Meg and Nick Wed at Fearrington's Crabapple Garden!

Weddings at Fearrington are first class and always elegant. Gilda McDaniel and her staff really know how to do a wedding right. I always enjoy working with them and being the officiant at these lovely weddings. Nick and Meg's wedding was no exception. We met in August of 2012 and began planning their ceremony for October 5, 2013 at Fearrington. 

 The beautiful Crabapple Garden is always a pretty spot with some shade too.

Fearrington's florist, Mary Stevens, always adds just the right touch of floral arrangements. These pretties were hung on the aisle chairs.

Over in the Garden Terrace the tables were all set for the reception. DJ Randy Bennett with Joe Bunn DJ Company was setting up during the ceremony.

The pastry chef at Fearrington bakes the most elegant cakes. Nothing is prettier than a simple cake bedecked with flowers.

The couple got two step ladders between which they strung wire and hung the table assignments and lots of favorite photos.

Their guest book was a map of North Carolina which the guests signed.

It is almost time to start. The guests are getting seated. Gilda is ready and Chris, with Arioso Strings, is playing prelude music.

I took my place at the top of the steps and Nick escorted his mother in then joined me.

 Meg's mother was escorted in by her son and her grandson! 

 Here comes our beautiful bride escorted in by her father! 

Meg and Nick met back in May of 2008 when they were least expecting to. They were both living in the DC area. Meg put an ad in Craig's List looking for a running partner and while he was perusing Craig's list looking for someone to cook with, Nick ran across Meg's ad. They emailed, found out they had mutual friends in the DC area, and decided to meet. They liked being with each other so much they started dating and soon became a couple. Two years later they moved to North Carolina and got engaged three years later. 

Nick's sister, Lindsay, read "The Key to Love" by Robert M. Millay.

After telling their story and revealing to each other what they loved most and what they are looking forward to in marriage, they made their vows to each other and exchanged rings.

I had to put this photo in. Doesn't Nick look like the cat that ate the canary? At this point we are at the closing blessing where I ask them to look around and feel the love of their families and friends surrounding them.

Krystal Kast, their photographer, is getting some of those wonderful pastoral shots that Fearrington weddings are famous for. 

Nick and Meg, thank you for choosing me to be your wedding officiant. I thoroughly enjoyed working with you and then officiating your beautiful sweet wedding. I think everyone enjoyed themselves. And thank you for this review on Weddingwire.com: We loved working with Kayelily. She is easy to work with, responsive, helpful, and professional. She helped us craft a very special ceremony that made our guests (and the bride and groom), both laugh and cry. It was perfect, and we were so lucky to have her be a part of it!

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To contact me:

mailto:kayelily@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

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Erin and Sean Wed at All Saints Chapel!

Erin and Sean and I met last November. She had found me on Weddingwire.com and contacted me to see if I was available for their wedding on June 1, 2013 at All Saints Chapel in downtown Raleigh. She wrote: "Although neither of us identify with a specific religion, we opted to have our wedding in a traditional church setting.  We are looking for an officiant that can help us tailor a ceremony that is unique to us, to the spiritual beliefs that we do share, and focusing on the love we have for one another and the commitment that will be made that day.  I have heard wonderful things about you and would love to talk to you more about our wedding.  Please let me know if you are still available for our date.  Thank you so much!"  I was available and I was thrilled when they decided to hire me as their officiant. They were really excited about writing their own ceremony from my materials. The wedding day arrived and the chapel was a blur of activity when I arrived. 

Katie Dunn with Events by La Fete was busy pining the boutonniere on Sean's lapel. (Notice the posts in the chapel that had been decorated with tulle and strings of white lights. I saw them being assembled the day before by the couple that married that evening. They left the for Erin and Sean. Really softened the dark wooden posts and gave a nice glow to the chapel.)

You can see Marty's reflection in the glass of the Welcome sign!

This lovely Anime themed wedding cake by Tishre Hunter, Dreme Cake Artistry, really fits Erin and Sean and their very unique and individual taste! In fact the sketch of the cake is on the home page of the bakery's website.

Mark McNally with Joe Bunn DJ Company was ready to do a sound check when I got there. He is so much fun and so personable and I love his Irish accent.

Sean had the distinct honor or escorting in not only his mother, Lona, but Erin's mother, Lynne, as well!

Our gorgeous and glamorous bride escorted in by her father, Wade.

They were both fighting back the tears but once up on the altar, they were fine. 

I am either thanking the parents here or telling their funny story! They met in high school over ten years ago. Sean thought Erin was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. When he found out where she was working after school, he would go hang out nearby but was too shy to actually strike up a conversation with this "Goth/Raver girl." Sometimes she would see him at his place of work but they only said Hi to each other. Erin admitted she was just as shy as Sean was and had anyone told her back then that 10 years later she would be marrying Sean, she would have laughed.

Then 5 years later when MySpace was still cool, they connected and could talk via the internet--a great solution for shy folks! Eventually they had a first date, both found their voices, and soon they were an inseparable couple. Sean proposed in March of 2012 and they began planning this wedding.

I ask the bride and groom in confidence to tell me what they love about each other and what they are looking forward to in marriage. They hear what the other told me for the first time on their wedding day. A very special moment.

Many thanks to Cara with F8 Studio for this great photo of Erin and Sean just married and the photo below of the bubble parade!

Speaking of Cara, she had the great idea of forming the bubble line for the couple to walk through. Always makes for great photos.

Erin and Sean, what a pleasure to get to know you and be with you on your special day! It was beautiful. Thanks for choosing me to be your officiant. I wish you all the best!

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To contact me:

mailto:kayelily@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

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Alexandria and Chris Get Married at Brier Creek Country Club!

Alexandria and Chris contacted me in December for their June 1, 2013 wedding at Brier Creek Country Club. Alexandria described them as a mellow couple who are pretty much homebodies but they knew they wanted to get married. They have been together for about 5 years and originally met in New Jersey where she was working at a Starbucks and he just happened to stop by one day. Alexandria, who never met a stranger, had a way of bringing out Chris' normally shy personality and Chris was intrigued. So intrigued he felt bold and asked her out. He was living in New York City and going to school so their dates involved a 45 minute drive one way or the other until she finally convinced Chris to move in with her. Then when Chris graduated in 2011, he landed a job in Raleigh and within a 3 week time span they found an apartment, packed up, and hit the road. Chris proposed at the going away party their friends and family arranged so the move to Raleigh was really a new chapter in their lives in many ways. Then they started planning this wedding.

This glorious array of sweets (candy bar) was provided by Sugar Lumps out of Wilmington. Don't ask me how Alexandria found them--she is just amazing at what she pulled together and was totally driven by what they wanted, not by any prescribed protocol!

Arioso Strings provided beautiful music for the ceremony while Randy Bennett with Joe Bunn Company DJ set up for the reception in the Palmer Room.

A chair with photos of their departed loved ones. Especially missed was Alexandria's mother.

 At about 5 minutes before the ceremony start time, we got outside and lined up.

Alexandria was so funny! She was so ready and eager to get married she wanted to start the ceremony 15 minutes early--but, the guests had to be herded from the lobby to the Jasmine Court first!

Isn't he a cutie? Age two and he made it down the aisle--in a hurry--with Daddy not too far behind!

 Alexandria was escorted in by her Uncle John.  

Alexandria and Chris, great couple, great wedding! I wish you all the happiness in the world, and--lots of babies! Call me for the baby blessing ceremony!

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To contact me:

mailto:kayelily@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

My Website

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Or leave a comment below!

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