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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To contact me:

revk@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

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Ashlee and Jay's Beautiful Wedding at Highgrove!

I met Ashlee and Jay last August to plan their wedding ceremony for their wedding on April 12, 2014 at Highgrove Estates in Fuquay-Varina. Ashlee's last name was familiar to me because my first cousin married a man with that name and they lived in New York like Ashlee and her family. Turns out we may be distantly related by marriage and several times removed and all that! Such a small world!

They both grew up in New York although Jay's parents have since relocated to North Carolina and Jay and Ashlee moved here in 2010. So they chose the lovely Highgrove Estates for their wedding venue.

Our wonderful DJ was Randy Bennett with Joe Bunn DJ Company. He is always at a site before me, all set up and waiting for me to plug my theater microphone into his system. He is also quite a sharp dresser. Randy has this collection of cuff links so I had to find out which ones he was wearing today and as you can see, they are the Batman ones! I wonder if that is because our groom is a policeman.

Cute idea, probably from Pinterest, for the table assignments and menu. 

This is the lovely garden ballroom at Highgrove. Love the draped and lighted ceiling. The flowers are by Fresh Affairs. Of course they are gorgeous, including the floral decor of the portico where we had the ceremony.

 Amazing groom's cake by Sweet Memories Bakery! 

The wedding cake by Sweet Memories is simply stunning!  

 The bride and groom's table. 

 After the grandparents entered, it was time for Jay's parents, Cheryl and Jeff. 

 Cindy, mother of the bride, in her gorgeous magenta dress was escorted in by Uncle Scott. 

Time for the wedding party to enter. That is Angela, their director with Highgrove in the background cuing us when to enter. She has been doing this for many years and is a joy to work with.

 After all the groomsmen and bridesmaids entered, Thomas carried in this sign!

 Then our flower girl, Alexis, entered and did a fabulous job sprinkling the petals just right! 

 So now we are waiting for the music to change for the entrance of our bride. 

 Ashlee's father, Jeff, was beaming as he proudly escorted his daughter down the aisle!

 Everyone is standing in Ashlee's honor. 

Ashlee handed off her bouquet, her dad transferred her hand into Jay's and she gave him a little kiss before he carefully found his way to his seat without stepping on Ashlee's simply stunning dress and train!

 A shot of all the groomsmen except the one behind the column!  

 And the bridesmaids in their pretty mint dresses.

 They had a special tribute for their parents and then asked for their blessings for their marriage. 

Then I got to tell their wonderful story. They actually knew each other as little kids in elementary school but Jay does not remember. Ashlee remembers Jay was the little boy who played at her cousin's house those many years ago. It was not until they met again at a party in 2010 when Jay returned from Iraq, that they really got to know each other and really, from that point they have been inseparable.

I asked them each to tell me in confidence what they love about each other. Ashlee's tanned legs kept coming up and at one point she reached down and pulled her dress up a little and stuck out her leg. Did not get a shot of it though!

 And so they exchanged their vows......

 And then their rings......

 The pronouncement.......

 The Kiss! 

 And off they go into their new married life! 

Ashlee and Jay, I am so glad you found each other and found me. It was an honor to officially unite you in marriage and I wish you all the best in the world!

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To contact me:

mailto:kayelily@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

My Website

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Or leave a comment below!

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Jen and Steve's Fabulous Wedding at North Ridge Country Club!

On December 18, 2012, I received an inquiry from Jen about officiating her wedding on May 25, 2013.  That popular date would normally have been filled months in advance but for some unforeseen reason had not been booked on my calendar. I know now that the Universe had been holding it open so I would have the wonderful opportunity to meet and join Jen and Steve in marriage. They live and work in the DC area but since Jen is from Raleigh, the wedding was here at the lovely North Ridge Country Club. Jen mailed the completed contract and check to me right away and we met when she was home for Christmas later on that month. Then we got started  creating their ceremony. I did not meet Steve until the rehearsal. He was perfectly content to let Jen do all the wedding planning and was, in his words, "keeping his head down low!" But, we got to know each other by email in the process of constructing their story for the ceremony.

The afternoon of the rehearsal was beautiful but quite windy and thankfully it calmed down some for the wedding. The temperature was extremely pleasant and the setting was gorgeous. Amanda Alberico, the event manager with the club, was so helpful and skilled in managing this event and directing the wedding.

It is my policy to arrive at the wedding one hour before ceremony start time. I set up my sound system and did a sound check while the musicians were tuning up.

Mary Block and her fellow musicians are Arioso Strings, always professional, always play beautifully, always a treat!

Fresh Affairs did the florals outside and inside the ballroom. Gorgeous. Note that the sun is creating a speckling of shadows and bright spots in the garden area.

 Love the silver gray  color scheme with the lavender up-lighting. 

The cake is by Simply Cakes. Susan, mother of the bride, added the flowers to give it the final touch. Also, this cake knife has special meaning and has been used to cut many wedding cakes. Engraved on it are the names and dates of marriage of Jen's family, now including Jen and Steve's.

Marty caught a good one of the guys standing around waiting to begin. On the left is Steve's father, Fred, and on the right is Jen's father, Bob. Steve is in the middle, keeping his head low!!

It was a full house! Some guests thought they would have to stand until I sent one of the groomsmen over to point out some empty chairs on the "groom's side." (These days it is rare to have "sides" except for the first and sometimes the second row reserved for family members.)  Robin Lin was their photographer and she had another great wedding photographer, Stacy Borelli, with her as second shooter. They had this event well covered!

Notice the guys are checking in with their cell phones before turning them off!

The grandparents and parents, bridesmaids and flower girls are getting lined up and ready to go.

Mother of the Bride, Susan, was escorted in by her son, Bobby, brother of the bride, and he returned to bring in the two ring bearers!

Next are the bridesmaids and flower girls! Jen is a nanny, and the flower girls, Ava and Sadie, are the two little girls she takes care of. They were so excited!

Bobby brings in his two year old twins, Danny and Ben. They had the real rings in that box too. There was special significance to this.  Steve proposed to Jen while they were visiting Bobby and his wife and their children, by handing the box with the engagement ring in it to Ben (I think) to give to "Jen Jen." And he did! So we just had to do that again for the wedding!

Our beautiful bride escorted in by her beaming father, Bob. He even left a 5 Star review of my services on weddingwire.com and wrote on my Facebook page: The service was perfect and heartfelt by all. What a sweet man and wonderful father! 

I did not realize until I looked at these photos that the sun was shining right in Jen's face!

 A strong breeze would come and go! 

 Mopping up a few leaks from Steve's eyes!  

Steve and Jen, what a wonderful wedding! I will never forget it. Loved everything about it and especially getting to know the two of you! I wish you a very long and happily married life! When you have babies, bring them to Raleigh and let's do baby blessing ceremonies!