Wonderful Interfaith Wedding for Emily and Michael at the Carolina Inn!

Emily and Michael and I met in August of 2012. They were planning their interfaith wedding ceremony at the Carolina Inn set for September 21, 2013. They had spoken with Rabbi Andrew Ettin in Winston-Salem and he referred them to me. Since I was already on the Carolina Inn preferred vendor list, they contacted me. They wanted a co-officiated ceremony so that both faiths were represented. I explained how I work with couples in co-creating their ceremony so that it is exactly what they envision. They really liked that idea and so we signed a contract and began our work together. I sent them many interfaith ceremonies including ones I had co-officiated with Rabbi Ettin. They chose their elements and then sent the first draft to me. After editing it, we sent the ceremony to Rabbi Ettin for his review and input. They also answered questions about how they met and fell in love and what they love about each other which we incorporated into the ceremony. Then the Rabbi and I divvied the ceremony sections up between the two of us so that we alternated speaking during the ceremony. It was quite lovely, but unfortunately and to Michael's great dismay, the weather on their wedding day was not lovely. It was a rain-soaked weekend and there was no way to have their ceremony in the Ann Hill Courtyard. The Carolina Inn is well-prepared for Plan B and had this lovely ballroom ready for us. This ballroom is so cheery with its happy colors.

So, when Marty and I arrived, the room was all set up. The Chuppah was up but the table was too large for all 4 of us to stand under so I asked for a smaller table which we then relocated to the back corner of the Chuppah. (You can't tell in the photo but the column behind the table actually protrudes out about a foot.) The pretty florals were provide by Tre Bella. Suzanne Ledwith with Sally Oakley Personalized Wedding Planning was on hand to direct the entire event along with Melissa Sayre with the Carolina Inn. They did a fabulous job.

The Arioso Strings trio got set up and began practicing. The best man was so impressed at how good they were and whispered to me that there were many musicians attending this ceremony that would be very pleased. Michael, our groom, is also a musician. They chose well!

The Old Well Room was ready for the reception. See the projected "writing on the wall" for Emily and Michael.

They had not one but two great DJs for the wedding--Frankie and Jason from Island Sound. They provided amplification for me and the Rabbi for the ceremony and all the music for the reception. I know it rocked!  James with Island Sound also videoed the wedding.

The line up! Rabbi Ettin and I have done many weddings together in the past 10 or 12 years and have become friends. If I ever have a question about a Jewish tradition, he is my resource! He is a dear to drive all the way to the Triangle to officiate.

The two lovely ladies in next are Emily's grandmother Anne and her daughter, Emily's Aunt Judie. I hope Anne does not mind me saying this but she proudly told me she was 92. She looks fantastic and I would be proud to tell my age too!

 Michael's parents, Sandy and Bruce.

Best man, Eric, and Maid of Honor, Randall, ready to enter last before the bride and her parents.

 Waiting for the bride! 

And so we began. The room was packed and there were no side aisles to shoot photos from.

It was so much fun for me to share their story and their guests ate it up. Theirs is a really good story!

 Vows and rings......then the Seven Blessings followed by the drinking of the wine.

 The official pronouncement of marriage....

The blessing of the couple......canted by the Rabbi in Hebrew then translation: "May God bless you and keep you. May God's radiance shine on you and be bountiful to you. May God's goodness be upon you and grant you peace." 

 

Michael broke the glass then we all shouted "Mazeltov" followed by the kiss....

Out they go! On to the South Parlor to sign the Ketubah!

On her way, Emily peeks at the beautiful cake by Ashley Cakes.

The Ketubah is written in Hebrew. It conveys the spiritual covenants the bride and groom make with each other. The couple signed, their best man and maid of honor, then the rabbi.

A final photo of the four of us! Terry with Carolina Mediastar, our official photographer, set this one up making the rabbi and I "bookends!" Michael and Emily, great wedding! I wish you the very best in life!

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To contact me:

mailto:kayelily@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

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Kate and Steve's Beautiful Wedding in Duke Chapel!

Sarah at Carolina Mediastar Wedding Photography sent me these wonderful photos of Kate and Steve's wedding on April 6, 2013. Their powerful professional cameras really captured this wedding. My little point and shoot camera really is lost in a place like Duke Chapel when it comes to getting sharp photos from a distance. The original post of this wedding is here! Enjoy! 

Congratulations again to Kate and Steve! 

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To contact me:

mailto:kayelily@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

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A Glorious Wedding for Kate and Steve Wed at Duke Chapel!

Kate and Steve are such a wonderful couple and sooooo much in love! It radiates all around them. I was delighted when their wedding planner, Gina Myers with La Cosa Bella Events, contacted me to officiate for their wedding on April 6, 2013 at Duke Chapel. Steve is a graduate of Duke Law School. Kate and Steve live in Cincinnati so in November I met with Kate's parents, Steve and Mary, who live in Raleigh and we finalized the contract.  Kate and Steve were in town over the Christmas holidays so we got together for the first time and went over what they wanted and how we would proceed in co-creating a very special, meaningful and personalized ceremony for them. We had a rehearsal the day before the wedding with Blanche Williams, the chapel event coordinator and wedding director. I consider myself an expert on conducting wedding rehearsals after 14 years but Blanche really has it down to an art and science! I was glad to sit back and let her run the show!  I could not have improved on her organization or presentation one little bit!

The big day arrived and it was glorious weather for which we were all grateful having had such unusual weather so far in 2013. Before the wedding, Kate and Steve and their photographer, Terry with Carolina Mediastar, staged a "first look" at Duke Gardens. So after that there was no hiding the bride from the groom and when we arrived, the bride and groom and bridesmaids were taking pictures in front of the beautiful chapel.

The bridesmaids pretty dresses were in a lovely shade of coral and the  maid of honor's dress was a soft beigy pink.

I took this opportunity to get in some photos with the couple not knowing if there would be another good opportunity after the ceremony.

Our videographer, Denny with Island Sound, was setting up the video camera. There are strict rules in the chapel regarding photography. The photographers are to get no closer than 20 feet from the last row of guests although, like all weddings these days, I noticed cell phone cameras being held up during the ceremony!

This is the huge, famous pipe organ! It makes the most magnificent music!

The groomsmen have come inside to get their boutonnieres pinned on by Blanche and her assistant while the photographers shoot a few pictures.

A blurry photo of Blanche and me before the ceremony. She was super to work with!

And we begin right on time. The grandparents and parents were escorted in then the bridesmaids and groomsmen.

Our gorgeous bride and her sweet daddy! 

The pronouncement of marriage!

Little golden bells had been attached to the wedding programs with instructions to the guests to ring them during the pronouncement and kiss. I could hear their sweet chimes! 

 Awww! 

And they are on the move! They and the wedding party and parents circled around back inside the chapel while the guests went by shuttle to the Washington-Duke Inn for the reception.

I signed the "big book" as the officiant then the witnesses who were Steve, father of the bride, left, and Mike, father of the groom, in the center. Blanche is showing them where to sign.

Then it was time to get some other photos. 

This pose was Terry, the photographer's idea! Terry and I have done many weddings together in the past 10 years. 

Kate is the sweetest person and I was honored to work with her and Steve and be a part of their very special day. Kate and Steve, I think you are a fine couple and that your marriage will be very successful. I wish you much health and happiness! If there is ever anything I can do for you, please let me know!!

Vendors for this wedding:
Wedding Planner: Gina Myers, La Cosa Bella Events
Musician: Duke Chapel Organist
Florist: Fleuressence
Photographers: Carolina Mediastar--Terry and his son James and daughter Mylena
Make-up: Stephanie Sevilla
Videography: Island Sound
Sound at the Chapel: Sonny
Reception: Washington-Duke Inn

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To contact me: 

kayelily@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

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