whimsical magazine

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Beautiful Interfaith Wedding for Tara and Seth at Brier Creek!

Almost exactly a year ago I met Tara and Seth to plan their wedding ceremony. Seth is Jewish, Tara Christian and they wanted traditional wedding customs of both faiths in their ceremony including some Hebrew words. Andrew Weiss canted the beautiful Hebrew words in the ceremony for us. And the weather, aside from being quite breezy, was gorgeous in spite of all the unpredictable weather we have been having in NC lately. The wedding was March 22, 2014 at the Jasmine Courtyard at Brier Creek Country Club. You can see the wind blowing the drapes and the tablecloth in the photo below taken before the ceremony.

The Unity Candle set up, wine and glass and glass to break are in place on the table under the pergola.

Mews Designs was the florist and had these pretty little suspended jars of flowers gracing the aisle. The altar was decorated simply and elegantly with Boston ferns and two pedestals. Simplicity is always refreshing!

Tara and Seth chose to do a "first look" before the ceremony. In addition to being such a sweet moment when they first see each other before the wedding, they could get most of the photos done early too. So when Marty and I arrived, they were taking pictures at the site. Someone must have asked Tara and Seth a question or something they were pondering in the photo above, thus their non-smiling expressions. But I include this photo because it is the only good one I have of Seth's parents, Keith and Adrienne, and his sweet grandmother, Leonor.

Tara and her sister, Kelley, who was also her Maid of Honor. Love the black and white with the pop of red!

In the ballroom, the tables and chairs and our DJ, Mel Manning, were set up and ready. Our photographer was Joe Payne. Videoing the wedding was Olde Road Pictures Videography.

Simply Cakes had just delivered and set up this stunning wedding cake.

I went upstairs to the Dogwood Room to sign the Ketubah, a Jewish marriage contract. After that it was back to the courtyard for Mel to place the microphone on Andrew.

Time to get lined up! This is Terri, mother of the bride waiting for her escort, Nicholas, to return to escort her in. Shelly Keeter was our excellent wedding director for this wedding in addition to being the event manager for the club. Seth and Tara contracted with her to be their wedding director in addition to her other responsibilities and everything flowed smoothly along! Thanks, Shelly!

Seth and his best man, Nick, were feeling fine and ready to go! I wish I knew what was so funny!

Andrew and I led the way for the groom and groomsmen to enter.

Our ring bearer, William, and flower girl, Maddie, were next in and did a super job! Tara and her father, Tom, look cool as cucumbers as they wait for the bride's grand entrance!

Where's the bride? Great shot of the guests who are looking for the bride. Everyone else has entered now and the anticipation builds!

And here they come!

Tom places Tara's hand into Seth's hand and she kisses Dad good bye as he carefully avoids stepping on her dress to take his seat.

The ceremony began with "Shalom aleychem!" Welcome, everyone!

Everyone's head is bowed for the opening prayer.

We remembered those loved ones who are no longer with us physically but are with us in spirit. Then a few words of tribute to the couple's parents sitting on the first row.

Then it was time to light the unity candle which was definitely a challenge in the wind. But above you see the actual evidence that they did get it lit but it took all 4 of us! Yay!

The Seven Blessings were spoken before the couple shared the wine.

Tara went first.

Then Seth, who would traditionally finish off the rest. (I had originally intended to pour the wine Shelly put on the table into a special glass the couple brought for the wine but their glass was too fragile to withstand the wind. Consequently there was more wine than usual in the more substantial glass and I could tell Seth was debating in his head whether to drink it all or not! That's is what is tickling Tara!)

This is the sweet part of the ceremony where I tell the bride and groom what they told me in confidence they love about each other, why they want to marry each other and what they are looking forward to in marriage.

They had written secret vows to each other that they read from my book.

They exchange rings......

To close we had a Prayer based on First Corinthians, then Andrew did a perfect job canting Shehecheyano, A Special Prayer, from the Jewish tradition.

The pronouncement of marriage was next but they could not kiss until....

Seth broke the glass and we all shouted Mazeltov!

Tara really laid one on Seth!!

And another!

Now tell me, doesn't Seth look like he is reeling here? It must have been that kiss!

Okay, he's back to the moment and so happy!

The wedding party and parents followed......then off to the reception for the guests!

One last picture for the road! Wow, what a wedding. It was really gorgeous, Tara and Seth. Give yourselves a big pat on the back. It was great working with you and I wish you all the best in the world!

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Sunday, November 17, 2013

Wonderful Warm Wedding for Karin and Craig at Caffe Luna!

Karin and Craig met with me in July to officiate their wedding at Caffe Luna on November 10, 2013. They wanted a cozy, casual but elegant wedding with their families and closest friends. Caffe Luna certainly provides this warm and inviting ambience. They also wanted a personalized ceremony that reflected their love and commitment and that included their baby son, Cameron. No problem!

When Dave and I arrived for the wedding the sun was setting and the inside of the restaurant was all aglow.

Their florist, MEWS-Design, had set the centerpieces and were working on the "altar" area.

Jennifer with Ambrosia Cake Creations delivered the cake and got it all set up. So pretty! I have seen their gallery of cakes and they are amazing!

I collected the marriage license from Craig and got his father, Garland, to sign as one of the witnesses.

When Karin and Craig told me they needed a DJ, I suggested they call Lenny Fritts. I can count on Lenny to be on site early, set up and ready to go long before most vendors at weddings. He and I conferred on the order of the processional and enlisted someone to relay the signals to him.

I think we are ready!

They had a very simple processional because there were no attendants and they decided to be creative. So when it was time to begin, I walked in first. Lenny's cue to begin the music.

Craig's father, Garland, escorted in his wife and Craig's stepmother, Kathy. Turns out she is the mother of Devon Schultz, a former wedding events manager at Hilton RTP and The Carolina Inn! She recently relocated to Charlotte but had come back to Raleigh for this wedding. It was great to see her and what a surprise!

Karin's mother, Ruth, was escorted in by her son, Rich, brother of the bride.

Craig and Karin have an adorable son, Cameron, who is very much a part of this wedding and they decided that the three of them would enter together.

He was so precious!

And so we began with a warm welcome, prayer, remembrance of those not with us, a community blessing and a tribute to their parents.

Then it was time for Cameron to come forth for his blessing.

Karin and Craig met at work over 12 years ago. In 2008, they ended up in the same department and started hanging out with fellow workers after work. They gradually gravitated toward each other and discovered similar values and a comfortable kind of compatibility.

When Craig finally got around to kissing Karin which she was wondering would ever happen, the sparks ignited and they have been together ever since. Two years later they found themselves the happy parents of their sweet little boy and decided to make their family official by getting married and the wedding planning began.

Hmm, someone's cell phone got in the photo!

The moment their marriage becomes legal!

Sealed with a kiss!

Craig is not a smiler, can you tell? But I happen to know he was extremely happy in that moment even though it does not show! Karin, you can see how happy she is!

One very happy family! Karin and Craig, what a pleasure you were to work with. So easy going and laid back and letting everything just flow naturally. I can tell you are really good together. And, thank you for your generous gratuity! It is much appreciated. I wish you the best life can bring your way! Cameron too!