Out on the Porch

On Friday, Dec. 14, 2012, my friend Lana phoned and asked if I could officiate at her wedding. I asked her when, and she said, "Tomorrow."
"Where?" I responded.
"I don't know. On your porch?"
So, we got ready for the wedding and had it the next day on the porch at my house.
I performed a modern ceremony, and since we didn't have time for a rehearsal, Wayne got mixed up once during the repeat-after-me parts.
But it was a meaningful ceremony, and the weather cooperated.
Friends Kristy and Justin attended to witness and photograph the event.
We had a simple reception, and the happy couple sped off to Canton to
start their married life.

Wayne thought the ceremony could have been shorter.

Finally comes the fun part, the kissing.

A toast to the new couple!

Your Mountain Wedding

If you want to have your dream wedding in the mountains of beautiful western North Carolina, I can officiate at a reasonable price. I have been an ordained minister since 2001. I can also help with other details and arrangements, including photography/videography, favors, composing vows, music, and locations. Email diannegholson@gmail.com today to start planning now!

Wildflowers at your Wedding

Wildflowers make beautiful decorations for your mountain wedding.
They also make a delightful country bouquet.

Folk Wedding Traditions

My father told me that when he was growing up in the twenties and thirties people gathered in the fall for corn shuckings. It was the social event of the season where young and old alike came together to celebrate the harvest and share the hard work of the preserving. To make things interesting, they would toss an ear of red corn in the mix. According to the legend, the person who found it would soon marry his or her sweetheart. Other courting rituals involved what they called a box supper. The eligible girls would prepare and pack a box supper. The eligible men would bid on the supper and the chance to share it with the girl who prepared it. Many a couple were introduced this way. It was hard to travel, so men and women usually chose partners close to home. A popular courting event was also the barn dance. Couples would meet there and often celebrate their wedding receptions in the same place. Here is the old red barn where Mary Jane and Claude Queen celebrated their nuptials early in the 20th century. Do you have any interesting folk wedding traditions?

Wedding Favors

Kristy and I can create unforgettable and personalized wedding favors for your guests. These include invitations, programs, candy bars, mints, seed packs, and kiss roses. We can do soap and candle favors to match your theme or personalize wine, water, and even hot sauce bottles to suit your needs. We can also help you customize gifts for your wedding party. Email diannegholson@gmail.com for an estimate.

Sarah's Wedding

Here is an example of one of the mountain weddings where we did the photography and many of the favors. It  was held in a small country church along a babbling stream. The bride was one of our former students. She's still happy and holding. The music on the slide show is from Mary Jane Queen's Songs I Like album, a song entitled "Goin' to the Weddin' of Sally Anne." Then, as now, weddings are major social events whether they're held in London, England or Cullowhee, NC.