Last May I met Danielle and David while they were in town. They live in DC but were planning their wedding on August 4, 2012 at the
Carolina Club in Chapel Hill, since David went to UNC. I was taken with this delightful couple right away and we seemed to have the same ideas about the ceremony. They were excited about writing it themselves with my guidance and loved the sample ceremony I read to them to give them an idea of how unique and personal their wedding ceremony could be. So we got started on their ceremony right away.
When Marty and I arrived for the wedding, the reception room was all set up and looked gorgeous. 
Turns out that their florist, Bea Miller with
Floral Dimensions, is a very good friend of David's mother, Vera. She did a beautiful job and it was good to work with her again.
They had a candy bar and a table for the guests to write notes to them and put in their guest book.
This gorgeous wedding cake was baked by the chef at the
Carolina Club and matches their multi-colored theme.
Separated from the reception area by expandable walls (later folded up so the reception could expand into this area) was the area for the ceremony.
Florian Music, a popular string ensemble, headed by Sherry Lattin on the left, provided the beautiful music for the ceremony.
Meanwhile our beautiful bride was hidden away in the conference room down the hall with her beautiful ladies enjoying a champagne toast and having pictures taken by Garry and Emily with
Big Star Studios.
The staff of the
Carolina Club,Tristen, center, our sound guy and Liz, right, Private Events Coordinator, coordinated and directed the festivities. Thanks for all your guidance and help!
We delayed the start of the ceremony a few minutes as an unannounced last minute activity in the stadium next door to the
Carolina Club made parking a challenge for our guests. So, rather than starting and having the guests trickle in during the ceremony, we decided to delay about 10 minutes.
The guys are hanging out in the hall as the guests are being seated. David assembled his good friends of many years to stand up with him. His father, John-Henry, was telling me how they had all met and stuck together although their careers took them in many different directions. That is David's brother on the left manning his two cell phone cameras.
After the seating of the parents, David and I entered from the side followed by the handsome groomsmen. Then the bridesmaids walked down the aisle and took their places up front.
"Please stand in honor of our beautiful bride" Danielle's father, Terry, proudly escorted her in as Steve Stowe, our DJ for the reception, watches from the hall! Steve was so helpful getting my microphone plugged into the house system before the ceremony. The sound was absolutely perfect! Danielle's parents are both full Lumbee Indian and of course, so is Danielle. I learned on Facebook a day after the wedding that Terry had instigated a special father-daughter dance for the reception for which he and Danielle practiced for a week so I copied that photo for the blog! Sorry I missed that!
Heart Stone Films videoed the wedding and I can't wait to see the video, especially the Father-Daughter
dance! Danielle and David included a sweet tribute to their parents and a reading by Danielle's cousin, Chasity. Then I shared their story with their guests. It included a lot of laughs. They met two years ago and no one was surprised that they met in a gym because they are both dedicated to being fit and healthy. They love working out together and participate in runs. In addition, they are both career-oriented and like to work hard. Danielle moved to DC when David's work took him there. She is following her dream and is in law school and he is a real estate developer. They are very well matched and so happy to finally officially be a family.
After exchanging their vows and rings, I invited their mothers to come forward and pour wine into two separate wine glasses that represented the bride and the groom. Then the couple poured half of their individual wine into a larger wine glass indicating their coming together in marriage. They did not pour all the wine together symbolic of continuing to be individuals and still connected to their respective families. During the Wine Unity Ceremony, the string trio softly played Ave Maria.
Then it was time for the big pronouncement of marriage, the moment they officially become husband and wife.
Sealed with a kiss....
Danielle and David, it was my pleasure and my honor to join you together in marriage. It was fun working with both of you to create your special ceremony. I know you both will go far in your careers and together in marriage. I wish you all the best life has to offer!
