whimsical magazine

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Such a Sweet Wedding for Alison and Michael at The Oaks at Salem!

Last July, Alison and Michael and I met to talk about their vision for their wedding ceremony. Their wedding date was almost a year in the future on June 14, 2014 and the venue they had chosen was The Oaks at Salem in Apex. It is a fabulous venue with everything in one place.

This wedding is the first one I have done under the big tree across the lake from the main house. Other weddings have met with adverse weather conditions forcing us to do the weddings under the tent over the terrace. So glad that spell is broken now! See those heart-shaped things in front of the chairs? Well, clever idea by either Alison or her wedding planner, Gretchen with Red Bird Events, or Pinterest, for the bride and her bridesmaids to stand on in the event the ground is soggy and their heels would sink. The wooden boards were painted pink to match the color of the girls' dresses.

The duo from Elegant Ensembles was all set up and tuning for the ceremony.

The shepherd's hooks lining the aisle were loaded with the hanging jars full of pretty flowers by Kelly Kennedy of Teacup Floral.

Nearby there was a table with a basket full of programs in the form of fans. And containers of iced water and lemonade. It was rather steamy hot--up in the 90s that afternoon.

Back on the other side of the lake under the tent, the tables and chairs were set and ready for the guests. The fans in the ceiling of the tent were creating a very pleasant breeze and it was quite comfortable.

Each table was assigned a year with a photograph of the bride and groom from that year. It was in September of 2009 that Alison and Michael started dating although they had worked together at the UNC Ram Shop since 2008.

There was a little tree with leaf name tags for the guests to find their seats by.

Their photographer, Rebecca Ferguson, created a photo album for them. Her second shooter for this wedding was another photographer I work with frequently, Kate Pope.

For their guest book, they created this original painting for the guests to add leaves to the tree.

This unusual wedding cake by Cinda's Creative Cakes carries out their "leaf" theme and there are two little squirrels on the bottom tier. To the right is a photo cutout of their beloved kitty, Lumos. And there are photos of their parents at their respective weddings.

Joslin Rodely, event manager with The Oaks, is holding down the fort on this side of the lake!

Jeff Simpson with Simpsound DJ & Lighting Services, is getting his DJ station all set up before he changes into his tux. We have worked weddings together for many years. At this wedding though, he was on the other side of the lake from the ceremony and we had live music by Elegant Ensembles so I brought my battery powered sound system to amplify my voice.

And so now we begin. The grandmothers have been brought around via golf buggy and seated. Entering above are Michael's parents, Linda and Wayne.

Jo Anne, mother of the bride, is escorted in by her son, Aaron who will meet up with the groomsmen as we enter next.

So, ready for the wedding party. The cross you see has very special significance. It was made from a tree that Alison's grandfather cut down as a logger. In the ceremony we mentioned the significance and "Let us see this beautiful cross as a symbol of love and a memorial to all the ancestors of the two families joined here today."

It is a long walk around the lake! We have received the signal to start!

Aaron has joined us now as we take our places up front (facing the sun, I might add)!

The bridesmaids made their way around the other side of the lake. I wonder what Robin Crew, our videographer with Bay Leaf Video Productions is looking at up in the sky! A bird? A plane?

Our honorary ring bearer and flower girl obviously enjoyed being pulled in a wagon around the lake. They were very well behaved and I did not hear a peep out of them during the ceremony!

So, now for the bride and her father to come around the lake and join us!

Alison's father, Jerry, asked me if it would be okay to kiss Alison's hand. It loved that sweet idea. He told me that he had seen it in another wedding. So that is what he is about to do here then place her hand in Michael's. He told me he also had seen in another wedding where the groom kissed the bride's hand before he kissed her lips at the end of the ceremony. Like that too!

We began with a warm welcome, a prayer, remembering the ancestors, a blessing for the parents.

I know Kate Pope is getting some great shots of the wedding here.

Although I might look like I am frowning, I am really squinting since the sun is right in my eyes.

Loving their story here. It was a good one with some good humor that we all enjoyed.

Michael was dripping so I mopped his face off. He really appreciated it.

Their secret paragraphs about what they love about each other were revealed!

They read their vows to each other then we had the blessing of the hands ceremony.

The rings sealed their vows followed by a closing blessing.

I noticed before the pronouncement that Michael's face was wet again so I did some more mopping!

"Gotta be ready for the kiss that's coming up soon, you know!"

Now you are husband and wife!

Another kiss for the camera and many more to come!

Michael and Alison, I hope you loved hearing your wedding ceremony as much as I loved delivering it. You were such a joy to work with and I think you are a great match and will be very happily married! I wish you all the best!

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Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Chelsea and Josh's Fantastic Wedding at The Cotton Room!

Back in July of 2013 I met with Chelsea and Josh to plan their wedding ceremony which took place on April 5, 2014 at The Cotton Room in Durham. This is a fabulous place for weddings and I love going there. It is a re-styled historic site of a former cotton warehouse. When Marty (my assistant and now not-so-amateur photographer for this blog!) and I arrive at a wedding, the first thing I do is get my sound set up and do a sound check and that is what is happening in the photo below.

Eric Hodgdens, All Around Raleigh DJ, was their DJ and I love working with him. He does many at The Cotton Room too. So, here his set up is behind the flowing drapes and he stuck his head through the drapes to ask me a question!

Here's a better photo of Eric!

Isn't this a sweet little arbor? They had strung all these hearts on it and with the floating candles it was a simple but elegant "altar" and easily removed when they turned the room for the reception.

Cinda's Creative Cakes made this amazing cake which had the words of the popular ee cumming poem "i carry your heart" written around it. The copper trees on top reflect some of the words. When Josh proposed, he gave Chelsea a notebook inscribed with this favorite poem of hers and added the words "Marry Me?" So it was very appropriate to include as part of their wedding decor. Looks like there is an antique sword in the back but I did not ask what that meant!

Their color scheme was this rich magenta and the pretty floral arrangements and the bouquets by Tre Bella Flowers reflect it beautifully.

For their "guest book," they had their guests fill our some cards that rated how much they were enjoying the wedding, how far they traveled to be there, what they really looked forward to at the wedding and their advice for a long and happy marriage. It was very cleverly done and I can tell they put a lot of thought into it and surely will get a lot of good advice.

Behind the scenes...once the ceremony is over, the drapes are tied back, tables pulled out and spaced around the huge room to make a dance floor and the chairs put around the tables.

Yummy! The Cotton Room is owned by one of the area's finest caterers, Triangle Catering, and of course they provide the delicious food.

The Bride and Groom's table is ready!

Our Bridesmaids and "Man of Honor" were ready too. Molly, our 17 month old flower girl, is holding on to her mother, Caroline. Those are wonderful dresses!

Zack is a childhood friend of Chelsea's and she just could not get married without including him in her bridal party. He was eating it up too--getting to wear makeup and heels, straighten Chelsea's dress and hold her flowers. What fun!

The line-up!

After we were all in place before the bride entered, it was time for sweet little Molly to walk down the aisle. Amalia, Wedding Director with The Cotton Room, and Molly's father (did not get his name) are prepping Molly on her duties!

And there she goes as she sees her mom at the front of the aisle urging her on! Daddy had to hold the basket though!

Yay, she made it then got swooped up and carried back out.

Her job is over and she can relax and so can her dad!

Chelsea's dad, Eric, proudly escorted our beautiful bride down the aisle while Josh wiped tears off his cheeks.

He transfers Chelsea's hand into Josh's then carefully takes his seat without stepping on her train!

And so we began.....

Yes, there was definitely some humor in this ceremony! I think here that after welcoming everyone and thanking them for coming we were remembering the couple's two corgis, Cloe and Ohlie, who had to stay home and bark at intruders and unfortunately could not be with us!

A sweet tribute to their parents!

Chelsea and Josh met in 2011 when Chelsea moved to Josh's hometown of Syracuse NY to attend grad school. Josh had not had a date in 3 years and was incredibly nervous for their first date. The restaurant they went to was so loud they couldn't talk so the first date was not the best. However, Josh persevered, asked Chelsea on a second date and brought one of his best men, Dustin, along with him for fortification and it worked! They had a fabulous time and a few weeks later they officially became a couple.

Josh proposed on January 11, 2013 after having secretly asked Chelsea's parents for their blessings to marry their daughter. He did the asking one evening when they were all in Target, Chelsea's favorite store, while she had gone to another part of the store.

After the proposal they began planning the wedding knowing they would be moving to NC the following summer. It all worked out quite smoothly and here they stand before their family and friends, getting married! Bridget McEnaney and her second shooter were their photographers although you will see some shots of the guests holding up their cell phones!

Vows and rings.....

The moment the marriage is legal!

Sealing the deal!

The new Mr. and Mrs.!

Out they go into their new marriage!

The heels were shed the minute the girls got behind the drapes to wait for photos!

But not Zack! He loved wearing those heels!

Josh and Chelsea, congratulations--not only on your marriage but for planning a mighty fine wedding! Your attention to detail was amazing and it was perfect! I wish the best of everything always!