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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A Very Memorable Wedding for Ashley and Joe!

When Joe contacted me in July about officiating his and Ashley's wedding on September 1, 2013 at the brand new Embassy Suites Hotel at Brier Creek, we were all happy that I was available because it was rather short notice. We quickly put together a wonderful ceremony and I was really looking forward to doing my first wedding at this new location. The outdoor space they described sounded perfect for a wedding. As it turns out, theirs was a rather unusual wedding because of all the unexpected twists and turns that transpired on their wedding day! We are all so grateful to the management and staff at Embassy Suites at Brier Creek for their flexibility, responsiveness and willingness to go over and above expectations of a wedding venue! Special thanks to Fred, Director of Food and Beverage and Brendan (don't know his title).  They were impressive and believe me, they will take care of whatever you need if you have a wedding there! 

Drapes were hung on a stand crafted by the father of the bride to hide the dark brown double doors behind it. A great solution except that it was quite blustery and little did we know then that a big storm was on its way despite the sunny sky.  The drapery panels were blowing around like sails and no matter what we did, we could not make them stay down. Knowing that would be quite distracting during the ceremony and after looking at different options the fathers of the bride and groom and I decided to turn the ceremony around to face the other way.

The manager in charge for Embassy Suites in Brier Creek rallied his staff and they cleared out the patio furniture stashed at that end and turned each chair around. See what a nice view of pretty trees and sky? (The storm was coming from the opposite direction!) He also arranged for the bride and her father to enter from the double doors we had tried to hide and walk down the aisle--so that solved that problem of getting the bride down the aisle. The rest of the wedding party would enter from the left side directly to the "altar" area instead of walking down the aisle. It was quite perfect! The guests who had been assembling in the lobby were then invited to take their seats. During all this activity, Brendan whispered to me that a room inside had been prepared in case of rain. Ahhh, he was wisely looking ahead and had a plan B in place!

And then the sky darkened rather suddenly and the drops began to fall. We had to move the wedding indoors. So grateful that the room inside had been set up with the chairs. The guests were then invited to go to that room as the raindrops increased. I grabbed the sand ceremony containers and took them inside to set up there. Our DJ and our videographer were moving all their equipment to the new space, running cables here and there and doing a sound check. From the reception area, I commandeered a tray table and tray to use for the sand ceremony and got that set up. The table outside was already drenched. The chairs too. Little did we know during the ceremony that a flash flood was taking place!

Are we ready yet? 

Here we go! The delay was not more than 10 minutes though. Everyone worked very well together. The wedding party and parents were hidden away in the reception room across the hall and the bride was sneaked into an adjoining hallway until Joe entered the ceremony room.

Joe escorted his mother, Jean, and his father, Larry, followed them. They were seated and Joe stepped up to join me.

Louis, father of the bride, escorted in Becky, mother of the bride, then Louis circled around and back out to escort the bride. That is Sean, friend of the couple, directing the processional and he did a great job.

Waiting for the bride! 

Ashley was so excited. She was kept informed about all the changes and she was really cool with it and did not get the least bit ruffled. She told me, "I don't care as long as Joe and I get married!" I believe that is Brendan on the right side of the doorway. 

It was a bit of a squeeze to get by the last row but Ashley is moving on and I think Louis had to make a real effort to keep her from galloping down the aisle!

As they walked down the aisle, those of us in the wedding party could see that Louis was trying really hard not to cry. So sweet!

(That wallpaper will make you drunk if you stare at it too long!) 

Both sets of parents have been married for 38 years and have provided wonderful role models for Joe and Ashley. The couple gave me the date and place of each of their marriages and it was a surprise to them for me to relate some humorous details of each of their weddings back in 1975!

Joe and Ashley's story was quite funny too and everyone had a good time hearing it. Then it was time for them to read their vows to each other from my book and exchange rings.

Containers for sand ceremonies have gotten quite fancy these days! Popular right now is a shadow-box with the names and date of marriage engraved on the glass front.

We recessed to the reception area with its pretty up-lighting. 

One of my favorite DJs, Jason, scooted out and was getting ready for the reception. He was a champ! For this wedding he was working for Island Sound. In the future, he is spinning off into his own DJ business Stylus Weddings. Our photographer for the wedding was Tina Loebach and it was good to work with Tina and her assistant again! Their videographer, Whitewater, is with Island Sound & Video. 

Ashley and Joe, what a ride! And it turned out great despite all the ups and downs. You were both so flexible and went right with the flow. I know the most important thing was that you got married to each other and that was going to happen no matter what! Congratulations! You are a great couple and you have proven that you will have a very happy and satisfying marriage, no matter what life puts in front of you!

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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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