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Kissed by Gentle Rain. Melanie Zapf & Trey Stewart. Greenfield Park, June 2, 2007.
 
 
 

Melanie Stewart was married on a rainy day at Greenfield Lake.		  
‘The rain ended up making the ceremony as nice as it was. Out on the lake it was really pretty and misty.” Melanie Stewart     Tropical Storm Barry had fizzled to a big wet mess by the time it blew past Cape Fear on June 2, 2007. But Melanie Zapf, Trey Stewart and their families had cause for worry. Their wedding would be outdoors late in the day.
    “It kind of drizzled all afternoon. We were checking the weather all day,” she said. But with a forecast of more of the same, rather than a strong storm, they decided to stick it out.
    Some of the family members “went over to Target and bought a bunch of umbrellas,” she said, and that was just the ticket.

 		 
 
  Resources
 Reception site
and catering:
     The Balcony on Dock
 Photographer:
     1 of 13 Photography




 

Father of the bride Burger Zapf escorts Melanie down petal-strewn brick aisle.
  Father of the bride, Burger Zapf, escorts Melanie down a glistening petal-strewn brick aisle in the Park’s Fragrance Garden.



 
Petal-strewn brick path leads to gazebo in Greenfield Park Fragrance Garden.
Father of the bride Burger Zapf escorts Melanie down petal-strewn brick aisle.
 
Father of the bride Burger Zapf surrounded by young relatives under umbrellas

Greenfield Park
The Fragrance Garden is a special nook
in this large city park surrounding the
cypress-tree lined Greenfield Lake.
Rentals are handled by Wilmington’s
Parks Department at 910-341-7852.
 		 


Dancing in the rain
    Melanie was 17 when she met Trey in Annapolis, Md., where they both grew up. They dated all through college, while Trey attended UNC-Wilmington and Melanie was at UNC-Chapel Hill.
    They got to know I-40 very well before both graduated and started their careers in Wilmington. She is a mortgage loan counseler. He holds a retail position and works in Wilmington’s film industry.
    Their wedding planning started by choosing the downtown party space The Balcony on Dock as host for their reception. For the wedding, “We really wanted it somewhere outdoors,” and fairly close to downtown “so everybody won’t have to drive all the way from the beach.”
    The Fragrance Garden at Greenfield was perfect for their anticipated guest list of 70, and just 3 miles from downtown.
    Other wedding highlights:
  • To honor the Stewart family’s Scots heritage, a bagpiper played before and after the ceremony.
  • Her cousin sang “Love Me Tender” for Melanie’s first dance with Trey.
  • A slide show of photographs of the couple as children, assembled by their parents, was shown at the reception.


    		•  
      Barry on
    the beach
    Meanwhile, the remnants of Barry, now downgraded to just a tropical depression, were raining on another outdoor wedding at Wrightsville Beach. For photos, Go to "Windy Wedding" feature.
         		  Trey and Melanie do a turn under the cypress trees after their lakeside wedding ceremony.
    		  
     
    Melanie’s sister, Vivien Zapf, was matron of honor. Trey’s father, Kent Stewart, was his best man. Interfaith minister Jemila Ericson officiated.
      Melanie’s sister, Vivien Zapf, was matron of honor. Trey’s father, Kent Stewart, was his best man. Interfaith minister Jemila Ericson officiated.

    Newlyweds Melanie and Trey dance at their reception at The Balcony on Dock. Although their “Plan B” for rain called for moving the wedding into that downtown event space, “We really didn’t want to do that,” Melanie recalled. She concluded that their wet wedding made for the ideal romantic memory.

         		  Newlyweds Melanie and Trey dance at their reception at The Balcony on Dock.
    Wilmington-area rain and temperature ranges
      Wilmington area temperature and rainfall chart.   Not too hot and not too cold, spring and fall are by far the favorite times for weddings in the Cape Fear region. Balmy weather typically starts in February, and lasts into November. Heat, humidity and frequent rain showers make July and August less popular for outdoor events. April and October are the dryest months, and have the mildest temperatures.  

    Return to Cape Fear Trends index     Tropical rain at the beach     A blustery wedding day
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