Private weddings in North Carolina

Well yesterday was a very memorable day for me and for a newly married couple who are now honeymooning at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville.

Sue and Steve were scheduled to have a private wedding at RiverMist on January 30th. When I heard the weather forecast on Thursday I contacted Steve. Since they were traveling from Charlotte I suggested they get married on the way to Asheville. Weather predictions can be wrong and he and Sue decided to stick with the original plans.

Yesterday morning around 11:00 I received a call from Steve. Heavy snowfall was predicted, particularly in the mountain areas. Because of this, Steve asked they could get married on Friay. Since I have witnesses nearby I told him that it wouldn’t be a problem at all. We had already built a roaring fire in anticipation of the snow… (I did have to hurry around and tidy up our house a little.)

It was great meeting Steve and Sue. We chatted a little before they changed into their wedding attire. I was so excited and couldn’t wait to give them their ‘surprise’.

After the ceremony I suggested they go outside for a few photos by the creek.As we were walking back to the house I noticed fog through the trees. Not unusual in the morning, thus the name RiverMist, but it was unusual in the afternoon. As soon as I mentioned it, we understood. The snow began pouring down on us as if someone had turned on a switch. It was wonderful and I clapped my hands like a small child. What a wedding memory!

After Sue went to ‘visit’ our goats (in the snow), we headed back inside the house. We talked a little more while the photos were downloaded onto a CD. After we watched the slide show it was time for the ‘surprise’. Ellen and Mike from Nashville, Tennessee had contacted me earlier in the week and asked if I would prepare a ‘goody’ basket for the newlyweds. Sue and Steve were completely surprised and couldn’t imagine how the arrangements were made. After hugs and ‘motherly words of caution concerning slippery roads, Sue and Steve drove away as the snow was starting to cover the ground.

And now…. the newlyweds are in Asheville celebrating the beginning of their new life together.

Unique Wedding - Bost Grist Mill - Concord, North Carolina

Mike never had any doubts about where he would marry Cindy. Since he's close friends with the owners, Bost Grist Mill would be the location.

And the date... Nov. 19th. The same as his parent's and his sister. Who could forget an aniversary in that family!

Mike designed the double heart symbol that was used on their flag and engraved on a crystal cake topper.

What a lucky couple! Two honeymoons. They celebrated at the coast immediately following their wedding. And in a few weeks will be heading west for a snowmobile adventure..

And look at this... how many couples have their picture taken on a shiny John Deere tractor?

Remember....have fun on your wedding day!

Beautiful Mountain Wedding at Leatherwood Mountains

Leatherwood has become very popular for destination weddings. Couples can choose a private 'couples only' wedding in one of the 40 privately owned luxuary cabins. Several other locations are available for ceremonies that include family and friends. And since Leatherwood is known as 'horse country' couples can actually marry on horseback.

Jody and Joe, chose Leatherwood Mountains for their family wedding. They had never visited Leatherwood and made all the arrangements through email and phone conversations. Abbie, the event coordinator, is a pleasure to work with helps couples plan their perfect wedding.

Jody and Joe had children (ages 6 - 15) from previous marriages and it was very important to involve their children in their wedding ceremony. Each child read a portion of a reading entitled 'The Keys to Love"

The key to love is understanding....the ability to comprehend not only the spoken word, but also those unspoken gestures, the little things that say so much by themselves. etc....
Once the ceremony was over, the children were very interested in cutting the beautiful cake that Leatherwood provided. Unfortunately, they had to wait for photos and a trip to Boone for dinner.

Don't they look relaxed! What a great way to get married....

Family Wedding at The Cottages of Spring House Farm

Like many couples, Crissy and Allan wanted to marry in a private ceremony surrounded by the love of their immediate family. The Cottages at Spring House Farm was the perfect location for their destination wedding. The setting is very private yet very close to Asheville. (Crissy and Allan were looking forward to a candlelight tour of the Biltmore House

Zee and Arthur are wonderful innkeepers and love to have weddings at Spring House Farm. And so does Jerry Lee who joined us for the ceremony.

Originally Crissy and Allan planned on getting married inside the historic home. However, after arriving at The Cottages  (and the weather cooperating) they decided to marry at pond gazebo.

Crissy told me during the planning phases of her ceremony that family will be an important part of their marriage. I suggested incorporating a family sand unity ceremony and she loved the idea. Photos of deceased family members were displayed and candles were lit in their memory.

This family will have many adventures!

Wedding at French Broad Crossing

Fall weddings in North Carolina... There are so many beautiful locations it's really hard to have a favorite. On this particular weekend, Hot Springs was my favorite!

If you aren't familar with Hot Springs it is very popular for the mineral water that comes out of the ground at the perfect temperature for hot tubs. And the Appalachian Trail runs right through the center of town.

Donna and Pat were married at French Broad Crossing, a new development in Marshall, near Hot Springs. What a great spot for a fall wedding. The lodge is at the top of the mountain and overlooks the French Broad River.

It was very foggy on the day of their wedding. Not unusual for the mountains and normally wouldn't have been a problem, except their wedding was scheduled for 10:30 am.

As I arrived at the lodge the fog lifted and it was a glorious day full of blue sky and sunshine...

Donna and Pat wanted their ceremony to be memorable and loved the idea of blessing stones. They added their own touch. On a previous trip they hiked to the river and collected river stones for everyone to hold during the ceremony, Guests were asked to send their love and blessings to the stones. After the ceremony the stones were collected and are now proudly displayed in their home.

To carry out the 'stone' theme they had small stones tied to their champagne glasses.

Donna and Pat are now back home in Florida, looking forward to the day they can move to the mountains and bring their river stones back to North Carolina.

How to Get a Marriage License in North Carolina

I've had a few interesting questions concerning a NC marriage license. First of all, you must have a license
to legally marry in North Carolina and I do not issue the license.

Here are some things you need to know:
You do not have to be a resident of North Carolina to apply for a marriage license.
The license is valid for 60 days.
There is no waiting period; the license is issued immediately.
Blood tests are not required.

Where to apply and requirements for a NC Marriage License
The Bride and Groom must apply together at the Register of Deeds office in any county in North Carolina. Most offices are open 8:30 - 4:30 Monday - Friday. A social security card is required. Some offices accept other proof of social security number (tax return, pay stub, etc ...). Check with the individual office for specifics. A picture ID is required. The license is $60 cash (some offices only accept cash) and you both will sign the license at the time you obtain it.

If you are under 21 years old, you will need your birth certificate.

Divorced applicants must provide the month and year of their divorce. If there has been a divorce within the last 60 days, the state requires a copy of the divorce decree signed by the judge. I have found that some counties always require written proof of divorce, regardless of how long it has been since the divorce. Contact the Register of Deeds office in the county you plan on getting your license to verify their requirements.

Certified copies:
Immediately following your ceremony, the officiant and two witnesses must sign your marriage license. It is the officiant’s responsibility to return the completed license (within 10 days) to the Register of Deeds office where it was issued.

You will not automatically get a certified copy. If possible, pre-order your certified copies when you apply for your license. Some offices will not allow you to pre-order. In this case, you will receive a request form to mail after the wedding. The certified copies should arrive in 10 – 14 days after the request is made. Once you receive the certified copy, the bride should contact the Social Security Administration about applying for a new card. (You may need to make an appointment so it’s best to call ahead.) You will also need your certified copies before health insurance,  banking  or other financial accounts can be changed.

Beautiful Fall Weddings in North Carolina

I can’t believe that it’s been almost two months since I’ve updated my blog. Where does time go??

It’s been crazy busy. And no wonder, the mountains are so beautiful and this year was especially so. I was in Hot Springs two weeks ago and I don’t think I have ever seen the trees so full of color…

Just a little piece of advice…if you’re planning a fall wedding next year in the mountains of North Carolina start making your reservations immediately. The venues and vendors book up well in advance and you don’t want to be scrambling around at the last minute trying to pull everything together.

During the last couple of months I’ve had the good fortune of meeting some great people from various states and even had a couple from Canada stop by RiverMist to get married on their way to Florida.

Here are some photos and kind words from a few of the couples who were married this fall.

Victoria, We just got back from Florida today (it was a long drive :-) ). We had a great time in Florida, playing golf, shopping, swimming and exploring. Now it's back to the ole grind.Just wanted to drop you a line to tell you that our ceremony was truly surreal. We loved every minute of it. I kept reliving the event in the days after as it felt like a dream. The pictures really do us justice lol (must be the photographer). Tell Guy that all our friends comment on the great shots. Please thank him for making it truly memorable. The setting was just beautiful. Thanks to you both!!! Donna and Jacques

Donna picked up some flowers on the way so we hand tied her bouquet before her wedding. I keep ribbon and pins handy  and often use flowers from my own garden.

Victoria, I wanted to drop you a note to tell you again how much John and I loved the ceremony. It could not have been more perfect. The words you choose could not have better suited or better defined our relationship and how we feel about each other. Thank you for opening you home to us and making our day so special as we begin our lives together as man and wife. Please extend our gratitude to your husband for taking the beautiful pictures and to Glen for witnessing our marriage. Again, we just cannot find the words to thank you enough and express how happy you have made us! Warmest regards, Tammy and John

This was a first, styling the bride's hair!

Rev. Victoria,
I wanted to thank you again for the beautiful ceremony. We were just looking at our pictures that your husband took. They are very good pictures that we will treasure forever. Our wedding day was all that we had hoped for, a customized ceremony that was stress free. The day was magical for us both. Mr. and Mrs.

Dearest Victoria,

Just wanted to tell you how much Carl and I appreciated you overseeing our marriage. You made it so relaxing and peaceful for us both. You are a blessed person and we would recommend you to anyone. Our life and memories are going to be wonderful and you are a part of that, THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS. May God Bless You and your family for he has ours. Take care and maybe we can stop by and visit someday soon. Sincerely, Carl and Christy

And I have to brag a little... my husband, Guy, is doing a great job with photos....