Tamara and Phillip Marry at Smoky Mountain Mansion in Robbinsville

Weddings just aren’t what they used to be… And aren’t we all glad!

I knew when I arrived at Smoky Mountain Mansion in Robbinsonville it was going to be a special wedding. The smile (and twinkle in Phillip’s eyes) was a sure sign that he was quite a character. And he later proved me correct!

He and Tamara traveled from Florida to the North Carolina mountains to celebrate their marriage with family and friends. He had told me earlier that they loved coming to NC to ride their motorcycles. And yes, motorcycles. Tamara has her own!

After talking with Phillip for a while (and learning about his wedding surprise), I went inside and inquired about meeting with Tamara. I was told that she had been crying all day. No matter how prepared, it’s not unusual for brides to have a ‘little’ meltdown on their wedding day. Tamara was surrounded by loving family and friends and she was finally able to put the finishing touches on her makeup. No more crying once the eye makeup goes on.

Guests were in for a treat as Tamara walked down the long aisle (wearing a dress handmade by a friend) to her groom. Phillip immediately kissed her and told her how beautiful she looked. By now, the attendants and many quests joined in with tears of their own. What a touching moment!

The tension was eased later in the ceremony when Phillip asked me if he could kiss Tamara. We weren’t even halfway through the ceremony but I’m all for kissing so I said ‘sure’. After he kissed her I asked if he wanted to kiss her again. And he did!

Now we were ready for the ring exchange and Phillip’s surprise. When I asked for the rings, Phillip presented Tamara with a plastic Disney princess ring. Everyone laughed. When I asked for the ring again, he presented her with yet another Disney ring.

It took three tries before Tamara was finally able to see her ‘real’ wedding ring. And she was so funny. I heard her tell Phillip after the ceremony that she wanted the other two as well.

I needed to head home so I didn’t stay for the reception. However, I did see some photos and it was quite a celebration. There were probably some tired feet after all the dancing!

Wonderful wedding memories….

Waterfall weddings in North Carolina

North Carolina, particularly Transylvania County, is well known for its beautiful waterfalls. Here are just a few of the more popular waterfalls.

Quite often I receive requests for waterfall weddings. I always remind couples that there are many things to consider when planning a waterfall wedding. First of all, most are not easily accessible. This can be a problem if you’re expecting elderly guests or guests who have physical limitations.

Also, some waterfalls are not suited for a large number of guests. And sometimes couples contact me, wanting to elope to a waterfall. In North Carolina two witnesses must be present for the marriage to be valid. This can be accomplished if a popular waterfall is chosen and you allow extra time for other guests to serve as witnesses.

Most importantly, like many outdoor locations, there is no rain site available for a waterfall wedding. I don’t mean to sound discouraging, just trying to offer some things to consider when planning a waterfall wedding.

I’m always up for an adventure and enjoy helping couples find the perfect location for their wedding. I love traveling throughout our beautiful state and am always looking for great locations for weddings. I’ll be happy to answer any questions and offer suggestions.

Beautiful wedding at P.A.R.I

So what is PARI, you might ask. It is absolutely one of the best kept secrets in North Carolina...that is if you're interested in science, especially astronomy. PARI, is an acronym for Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute and is located at a former NASA tracking station in Rosman, North Carolina. PARI is a non-profit foundation dedicated to providing hand-on educational and research opportunities for a broad cross-section of users in science, technology, engineering and math disciplines.

So… what does this have to do with weddings?? A lot if you’re Margaret and Greg. They had attended several lectures at PARI and loved the long range mountain views. When they started planning their wedding, PARI was their location of choice. Although many events have taken place on the grounds, this was the first request for a wedding. After some consideration, their request was granted and the wedding was planned.

Saturday was a beautiful day as we headed up to the ridge. Margaret and Greg were accompanied by their family and close friends. Well, almost all of their family. We were ready to start the ceremony when Margaret realized her brother-in-law was missing. Seems like he was having fun exploring the facility and no one could find him. Margaret was determined that he was going to share in their wedding day so off she went to search for him. She returned quickly, with her brother-in-law. Everyone was now present (including the wild turkeys) and the ceremony began.

You may be like Margaret and Greg and want a wedding that is a reflection of your personalities and interests.

If so, don’t settle for a traditional wedding. North Carolina provides many, many opportunities for unique weddings. Do the research. You will not be disappointed!

The Swag - A beautiful place to get married in North Carolina

Nichole and Timothy are looking toward the future together after a beautiful wedding at The Swag in Waynesville, NC.

Nichole and Timothy traveled from Michigan to marry in in North Carolina. Although they already had a cabin reserved in Bryson City they decided to have their wedding at The Swag after seeing photos on the internet. Sometimes photos can be a little misleading. This was not the case with The Swag and it is much more beautiful in person.
Nichole and Timothy wanted a ceremony that suited their personalities. They included the reading, 'These are the Hands' and wrote their own weddings vows, using selections from the samples that I provided.

They also included a special ring blessing. As the rings are passed over each element they are blessed with earth, wind, fire and air. I love this blessing and have some very special things that I use. The vessel I use for water was made in Poland and was a gift from a dear friend. When she gave it to me she said that she didn't know what I would do with it but it had a special purpose. And indeed it does!

During the wedding some of the guests from the inn were hiking nearby. They stood at a distance during the ceremony. Afterwards they came over to congratulate the newlyweds. One of the couples proudly told us they were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. I asked if they had any words of advice. He said something about always saying 'yes, dear'.... Everyone laughed!

It was very obvious that Timothy and Nichole are very much in love and I wish them 50+ years of hapiness together!