Drew & Kara marry at RiverMist

We have some really special weddings at RiverMist. This past weekend was no exception. Kara and Drew traveled from Tennessee. Well, actually Drew traveled quite a bit farther..(about 7,000 miles) to get married here and spend their honeymoon in Asheville.

I was a little concerned about the weather. Earlier in the week there was no prediction of snow. However, we woke up Saturday morning to 4 inches of snow. The roads were fine and the snow just added to the beauty of the drive. Drew had not seen snow in a while so he was very happy…

Since they were traveling, Drew arranged for flowers, cake, champagne, keepsake glasses, and a ‘take-along’ cheese basket. As always, I had fun shopping for everything and each item was hand selected.

After we talked a little, Drew and Kara changed into their wedding clothes. Keeping with tradition, Kara did not want Drew to see her wedding dress until immediately before the ceremony. As you can see from his face, he was overwhelmed when she walked around the corner.

I think the ceremony was a little more emotional than they expected. They were both happy to sit and 'catch their breath'.

Drew couldn't resist the snow and   had to have a few pictures taken outside. What a gentleman... he didn't want his new bride to ruin her beautiful shoes!

What a lucky couple... their 'first' honeymoon in Asheville... then in April another honeymoon in Greece!

Many, many adventures await these two… (hold on tight, Kara!)

Today (3/1) I received an email that I must share:
Victoria, We cannot begin to express our gratitude to you and Guy for the lovely ceremony you arranged for Kara and me. I never imagined I would marry so I had no idea what my wedding would look like. Our ceremony at Rivermist was all we expected and more.

The most overwhelming part was trying to narrow down all the options you provided us. I had seen my siblings go through the whole church/wedding/guest nightmare and was so thrilled that all I had to concentrate on that day was how lucky I was to be marrying the most wonderful woman in the world.

You were able to assimilate and accommodate requests from both of us while managing to create a sense of peace, serenity, and flow to the ceremony. Everything was absolutely perfect, I would only have asked for more snow (not your department)!
For couples who desire a quiet, intimate ceremony where the main focus is each other, I would highly recommend looking into Rivermist. It was undoubtedly the single most wonderful day of our lives to date.  Sincerely and with best regards,
Kara and Drew Clippard

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.