WEDDING PLANS: Triangle Catering

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Fantastic Wedding for Rachael and Victor at The Cotton Room!

It was such a delight to work with Victor and Rachael. We hit it off right away when they came to meet with me last May. They are mature and knew what they wanted--and laid back and easy going! At the rehearsal, one of their groomsmen told me they are the last of "their crowd" to marry and so everyone was pumped for this wedding. We had a good time constructing their story and ceremony and were really looking forward to this fabulous wedding day of November 2, 2013 at The Cotton Room in Durham--a really wonderful wedding venue.

Their wedding planner/director was Amanda Scott with A Swanky Affair. Amanda and I have known each other for years but had not done a wedding together since she started her own wedding planning business. It was a pleasure to work with her on Victor and Rachael's wedding and every detail was handled with finesse and ease! Thanks, Amanda! let's do lots more!

These pretty tables were hidden behind the flowing draping for the ceremony then the drapes were pulled and the reception set up while the guests enjoyed cocktails after the ceremony.

Triangle Catering caters all the weddings at The Cotton Room.

Eric Hodgden was our very fine DJ. We actually had just done a wedding together the weekend before at Caffe Luna. Love working with Eric. The sound was perfect!

This pretty cake was in place. It was baked by Cinda's Creative Cakes as was the groom's cake below.

Victor attended the University of Alabama and is a huge fan (now Rachael is too!) and so of course the groom's cake had to reflect his loyalty!

Tre Bella was the florist. This is the bride's bouquet!

For the guest book, the couple asked them to sign the matt around photographs.

One of the tables flanking us for the ceremony. Simple elegance with their chosen color of purple.

So, this is how the ceremony set up looks on the side of the room with tall windows pouring in the daylight and the expansive length of the hardwood floors. This building has been re-purposed from being a cotton manufacturing plant and warehouse.

Here is the view from the back of the room.

Amanda has gotten us all lined up for the processional. It was a long processional.

A quick shot of Amanda holding Rachael's train waiting for the time for her father to escort her in!

And there they go!

And so we began!

There was a warm welcome, an opening prayer, remembrance of those who have passed on and a sweet tribute to their parents.

Then we had fun with their story! Here is a brief excerpt: "They met for the first time at Coquette’s, a French restaurant in North Hills, in February of 2012. They had so much fun talking and getting to know each other at dinner that they ended up spending most of the weekend hanging out together. They were both very comfortable and relaxed and the conversation flowed so naturally. Rachael was intrigued by Victor’s calm, easy going presence. Victor loved Rachael’s smile and laughter.
For their second date, they decided to go hear one of Victor’s favorite bands, “Alabama Shakes.” Although Rachael was not a big fan of concerts, she wanted to go just to be with Victor. They met at a local shopping center to carpool to the concert. Rachael is directionally challenged and assumed Victor was good at directions because he was so confident about it. On the way to the concert he asked her to look at the map on his phone and see if they were going in the right direction. He had no clue then that maps are useless to Rachael. He wanted her to look and see if they were headed for the red dot on the map. She was taken aback because she thought he knew how to get there. His style was simply to drive in the direction of the red dot on the map instead of following street by street directions. Thankfully they didn’t really get lost at all, just one wrong turn. Since then, Victor has been in charge of getting them where they want to go."

They exchanged their vows and sealed them with their rings.

We closed with a blessing then I made the pronouncement of marriage!

Great kiss!

They were so thrilled to finally be husband and wife! (In the aisle is Randall Hill their photographer. He is based in Myrtle Beach so I had not met him before. I liked him a lot. He was at the rehearsal and asked me then if I had any restrictions about photography during the ceremony. I told him that I only ask that photographers not get behind me during the ceremony and distract the couple and the guests. He said he would never even consider doing that!)

Rachael and Victor, congratulations! You are a great couple, very well matched and it was wonderful to get to know you and have the honor of joining you in marriage!

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Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Fabulous Interfaith Wedding for Alyssa and Jay at The Cotton Room!

When I met Alyssa and Jay, I knew they would plan a spectacular wedding day with all the nicest little touches and I was not disappointed! They are both ambitious, intelligent and gracious to boot. We met last February and decided we were a good fit and got started on the ceremony right away. They were referred to me by The Cotton Room where their wedding took place on July 13, 2013. It was my great pleasure to work with The Cotton Room wedding coordinator Amalia who had everything under control and moving right along.

This is a photo taken "behind the scenes" before the drapes are opened after the ceremony and the tables spread out. Isn't this a beautiful flower arrangement by Brandi Dennison with Triangle Catering? Notice the orange in it? How unique and fragrant!

This is one wedding cake but apparently more were coming because of the additional cake stands. Or maybe there were to be cupcakes which are all the rage these days. Once in a Blue Moon Bakery was in charge of these sweet things!

Ah, a menu after my own heart! I adore Indian food! Jay is Indian and of course this will fill the bill for those guests who prefer ethnic food. Too bad I had to dash off to another wedding or I would have hung around and tasted it all!

And for those guests with a preference for American fare, this is a sure to please menu. Yummy!

In the bridal suite, Alyssa's bridesmaid was attaching her veil as her mother and our little flower girl Olivia look on.

Olivia took her job seriously and very purposefully sprinkled the petals as she came down the aisle with her mother. She is just barely two years old and a very smart and determined little girl!

And this sweet baby girl is probably our youngest guest. There were lots of children present for the wedding and form the most part they were very well behaved, or at least while I was there!!

Our musicians from Arioso Strings were warming up and ready to go.

Just a few minutes after this was taken, the guests were asked to take their seats and we had a full house and even added a few more seats at the back.

The color theme was gray and yellow. Such a pretty buttery yellow.

I had the great pleasure to work with Hooman Bahrani with Vesic Photography for the first time! He is such a great photographer. I met him a couple of years ago when he was the presenter of a program about using Pinterest at the Professional Wedding Guild luncheon. He knows his stuff!

Mike Morse Entertainment DJ Rangananthan Rajaram provided amplification for me and then played the reception.

What a pleasure it was to have Alyssa's grandparents, Ken, Sr. and Jean, with us for the ceremony. They are waiting to get in line to process in.

Amalia got us all lined up and cued us in. After the grandparents, it was time for Jay's parents, Amita and Dilip.

Next it is Mother of the Bride, Priscilla, escorted in by her son Michael who circled around to come in with the groomsmen. As it turns out guests were sitting in her place on the front row so she sat next to Jay's parents.

Let's go, guys!

Last minute coaching for Olivia who truly did not need it!

On the other hand, Dylan, ring bearer, took one look and ran the other way. Someone turned him around and pointed him back down the aisle where he spotted his father and ran to him.

Here comes our gorgeous bride escorted by her proud father, Ken.

Oops! Almost tripped on the dress! A challenge for Fathers of Brides!

And so we begin.

When I stepped out from behind the bride and groom to do the tribute to their parents, I discovered Priscilla on the groom's side. She quickly got up and moved to her correct seat because by then the guests sitting there had figured out they were in the wrong seats! (notice Alyssa fussing with her veil)

Look! No veil. The veil slipped off and the maid of honor took it and I did not see it again! It was at this point that I began relating the amusing story of their courtship which took place at pharmacy school at Carolina. Many of the guests were their former classmates so they really related. I really don't remember hearing so much laughter at any other wedding. The guests just loved it--and looks like Alyssa and Jay did too.

In the Christian tradition they lit the Unity Candle which then served as the fire for the Mangal Fera ceremony in the Hindu tradition.

They walked counter-clockwise around the fire 4 times showing that each of them consents to the marriage in the Hindu tradition.

Each round signified a different aspect of life.

In the Hindu tradition of Sapta Padi, they took seven steps, one for each vow they repeated after me.

Then Jay placed around Alyssa's neck the Mangal Sutra--a sacred black necklace as a symbol of acceptance to share his life with her. So much easier to do without the veil!

In the American tradition they exchanged rings and read their American vows to each other from my book.

While the guests were enjoying cocktails, the wedding party and family gathered behind the scenes. Alyssa and Jay were so thrilled to be married and happy that the ceremony went so well, despite the lost veil!

Jay and Alyssa, what a fabulous wedding! Loved it. Loved your creativity and careful planning. It was a pleasure and an honor to be a part of your wedding day!