April and Dave's Fun Wedding at The State Club!

Some wise match-making friends of April and Dave decided that they should meet each other and persisted until they got them together. Neither April nor Dave was looking for a relationship, both having endured too many relationships that did not pan out. But then on the other hand, they felt they had nothing to lose either! April was known to be very picky and was finally convinced to meet Dave on the basis that "for goodness sake, you don't have to marry the guy!" Once they met each other, the bonding went very quickly and April added Dave to her season tickets for the Canes as they both shared a love for hockey and football, although April is a Giants fan and Dave a Jets. But they have worked out their differences, most of the time anyway. And after a while, they decided that they wanted to make their relationship a committed one by getting married. April's good friend, Andrea, whom I had also married to her husband, John, a few years ago and also performed a baby blessing ceremony for them and their daughter, Rhyan, told her she had to "get Kayelily" to officiate! April also remembered that she used to work with my daughter, also named Andrea, at Michael Dean's a few years back. So we met in February and started planning this wedding at The State Club for Sunday November 6, 2011. (I learned that you don't have to have attended or graduated from NCSU to use this fabulous facility. You do have to join the club but the fee is quite reasonable and certainly budget friendly for weddings.)

It was simply a gorgeous day for a wedding!  I had just flown back into town from having attended my 50th high school reunion the Friday and Saturday before. Dave and April were so thoughtful in letting me work with them on the previous Thursday on how to have a rehearsal which they did successfully on Saturday night while I was in Georgia having a good time with my former classmates. I thank you, April and Dave, for being so understanding! The outdoor area of The State Club was bathed in sunlight which highlighted the beautiful fall colors of the trees in the background. Since the last wedding I had done there, another bride had put up a pretty pergola on the lawn and donated it to the club. It fit in perfectly and they put a swag of beige tulle on the front of it to fit into their brown and pumpkin color theme.

Inside the reception area was this adorable cake with two pups on it. After all, Dave and April are dog people just like me! The cake is by Piece-a-Cake and follows the same color scheme.

The reception area was all set up. The florist was Fallon's and they put up the pretty orange paper lanterns on the tables and down the aisle and made the pretty bouquets of the ladies as well as the centerpieces. The State Club catered the food.

John Hensley with Anything Music was our DJ for the ceremony and the reception. Good to work with John again! Beth Tilley Green was our photographer and she brought along a second shooter too.

The processional began with the entrance of me and the groomsmen including Dave's son, Hunter,  followed by April's stepmother, Michelle, Dave and his mother, Judy, and then the mother of the bride, Robbie, and April's stepfather, Eric. Then the junior bridesmaids, one of whom is Dave's daughter, Annalisa. Next our two little flower girls made their entrance.

 

April was stunning in her beautiful dress and pretty flowers in her hair. I saw a tear slip out of Dave's eye as he watched her coming down the aisle.

 

 

April got really tickled during the prayer and could hardly stifle her laughter. I asked her later what was so funny and she said she did not know. The whole ceremony was so much fun and there was lots of laughter throughout.

We wrote a very special section to honor and include Dave's children, Hunter and Annalisa. April made vows to them and they made vows to her then there were hugs all around.

 

 

 

 April and Dave read their vows to each other and then exchanged rings.

 

 

 

And off they ride into the sunset--well, almost! 

What a great wedding, April and Dave! And as I write this, I hope you are honeymooning in a sunny spot! So happy to have had the honor of officiating for you. I wish you prosperity, happiness and enduring love!

Sitting out and waiting for their turn to be in photos are Andrea, my former bride and the Matron of Honor for April, and Best Man, Ron. I spotted Andrea's husband, John, inside and spoke with him for a minute. It was really great to see them again. Andrea and John, you two are looking great and very happy!

Chrys and Andy's Wonderful Wedding Surrounded by Wolves!

Chrys and Andy are a couple who love to have fun and laugh a lot. They did not want a fancy formal all-the-bells-and-whistles type wedding but they did want to have a meaningful ceremony in front of their family and friends then a big party afterwards. Choosing The State Club on Centennial Campus of NCSU was perfect for their vision. When my husband Dave (my assistant Marty was on vacation this Memorial Day weekend so Dave got drafted!) and I arrived we all marveled at the number of ferocious wolves hanging out! No doubt this was Wolfpack country! And, the Alumni Center known as The State Club was beautiful! Here are some wolves guarding the property.

 

 

 

Mel Manning, their DJ for the reception, got all set up and was talking with Wendy Dorman, the banquet director for The State Club.  I have another wedding here in November and look forward to doing many more.

This is a great place for a wedding. The twin staircases in the lobby are fabulous but I did not get a good photo. You can see them on their website. There is plenty of parking. The banquet room is all set up for the reception. The cake was not available as it was in the big refrigerator not to be brought out until they were ready for the couple to cut it. I really wanted to see it though since it was made by Nantucket Grill and Cafe!

Ruth and Steve Smith were all set up and playing under the canopy provided adjacent to the ceremony site. They live in Boon NC and came all the way to Raleigh for this wedding. They like to travel and do many weddings across the state.  They call their music Celtic Appalachian Music.

 

The hammered dulcimer is quite an instrument. The music for the wedding ceremony was so beautiful!

It was time to begin and Chrys' father, Doug, escorts her mother, Dianne, in. I told Dianne I loved her hat and that she must have been inspired by the Royal Wedding. She said that she had gotten that hat long before the Royal Wedding. It fit her to a tee! Originally the wedding was to take place in the grassy area to the side of the club but due to rains the night before, it was just too soggy and we were afraid not only the high heels of the bridesmaids would sink but the legs of the chairs! So the chairs were all moved out onto the large terrace in front of the grassy area. 

 

This is our Maid of Honor, Lauren, sister of the Bride escorted in by the brother of the groom, Christopher.

Here comes the bride and her father. Our very capable wedding director is Sue, Andy's Aunt. She did a great job getting everyone together and cuing them in.

Chrys is a no-nonsense type of gal and did not want all the fuss and bother of a long ball gown. Just does not fit her personality. This dress was just perfect for her.

Andy's best man was his father, Ray. I think he really enjoyed the ceremony. He had a big smile on his face every time I glanced over at him!

 View of the girls.......

 View of the guys......They were not short on attendants!

 

 

 

 

 

Ahhhh, married at last! The wedding we co-created was a lot of fun. They met originally on OKcupid.com in 2008 while Chrys was doing volunteer work in New Hampshire and Andy was living in North Carolina. As soon as she returned to NC, they met at the Nantucket Grill and Cafe, hence why their wedding cake came from there! After discovering their mutual love of dogs, puppies and good beer they became inseparable.

Chrys and Andy, your wedding was so delightfully YOU! Congratulations!  I wish you all the best for life!