An Unforgettable Wedding; A Near Cake "Cat-atrasophe"

Leaf

Iris Aisle has long been a favorite wedding venue of mine. The adventure begins the moment you pull off a gravel road onto the property. A meandering lane directs you to unmarked parking in an open meadow, reminiscent of the places keg parties were thrown growing up in the seventies.
A well trodden path leads you to the main venue which boasts a high peaked roof and a sweeping entrance. Built by the owners themselves using glass panes and painted white wood, the structure is patterned after the greenhouses of the Victorian era. Glass was an expensive material at the time, so Victorian greenhouses and conservatories were considered symbolic of wealth and prestige. 
 The greenhouse may be labeled Victorian, but there is nothing high society or chaste about it. Like the revolutionary social movements of the Victorian era, the business plan of Iris Aisle seems to embody a spirit of equality and social justice with unconditional love at its core. 
The progressive owners Raelyn and Earl Ramey, poured their heart and soul into creating a unique venue witchedly weaved into the wildflowers, medicinal plants, and forests surrounding their private living space. In addition to weddings, the venue can be booked for small private events and is a popular space for styled photo shoots.
There is a sweet Couples Cabin and a secluded Lotus Bell Tent (think clamping) available to book for the wedding party or as an Airbnb. Reflecting their love of nature and liberalism, the owners have thoughtfully created a welcoming sanctuary where everyone is free to be themselves - including their cat.
The cat, aptly named Leaf, a Norse word for “heir” and for “one who defies boundaries,” is the king of the cedar forest surrounding the greenhouse. His throne is wherever he deems royal enough: the chair at the front where the bride's mother traditionally sits, an intimate table top nestled under shade trees, or even the long train of the bride’s gown spread out for a dramatic portrait.  I recently witnessed Leaf on all three thrones at the wedding ceremony I officiated for a sweet young couple named Tyler and Nayeli. 
The groom contacted me a few weeks before their August wedding date. My week-end calendar fills up quickly - often a year in advance, but weekday availability is more flexible. Their wedding was scheduled on a Thursday evening and luckily for me I was free.
I love to meet with couples in person to establish rapport and discuss ceremony details, but Facetime and Zoom meetings work well, too.  Especially in cases like Tyler and Nayeli’s when our planning time is shorter than usual. 
My years of experience officiating all sizes of weddings, both very formal and very casual, for every kind of couple imaginable, has given me the ability to show up for clients in all sorts of unexpected ways. 
At Tyler and Nayeli’s wedding, it was troubleshooting a tiny matter with their lovely two-tiered wedding cake. 
​Prior to the ceremony, I was laughing at how comfortable Leaf looked lounging amongst the guests, when the bride’s faintly alarmed father pulled me aside to show me an area on top of the wedding cake missing a very small patch of frosting. 
Allegedly, his Royal Highness, was spotted near the cake and appeared to be licking the frosting. I can neither confirm or deny the validity of this claim, but being a full-service officiant I swung into action. 
The cake table included a small arrangement of pastel, paper-like flowers and greenery. Without hesitation I plucked a muted pink flower off the table and strategically placed it over the crime scene. Problem solved. The wedding went off without a hitch and the cake was no less delicious. 
My personal barometer of a couple's chance of having marital success is based on the energy created between them. The feeling of love and admiration radiating off of Tyler and Nayeli was palpable. We weren't celebrating the start of a new relationship that day, we were acknowledging and strengthening a bond between them that already existed. My barometer undeniably forecasted happily-ever-after for Tyler and Nayeli. 
It’s often the mishaps and misadventures that become treasured wedding day memories. Even Leaf’s shenanigans could not divert attention from Naylei’s beauty or Tyler’s obvious adoration of her. I’m not sure they knew about the cake-licking-cat before the ceremony, but I only saw joy on their faces as they repeated their wedding vows.
Witnessing the power of love is why I cherish officiating weddings. I get reminded over and over that love is real and not a fairytale. Of course married life can be a challenge. I’m certain even Raelyn and Earl have their struggles and they live on a virtual Love Farm. 
I believe the key to creating an extraordinary marriage is in giving  just a little extra every day, as often as possible, without strings attached.  The key to creating longevity in a marriage is in always forgiving each and never losing sight of the love that brought you together. 
I’d also recommend getting a cat. Yes, definitely get a cat. And if you’re looking for a special place to tie the knot, schedule a tour of Iris Aisle at once. I guarantee you'll fall in love.  

A secret-garden-like path to the main entrance

The wedding cake.

Leaf leads the recessional