Right At Home

...where the heart is

A song lyric written by a friend of mine in Nashville some years ago says, "a heart can never be right any other place, until it's right at home". This lyric came to mind in mid February as I officiated the ceremony of Lindsay and Nathan in their new home in Terrell.

Few things are more sweet, tender or intimate as a home ceremony and this one was no exception. About ten close family members looked on as we celebrated the marriage in front of the fireplace, followed by a champagne toast in the kitchen. You just don't get much more "homey" than that.

Together for over nine years, Nathan and Lindsay chose the Sunday evening after Valentine's Day to be married. Their ceremony included the reading of a poem entitled "These Hands", which was immediately after the ring exchange. The poem begins "these are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love, that hold yours on your wedding day". Watching their faces as I read those words left no doubt in my mind--this couple belongs together.

Thanks, Lindsay and Nathan, for letting me be part of your day.

Blessings,

Ken

I Saw the Sign

...Happy Anniversary Ian and Alyssa

When Ian and Alyssa were first beginning to date, they were cruising around checking out their new town (Columbia, SC) and came across their two last names on a street sign--the intersection of Byrd and Margrave. A replica of that sign served as the backdrop for Ian's proposal to her some months later. I'm glad she said yes.


March 23 is seven years since they tied the knot and lots of things have happened in those seven years, some good, some not so good. They moved to Albuquerque, NM, bought a house, gained friends, and gave birth to Liam who is one of the more amazing and interesting four year olds on the planet. They've also lost two babies, one stillborn and the other to an early miscarriage.

Light and dark. Yin and Yang. Good and bad. We all endure the good times and bad in our marriages, and Ian and Lyss have had plenty of both. They've survived, with some bruises but they've survived and I admire them so much for that. The measure of a Christian is what spills over when they're bumped. My son and daughter-in-law have been bumped plenty, but it's God's love that spills over and shows through.

To see more about Ian, Alyssa, and Liam, follow the link to the right to get to the blog for Liam and the Family Byrd.

Happy Anniversary Ian and Lyss. I love you.

Blessings,
Ken

Wildwood Inn in Denton, Tx

...just right site for Sara and Jeremy

Amidst towering native trees and behind a masonry and iron fence sits the Wildwood Inn in Denton. It's just east of I-35 on Lillian Miller Parkway, surrounded by beautiful residential neighborhoods and is so inconspicuous it's quite easy to drive right by the entrance to the winding drive. Once you're on that driveway, however, you can see imposing structure. The interior design and decorations are first class. Owners Keith and Sarah Walter have done a superb job of creating an atmosphere perfect for intimate weddings, receptions, weekend getaways, etc. For more information about Wildwood Inn, click HERE Be sure to look at the patio/garden/pool area--plenty big enough for outdoor events.

Recently I was priviledged to officiate a ceremony for Sara and Jeremy. Even though they had known each other since 2nd grade, they were not the proverbial childhood sweethearts. About four years ago their longtime friendship turned to romance and they were engaged on November 8, 2008.

The ceremony took place in the Wildwood Inn's great room in front of the fireplace. It was a chilly day, so the fire was softly burning, making a beautiful background for the ceremony. Sara and Jeremy's three year old daughter, Kaylen, was the flower girl. A reception followed, showcasing one of Wildwood Inn's strong points--the food. All meals are prepared onsite courtesy of their four-star restaurant and is a highlight of any event held there. Another strong point is the impeccable service from the staff--in particular, I appreciate Kendra (wedding coordinator) who has been my contact on my last few visits there.

Thanks go out to Wayne Hardin for sending me the pictures.

Blessings,
Ken

btw, I found out recently that the owners have purchased the Northeast Wedding Chapel in Hurst and are busy making some changes in preparation for hosting weddings and receptions. More info on that venue by clicking HERE

An Early Mother's Day

...in memory of my Mom

While I try not to post sad things on this blog, this is an anniversary that I need to comment on. On Monday, March 9, 1998 I got a call that my mother had been admitted to a hospital for treatment of pneumonia. Sometime that afternoon she went into cardiac arrest and by the time she was revived it was too late to reverse the damage. She died peacefully in a coma on Wednesday, March 11 around 5:30pm.

Not a day goes by that I don't think of her and how much she would be enjoying her great-grandchildren. Age 70 is just way to soon to die. My mom, or J.J. as everyone knew her, was always the life and spark of any family gathering and she doted on her grandbabies.

So why am I telling you this? To make this point: we don't know what tomorrow will hold, so if there's anything that you need to say or do, get it said and done now. You never know when it might be your last opportunity. As much as my mother and I spoke in person or by phone, it bothers me that I can't remember our last conversation.

I do remember this--at the funeral it took my sisters and me quite a while to realize why mom didn't look right. Finally came to us: we had never seen her with her mouth closed, as she was always smiling or laughing.

Thanks for letting me share this difficult memory. By the way, the picture of her is a little worn, as it's the one I carry in my wallet.

Blessings,
Ken

For Charles and Melissa

...Fairy Tales Do Come True

A bride, a groom, two loving families, 120 friends and a Cinderella setting--their Fairy Tale came true Friday evening at the newest wedding venue on the north side. Fairy Tale Manor in Frisco hosted its first wedding ceremony as Melissa and Charles became husband and wife following a three year romance and a romantic proposal last October.

Fairy Tale Manor is the new endeavor for Tom and Laura Parker, a couple well known to those of us at LoveNotes, most notably because of Laura's role as a professional photographer with Fairy Tale Photography. Are you sensing a theme here? Consumate professionals, they are both pouring tremendous energy and planning into the venue and it shows in the changes to the decor, attention to detail and goal-oriented staff (big shout out to Autumn!).

The bride chose chocolate and light blue for her colors that extended from flowers, to chair covers, to bridesmaid dresses and even the groomsmen's vests and ties. The wedding party included family members, close friends and college room mates.

The ceremony went smoothly with Gary Lankford of Heavy G Productions at the sound controls. He's a professional DJ, MC and party leader. Gary handled music for the ceremony as well as the reception--he even played some Lynyrd Skynyrd for me (I'm an old rock 'n' roller), but he has every possible genre of music in his library, and he knows how to keep a party going.

Thanks to Laura Parker. for sending me the pictures. And as always, my gratitude goes to the newlyweds, for letting me be part of their special day. Charles and Melissa made a memory for me, a Fairy Tale memory, and this one came true.

Blessings,
Ken

Happy Birthday, Alyssa

...my daughter-in-law turns thirty-something


Ian and Alyssa actually knew each other in high school primarily because Ian was friends with Alyssa's brother, Chris. While Ian was a sophomore, Lyss was a senior. They were acquainted, but that was it. Some years later, however, when Lyss was a student at the University of South Carolina (in Columbia, SC), Ian and Chris moved there to be interns in a church youth program. Acquaintances become friends, friendship sometimes becomes romance, and when Ian said "will you", she said " yes". God truly blessed us, and blessed our son, when he brought Alyssa into our lives.

Interestingly, some years ago, before Ian and Lyss were even dating, I worked in our church youth ministry with Lyssa's mother, Jan. One day we were talking about our respective children and we both wondered out loud, wouldn't it be great if Ian and Lyss got together--they would make such beautiful babies. Well, I'll let you be the judge of that outcome as you look at the pictures. If you'd like to see more of Liam and the Family Byrd in Albuquerque, click Here

God is good. He blessed us with Alyssa. Happy Birthday to the woman who makes our son so happy! !

Blessings,
Ken

Association of Certified Wedding Planners

...or, the cream always rises to the top

The American Association of Certified Wedding Planners is a purpose driven organization that continually emphasizes training and experience to those seeking to excel in the wedding & hospitality business. To learn more about this group click Here

Today, three of us from LoveNotes (including founder Rev. Marty Younkin and his wife Carol) were honored by being asked to present a program to the current class of those seeking the CWP designation. The session was held at the Magnolia Hotel downtown. For today's program, we were asked to talk about certain special touches and ethnic/cultural practices during a wedding ceremony, primarily the Bible/Coins/Lasso for Hispanic weddings; the Huppah, Kiddush cup and glass breaking for Jewish ceremonies; and the wonderfully historic practice of jumping the broom for African-American weddings.

Looking around the room was somewhat like looking at a Who's-Who of wedding planners. Shari Johns (who invited us to speak), Wendy Kidd, Karen Radford, and Alison Fuld along with another two dozen or so made us welcome and graciously invited us to share lunch afterwards.

In the photo above are, left to right, Karen Radford, Laura DeBow, Trudy Baade, Marsha Ballard French, Shari Johns, Kimberly Sutton, and Micki Novak, all of whom are among the leadership in the AACWP.

Here's my point: this group is dedicated to providing couples with the experience of a lifetime when it comes to the wedding ceremony and reception. They're the specialists, the go-to people. When I walk into a rehearsal or ceremony and see one of these folks, I mentally relax a few notches as I know that the bride and groom are in good hands and things will go as planned.

I appreciate being asked to attend these sessions. Brides should appreciate that there are those who care enough about a wedding ceremony to spend hours and hours in a classroom to get the training so they can create that magic, fairytale wedding that couples dream about.

Blessings,
Ken


UPDATE: At the time I wrote the above post I didn't know that the AACWP had just given LoveNotesWeddings their 2009 "Favorite Vendor" award. It's a great honor, and it's also humbling to know that this distinction was given by the professionals in the wedding industry. We appreciate the trust, but we also know we have to earn it each time we walk into an event.

Enchanted Memories

...created for Karim & Patty.

Sitting just a few blocks off Hwy 67 in Duncanville is one of those sparkling gems that more people need to know about. Enchanted Memories On The Hill is a wedding and reception venue that was designed and built to be just what it is. Opened about six years ago, it is owned and operated by Earnest and JoDee Wilson. Interestingly, the very first wedding rehearsal in the facility was for Earnest and JoDee and I had the priviledge of conducting that rehearsal. The building sits amidst lush vegetation and is perhaps best known for it's peaceful back garden and gazebo, the site of many wedding ceremonies. JoDee serves as wedding coordinator, along with the many staff members attentive to every single detail.
Patty and Karim elected the inviting chapel inside as the site for their ceremony. Patty chose pink for the Valentine's Day wedding, so that her bridesmaids were attired in pastels and hot pinks. The bride's sister was matron of honor and her niece was one of the bridesmaids. Fortunately, a couple of pink ties hang in my closet so I was able to coordinate with the chosen colors.

DJ duties for the evening were handled by Ken Savage , a veteran of CBS radio, not to mention that he has his own 8 piece band where he can show off his years of experience as a rock & blues guitarist. If you ever get the chance to see Ken Savage and the Best Kept Secret, do it--the horn section alone will blow you away!

My thanks to Robbin, who provided me the pictures taken during the ceremony. Check out the pic of me holding the flower girl--I think she had more fun than any of us during the ceremony; and look closely at the ceremony picture--one of the ring bearers decided to take a little siesta during the ceremony. He got up just in time for the recessional.

Blessings,
Ken

Molly and Greg

..tie the knot at Arlington Hall at Lee Park

Arlington Hall at Lee Park is steeped in Dallas history, sitting at the corner of Lemmon Avenue and Turtle Creek Boulevard. It's one of those places many Dallasites have driven past many times and perhaps wondered what the big stone and marble building is on that hill. It's one of those wonderfully elegant southern mansions now used for weddings and other events. Lee Park dates back to 1903, with Arlington Hall added in 1939. A complete restoration of the structure was completed about 5 years ago. Marissa Ritter(an event planner I've known for about five years) and her staff are consistently excellent in the level of service and quality of food. Click the red link above to see more.

This past weekend Molly & Greg exchanged vows in the beautifully restored main ballroom. Both bride and groom alternated between smiles and tears as about 100 family and friends looked on. Sage green, cream and light pink were the bride's colors as seen in flowers, decorations and bridesmaid dresses.

A special note should be made about the musicians for the ceremony and dinner music. Forte Strings is a group of talented string players that I see often. Their playlist runs from the usual classical pieces you hear at weddings, to Lennon-McCartney tunes, and even to more recent pop hits. They handle it all with ease. Sharon Hawkins is also one of the few musicians who actually attends wedding rehearsals. They are absolute professionals and a joy to work with. You can learn about about Forte Strings by clicking here.

Handling photography duties were not one, not two, but three ladies from Bella Bee Photography. I appreciate them allowing me to use the photos shot during the ceremony. With three of them snapping, it's unlikely that any good shot was missed; and yet, they were so unobtrusive, we hardly knew they were there during the ceremony. Fortunately, the ceremony was completed in time to take outdoor pictures just before the sun went down, so the lighting was soft and beautiful. I think photographers refer to that period as "the magic hour".

I'm grateful to Molly and Greg for allowing me to officiate their ceremony. It was tender yet fun at the same time. I only wish that Molly could have seen the look on Greg's face as she turned the corner and headed down the aisle with her proud father.

Blessings,
Ken