theirs only a few blocks away. Synchronicity at work! 

Not normally a wedding venue, Mandolin, a restaurant in Raleigh in the Hayes Barton neighborhood near the corner of Fairview and Oberlin, was transformed for the event.

The space has been home to many different restaurants through the years but evidently Mandolin has successfully blossomed into quite the Southern culinary experience with international influence thanks to its owner and chef, Sean Fowler, who previously was chef at Fearrington. The decor is minimal but elegant and organic.  There is a small private dining room that could be used for smaller weddings too.

When the guests had all arrived and taken their seats at the tables and the parents seated in front, Justin and I entered and waited for the bride.

Merab was escorted in by her father, Don, from the side. (It was tight quarters, no aisles, and not much room for Marty to maneuver around for photos.)

 Their parents.....

The couple wanted a short but meaningful ceremony which we developed via email with their input for their story.

 And of course, laughter at a wedding is always good! 

 Now they are husband and wife! 

Justin and Merab, what a delightful couple you are. You knew exactly what you wanted and made it happen. I am honored to have been part of your lovely wedding and getting the two of you married. I wish you all the best always!

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To contact me:

mailto:kayelily@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

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Erin and Sean Wed at All Saints Chapel!

Erin and Sean and I met last November. She had found me on Weddingwire.com and contacted me to see if I was available for their wedding on June 1, 2013 at All Saints Chapel in downtown Raleigh. She wrote: "Although neither of us identify with a specific religion, we opted to have our wedding in a traditional church setting.  We are looking for an officiant that can help us tailor a ceremony that is unique to us, to the spiritual beliefs that we do share, and focusing on the love we have for one another and the commitment that will be made that day.  I have heard wonderful things about you and would love to talk to you more about our wedding.  Please let me know if you are still available for our date.  Thank you so much!"  I was available and I was thrilled when they decided to hire me as their officiant. They were really excited about writing their own ceremony from my materials. The wedding day arrived and the chapel was a blur of activity when I arrived. 

Katie Dunn with Events by La Fete was busy pining the boutonniere on Sean's lapel. (Notice the posts in the chapel that had been decorated with tulle and strings of white lights. I saw them being assembled the day before by the couple that married that evening. They left the for Erin and Sean. Really softened the dark wooden posts and gave a nice glow to the chapel.)

You can see Marty's reflection in the glass of the Welcome sign!

This lovely Anime themed wedding cake by Tishre Hunter, Dreme Cake Artistry, really fits Erin and Sean and their very unique and individual taste! In fact the sketch of the cake is on the home page of the bakery's website.

Mark McNally with Joe Bunn DJ Company was ready to do a sound check when I got there. He is so much fun and so personable and I love his Irish accent.

Sean had the distinct honor or escorting in not only his mother, Lona, but Erin's mother, Lynne, as well!

Our gorgeous and glamorous bride escorted in by her father, Wade.

They were both fighting back the tears but once up on the altar, they were fine. 

I am either thanking the parents here or telling their funny story! They met in high school over ten years ago. Sean thought Erin was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. When he found out where she was working after school, he would go hang out nearby but was too shy to actually strike up a conversation with this "Goth/Raver girl." Sometimes she would see him at his place of work but they only said Hi to each other. Erin admitted she was just as shy as Sean was and had anyone told her back then that 10 years later she would be marrying Sean, she would have laughed.

Then 5 years later when MySpace was still cool, they connected and could talk via the internet--a great solution for shy folks! Eventually they had a first date, both found their voices, and soon they were an inseparable couple. Sean proposed in March of 2012 and they began planning this wedding.

I ask the bride and groom in confidence to tell me what they love about each other and what they are looking forward to in marriage. They hear what the other told me for the first time on their wedding day. A very special moment.

Many thanks to Cara with F8 Studio for this great photo of Erin and Sean just married and the photo below of the bubble parade!

Speaking of Cara, she had the great idea of forming the bubble line for the couple to walk through. Always makes for great photos.

Erin and Sean, what a pleasure to get to know you and be with you on your special day! It was beautiful. Thanks for choosing me to be your officiant. I wish you all the best!

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To contact me:

mailto:kayelily@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

My Website

Pinterest

Facebook

Or leave a comment below!

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Festive Carolina Inn Destination Wedding for Marcy and Andrew!

I met Marcy and Andrew for the first time in person at their rehearsal the day before their wedding date of December 29, 2012. Marcy lives in Arlington VA and at the moment, Andrew lives in London. He was born and raised in the United Kingdom and his family moved to the United States when he was a young teenager. Marcy grew up in Ohio. Ironically they both attended the same university in Virginia but not at the same time. They met through a mutual friend and quickly discovered that they were meant to be together. Andrew proposed last Christmas and they began planning this wedding. His family lives in Illinois and hers in Ohio, so why did they choose Chapel Hill for their wedding city? Well, Marcy did some graduate work at UNC some years ago and loved North Carolina but primarily this area was chosen because of our international airport since they had people coming for their wedding from all over the world. They could not have made a better choice!

They found me on the internet and based on my many wedding website reviews and a recommendation from the Carolina Inn, they engaged my services sight unseen. Email and US mail worked just fine! They hired Rebecca Dunn with Events by La Fete to handle the details, Jeff Simpson with Simpsound DJ and Lighting to do the spectacular lighting and DJ the reception, Matt Kanon to provide music for the ceremony, GiGi's Cupcakes, Fresh Affairs Floral Designs and Nathan Clendenin, photographer with Cana Collective. And so the date arrived and we all came together for this super-fantastic wedding.

The Carolina Inn was still in Christmas mode including a whimsical Christmas tree in the lobby. It was a tree full of little elves! 

 This must be the supervising Elf on the column nearby. 

The ceremony was in the Chancellor's Ballroom and the reception in the Hill Ballroom. This matt ready for a future photo of the couple was their guest book for guests to sign as they entered for the ceremony.

Outside the reception room was a seating chart for the guests. Each table was named for a mass transit station found in either London or Washington DC.

In the Hill Ballroom was the tower of cupcakes by GiGi's with a description of the 12 flavors!

 The Bride and Groom were to be seated at Heathrow 1, 2, 3 for the Tube stops!

 London Bridge table!

This photo was taken after Jeff got all the up-lighting in place. It was gorgeous!

Jeff and I look rather blue! 

Outside the Hill Ballroom were a couple of "Turtle Doves" which I am sure were part of the Carolina Inn's Christmas decor. It was quite appropriate for a wedding though and the doves were cooing at each other while we were there! 

Back to the ceremony ballroom--Matt Kanon is all set up for the ceremony and my sound system is in place behind him. Love the bright happy color scheme in this ballroom!

Marcy and her father, David, entered after their large wedding party had made our entrances. She was wearing a very gorgeous lace wedding gown.

Their wedding party and guests assembled here from all over the world! 

The couple honored their parents with a sweet blessing and the mothers were moved to tears.

Marcy's friend, Cynthia, read "I Love You" by Roy Croft.

Andrew's Uncle Barry read "I carry your heart with me," a poem by ee cummings.

Marcy and Andrew made their declarations of intent then I stepped out to speak to the guests and request a community blessing.

They said their vows of marriage to each other then exchanged rings and it was time for the Unity Candle lighting.

While they were lighting the candle, Andrew's sister, Jenny, sang a beautiful song "Asleep at Last." She has such a lovely voice.

Jenny was having a difficult time making it through the song and kept tearing up and sniffling!

Finally she just gave up on finishing the song, threw up her hands and gave the bride and groom a big hug as we all laughed at her antics and applauded her. 

 The pronouncement of marriage...... 

What a wonderful wedding, Marcy and Andrew! I loved working with you to make your ceremony what you had always dreamed of. I know you both will go far in life and create a satisfying and loving marriage. I wish you all the best of everything!