From Michigan to North Carolina - Gale and Bob are Married

 Gale and Bob traveled from Michigan to marry in North Carolina. She had one BIG request. They wanted to get married barefoot. Now everyone may not understand but it made perfect sense to me.

 

Off come the shoes. 

 One quick photo before we start the ceremony.

Today I marry my friend,

the one I will live with,

dream with and love.

I will look with joy down the path of our tomorrows

knowing we will walk it together

side by side,

hand in hand,

and heart to heart.

 They ended their ceremony by tossing Blessing Stones into the creek, 
spreading love and good wishes to the universe.

And we received this sweet email..

Thank you so much for all you and Guy did to make our wedding day even more special than we ever expected!  Everything was perfect...the ceremony, the photos, the scenery & the wonderful hospitality.  The weather was even perfect!  Bob and I felt so blessed that day to have found Rivermist.  We just wish we could have stayed longer to visit with you and Guy.  Once again thank-you for everything & we'll definitely stay in touch.

Many blessings,

Julie and Dan - Small Wedding, Big Love

 Julie and Dan wanted a private ceremony that included their adult children. How fortunate for me they found my information and decided to marry at our retreat center.

 Waiting for the Bride and Groom.

 

Prayer of Love

My marriage prayer for you is this:

That you will always remember the qualities that attracted you

to each other when you first met and how you felt as your feelings

of attraction turned into respect, admiration and finally love.

That you will work hard to turn your feelings of love into acts of love

so that nothing and no one can divide you.

That you will always have kind and loving hearts that are quick

to ask for forgiveness when you are wrong

as well as to forgive when your partner is wrong.

That your love might grow to hear all things, believe all

things, and hope for all things, endure all things.

I pray you place your marriage in God's hands, and that your

love increases and overflows, beyond anything you can yet imagine.

  

 Holding on tight.

 

 A white layer of sand poured first. 

Jule and Dan recognize that God is the foundation of their marriage.

 Surrounded by the most important people in the world, their children.

 It is true. Forever, begins today.

I do love to share my emails:

Dan and I thought our wedding was absolutely beautiful and it was all because of you and Guy.  I honestly don't think it could have been any more perfect for us.  You two have such a peaceful and welcoming spirit.  You made us feel like Rivermist was exactly where we were supposed to be!

Dan and I are so happy and I suspect that we will feel like newlyweds for many years to come.  Please stay in touch with us as well!

Love, Dan and Julie

NC Beach Wedding - Ashley and Brett

If you know anything at all about me you know that I love the beach. From our local beaches of the Atlantic to the tropical waters of Hawaii. I've never met a beach I didn't love! (and yes, I do love the mountains, and the rivers, and the lakes, and the rocks, and the trees and the birds... all things in nature)

Although I try to limit my traveling I always welcome the opportunity to officiate a beach wedding. Now I've had some ministers tell me they could never make any money if they traveled as far as I do. But that's the difference in people. What I do is not 'about the money'. Never has been, never will be. I truly love what I do and am honored and humbled when couples ask me to be a part of their wedding celebration.

There are many wonderful beaches along the Carolina coast. With a little planning couples can have a beautiful wedding, reception and honeymoon all at the same location. That's exactly what Ashley and Brett chose for their wedding. The custom home was absolutely lovely and much larger than it appears in my photo. Home theater, private pool and hot tub, and lots and lots of bedrooms.

I had been watching the weather forecast all week, as I always do when I have a wedding scheduled. Both of my daughters had outdoor weddings and I do understand the importance of weather conditions. The weather had been troublesome all week and because of a little rain on Friday, the rehearsal was held inside. The home had a huge great room if the weather had been a problem.

However, this was not the case. The sun came out and it was a perfect day for a beach wedding. There was still a little seaweed around but that was easily removed from the wedding site.

 

You really don't need a lot of decoration with a background like this.

 

Well. the bride does need a beautiful bouquet.

 

And here's the happy couple, having their first photos as husband and wife.

From 'The Element of Love', read  by a family member.

May your love be like all four elements

Physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually intertwined

To create the perfect balance

And to craft the perfect ribbon

For to bind these two hearts into one.

Outdoor Wedding Chapel in North Carolina

It had been a busy day, rushing around taking care of last minute details. But the wait was over. Clint.... here comes the Bride.

I pledge to share with you my heart,

my life, and my love, from this day forward. 

 United in love and in marriage.

And THE kiss!

Yes, it's true. Brandy and Clinton are married!

Love the garter around the boot.

Always fun when couples add a personal touch.

Family members were busy taking photos of the newlyweds.

Denise and Larry are Married!

Denise and Larry were married at The Arbor Events Pavillion in Cleveland, NC. It was a rainy day and unfortunately the ceremony couldn't take place outside but it was warm and toasty inside.

They were probably a little disappointed with the weather but this was a perfect back up.

 Guests were greeted with such a happy sign.

You just know it's going to be a fun time.

And guests got a 'sneak peek' at the yummy cake.

I interrupted just long enough to take a quick photo.

Whatever may come I will always be there.

As I have given you my hand to hold

I give you my life to keep.

Wedding at The Arbors, Cleveland NC

Arbors Events in Cleveland, NC is a beautiful location for a formal wedding. And a perfect place during any season. Jennifer and Chris were planning an outside wedding. And technically they had an outdoor wedding, it just happened to take place under a tent.

The reception area was absolutely beautiful.

Candles and crystal everywhere.

I arrived an hour before the start time so I had a little time to wander and take photos.

Here's one of my favorites.

My kind of people.

After the ceremony guests usually enjoy a few cocktails during family photos.

No so for this clever couple. Guests were treated to desert, popcorn and lemonade.

Belle was well behaved and color coordinated.

The guests loved it when she walked down the aisle.

Family members were asked to bring containers of dirt from all the places Jen and Chris have lived. This dirt represents their individual personalities, from childhood all the way to the present, all the paths they have taken, people they have met, choices they have made, all the life experiences that have brought them to their wedding day.

 And just a couple quick iPhone photos of the happy couple.

Love the dress.

Private Wedding in North Carolina

LeaAnn and Gary wanted a quiet, stress-free wedding and in their search, they found me. 

They were holding on tight.

They had written personal vows to each other. 

This gave me a glimpse into the depth of their love and respect for each other.

LeaAnn smiling as Gary made his promises.

And a first dance, From this Moment On by Shania Twain.

From this moment as long as I live
I will love you, I promise you this
There is nothing I wouldn't give
From this moment
I will love you as long as I live
From this moment.

 The beginning of always.

update 5/15

Thank you, Victoria!  We are enjoying getting used to "married life"!  In the middle of packing and moving to our new home this week. An exhausting time, but also very exciting! 

Just wanted to tell you how thrilled we were with our ceremony. It's was just perfect and exactly what we wanted it to be! The site was beautiful and you and Guy were so welcoming. Thanks for making everything so easy- you were awesome to work with!

Btw... Tell Guy that we love the pictures! LeeAnn