Another Lovely Ballroom Wedding

Be sure to scroll all the way through the photos to the one at the very end. We love to have a bit of fun here at the Hawthorne Hotel, even when we are working on a lovely wedding. Then at the very end there is a brief video so you can see the light show on the ceiling, that was part of what the DJ supplied for this wedding.

Flowers by Peter Barter Florist

Cake by Montilio's

Sweetheart table glows with the special lighting for this event.

Britony Wells and Liz Dube, Wedding Coordinators of the Hawthorne Hotel share a light moment just before the guests arrived in the Ballroom.

I hope to see you here,

Juli

Sudden Downpour Forces Jon and Rose's Wedding Inside at the Carolina Inn!

Well, I did two weddings at Duke Gardens earlier this day and we avoided the rain. But, about 15 minutes before the guests were to be seated in the Bryan Courtyard for Rose and Jon's wedding, the sky grew very dark very quickly, the wind whipped up ferociously and then the big raindrops began to pelt the ground. This is how the wedding setting looked before the storm. Greg Ramsey quickly moved his DJ equipment indoors!

We were so grateful that this did not happen mid-ceremony! As usual, Ashleigh Collins at the Carolina Inn had already foreseen this possibility and had the Alumni Room all set up and ready to go for the ceremony. So, in the end, it was no big deal and we had a wonderful wedding despite the weather.


Rose and Jon live in New York City. They hired me last summer to officiate their wedding day on May 22, 2010, and then when they were in North Carolina last September, we met for the first time. They are such a fun and delightful couple. I loved hearing the story of how they met and fell in love. They had gone to elementary school together then to separate high schools but their paths crossed again when they were both students at UNC and the chemistry was undeniable and many memories were made in Chapel Hill. Hence, their wedding at the Carolina Inn. With the help of their event planner, Melanie, they put together an impressive team of vendors and I am proud to have been in such great company.

Despite the rain, we did start the ceremony right on time. After the guests got seated, the grandmothers then the parents were escorted in. Then it was time for Jon, Mike (his brother and best man) and I to enter followed by the bridesmaids and groomsmen. That is Mike in the background right, and Melanie in the background left, cueing us all in.

Then it was time for the bride! Rose, being the independent woman that she is, wanted to enter solo and not be escorted down the aisle by anyone. But we had a surprise for the guests and the wedding party! After she entered and started down the aisle, Jon began walking toward her from the front, met her in the middle of all their guests who were standing, knelt down on one knee in front of her--don't know what he said, I forgot to ask him!--then together they walked down the rest of the aisle to the front. I asked the guests to be seated and we began.

Everyone enjoyed the ceremony so much, especially when I told their "story" of how they met, fell in love, how Jon proposed, what they have been up to and their plans for their future. We honored their parents. They made their vows to each other which they had written with a bit of humor thrown in, and then exchanged rings. I made the pronouncement of marriage.

The big KISS moment!

And out they went to the tune of "All We Need is Love" by the Beatles.

I met up with them afterward outdoors under the drive through portico. It had stopped raining! They were jubilant and so happy! Jon and Rose, my best wishes and congratulations to you both. You are remarkable people and I know you will have a great marriage and bright future together. Please stay in touch.

Our Vendors

The Carolina Inn, one of the most prestigious places to get married in NC and so well equipped to handle multiple weddings and rain plans! Thanks, Ashleigh and your staff! 

Melanie Ingool with Kate Foster Productions kept us well organized and had everything under control so that this wedding, despite the rain, flowed smoothly without a hitch. Thanks, Melanie! 

Greg Ramsey, with Joe Bunn DJ Company, did a superb job of handling the music for both the ceremony and the reception.  Thanks, Greg! 

Our photographer was Jason with Azul Photography. A very talented young man who was everywhere at once and I know got some great photos for Jon and Rose. It was a pleasure working with him. 

Donna Ford's Sweet Memories Bakery furnished the stunning flower-studded cake and Lyn Grave's Fresh Affairs did all the beautiful flowers. In fact, Fresh Affairs did the flowers for three weddings that I did this weekend.

A Great Wedding for Bobbi and Tom at Duke Gardens!

Bobbi contacted me by email in early February to officiate her wedding to Tom on May 22, 2010 at the Duke Gardens Pergola. We did not meet until their rehearsal because we made all the arrangements by email and USPO. Bobbi is one busy lady and as such she knew exactly what she wanted and went for it! I never communicated with Tom at all. So, we all met each other in person at the rehearsal but felt like old friends! I could really sense the depth of their love for each other and how happy their families and friends were that they were marrying each other. On the day of the wedding, as the bride, her mother and bridesmaids arrived by the golf cart the Gardens transports the bridal party in, it began to sprinkle rain. It was not heavy. It was almost time to begin but Tom's sister had not yet arrived so we waited, hoping the rain would decrease, not increase. The pretty fan programs they had were good for holding over your head like an umbrella! When all had arrived, we began.

First in from behind the bushes where the bride is hidden from view, were Tom's parents, Tom Sr. and Jeanne. Note that his dad is holding something in his left hand.

Next in were the bridesmaids and groomsmen in couples. Then our honorary director, Tom's sister, Lisa, cues in the maid of honor, Angela. Behind her are the flower girls, Ashley and Samantha. Ashley is Bobbi's daughter from a previous marriage. Lisa, you did a great job directing this wedding! Maybe you should turn pro!BTW, in her hands are some of the pretty and useful programs, color coordinated.

Last in are the bride and her mother, JoNell (her father died when Bobbi was very young). Tom went down to the bottom of the steps to meet them and JoNell transferred Bobbi's hand into his and they ascended the steps together to join me at the top.

By now, the rain had just about stopped and did not start up again until after the wedding ceremony while Marty and I were packing up my sound system and the couple were taking pictures. We were so lucky with this wedding and the one before it. But, the next one would not be so fortunate. See the next blog post!

During the ceremony, Ashley was recognized and Tom gave her a beautiful necklace as a token of the special day. She is returning to her place now. Later she will join them in pouring of the family unity sand. Tom's father must have gotten the whole ceremony on his camera or maybe that is a video camera he is holding. He is using it in all the photos...something I did not notice at all during the ceremony.

Bobbi is putting the ring on Tom's finger as she repeats words after me.

The big moment--the pronouncement of marriage. Seems like all couples kind of hold their breaths during this part!

The KISS!  Dad is recording that also! Note also the on-lookers in the background!

I wonder how many happy couples have walked on this very ground after their wedding! I had three couples walking it this past weekend. Note the rose petals that were left from the previous wedding!

What a great shot, Marty! My camera-woman does an awesome job of capturing my weddings on my camera for this blog. Thank you, Marty! (She also proofs my blog and tells me of any typos or mistakes here.)

Bobbi and Tom, it was such a pleasure and an honor to officiate your wonderful wedding. I know you are going to be so happy together. Ashley too! I wish you peace, love and joy always!

The bride and groom poured the dark gray and blue sand. Ashley's sand was the pink. What a pretty layering these colors make!

The photographer covering this wedding was Clay Walsh of Clay Walsh Photography. Thanks, Clay.

The music was provided by a friend who played the keyboard.