Tracy and Anthony's Beautiful Wedding at The Oaks at Salem!

Another gorgeous wedding at The Oaks at Salem despite being forced under the tent! The wedding date was November 1, 2013 and Tracy and Anthony planned to have their ceremony across the lake under the sprawling tree but the weather simply was not cooperative and the rains came. The "plan b" worked just fine though! 

When we arrived for the wedding, the photographer, Amy Turner--Your Still Life Photography, had gathered the bridal party on the steps for pre-ceremony photos. Don't you just love the navy dresses and the cowboy boots?

This gorgeous cake was baked by Heather Singleton of Party Delights Bakery.

Katie Featherstone was glad to be dry under the tent and she tuned up her beautiful harp.

Most guests sat at the tables during the ceremony. For family, there were two rows of chairs up front for the ceremony.

Birdcage rack held the place cards and table assignments.

Some children of guests were drafted into handing out their beautiful wedding programs to guests as they arrived.

After the parents were escorted in and seated, Anthony and I took our walk down the aisle. Beth Early with Irregardless Cafe who catered the food was our wedding director and kept us all in line! Note Anthony's  blue sneakers and those of his groomsmen!

Bridesmaids were next.

Charlotte--flower girl, Anthony's little niece, was led in by her grandfather, Mike. She was precious!

Our beaming bride and her very proud daddy!

There is that magnificent tree wearing its fall colors in the background. So glad it was in the wedding photos.

You can see the rain streaming behind us. We were literally surrounded by nature. Our sound man, DJ Laurence with Anything Music, had to turn up my volume due to the sound of rain on the tent roof but everyone could hear me just fine.

Tracy and Anthony are such a fun couple and I really loved their story. So did their guests. 

The story of Anthony's proposal in Breckinridge Colorado went over very well and generated a lot of laughs!

Vows and rings.....

When each mother was escorted in, she poured some sand into the center container which represented merging of the couple's heritages. Then after the vows and rings, Anthony and Tracy poured more sand to represent the merging of their lives in marriage.

Charlotte was a blur as she followed the bride and groom out!

Beth Early was so happy the wedding went so well and the ceremony was done! Thanks, Beth!

These are all Tracy's family! When the couple first started dating, Tracy invited Anthony to go with her to her sister's wedding where he would meet all at once over 35 members of her family. He obviously passed the test and decided to stick around!

Anthony and Tracy--a grand wedding despite the adverse weather. Congratulations on your marriage and I wish you tons of love, peace and happiness all the days of your lives!

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Sophisticated Intimate Family Wedding for Amanda and Jess!

Jess and Amanda attended the same college but never met there and for several years "danced" around each other in social groups until they finally connected at the Jingle Ball in 2010. The spark that was ignited that fateful evening grew into the love they have for each other today. Jess proposed on a trip to the Keys last February and they started planning the wedding they both envisioned. The date of October 20, 2012 was set but the venue not yet selected. They first considered the new Nature Resource Center in Raleigh but that did not work out. Then they discovered Flanders Art Gallery on S. West Street in downtown Raleigh. It was perfect. The three of us met on March 22nd and got started creating the ceremony.

The big day arrived and Flanders Art Gallery had been transformed for the wedding!

Irregardless Cafe was catering but I don't know if they also provided the beverages or not.

Amanda asked me for recommendations for a day of coordinator to help her on the wedding day. I recommended A Southern Soiree and so Gina Annab was there to greet Marty and me when we arrived. She had everything under control! Thanks, Gina!

Don't those cupcakes look delicious? They were provided by Blue Moon Bakery.

 A photo of the couple was on every table. 

There were nice little personalized touches everywhere. 

Our DJ was Nikko Terzieff with NCT Entertainment. Nikko and I had not worked together but had met each other at the Professional Wedding Guild luncheon recently.

The bride had arrived and so we began the ceremony by entering and taking our places after the guests were seated.

Our beautiful bride was escorted in by her beaming father, Darrell. 

Amanda and Jess just couldn't take their eyes off each other. They were so happy and ready to be husband and wife!

John Rodgers was photographing this momentous occasion for Jess and Amanda.

After the welcome, their sisters, Alysun and Kirtan, sprinkled flower petals around the couple forming a "circle of love" in which they stood for the ceremony.

Everyone enjoyed the personalized parts of this ceremony and had a few good laughs too!

They made their vows and sealed them with their rings. 

The serious legal moment of the pronouncement of marriage!

And away they go! (Notice Amanda's bouquet and Jess' boutonniere are made of cotton bolls.)

Congratulations, Amanda and Jess! It was a wonderful wedding and I hope you are off somewhere honeymooning! All the best to you!