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!

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To contact me:

mailto:kayelily@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

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Allison and Andrew's Wonderful Wedding at the Matthews House!

Allison and Andrew have known each other for a long time! They met their junior year in high school in New Jersey when Andrew's family moved there from New York and he was the "new boy at school." They hit it off as friends right away but shortly after graduation, Allison's parents moved to Virginia. They both went off to separate colleges and pursued advanced degrees, all while just keeping in touch and seeing each other from time to time but not as a couple! The first spark of more than friendship occurred in January of 2011 when Allison visited Andrew, but nothing more than some glances and low key flirting. It was when Andrew traveled to Greensboro NC to visit Allison and take her to the law school prom (first I knew of law schools having proms!). They shared their first kiss that night and by the time the weekend ended, they decided that they were perfect for each other--something their friends had known all along! It was long-distance romancing until February of 2012 when Andrew landed a job in Raleigh and he moved here while Allison was madly studying for the bar exam which she passed, of course! He proposed 8 months later. They chose the date of October 12, 2013 and the lovely Matthews House for their venue. 

Doing a sound check before the ceremony and chatting with Kelley Kennedy who owns Teacup Floral. I met Kelley last year at several Professional Wedding Guild networking luncheons and was so impressed with her originality and fresh ideas. She was a fashion designer in New York for many years before she and her husband decided to move south and start a family. She told me that although she worked in fashion design, floral design was her real passion! I referred Allison and Andrew to Kelley and I was delighted that they hired her.  

Our DJ Lenny Fritts with Touch of Class DJs has his portable set up on the porch into which I plug my microphone. The weather that day was very overcast and threatening rain but his equipment was protected. But I have discovered through the years that when the air is full of moisture and even when slightly spitting rain, the colors are really saturated and brilliant. Great for wedding pictures!

Lenny and I work together a lot. In fact, he and the Matthews House had referred the couple to me!

Kelley became a mother last year and after we spoke earlier, she went to get her adorable little girl who was in the car and so I could meet her! I thought it was wonderful that this flower professional named her daughter Magnolia Rose! Maggie for short. Isn't she adorable? And such a happy baby!

The tables were so well color coordinated and I love the mason jars with flowers that looked like they had just been plucked from a flower garden.

Instead of a wedding cake, Allison and Andrew chose to have Wedding Pies! Looks scrumptious! These were made by the Matthews House baking staff.

The aisle was decorated with hanging blue mason jars full of flowers and a clump of dusty miller at the foot of each chair.

We actually started this ceremony early. The rain looked impending and since all the guests were there, having been bussed from their hotel, we said let's go! First in are the parents--these are the parents of the groom.

Preeti Waas, manager of the Matthews House, was our very capable wedding director. Here she cues in the entrance of the mother of the bride escorted by her son.

 Bridesmaids in the lovely cobalt blue were next in. 

Now for our beautiful bride and her proud father!

After the opening prayer, we gave tribute to the couple's parents who are standing to receive and give their blessings.

 Andrew's sister, Rebecca, shared words from Ecclesiastes. 

And now for their story! Many of the guests had not heard the complete story from beginning to now so it was a lot of fun and laughs.

They had written their own vows and they were printed in my book for them to read to each other. But, Andrew surprised us all and had memorized his. He did not look down once for a prompt!

Allison was blown away and mouthed to Andrew that she had not memorized hers! 

Andrew and Allison, you were a pleasure to work with and I am honored that you chose me to help you tie the knot after all these years! I wish you a lifetime of happiness and contentment!

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To contact me:

mailto:kayelily@aweddingminister.com

919-345-4608

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Long View Center Wedding for Kim and Ian!

Ian and Kimberly chose the elegant Long View Center sanctuary in downtown Raleigh for their wedding. Unity Church of the Triangle makes their home in Long View Center and happily provides this beautiful historic setting for weddings. It was built in the 1880s and was a baptist church until that congregation relocated and sold the building in 2002. The current owner restored and renovated the space preserving the historic elements of this spacious and impressive venue. 

Since the church took the stained glass windows with them when they moved, the owner replaced them with beautiful non-religious themed works of art.

Built before sound systems existed, the architecture is designed for acoustical excellence.

Dana Mallory provided lovely music for the prelude, processional and recessional. 

Our flower girls, Mary Parker and Perry, who did a great job scattering the petals before the bride entered.

 Ian's parents, Gillian and Eugene.

The bridesmaids and flower girls had entered and our director, Danielle (future sister-in-law of our bride), cued the entrance of our beautiful bride escorted by her father, Rob.

And so Rob placed Kimberly's hand into Ian's and we ascended to the top of the altar for the ceremony.

 Paying tribute to their parents.....

Nina, Kimberly's sister-in-law, shared the words of Robert Fulghum about marriage. 

 Telling their story.... 

Sharing what they are looking forward to in marriage...Ian looks forward to finally getting that dog he has been waiting for!

  Saying their vows....

 The ring exchange.....

 Unity Sand Ceremony

 The deed is done! Let's have some fun!  

After photos, I headed over to Cobblestone Hall where their guests had assembled for the reception. Their photographers were Jill and Dena with Thornton Photography. Videography was Whitewater from Island Sound.

 This beautiful cake was by Sugarland! 

One of my favorite DJs was there spinning the music! Hi, Lenny Fritts!

Looks like everyone was having a great time! Rocky Top Hospitality did the catering. Fleuressence provided the beautiful bouquets for the ceremony and Kimberly and her mother did the flower arrangements for the reception. 

Ian and Kimberly, what a great wedding! I loved working with you to create your one-of-a-kind ceremony and wish you all the happiness in the world!

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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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