North Carolina Wedding Ideas and Inspiration

Tented Springtime Wedding Infused With Lavender at the Country Club of North Carolina

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Lavender was a key color component, along with shades of pink and blush, baby blue, sage, sandstone and cream. The colors embodied a springtime garden party![/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]Whimsical, yet elevated garden party was the vision for the wedding day. The stationery suite set the tone, with its calligraphy letterpress combined with a vellum floral overlay and circular lavender die-cut details card. The ceremony was held in the charming Village Chapel, and with the white trolley bringing the wedding party to the chapel, it felt like it was straight out of a Hallmark movie. When guests arrived to the reception, the festivities were held under a clear top tent that was brimming with florals. Specialty rentals included beautiful floral linens from Stradley-Davidson, lounge sets with coordinating pillows to the linens, and specialty bar rentals with custom paneling. Crystal chandeliers were suspended from the tent, along with greenery, to soften the tent framing. An abundance of gorgeous florals adorned every table and bar, along with a huge statement floral installation above the dance floor and florals lining the band’s stage. [/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]Davis and I met in Atlanta in 2020 and quickly began spending every weekend with each other while getting to know each other’s closest friends and family. Almost 3 years later, Davis proposed on the beach in Charleston, SC. We were planning to go down to run the annual 10k bridge run with my family (a yearly tradition). Davis and I got into town earlier than my family to see Davis’ brother, who lived there. We were headed to dinner, and he had the idea of going to the beach before dinner on Sullivans Island. This made me suspicious as this was out of character for him – he is typically a hungry guy! Once we got there, it was a beautiful evening and a perfect moment. My family and Davis’ brother surprised us on the beach shortly after. Spring is my favorite time of year (& Davis felt strongly against having a wedding during his beloved football season), so we started planning a wedding for the next spring almost immediately. Pinehurst is where I grew up, and Davis and I have made lots of good memories there. There was no doubt about our choice of venue!
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]For getting ready, the bride wore a lace dress from Hill House and her bridesmaids wore lavender Hill House Nap Dresses.
The gown was from Lela Rose Bridal, a classic silhouette with simple straps and a cascade of buttons down the full train. She wore sleek pointed toe Stuart Weitzman heels.[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]The bridesmaids all wore floor length ballet pink dresses from Amsale and were gifted pearl pansy earrings from the Pink Reef.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]The groomsmen sported classic black tuxedos.[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Passed canapés were circulated as guests enter the venue. For dinner, a variety of southern stations were available to guests. A late night snack of chicken tender and fries was a hit among the dance floor! The signature drink was Ranch Water, named after the couple’s lovable retriever, Hattie.[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]The wedding tent was brimming and overflowing with florals. From the statement floral chandelier hanging over the dance floor, to the lush florals in front of the band stage, to towering tall centerpieces and lovely low compotes, the tent was sweetly scented from all of the florals! The floral composition included peonies, roses, butterfly ranunculus, campanula, sweet pea, garden roses, lisanthus, amaranthsus, and tweedia. The florals created the perfect pastel and springtime garden party vibes.
The bride carried a petite Lily of the Valley bouquet and the bridesmaids each carried a white bouquet of the same flower.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The wedding cake was a stunning four tier beauty, with florals cascading down it as well as encircling it around the table. It was a cake nestled among a floral meadow. The couple chose chocolate as the flavor and continued the tradition of saving the top tier for their first anniversary. [/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]For the ceremony, classic wedding songs were selected. The bride walked down the aisle to Canon in D, and the newlyweds recessed to Wedding March.
During the reception, Madison and Davis shared a first dance to Nothing Can Change this Love by Sam Cooke. Then, as the evening progressed, Pure Party Band kept the dance floor packed all night long! [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]The couple’s sweet golden retriever, Hattie, wore a bandana made from the same fabric as the lavender linens in the reception. She also had the signature drink, Rand Water, named after her and featured her likeness on the bar sign.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]The couple gave out trucker hats with DAWGS on them, as a nod to their alma mater, the University of Georgia and their bulldog mascot. Guests loved them, along with the late night party props and a fireworks show![/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]A white trolley transported the wedding party to and from the ceremony and reception. It was a fun touch to the wedding that gave off Hallmark movie vibes!

The couple also incorporated fun personalized details, like custom golf balls as a nod to the Pinehurt golf course, matchbooks, acrylic cups and cocktail napkins.[/field]
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“Spirited Spring” Wedding Complete With Playful Florals and Unexpected Textures at the Maxwell

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Citrus Orange, Matte Peach, Lemon Yellow, Bright Pink, Spring Green, and a mix of Heather Purple and Delphinium Blue to accent. This bright palette was supported by neutral shades of white and light blush.[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]Rachel and Keenan have such playful souls and colorful tastes that we knew right away the vision and palette had to represent their vibrant love and personalities! The vibe was “Spirited Spring” and the vision was to reflect their whimsy spirit through bright and playful florals, unexpected textures and patterns, personality driven fashion, topped with modern twists. All we can say is the day certainly looked good on these two![/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”][/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Lana Addison in Cary, NC[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]Birdie Grey[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Men’s Wearhouse[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Rachel’s grandmother had unfortunately passed not too long before the wedding and the family wanted to keep her a part of the party somehow. She loved her gin + tonic’s so we had a special signature cocktail dedicated to “The Donna” consisting of a speciality gin, tonic water, and a twist of lime. She was definitely there in “spirit”![/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Florals were on the high priority list from the beginning and we intentionally chose a color palette that lent itself to the blooming season and unique floral options. From color blocking florals for more interest in the design to using natural elements such as moss, this floral design was one of our favorites this season! As for decor, there were carefully selected pieces that added either the perfect splash of color or texture to the event’s moments, such as green satin linens that had the florals popping all day and night, oranges at the welcome table for a pop of citrus amongst the green, stone bowl for cards from their own home instead of a card box, and handwritten texts selected from the bride on every piece of signage![/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Rachel and Keenan decided to replace a traditional cake cutting with an espresso martini tower! The photos say it all but it was one for the books! This just proves that you should stick to what you and your partner love. Rachel and Keenan are not sweet lovers and chose to do something that fit their relationship and loves instead![/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]We worked together to decide on a signature scent that represented their relationship and the vibe of the day. This scent burned throughout the wedding from welcoming guests to ending the night at the bar, and now they get to reminisce every time they light the candle in their home.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]Pattern was a highlight for this day and by using certain elements we were able to see it communicated from attire to the bar. The bridesmaids wore a floral dress that represented each color of the palette, holding a bouquet of opposing color to add the unexpected pop of color! The pattern didn’t stop there! The bar had hand-selected wallpaper inserts that were able to bring the palette full circle and add detail to every corner.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]Polaroid Party! They had a member from each of their parties responsible for 1 polaroid camera and they did NOT fail! From the morning entrance to the epic dance floor to the ending exit they had so many moments and memories captured without the stress of leaning on their guests to do it all. Highly recommend handing a camera to a “polaroid party” member at your event.
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The Maxwell

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Summer Berry Bliss: A Bridal Brunch Garden Affair at The Ivy Place

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[field title=”The Inspiration”]The inspiration for this enchanting bridal brunch blossomed from the natural beauty of the berry farm and garden venue. Nestled amidst lush greenery, the setting provided a picturesque backdrop that perfectly complemented our vision. Textured linens, inspired by the charming home onsite, added a touch of garden chic elegance to each table. These linens, with their intricate patterns and rich textures, seamlessly blended with the venue’s surroundings.

To honor the essence of berry picking, we wove berry colors throughout the décor, infusing shades of deep red, vibrant purple, and soft pink into the floral arrangements, table settings, and even the menu. The result was a harmonious blend of nature and design, creating an atmosphere of effortless sophistication. This beautiful integration of elements paid tribute to the farm’s heritage while celebrating the joyful occasion of a bridal brunch.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Red, Pink, Purple
Blue, Green[/field]
[field title=”The Venue”]The Ivy Place, located in the picturesque town of Lancaster, South Carolina, is a historic estate that offers an enchanting blend of Southern charm and natural beauty. Spanning 33 acres of rolling hills, lush gardens, and serene ponds, this venue is a true gem, providing a tranquil and romantic setting for any special occasion. The lovingly restored 19th-century farmhouse, surrounded by vibrant flora and idyllic landscapes, adds a touch of elegance to the property.

The venue’s abundant gardens, filled with vibrant blooms and verdant foliage, provided a stunning canvas for our monochromatic floral arrangements in bright red, pink, and purple. These hues echoed the rich colors of the berries, seamlessly blending with the natural surroundings and creating a cohesive and vibrant theme.

The expansive grounds allowed for various scenic spots to host different aspects of the brunch, from the elegant dining area to cozy corners for intimate conversations. The serene ponds and enchanting woodlands offered picturesque backdrops for photo opportunities, capturing the joy and beauty of the event.

The Ivy Place’s unique combination of historic elegance and natural splendor made it the perfect setting for a bridal berry brunch, creating an unforgettable and enchanting experience for all.[/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]N/A[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Party”]The Aster Boutique provided the ideal attire for our garden-inspired brunch, embodying the essence of elegance and grace that matched the venue’s natural beauty. Their collection, featuring delicate fabrics, floral prints, and sophisticated silhouettes, seamlessly aligned with the theme of our event. The soft pastel hues and whimsical patterns of the garments reflected the vibrant colors of the garden setting, creating a harmonious visual connection with the lush surroundings.

The boutique’s selection of light, airy dresses and stylish accessories complemented the relaxed yet refined atmosphere of the garden brunch, ensuring that attendees felt both comfortable and chic. The combination of timeless elegance and contemporary flair in The Aster Boutique’s offerings enhanced the overall ambiance of the brunch, adding an extra touch of sophistication and charm to the event. The result was a beautifully coordinated affair where fashion and nature elegantly intertwined, creating a truly memorable experience for all.[/field]
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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]The inspiration for this charming bridal brunch was drawn from the vibrant beauty of the berry farm and garden venue. The picturesque setting, with its lush greenery and blooming flora, provided the perfect canvas for our design. Monochromatic florals in bright red, pink, and purple were chosen to echo the rich hues of the berries, creating a vivid and cohesive theme that celebrated the essence of the venue.[/field]
[field title=”Favorite Design Element”]One of our favorite design elements from the berry brunch was the charming touch of baskets used for picking, which added a delightful and personalized flair to the event. Each guest received a beautifully woven basket, reminiscent of the berry-picking experience that inspired the theme. The baskets were more than just practical accessories; they were thoughtfully adorned with custom name tags, adding a unique and personal touch.

The custom name tags, elegantly tied onto each basket with delicate ribbon, featured guests’ names in stylish calligraphy. This small but meaningful detail not only enhanced the aesthetic of the brunch but also provided a memorable keepsake for each attendee. The combination of the baskets and name tags created a whimsical and cohesive design element, perfectly blending the theme of berry picking with the sophisticated atmosphere of the garden brunch.[/field]
[field title=”Tips To Pull Off The Look”]Some of our tips to pull off this look include:

1) Mix and Match Textures: Use a variety of materials to create the most dynamic and visually appealing table setting.

2) Diverse Materials: Incorporate a variety of textures to add visual interest. Use velvet or satin napkins paired with rustic wooden or woven chargers. Combine delicate lace or embroidered napkin rings with sleek glassware and polished flatware. This blend of materials creates a rich and engaging table setting that reflects the elegance and charm of the berry theme.

3) Greet guests with personalized welcome bags filled with on-theme treats. Include items such as mini jars of homemade berry jam, berry-flavored candies, and custom berry-patterned napkins or coasters. Add a personal touch with a thank-you note or a small guide to the day’s events, all presented in a charming, berry-themed tote or basket. These welcome bags not only set the tone for the brunch but also offer guests a delightful and memorable keepsake.[/field]
[field title=”DIY Moments”][/field]
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Bride Wears Mother’s 1989 Dress to Her Romantic Duke Mansion Wedding

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Sage, Peach, Yellow, Blush, Light Blue[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]We were inspired by the classic style of the Duke Mansion and its gardens. A colorful, bright, and cheery spring inspired our color pallet. Rather than pinpointing specific inspiration photos or weddings, we placed trust in our vendors to bring to life a day completely unique to us. We believe that the people make the place (or, in this case, the event) and that when the day finally arrives, the perfect theme and style will be one created by the presence of our loved ones and influenced by the energy and joy they bring.[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]We met at Clemson during our freshmen year orientation—randomly assigned to the same small group for welcome week activities. Although we didn’t hit it off right away, thankfully mutual friends later brought our social circles together. We started hanging out in group settings throughout freshman year and it didn’t take long for us to become great friends and eventually a couple. After we graduated from Clemson and settled in our home city, Charlotte, Ethan proposed at his family’s lake house where we spent a lot of special time growing our relationship during the pandemic when campus was closed. Mary is notoriously hard to surprise, but not only did Ethan pull of the surprise proposal, he made it even sweeter by having all of their friends in on a surprise after party![/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Mary’s ceremony gown was handmade by her mother for her own wedding in 1989 with alterations and a custom headband done by RCB Fashion here in Charlotte. Mary’s Reception dress was a beaded gown by Jane Hill — she thought it was the perfect juxtaposition from her mother’s gown and also that it perfectly matched the aura of the Duke Mansion.[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]The bridesmaids wore soft green Amsale gowns from Bella Bridesmaids.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Ethan (along with Mary’s dad and brother) wore custom Zegna tuxedos sourced by Taylor Richards & Conger (TRC style) here in Charlotte.[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Hors d’oeuvres included twists on Southern favorites like fried chicken nuggets in mini waffle cones. For dinner, the first course was a fresh watermelon and arugula salad. Then the second course was a duo of beef tenderloin and Charleston crabcake. We also had a coffee station with coordinating “Let Love Brew” signage.[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Amanda at Viri Lovely Designs created beautiful cohesion with the use of her hand-drawn colorful floral print seen throughout the space on the phone booth and bar vinyls, the signage and even the cards on which we wrote each other handwritten letters the morning of our big day. The real flowers were a show stopper: two of our favorites being the oversized bar arrangement for cocktail hour and luscious cascading orchids on the cake. [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]White five-tier Swiss dot cake covered in cascading white orchids. [/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]We had our wedding mass at the Cathedral of St. Patrick which is our home parish and also the place where Mary’s parents were married almost 35 years before! [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]We had our wedding mass at the Cathedral of St. Patrick which is our home parish and also the place where Mary’s parents were married almost 35 years before! Mary attended elementary school and Ethan went through RCIA, the program to convert to Catholicism, at St. Pats. Also, Mary’s brother and his fiancé are also getting married there later this year![/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]Another favorite (and a big hit with our guests) was the two live artists: Eliane Burge and Maggie B. French –both the sweetest, cutest women! Elaine worked throughout the evening and completed a gorgeous, colorful painting of us on the venue staircase that we now have hanging in our home. And Maggie completed sketches of our guests for them to take home and even made an electronic version of each sketch to serve as a guest book for us! [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]We provided recipe cards, similar in style to ones we already had at home, but with Amanda’s special floral pattern to remind us of our wedding, for guests to share their special family recipes with our new family.[/field]
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Amy Kolo Photography

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‘Tuscan Cowboy’ Inspired Wedding at Duke Mansion

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Purple and animal print[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

The bride came to me (Sarah from SoHo Events) and said she wanted the theme of the wedding to be ‘Tuscan Cowboy’ and to include her favorite color, purple and animal print. At first, this was a head scratcher, but once we dove into the details came together perfectly! From animal print linens to leather accents, the design beautifully paired feminine details accented with masculine elements. The Tuscany wine region meets big sky Wyoming in the heart of North Carolina!

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]Roger & I met in November of 2017 on a cruise. Most people ask “Was it a singles‘ cruise?” The answer is no, just a Princess cruise that sailed around several caribbean islands. However, we did meet on the Regal Princess which was christened as the Love Boat. They even play the theme song when you leave a port. We specifically met in the disco on the first formal night. It was hard to miss Roger and his friends since they were wearing Cowboy hats. He and a friend asked my friend and I to dance with their group which consisted of Roger and three married couples. After that night, we saw each other here and there but it wasn’t until our last day when we were about to get off the ship that an exchange happened. One of his friend’s took a picture of my friend and I. At that point my friend says, that’s a great photo can you text it to me. She then says, text it to Yvonne too. Roger then says, well I don’t have her phone number for which she replies “I’ll give it to you.” Always good to travel with a wing woman. (She is one of my best friends and was the maid of honor at the wedding). Once we were off the ship Roger & I texted for about a week until he called me. After that initial call we spoke every night for a few hours until he invited me for a visit the first week of January 2018. You see at the time Roger was living in Charlotte, NC and I was living in Phoenix, AZ. By the time we saw each other again and after so many hours of conversation it was pretty obvious that something special was happening between us.
In the next few months we started talking about marriage. We purchased a ring in May and at that point it was up to Roger to figure out where the proposal would happen. On June 23rd, 2018 I was in Charlotte for a visit. He told me that we were going to meet his business partner and wife for dinner. As we left our apartment he said he heard music and wanted to check it out. We live in a multi unit building that has a pool on the 7th floor and a large patio called the overlook on the 8th floor. On the door of the overlook it had a large sign that said “Private event.” I told him that we shouldn’t enter but he assured me that it was ok. When we opened the door to go outside there were flowers everywhere and music was playing. He looked at me and said “this is for us.” Keep in mind it was a Saturday in June so we had quite an audience at the pool. Everyone was very respectful and super quiet. After Roger got down on one knee and proposed and I of course said yes everyone applauded loudly.
In October of 2018 I moved to Charlotte. For the next year or so we took some time to really get to know each other. In 2020 the pandemic hit and everyone knows the rest of that story. When it was over it was time to figure out where we wanted to get married. After looking at several venues we decided on the Duke Mansion. We chose June 24th, 2023 which would be 5 years and one day since our engagement.
Our wedding weekend was magical. It started with a welcome party on Friday night for all of our out of town guests. We had it at one of our favorite restaurants as a thank you to everyone who had traveled to support us on our special day. Everyone had a fantastic time getting to know each other as there were friends and family from all over the country who had never met.
Part of our story also involves a car that Roger wanted since he was 15. When we met I asked him if he had ever test driven it for which he answered, no. Once he did he couldn’t get it out of his mind and had to buy it. When we decided we wanted a personalized plate we chose “Nevrsetl.” It’s about waiting for the right person and never settling until you find them. We are living proof that love can come at any age as long as you remain open to it. [/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Yvonne wore a Sareh Nouri gown with customized sleeves that she purchased from Ladies of Lineage.[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Duke Mansion provided a delicious duo plate featuring filet and jumbo lump crab cakes.[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Subtle animal print was incorporated in the luxury linens along with exposed wood tables and western themed runners for the cowboy touch. The tabletop rentals were light and feminine with bright florals and purple accents. More masculine touches were added with leather backed dinner menus and etched leather table numbers, again – a subtle nod to the Cowboy.
The ceremony featured large baskets of florals en masse, a nod to Tuscany and we set up the chairs runway style, so there wasn’t a bad seat in the house. We also used beautiful garden bistro chairs vs. the standard folding chairs to also play into the Tuscan garden vibe.
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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The wedding cake was a gorgeous 4 tier cake featuring beautiful florals.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]The seating display was a custom built wall painted in the most beautiful shade of lavender. Felt cowboy hats hand calligraphed with guests names and table assignments were hung on the wall with the heading “Hang your hat, stay awhile”. The walls were accented with the same gorgeous florals and showcased the bride & grooms personal cowboy boots with an etched leather emblem in the middle featuring their monogram. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]The groom surprised the bride with a custom painted Louis Vuitton jewelry case. Inside he had placed wedding day jewelry for her to wear. The painted customization included their wedding date and cowboy boots.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]Just as we were about to say our vows we had a tiny little rain shower. We like to think that it was all of our loved ones who had passed on and couldn’t be with us sending a special blessing.[/field]
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BBJ La Tavola

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A Celebration of Color and Texture Completed With Locally Sourced Blooms at Walnut Hill

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]The bride and groom didn’t hold fast to particular wedding colors, but rather were inspired by wildflowers, which offered a joyous mix of a lot of color. This is also why the bride and groom were set on Arika’s photography style, which they knew would capture the color exquisitely! The bride’s two inspiration photos were from a colorful spring wedding Arika had shot, which Bowerbird Flowers and Apothecary had provided the florals for.[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]The couple wanted to make choices that were authentic to them and cultivated a down-to-earth, homestead, garden feeling. This looked like dresses that were all different colors, mix-and-match tablecloths and napkins, varying shapes/sizes/colors of budvases, wildflower seeds as favors, and an outside ceremony. [/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]We grew up going to church together. Our brothers were best friends! We reconnected at my brother’s wedding, and I asked for a lesson in chicken sitting, as my ECON 101 professor had asked me to chicken sit for her over the summer! The rest was history! He told me there was a ripe watermelon in our garden, so I walked out to check. After a closer inspection, I knew it wasn’t ripe, but when I turned around he was on one knee![/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]The bride wore Jenny Yoo’s “Elliot” gown, paired with Made with Love’s pearled veil. She wanted something elegant, timeless, and polished, to stand out among the bursting array of colorful flowers and flowery dresses.[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]The bride knew from the start she did not want her girls in typical bridesmaid dresses. She wanted something the girls would wear again on other occasions and that would surprise her guests. Additionally, the bride didn’t want to see herself reflected in the bridesmaids’ dress choice, but rather wanted to see the personality of each individual bridesmaid reflected in the dress they chose. The bride did not specify color, length, or material, but let the girls’ creativity run wild. She did help balance things out to make sure there was a good mix, but that took very little input. The bridesmaids were quite nervous about the whole idea, and kept asking the bride for more guidance, but everyone’s leap of faith played out on the big day. The bride did a reverse first look with her bridesmaids, since she was so excited to see them all together and see how her vision had become a reality.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Like the bride wanting a very sleek, classic look for herself, the guys wearing tuxes was exactly the sharp, suave, elevation needed to balance out the whimsical wildflower dresses. The juxtaposition was marvelous.[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Over 25% of the guests attending the wedding had some sort of dietary restriction or preference. Food is our love language, and we wanted to love our guests well by providing them with food that they could enjoy. We were able to accomplish this intense goal with Rocky Top Catering. For passed hors d’oeuvres, we chose crispy chickpea & zucchini fritters (V+), caprese skewers (V), bacon wrapped stuffed pimento cheese dates (GF), and vegan portobello flat bread (V+). Dinner began with a plated garden salad. The buffet options included summer squash and cucumber salad (GF, V+), haircot vert amandine (V+), lemon and rosemary roasted fingerling potatoes (GF, V+), vegan paella (V+, GF), and honey brined chicken breast (GF). On My Way Bartending provided the drinks. Our signature cocktails were their Spicy Margarita, Brunch in Manhattan, and Why Not, but we had fun providing our own unique names for these drinks. The liquor behind the bar was Basil Hayden, Botanist, Patron, Tito’s, and Glenmorangie 10 Year. We also had all NC craft beer: Fullsteam’s Biscuit Wheat Beer, Highland Brewing’s Gaelic Ale, and Ponysaurus’s Pilsner. For wine, we offered Kendall Jackson Chardonnay, Guy Mousset Côtes du Rhône, and Bel-Aire Champagne.[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]One of the things that made this wedding truly come together was trusting our florist 100%. We told Diane at Bowerbird Flowers and Apothecary that we wanted to support local farmers by sourcing flowers locally. We sent photos of the bridesmaid dresses, linens, and invitations, we picked out the bud vases and yellow taper candles, and then we got to sit back and relax knowing they would curate stunning floral arrangements. We had no idea what it would look like until we saw it on the morning of our wedding, but that’s why we hired a professional – so we didn’t have to think about it! And the photos speak for themselves. Bowerbird has such an artistic eye; their florals were magnificent, and Arika is an artist with her camera, capturing color beautifully. I also had my bouquet preserved with Bonnie’s Blooms, which I’m so happy I did![/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]For dessert, we had the incredible opportunity to support two friends that are currently growing their businesses. Bere’s Pastry provided the main cake, which was vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream and marble cake with caramel buttercream. Wheatless Woosters Bakery provided the chocolate cupcakes, which were our gluten free and vegan option.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]Our two scripture passages came from theologian and friend Dr. Ellen F. Davis’s book, Scripture, Culture, and Agriculture: Amos 9:14-15 and Hosea 2:16a, 9-22, 23b. We chose classical wedding songs for the ceremony (Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, the Air from Handel’s Water Music, Pachelbel’s Canon in D, and Mendelssohn’s Wedding March), but more personalized songs that meant something special to the us for the reception. We also committed to dancing together during all three of the slow songs played during the reception, in addition to our first dance and private last dance, which enabled us to savor and share in the celebration together. We were married by all four of our siblings, who are part of the North Carolina and Western North Carolina United Methodist Conference.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]The bride & grooms big brothers were best friends growing up and to this day! They gave a toast together during the wedding that was incredibly funny & sweet.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″] We had a memento from all our deceased grandparents at our wedding, to honor their love for us and the impact they had on our lives: a three-pearl necklace the mother-of-the-bride wore, which the Bride’s maternal grandfather had given her maternal grandmother; a tie that the father-of-the-bride wore, which belonged to her paternal grandfather; a wheelbarrow from the Groom’s maternal grandfather; and a garden trowel that belonged to his paternal grandmother.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]Amid wedding planning, we also were renovating our entire house, which we wanted to share with our close friends and family. So, we hosted our rehearsal and rehearsal dinner there (catered by Luna’s Rotisserie and Empanadas), which felt like such a blessing poured out onto our newly renovated home as we began married life together.[/field]
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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Arika Jordan Photography

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Elegant Persian Wedding at The Bradford in North Carolina

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

The wedding colors were beige, blush pink, burgundy, with dark purple hints.

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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

Saba & Moein are based in Chicago and absolutely fell in love with The Bradford near Raleigh, where they also have family. The original vision was to marry Persian culture with the bride’s sense of modernity and fashion. That includes lots of jewel tones, gold, and of course the most beautiful array of florals. Fruit is also very symbolic in Persian culture, especially pomegranates. They symbolize fertility, beauty, and eternal life. Saba thought adding fruits to each of the guests table was a fun and unique way to play up the design while incorporating some cultural aspects. When creating the initial design vision, C&D Eventspulled inspiration from ornate palaces and coupled it with mid century furniture and whimsical floral elements.

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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]

The Wedding Gown by designer Dany Tabet fromWhite Bridal Boutiques was chosen with care due to Saba’s love of fashion. She selected a lace off the shoulder gown that complimented the classic venue style perfectly, a delicate lace fabric with a flattering silhouette that didn’t overpower her floral details and long floor length veil. She paired her gown with timeless pale pink Dior heels.

From the Bride… I didn’t know I wanted a full lace mermaid style gown until I tried on MANY princess cut gown and realized it just wasn’t me. As soon as I saw this gown, I 100% knew it was going to be my wedding dress. The classic lace with the off the shoulder style had me head over heels in love.

[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]For the bridesmaids, Saba wanted to give them the chance to let their own personal style shine through their gown choices. She gave them a color palette and let them run with it. It turned out so much better than she could have even expected! What came together was a gorgeous mix of colors and styles that really gave the bridesmaids photos a more editorial, fashion forward feel.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”][/field]
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The couple worked with Rocky Top Catering to create a delicious and seasonal menu customized for their fall wedding. Guests were greeted with passed tuna nachos, hot chicken poppers and creamy tomato shooters with mini cheddar grilled cheese. The colors of the season were present in the plated beet salad featuring roasted red and gold beets and fresh greens. The couple opted for a plated meal with a guest entrée choice of chimichurri grilled flat iron steak, roasted salmon, or sundried tomato & asiago stuffed chicken breast. The Persian sweets provided by the bride and groom were paired with a fresh fruit display and peach streusel cheesecake squares.

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

Saba and Moein gravitated towards earthy sophistication that Mood Fleuriste executed using accents of rich burgundies and pomegranates against a backdrop of taupes and clays. They wanted the blooms to feel like they were rising out of fruit pilings, so the blooms were arranged in a mounding fashion, with the larger, heavier blooms at the bottom and luxury sweet peas and ranunculus soaring out of the tops. The deep browns were achieved with orchids that had all of the deep burgundies and light taupe accents in the petals to tie it all together.

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]

The Lambeth cake by Bestow Baked Goods drew on the elegant and classic aesthetic that our bride loves, with more ornate icing details still in white to add a touch of minimalist luxury.

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]

It was important to the couple to incorporate personal elements such as their two dogs who were included in their live painting by Art By Kelsey Rae of their Sofreh Ceremony. They also wanted to feature fun elements such as a contemporary DJ, mixing in cultural music while honoring traditions such as the Persian Knife Dance. This dance involves someone “stealing” the knife from the couple and dancing with it, then passing it around until the couple retrieves it again.

[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]From the Bride: The sofreh aghd ceremony was of utmost importance to us. The sofreh aghd, or ceremonial table, includes symbolic items ranging from mirrors and fancy candelabras to honey and sugar canes that will be used to bless the bride and groom in a sweet marriage. This was where much of the design energy went towards. Typically, Persians will hire someone to do the entire setup. With there being a smaller Persian community in NC, we had to improvise. Our planner Sterling really helped bring my vision to life. It turned out better than I could have ever imagined and was truly the most beautiful sofreh aghd I had ever seen. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″][/field]
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A Playful and Vibrant Wedding Celebration Filled With Personalized Touches

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Blue and orange are the bride and groom’s favorite colors, so from the beginning they knew they wanted to incorporate those! Beyond that, they wanted to celebrate their surroundings and bring as much wild and colorful energy as possible to the wedding weekend. [/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

For the wedding weekend, “vibrant, personal, and playful” was the couple’s vision. They wanted to create an atmosphere that covered as much of the grand spectrum of life and their relationship as possible! Bright colors, heartfelt details, regal but personalized attire – they aimed to give a little glimpse into who they are as a couple. And the Fearrington Village team, under the guidance of their amazing wedding planner Gilda McDaniel, did a spectacular job bringing the vision to life! They displayed amazing care and effort in every meticulous detail: floral placements, candles, linens, their memorial table, lights – absolutely everything was perfect.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]

The couple met at a fateful New Year’s Eve party thanks to mutual friends, ringing in 2019 – so, they decided to really ring in (pun intended) 2022 with a New Year’s Eve proposal! They designed the ring together at Brillant Earth, and took a trip to Madrid, one of their favorite cities in the world. Even though Liz suspected a proposal was coming, Adam still had one way to surprise her: the timing. He heavily hinted about the importance of their dinner that night but then surprised her with the ring on a casual morning walk through the Retiro park! They did indeed celebrate with the dinner of a lifetime and enjoyed several more days in Spain before returning to NYC for an engagement photoshoot in Central Park, right next to the spot of their first date at The Milling Room three years prior.

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Liz wasn’t quite sure what she wanted in a wedding gown at first – but she did know she wanted a cape! She’d seen incredible photos of bridal capes and liked them so much more than classic veils. Luckily, Pronovias had her covered! Liz went to their store in New York City with her mother and Adam’s mother and fell in love with the simple elegance and luminous Mikado silk of their Jory dress, which was chosen for her by her excellent stylist. Said stylist then worked even more magic and paired it with a stunning cape that was originally part of a set with a different dress – it looked magical, so they sold her the cape separately so she could have exactly the look she’d dreamed of. It added just the right amount of whimsy and “fancifulness” (in Liz’s mom’s words) while still being classy and timeless.

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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]

Liz chose the Dessy Group for her (six!) Maids of Honor dresses because they have such a range of gorgeous quality gowns in different styles. She wanted everyone to wear the same color (midnight navy), but she wanted the options to be affordable and versatile so everyone could find a style they liked. Navy is one of Liz’s favorite all-purpose, go-to colors generally, so she chose it in the hopes that her Maids of Honor could wear their dresses again sometime!

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[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]

Adam’s very first tuxedo was from ChazMaTazz Tux back when he joined his Princeton acappella group; so when the time came to get suited up for the big wedding day, he knew that Chaz would set him up perfectly! Adam opted for a navy blue Ike Behar tuxedo; for the groomsmen, he got them black Bresciani tuxes to match. He also got matching blue and orange Brooks Brothers socks for himself, the groomsmen, both fathers and the reader!

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The couple first discovered the amazing food and wine at Fearrington Village on a date night relatively early in their (at the time, long-distance) relationship. Awestruck by the caliber of their offerings and truly charmed by everything on their grounds, they knew from that day that Fearrington would be a top contender for their eventual wedding (even then, they were confidently optimistic about getting married). And the Fearrington team delivered time and time again! The menus were spectacular, and words can’t truly do the food proper justice: a festive buffet for rehearsal dinner with the signature hot chocolate soufflé; fantastic appetizers, and a signature cocktail (The Cedar Spectacular: gin, honey, lemon juice, rosemary, and sparkling wine) at welcome drinks; fresh hors d’oeuvres and champagne for cocktail hour; a decadent butternut squash soup followed by short rib, seared trout, or mushroom tarts for dinner… they get hungry again just reminiscing! The team did an amazing job catering to various dietary restrictions, maintaining sky-high standards for every single food item, and pairing it all with some truly special bottles of wine. They can’t wait for another Fearrington dinner sometime soon!

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

The Fearrington Village team has an absolutely stunning array of fresh flowers, so the bride and groom knew they would deliver! But they truly went above and beyond: one of the florists personally grew lantanas (the bride’s favorite flower) in her backyard to ensure the bride would have some in the bouquet! The team did a spectacular job of making every space feel luxurious, natural, and simply stunning.

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]

Cakes by Kara Millard delivered the couple’s dream cake! It was a challenge through and through: five tiers, alternating between blackout sponge cake with dark chocolate ganache and orange sponge cake with pumpkin mousse; buttercream frosting, without fondant, in a gradient of blue tones; hand-painted florals, along with a crest design and fresh flowers on top. They recognize and celebrate all of the effort that she put into creating this masterpiece! She and the team also made custom cookies with the silhouette of our puppy, which our guests adored.

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]

Adam’s dear friend and college theater mentor, Glen Pannell, delivered an absolutely showstopping rendition of “Balaenoptera” by the endlessly talented Sir Josh Bennett. It’s a poem about the magnitude and expansiveness of love, and the couple has returned to its words many times in special moments. It was a true gift to hear it delivered with such passion, humor, and spirit in the gorgeous Fearrington Village. Arioso Strings delivered exquisite string quintet music for the ceremony and cocktail hour. Their masterful playing elevated the atmosphere; guests especially loved the groom and groomsmen entrance (“Married Life” from Pixar’s “Up”), the bridesmaid’s entrance (“Tales as Old as Time” from Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”), the bride’s entrance (“Ave Maria”, a favorite of both our grandmothers when they were alive), and the recessional (an amazing rendition of Taylor Swift’s “Paper Rings” that they put together in just a few weeks). They were spectacular! The festivities continued with DJ Randy Bennett providing an absolutely phenomenal reception experience. Not only did he provide an amazing assortment of songs across a truly staggering array of genres (Cuban classics, Motown, Spanish guitar, pop-punk hits, millennial dance floor jams, vintage polka, romantic jazz, etc.), he tailored his playlist perfectly to the couple’s own favorites and to the energy in the room. They loved the music for their special dances, too: “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve” by Ledisi for their first dance, “Tradición” by Gloria Estefan for the father-daughter dance, and “Bella Ciao” by Manu Pilas for the mother-son dance). Randy made for an absolutely amazing dance floor, and everyone had an amazing time together in the Fearrington barn.

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[field title=”Special Detail #1″]

Bekah and Christy of Pineapple Street Designs handcrafted all of the couple’s amazing stationery, including their invitation suites, custom crest, table cards featuring some of their favorite cities around the world, and various signage for the day—including a portrait of their dog, Cedar! They did absolutely phenomenal work, including several custom watercolors, and the couple cannot recommend them highly enough.

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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]

Adam and Leanne of Adam Gilbert Films crafted a divine representation of the wedding weekend, somehow managing to not only capture but also elevate countless special moments. They were a joy to work with, seamlessly integrating into the festivities and pulling together footage that will be cherished forever. Their artistry is truly unparalleled.

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[field title=”Special Detail #3″]

Working with Krystal Kast Photography was an absolute dream! She captured stunning moments from throughout the wedding weekend and also did a phenomenal job at Liz and Adam’s engagement photoshoot in NYC. They felt like supermodels with her, and it was a true treasure to have that experience of feeling so special. They’re having such a hard time choosing which of her photos to hang on their wall that they’ll probably wind up printing an entire coffee table book. Truly, Krystal’s work is magic.

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Krystal Kast Photography

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A Summer North Carolina Wedding With Fun Pops Of Watermelon

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

Summer in North Carolina simply begs for a punch of color. We started with a foundation of classic blues and greens and added coral/watermelon details to spice things up!

[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]The overall vibe was classic and elegant. Peyton and Danny wanted to embrace classic wedding traditions in a way that was fresh, fun, and inviting. With so many of their guests traveling down to the southeast for the wedding, it was important to share a bit of North Carolina with everyone, so authentic Southern hospitality was at the forefront of every decision. We developed several custom patterns in different colorways that were used throughout the weekend events including the bridal luncheon, rehearsal dinner, welcome party, and wedding day festivities. The patterns included stripes and southern magnolia blossoms and foliage. [/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”][/field]
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Peyton chose a Pronovias gown with an asymmetrical strapless neckline and a classic mermaid silhouette. She paired her dress with blue Loeffler Randall pleated bow heels.

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Following the outdoor ceremony in Reyonlda Gardens, guests were transported across town to Forsyth Country Club, where they were greeted at cocktail hour with tray-passed beverages and hors d’oeuvres, including ahi tuna poke, grilled artichoke and tomato bruschetta, and crispy fried oysters. Under the tent, guests were served an elegant summer harvest salad with marinated vegetables on crisp greens and lemon herb vinaigrette and a duet of grilled filet and shrimp scampi buerre blanc with seasonal vegetables and potato pave. Later that evening, as everyone worked up an appetite again on the dance floor, the club tray-passed mini fried chicken biscuits and cones of truffle fries with shaved parmesan.

[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Flowers for the wedding included white larkspur, garden roses, peonies, stock, and ranunculus, with both blue and white varieties of delphinium and hydrangea. To punch up the color, we used coral godetia, coral charm peonies, red bouvardia and peachy coral spray roses. [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]

Danielle Kattan created a beautiful four-tier cake that incorporated some of the stripes for our patterns used throughout the invitation suite and paper details. To ensure the cake survived the summer heat or humidity and could still be placed under the sailcloth tent before sunset, not only was fondant icing a must, but we also schemed to use a faux cake, with the perfectly sized segment of real cake for Peyton and Danny to cut and enjoy as guests watched on. Everyone else was served fresh cake from the kitchen, and none the wiser. Two different flavor profiles were offered: (1) Vanilla and chocolate flavors filled with whisky southern caramel and Madagascar vanilla buttercream finished up with a swirly combination of delicious southern caramel sauce and more buttercream, and (2) lemon zest with raspberry filling.

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Rebecca Rose Events

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Eclectic Textures and Adventurous Colors at McAlister Leftwich House

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Katie and Brad share a love of unexpected pairings of bold, adventurous color, and the palette is a reflection of their sensibilities through and through. We leaned into a spectrum of color including orange, reds, pinks, and also utilized rich green. To balance all of the bright colors, we also used some classic black and white in thoughtful ways. [/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]When Katie and Brad first approached us about planning and designing their wedding, we immediately bonded over Katie’s mood board she had prepared. It was full of bright colors, rich and moody candlelit motifs, and eclectic pairings of textures and shapes. It was the very best kind of design challenge and our mission was to bring her vision to life in a way that was elegant, refined, and still every bit as bold and unexpected as the mood board she presented at the outset. Katie is an avid gardeners, so fresh flowers were incredibly important and we had such fun finding ways to incorporate some of her favorite blooms in unexpected ways. [/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”][/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]In a nod to vintage fashion, Katie chose a beautiful Viktor & Rolf gown that made such a beautiful statement with the simplicity of its silhouette. [/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]In planning an intentionally intimate wedding with under 40 guests, the cadence and sophistication of the dinner party were of the utmost importance. Guests enjoyed a beautiful five-course plated meal that included an appetizer trio of salmon tartare cucumber slice topped with balsamic caviar, petite prosciutto chicken roulade with honey belle chevre and fig jam, mushroom and gruyere tartlet with balsamic glaze, followed by a second course of arugula and spinach salad, a third course with sesame crusted tuna, followed by herb crusted beef tenderloin, and a dessert course of wedding cake. The meal was decadent, and wonderfully paced to incorporate ample time for conversation, laughter, toasting, and set to the ambiance of candlelight and live jazz music.
[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]If there is one word we would use to describe the overall approach to decor it would be: crescendo! Upon arrival, guests were seated for the ceremony where gold urns with white hydrangea and dogwood branches flanked the ‘altar’ space. Katie carried a bouquet of delicate feverfew daisies, and her bridesmaid carried a simple bouquet of white lilac.

After cocktail hour, everyone transitioned down a hallway to dinner in which they witnessed the full color palette develop and take shape through an ombre progression of color. The hallway was lined with thousands of carnation stems, arranged from lighter champagne and blush hues to resplendent pinks, reds, and wine tones before the hallway opened up into the dinner room where all of the colors sang together in an elegant candlelit display of dinner tables.

Katie shared with us that in her own home, she loves to arrange flowers by single floral type in each vase, so we adopted the same approach, filling the table centers with clusters of flowers arranged by type and color. Floral elements included everything from peonies to tulips, hellebores, garden roses, ranunculus, stock, and sweet peas.

In addition to the traditional dinner centerpieces and expected arrangements, guests enjoyed a few surprises to delight the senses, including edible pansy garnishes in tray-passed champagne, and a colorful explosion of floral elements to highlight the cake display. [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The wonderfully talented team at local bakery, Louie and Honey’s Kitchen, created a small cake adorned with edible pansies that made for the perfect addition to the reception space. Two cake flavors were offered to guests, including brown sugar cake with salted caramel buttercream and blackberry lemon cake with muscovado buttercream.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]Instead of a traditional guest book, Katie surprised Brad with a vinyl record of favorite songs, and guests were encouraged to sign the jacket. It was such a fitting surprise for a groom who loves music and has an extensive collection of vinyl. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]The artwork on the stationery suite served to give guests a taste of what they would experience at the wedding. It was a joy to incorporate two of Katie’s favorite flowers – daisies and pansies – via original watercolor artwork. A silk black ribbon tied the invitation components together with a tag to denote the attire would be black tie. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″][/field]
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A Holiday Wonderland Wedding Filled With Christmas Cheer!

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Light Blue, White with Gold and Champagne Metallics[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]The vision was an inviting holiday wonderland that transported guests to a magical evening full of merriment and Christmas cheer. The couple chose December 1st as their date to kick off the month and ring in the holiday season alongside their guests. The foundation of the wedding design included light blue velvet and wintry pearl details. While our goal was to create a festive and cozy ambiance, we aimed to maintain a level of sophistication and formality throughout the event.

The wedding will be centered around a cheerful celebration with thoughtful and personal details that reflect the couple and their story.[/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Justin Alexander Becca Gown from the Poinsett Bride in Greenville, NC. The gown was a long-sleeved stretch crepe fit and flare dress with a shaped cathedral train. Greenville, NC is a meaningful place to Hayley as it was where she and Artimus had their first date and they frequent the town often, so Hayley set out dress shopping there at The Poinsett Bride.
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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]The bridesmaids dresses were an a-line pleated satin floor-length dress with a square neckline in dusty blue. Hayley wanted light blue dresses to complement the blue ribbons used in their ceremony tree in a style that was flattering for all her bridesmaids. The ladies wore white pashminas to keep warm through the outdoor ceremony.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Groomsmen wore classic black tuxedos while Artimus sported a custom blue velvet tuxedo and black velvet loafers, both designed by Robert Jamison Collection.[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]A North Carolina cheese and charcuterie display in addition to other Southern staples such as chicken and waffle bites and shrimp and grits shooters greeted guests as they arrived to cocktail hour. To lean into comfort food of the winter season, they also offered a creamy tomato soup shooter. The couple opted for a plated meal with a guest entree choice of blue cheese crusted beef tenderloin, sorghum fried chicken, or sesame ginger salmon.

Signature cocktails were named after the couple’s pets – a “Lucy Goosey” Holiday Old Fashioned and a “Mistletoe Maxus” Cranberry Margarita.[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Five trees of alternating heights were positioned at the altar, with the center tree decorated in velvet ribbons, pearl garlands, and white amaryllis blooms. The reception florals included mixed Christmas greenery and predominantly white florals accented by pops of blue and blush blooms to infuse a bit of color into the design. An oversized lit wreath was hung behind the couples’ seats at their head table. We also planned for a “wreath” chandelier made of greenery, florals, and lights that was swagged with pearl garlands to carry out the pearl elements and holiday nods over the dance floor. Our use of swagged garlands both in the ceremony and reception were inspired by the venue itself, which features furnishings and decor reminiscent of the Victorian era. The installation over the dance floor in addition to the lighted garland swags in the ceiling infused coziness and holiday warmth into the reception space. Centerpiece designs alternated between tall arrangements, lush compotes, and glass candelabras. [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]With traditional vintage piping and sugar pearl details, we wanted the cake to be classic in design as it was placed in front of a glimmering Christmas tree backdrop. To incorporate a bit of festive – yet elegant – flair, we used a Christmas tree topper as the cake topper.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”] It was important to Hayley and Artimus to have a very customized ceremony as they were not only celebrating their wedding day, but also the addition of their daughter Winslet to the family earlier this year. For the unity ceremony, they planted a tree using soil from both of their hometowns. A sweet surprise was in store as they had Winslet dedicated during the ceremony as well – they wanted her dedication date and their wedding date to align to further signify the official start of their family’s union. Needless to say, there was not a dry eye amongst the guests!

Cocktail hour and dinner music was a mix of holiday classics to keep the joyful spirit going. Later, their band (PUNCH) kicked things up and delivered a lively dance party – the dance floor was packed!
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[field title=”Special Detail #1″] Nutcracker Seating Chart – Hayley wanted to lean into the Christmas theme for the seating chart and when Elizabeth (planner) came across an oversized nutcracker and proposed it as inspiration, Hayley shared that nutcrackers were meaningful to her family as her grandmother had collected them over the years. Plans for the seating chart evolved as Elizabeth worked with a local baker to create nutcracker-shaped gingerbread cookies to be iced with table numbers. Escort cards were attached to the cookies and then hung with ornament hooks to create a wall of gingerbread nutcrackers. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]Placesettings – The place settings included a gift-tag inspired place card assembled with a pearl accent, as well as a snowflake shaped pearl napkin ring. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]Head Table – To carry through the pearl theme, the florist wove pearl garlands down the head table. We also incorporated gold glass trees in addition to smokey blue votive holders that had Christmas stars etched into the glass.
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Whimsical Garden Party Vibes in the Heart of Downtown Raleigh

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

All shades of Pink, Yellow (The Groom’s Late Mother’s favorite Color), Light Blue, Lilac & all fun summer colors!!

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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

The moto for the wedding was “Whimsical Garden Party”. The Bride, Maddie, works in the Wedding Industry herself and had seen over 200+ so when the planning began she knew exactly what she wanted and most importantly what she didn’t want. Color was SUPER important while also being fun and special to us as it truly is a representation as our lives together and our relationship, which was exactly what the entire day was! The little details were also super important to the couple as the bridal has a degree in Interior Design and also works on graphics. She herself custom designed every detail from the table numbers to the invitation suite, the bar menus and the custom Wedding Crest that featured their pup Sully who also made a special appearance on the Wedding Day!

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]

Maddie and Will were not High School Sweethearts but instead were middle school sweethearts who started dating in 8th Grade and have been inseparable ever since. Last year in Charleston, SC the two planned a weekend trip after Will got back from a very long and intense internship in Pennsylvania and the two had spent months apart from each other. Maddie had been sending Will pictures of rings and places to go in Charleston, which included a pink house which had been all over TikTok! Little did Maddie know that on the second day in Charleston Will would take Maddie to that same house she was obsessed with on Tik Tok and get down on one knee and propose to her with not a ring that he bought but instead his late Mother’s ring that Will had polished and cleaned just for this moment but never had told Maddie. Let’s just say that Maddie was sobbing so much that a pedestrian walked by and asked if she was okay, we told her and she took a selfie with us to show her friends. The photo was so bad that Maddie refuses to show anyone because she had been crying for so long!

Going into Wedding Dress shopping I knew exactly what I wanted and had it saved on my Tik Tok for months before getting engaged as I had just seen Bridal capes make an appearance and I was OBSESSED! The next week I had a trip planned to Austin, TX to see my MOH and best friend and she had planned a visit to a bridal shop while I was there so she could be apart of the dress shopping experience. Little did we know that that exact dress I had saved on Tik Tok and the cape was at that store. I had the whole bridal moment, cried and all, but there was on small issue. My mom or grandmas were there to see the dress and feel the emotions and honestly felt like they weren’t able to be apart of the experience. After many weeks crying and trying to get the dress out of my mind we went back shopping with my mom and grandmas in North Carolina and found a dress that I knew I could somehow transform into the dress I fell in love with. I purchased the dress with a complete vision in my head, took it to the sweetest seamstresses in Raleigh and you could see the fear in their eyes but I had trust and faith in them. After many months of honestly stressing those poor ladies out my dream dress came to life and we even were able to take pearls off of my mothers wedding dress and all them onto the sleeves of my cape and scattered them throughout the cape itself. It truly is a one of a find custom dress just for me and I will never ever forget it! Was truly one of my favorite pieces of the day!

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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]

I knew I wanted to be different and allow my bridesmaids to select dresses that were not only a representation of them but that they also felt beautiful in, however, I did make sure to give them some parameters just to narrow down their search. These included no strapless necklines because that was my dress neckline, and they all needed to be pink, as the groom is a die-hard NC State Fan, his one request was that there be no light blue, but that didn’t really happen as the linens and florals featured what he calls “Carolina Blue”. All of the dresses were from Revolve but from different brands/designers.

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[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]

I wanted the Groom to stand out just slightly from everyone else so we chose a “blue” that was slightly lighter than the groomsmen attire so that he would stand out just enough to have his own moment and honestly everyone loved it, even the groom. I also wanted the “blue” to have some texture and also be more of a chambray color to really give off the summer wedding feel and match the color palette!

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[field title=”Food & Drink”]

As a big foodie couple we wanted to feature a variety of food stations that were interactive for our guests and we truly had so many compliments!! It featured 3 interactive food stations that showcased a variety of tacos and nachos with endless toppings, mini chicken and beef slides with dips and toppings and last but not least, out favorite, the mashed potato and tater tot bar, which was a HIT! After dinner we then allowed guests to join us for our favorite Raleigh sweet treat, Two Roosters Ice Cream and small desserts from our caterer.

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

Throughout the entire wedding planning process the bride had a ranking of importance of vendors and items, and florals was always the number one priority, which the brides father though was just insane, but he just went along with it. The first thing the brides dad mentioned to her after the ceremony was “okay you were right, the flowers do look fabulous and they make it!”. AT that moment I knew it was worth it because the man who never ever is worried or thinks about the way things look actually complimented and noticed the flowers. Ever since that day every single person or guest who sees a photo will tell you that they are obsessed with the florals and that they have never seen so many flowers in their life and that it just made the event and I couldn’t agree more!

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]

Instead of cake, which the couple doesn’t really like, they chose to have their favorite ice cream in Raleigh and ever, at their wedding. The couple is just slightly obsessed with their icecream and you can even find their engagement photos at the Two Roosters Ice Cream storefront on their website, instagram, page and even their newsletters as they were the first to take engagement pictures at Two Roosters. Let’s just saw the workers always know their orders when they walk in! They chose to have their vintage icecream bus and even had custom spoons made for their guests that had their initials on them!!

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]

The song my parents walked down the aisle to was their wedding song which they did not know about and was a little sweet surprise for them! The bride and her dad also have a unique and goofy relationship in which they did a choreographed upbeat dance instead of a traditional slow father daughter dance like most and then at the end allowed the crowd to join in the fun and opened up the dancefloor for the night!

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[field title=”Special Detail #1″]

We incorporated yellow roses throughout the entire floral decor and design as a nod to the groom’s late mother as it was her favorite flower!

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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]

The bride surprised the groom with a live painting from Jill Danville but little did he know that there were a few surprises hidden in the image as a symbol/to recognize his late mother. Lets just say tears were shed but not only him but the entire family!

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[field title=”Special Detail #3″]

The Bride and her grandpa handmade all of the lattice pieces together that were used for ceremony backdrop and the seating chart. They spent a weekend together bonding and creating them together and it was so special to see all of the hard work actually on the day of the wedding![/field]
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An Enchanted Garden Wedding Inspired by the Island of Capri!

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Eva Clark curated a playful color story that included many shades of green, orchid, lilac, coral, pink, fuchsia and yellow.
[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]The vibe of the aesthetic was garden-like, layered, whimsical, romantic and enchanted.
We infused vibrant colors and incorporated natural design elements from the mountains as well as from the Amalfi Coast where the couple honeymooned.
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[field title=”Proposal Story”]Ann Trammel says;
In April 2022, we went on a golf cart cocktail cruise in Mountaintop Golf Club while visiting my parents. Both of our parents were there that weekend because it was Easter (didn’t think anything of it because they came the year before for Easter).
We were driving on the 18th whole and earlier that day they had been hitting golf balls on that hole (the course wasn’t open for the season yet). He knelt down to put the ball down on the green and the next thing I knew he was on one knee looking at me with a ring in his hand. I was gobsmacked! The setting and timing was very fitting especially since our wedding, one year later, looked out over the 18th hole.[/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Ann Trammel wore the Carolina Herrera Bridal “Sloan” gown. Following dinner she changed into a minidress, also by Carolina Herrera. Here magenta cowgirl boots with the minidress were the perfect pop of pink.[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]The bridesmaids wore an assortment of ready-to-wear dresses selected by the bride. They were all sourced from her very own clothing shop in Chattanooga, Tennessee. [/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”][/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Following the ceremony, guests mingled on the clubhouse lawn at sunset. The newlyweds’ signature cocktails were based on their go-to’s; AT’s Capri Sun & JJ’s Lake Club Margarita

The dinner menu was as follows:

Salads
Mountaintop Classic Caesar- herbed crouton, fresh romaine, shaved parmesan and Boquerón’s
or
Dried Cherry and Fresh Apricot Salad- arugula, goat cheese, hazelnut, fennel with a vanilla espresso vinaigrette

Sides
Seasoned Buttered Tricolor Cauliflower
Grilled Broccolini
Hearth Roasted herbed New Potato

Entrée’s
Prime Beef Tenderloin- sauce bordelaise Carving station
Pan Seared Gulf Coast Grouper- Beurre Blanc
[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]With the bride’s fashion sense and love of color in mind, we chose a very vibrant color story with pops of yellow, corals and pinks along with softer touches of orchid and lilac.

A few weeks before the wedding, the planner/designer found some neon yellow ceremony chairs that had just been released by a company in Atlanta. Eva suggested that they be used in place of the white chiavari ones that had been ordered. They were a huge hit!! Guests were also mesmerized by the customized bar and dance floor which was a watercolor design used on the wedding invitations.

We carried through warm green tones for the tablecloths. This provided a natural backdrop for the colorful flowers to show off. Half of the tables had patterned tablecloths while the others were solid green. Moss was used as part of the centerpieces as a nod to the live moss that is common in the mountains.

With their Capri, Italy honeymoon in mind, fresh lemons were used as place card holders and were also used in abundance on the cake cart and guest book cart. Lemons made their way onto the signature cocktail menu as well.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The wedding cake was part Lemon cake and part strawberry cake with vanilla buttercream icing. We embraced a simple design for the cake so that the flowers could be the showstopper.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]The couple’s black lab, Tiki, was the perfectly behaved (off-leash) flower girl and even broke out of the bride’s family home later that night to make an appearance on the dance floor![/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]The guest book was a colorful “Capri” art book by Assouline. The couple honeymooned in Capri and knew they’d love reading the messages from their loved ones in this book for years to come.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″][/field]
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Eva Clark Events

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An Enchanting English Garden Wedding in Chapel Hill at The Carolina Inn

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Deep fiddle green, deep sage, light sage, whites, brushed gold, poetic blush[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]My husband and I first met in college, at UNC. We both love Chapel Hill and knew we wanted to get married where it all began. The vision for the wedding was timeless, classic and elegant. The Carolina Inn, a historic hotel built in the 1920s, offered the perfect backdrop, with lush lawns and old brick courtyards. A black-tie affair in June, it felt like the fancy garden party of our dreams, awash with soft whites, gauzy greens, and lots of love. [/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]After college, Tyler and I dated long distance for almost five years while we were both in medical school. I was in New Orleans at Tulane and he was in Greenville at East Carolina University. We typically only got to see each other once a month so in the spring of 2022, we took a trip to Oregon for a long weekend. The day we hiked Toketee Falls, we made the long drive out into the forest, surrounded by tall pines, no cell service, just the two of us. It was misty, raining on and off but when we got to the trail head, the sun came out and we saw a rainbow. We had the trail all to ourselves as we hiked down to the waterfall. Tyler is really into photography so when we belayed down a steep rock face, he went ahead to set up his tripod. He said he wanted to get a good picture of us in front of the waterfall so he kept climbing back and forth to the tripod to “check” his shot. After the third “check”, when he climbed back to me, he got down on one knee. The tripod captured the moment beautifully. We spent the rest of the weekend driving up the Oregon coast, visiting lighthouses, and admiring the incredible sunsets over the Pacific. [/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]After I got engaged, I made an appointment at Kleinfeld Bridal in New York City. Growing up, my mom and I loved watching Say Yes to the Dress together. We couldn’t wait to see it for ourselves, watching a ton of old episodes leading up to the appointment. At Kleinfeld Bridal, I found a beautiful Tony Ward dress that felt both elegant and sexy, with long delicate lace sleeves, a sleek silhouette and an almost architecturally deep v. Tony Ward happened to be in store when I tried it on. He made my day when he declared that I could have modeled it for him! [/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]I loved the idea of mix and matched bridesmaids’ dresses. I wanted something that all my bridesmaids felt comfortable in, something within everyone’s budget and, ideally, something they could wear again. We ended up with a variety of dresses in different shades of green, some floral, some solid, from Reformation, Anthropologie, Birdy Grey, and Azazie. [/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Tyler picked a classic Vera Wang tuxedo for his groomsmen. We had groomsmen living all over the country – Alaska, California, New York, North Carolina – so we decided to use Menswear House rentals, allowing all the groomsmen to coordinate no matter where they lived. We added suspenders as a final flourish, which looked great when the coats came off and they were getting down on the dance floor [/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Our food was catered by our venue, the Carolina Inn. During cocktail hour, we served local artisan cheese and crackers, apple butter, orange blossom honey, and fresh bread. We also served shrimp cocktail, crab cakes, crispy braised pork belly with apple butter and pickled shallots. For dinner, we served filet mignon and scallops with a piquant sauce, whipped Yukon gold potatoes, roasted brussels sprouts and rosemary orange carrots and parsnips. For our midnight snack, we passed out sliders and french fries – a big hit at the end of a long night of dancing. We had three signature drinks: “hers,” an aperol spritz, “his,” an old fashioned, and “ours,” a spicy margarita.[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]We really wanted the florals to be a highlight for the wedding. Our florist, Once Gathered, did not disappoint. I opted for a whimsical all-white mixture of full bodied and wispy flowers—sweet peas, white roses, stock, peonies, gardenias, and lilies. My bouquet had a “garden gathered” look. The central feature of our ceremony was a huge arch of English white roses. Draped twinkle light around the reception area made the space feel really romantic and warm. [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Our wedding cake was by Cupcake Shoppe-Raleigh. We decided on a white, three-tiered cake. Our flavors were lemon zest and red velvet. The design was textured and topped with white florals.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″][/field]
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Krystal Kast Photography

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Rain Made This Romantic Estate Wedding Even More Beautiful

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

The colors were coral, french blue, butter yellow, and gold.

[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]This wedding was a romantic, enchanting garden party celebration. The style was elevated and upscale, but felt approachable, just like the couple. The original vibe for the ceremony was timeless garden, but with the imminent rain, the plans changed to a more intimate and glamourous mood inside.[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”][/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”][/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]

The Marguerite bridesmaid dresses from Reformation acted as an accent piece to the design of this wedding. This silky, midi dress had a sophisticated floral print that complimented the romantic, garden style. It was a unique choice that didn’t compete with the classic gown the bride wore, but it also paired perfectly with the traditional colonial interior architecture of the Duke Mansion.

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The bar featured the couple’s go-to drinks, which can be found in their hands during the dancing portion of the evening. From the planner, “My favorite detail from all the food and beverage from the big day was the most simple item – Austin’s signature drink! While there were so many details, a beautiful coursed dinner with table-side wine service and champagne tower – they decided to go with a forever favorite for Austin’s signature drink: two Miller Lites. That’s right, no fancy cocktail with specialty glassware and flashy garnishes, but a staple from every night out on the town together. Whenever Austin would order a drink, the order was always “two Miller Lites” – just to avoid having to stand in line again. Seems proactive to me! But the simplicity of this and the fact that they stayed true to themselves made me love it even more. Plus I loved the artwork on the bar signage – so unique.”

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

Every single space had its own statement piece that wowed guests as they spent time at the venue. Meraki Blommor designed lush and organic florals that incorporated cheerful hues, combining the tones of peach, coral and soft yellows to pair with the french blue of the linens. The weather caused the creative team to exercise its expertise and restructure the ceremony design to be indoors. Quickly, SoHo Event Design prepped the creative team to bring the garden indoors with a unique seating arrangement to accommodate the iconic hallway. This runway setup for the ceremony allowed guests have a different point of view. A unique floral installation of large urns and a grand chandelier framed the french doors of the checkered hallway, centering the ceremony altar. The organic shape and colors juxtaposed with the colonial architecture made for an enchanting and intimate ceremony. The cocktail hour featured a curved statement bar with gold bar back shelves filled with glassware. The curve from the bar mirrored the cake table and champagne tower in the same space. The reception was held under a tent at the terrace where there was a mix of tables and linens from Nuage Designs. Round guest tables had a beautiful blue textured linen to lighten up the space and create a gorgeous base for the design. The head table was the focal point, featuring a long row of farm wood tables with matching blue runners. The table was lined with cheerful local florals that bounced over the place settings. Hanging above the head table was the statement floral installation, pulling some of the florals to accent the crystal orb lighting.

[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]This statement wedding cake rested on a bed of colorful blooms and greenery. With the fireplace flickering in the background, it made for a charming private cake cutting experience. [/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]The weather reports kept threatening an afternoon shower, but these two chose to “dance in the rain,” meaning they moved forward embracing adjustments… and a few raindrops. From the planner, “While plans had to adjust, setups were shifted, and rooms had to be flipped – these two took the day in stride, lived in every single moment, and celebrated their love in the most beautiful way!”[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]As guests entered the cocktail space, they were greeted with a unique floral seating arrangement. The florals were covered by a cloche, featuring a table number and guests’ names in beautiful script. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]

From the photographer Molliner Photography, “It was very special to watch how much Austin’s affection for Erin is drawn from what he learned from his parents. Their gestures and affirmations were evident throughout the day, from reaching out for each other’s hand during the exchange of rings to singing to each other during the reception. As I carefully watched and documented the effortless interactions between Erin and Austin, I couldn’t help but see his parents.”

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An Elegant Affair With a Disco Twist at Fearrington Village

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]With a Classic White and Black color scheme with greens and whites in our florals to make things pop, the design fit perfectly in with the setting of the Fearrington. On the day of, our ceremony was set just outside of the beautiful gardens and allowed our guests a chance to mingle among the flowers.[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]For our wedding, we were really looking for something that was classic, elegant, timeless, and overall FUN! After touring 9 venues in the area, Fearrington felt just right– it felt like we were transported to a beautiful vacation spot, just a short drive from home in Raleigh. Fearrington has the most breathtaking grounds and areas to explore and we were delighted to give our guests a chance to experience that through our wedding. To bring our vision to life, we enlisted the help of our great Planner/Designer Cheryl-Anne of Kast Events. She and her team executed our vision above and beyond what we could have expected.
Guests arrived at the ceremony space and were greeted with Prosecco courtesy of Vita Mielie and were entertained by a Guitar and Violin duo from Arioso Strings. For the ceremony, we processed down the aisle to a rendition of “Make you feel my love” sung by Christian’s Aunt and accompanied by the String Duo. In a departure from tradition, we chose to have our wedding party sit in the second row of chairs so that they could feel more present and in the moment for our ceremony. To personalize the ceremony, we included readings from a Poem we love as well as scripture reading. Our favorite detail was our “UniTEA Ceremony” where we poured two variations of Iced Teas together in a break from tradition. After we were pronounced married and kissed, we recessed to “Accidentally in Love” from one of our favorite movies, Shrek.

Our Cocktail hour was held outside of the barn, Guests were offered drinks and hors d’oeuvres courtesy of Fearrington with the background of the beautiful farmlands and music by City Lights Jazz.

Once Cocktail hour ended, guests were ushered through the “Tunnel of Love” as we called it– The tunnel into the barn. We really wanted to have this be a statement piece for the evening, so with the help of Get Lit lighting, we had the entire tunnel lit up with string lights and also added curtains to add to the overall wow factor.

Upon entering the barn, we wanted guests to feel like they were entering a grand space, but also a fun space. To accomplish this, we had a ceiling installation created by Get Lit of String lights all throughout the barn and an additional mixture of Crystal Ords and Disco balls along with greenery dispersed throughout to add the “fun ” factor! It was incredible and with a large disco ball in the center of the room above a white and black checkered dancefloor, set the tone of the night that we were ready to Party!

For Centerpieces, we alternated between low and lush floral centerpieces with candles and large Treelike Centerpieces of Branches in large Crystal Vases to break up the space.

After a delicious plated dinner courtesy of Fearrington, the dance floor opened with Sleeping Booty, our band, playing the best mix of music that kept guests of all ages on the dance floor ALL NIGHT LONG! They were incredible!

Towards the end of the night, our guests were offered passed trays of mini chicken sliders and garlic parmesan french fries as a late-night snack in between dancing along with a dessert bar for late-night nibbles as well.

For the final song, the guests surrounded us as we danced the night away, and then, courtesy of Ultra Mix, Confetti Cannons shot off and covered us all in confetti. It was a wonderful ending to a wonderful day.

As guests sent us off in a sparkler exit, we were taken away in a golf cart, courtesy of Fearrington.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]I (Christian) proposed to Alex with an emerald cut diamond eternity band that was purchased from Diamonds Direct in Raleigh. I am super proud that I kept such a good secret of when the proposal was happening- I told Alex that we had a work dinner to attend for our engagement day, and he had no clue, especially when we were running late, that it was really his engagement. I enlisted the help of some great friends to scope out the rooftop of Barcelona wine Bar in Raleigh NC to set up the perfect display. The rooftop there has sweeping views of Raleigh, which we love, and was a great backdrop for our engagement. The set up for the rooftop was simple but elegant– A table with pictures of us along with some flowers, confetti, and candles around as well. When Alex and I got to the restaurant, we took the elevator up to the rooftop and he saw the display and immediately started crying. After some tears on my part and some sweet words, I got down on one knee, he said yes and we popped some Champagne to celebrate!

After that, I had a surprise dinner set up with our best friends and parents at Taverna Agora down the road from where we were and that was awesome to celebrate with our nearest and dearest too!
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[field title=”Grooms Attire”]We worked with stylist and good friend, Gemma Gooddall at Alton Lane Raleigh, to design custom tuxedos for our wedding. We opted for classic black tuxes for the ceremony with a fun outfit change to cream dinner jackets for the reception. We love how the dinner jackets looked against the backdrop of disco ball ceiling installation!
We chose to go look for suits together but chose separately what fabrics to use for our custom tuxes as a fun surprise to each other.
My tuxedo was black but up close had a speckled dot pattern throughout. Inside of the tuxedo, I chose to add gold as a fun accent color and to make it pop! There also is my initials CAK stitched inside. I also have my initials stitched on the left sleeve of my dress shirt. ( so does Alex!!)

Alexs tuxedo is stark black and compliments mine well to give a classic contest! The inside of his jacket has a cream color to be an accent. And his initials are also stitched inside the jacket along with our wedding date 05.06.2023

For our Cream Dinner Jackets, we both opted to have our initials also added in the lining inside of the jacket to add to the custom nature of it all! [/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Christian and Alex’s wedding was not just a celebration of love and togetherness but also a tribute to the vibrant local food and beverage scene. With a vision to highlight the essence of their community, they curated a culinary experience that incorporated fresh, locally sourced ingredients with a modern twist. From artisanal craft cocktails to delectable dishes, their wedding became a delightful celebration of local flavors. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the unforgettable culinary journey that Christian and Alex embarked on for their special day.

Vita Mielie bubbly cart added a touch of elegance and whimsy to the festivities. The cart offered a selection of exquisite prosecco, creating a sophisticated atmosphere for toasting and celebration. With attention to detail and a commitment to quality, Christian and Alex ensured that their guests had the opportunity to savor the finest bubbles, further enhancing the joyous ambiance of their wedding.[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Christian and Alex’s wedding was a perfect blend of timeless elegance and playful charm. They envisioned a celebration that would enchant their guests with its classic beauty while infusing unexpected elements of fun and excitement. From the elegant ceremony adorned with wispy white and green florals to the dazzling disco ball-covered dance floor, every detail was carefully crafted to create a unique and unforgettable experience.

The couple’s commitment to timeless elegance was evident in their ceremony décor. The custom black wood aisles lined with wispy white and green florals created a romantic and ethereal ambiance. The simplicity of the color palette and the natural elements added a touch of sophistication, ensuring that the ceremony exuded an atmosphere of understated elegance.

Transitioning from the elegant ceremony to the reception, Christian and Alex introduced a playful twist. Guests were greeted with a bubbly cart, offering a sparkling welcome that set the tone for the evening. The dramatic black draping and twinkle lights added an air of mystery and excitement, while the black and white dance floor became the centerpiece of the festivities. The disco ball-covered ceiling added a touch of whimsy and ensured that the dance floor would be the ultimate party destination.

Christian and Alex aimed to keep the tabletop design simple, clean, and modern. The focus was on creating an atmosphere where the elegance of the surroundings could shine through. Elegant green and white florals adorned the tables, bringing freshness and sophistication to each setting. The addition of large tree arrangements added a touch of the outdoors, creating a harmonious blend between nature and the refined ambiance of the reception.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]We had a five-tiered cake with a Boston Creme Pie cake topper (to save for 1 year anniversary), royal lemon wedding cake, another layer of Boston creme, chocolate cake with strawberry, and strawberry shortcake. We wanted the cake design to be simple and match the timeless. classic vibe of our wedding. To emulate some of the wispy greenery featured throughout the wedding, we included a cascading vine adorning the scope of the cake.
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[field title=”Special Detail #1″]Christian and Alex’s wedding day was a tapestry of special details, each weaving together to create a truly magical experience. Among the many highlights that filled their celebration, one standout moment was the captivating entrance adorned with twinkling lights and dramatic black draping. Additionally, the grand finale of the evening, marked by a confetti cannon, added a touch of whimsy and joy.[/field]
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Krystal Kast Photography

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A Classic Fall Affair That Brings a Whole New Meaning to Backyard Wedding

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]The color palette included deep midnight blue, a rich forest green, champagne, ivory, and rose gold. [/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]The vision for the wedding was simply to create a celebration that was classic, romantic, strikingly beautiful (and of course, wildly fun!) at Christy and Ivo’s private home, such that the party in the backyard felt like a natural extension of the interior of their historic house. [/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Christy’s strapless Berta gown was sensational. Even in the same gown, she transformed her look several times throughout the evening, as she wore a beautiful tulle cape for the ceremony in lieu of a traditional veil, and then transitioned into a delicate bolero for the reception. [/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]There were no bridesmaids or groomsmen for the wedding, as Christy and Ivo desired to keep this an evening of intimate celebration. [/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Upon arrival, guests were served tray-passed hors d’eouvres and cocktails, before sitting down to a four-course plated dinner in the tent. Dinner included cauliflower soup, a bibb wedge salad with figs and bleu cheese, pan seared grouper, and wagyu beef tenderloin before everyone enjoyed decadent wedding cake and a smorgasbord of late night desserts.[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]From the very beginning, Christy was enamored with the idea of using quicksand roses in abudance. And so we did! The florals were all white, with the exception of this particular variety of rose that pulls either soft blush or true champagne depending on it’s natural petal variation. It was a beautiful compliment to the rose gold flatware and candle vessels we paired with the tabletop elements. Floral varieties included white larkspur, sweet pea, lisianthus, garden roses, stock, and ranunculus. We let smilax greenery and italian ruscus foliage drip throughout the tent on the bistro lighting and fixtures. Tiny unexpected stems of dark blue viburnum berries were added to the centerpieces as a nice little tidbit to tie in with the midnight blue china dinner plates. [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The cake featured simple textured buttercream icing on three tiers, and we displayed it on a traditional pedestal stand surrounded by voluminous fresh flowers. It was a fun little statement moment in the tent! [/field]
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[field title=”Special Detail #1″]At each place setting, guests discovered a small gift box personalized with their name. Inside the box they found a thoughtful thank-you note from Christy and Ivo, as well as a NEST candle and a box of matches. A little something to take home and remember the evening by, with a heartfelt message of gratitude for traveling to celebrate together and supporting their marriage. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]Though live entertainment was important, we wanted to be mindful of the intimate size of the party. With less than 80 guests in attendance, a traditional big band would have felt too large and imposing in the tent setting, but a DJ wasn’t quite enough to satisfy desire to have a live music dynamic. We turned to the team at T. Warner Artists, who put together a unique mix of three live musicians and a DJ. They synchronized a fascinating blend of classic dance hits, Latin music, and a wide musical range that kept the dance floor packed all evening long. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]This wedding was three years in the making. Our team began working with Christy and Ivo in 2018 to ultimately plan, design, and produce their engagement party in 2019. A few months later we began planning the wedding for 2020, which ultimately then had to be postponed multiple times. It felt like a dream come true when we *finally* got the chance to celebrate these two with a proper wedding event on October 1, 2022. But not to be outdone by a global pandemic, the weather forecast did it’s level best to mess up our plans, as hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida mere days before the wedding and worked it’s way up the east coast, bringing it’s tropical storm remnants directly through Winston-Salem, North Carolina less than 24 hours before the wedding. Not only did it mean that many of the guests (most who were traveling from the Miami area) had great difficulty getting to NC in time, but we also dealt with severe wind damage, downed trees/branches and power outages. The power at Christy and Ivo’s home came back on less than three hours before guests began arriving for cocktail hour! Needless to say, we were prepared with generator power and a dry tent, but suffice it to say that it was quite a wild week! During dinner that night, the clouds finally cleared, we could see the stars, and there wasn’t a single drop of rain. It was beautiful. The leaves that had fallen on our sailcloth tent the night before looked like beautiful confetti! [/field]
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Rebecca Rose Events

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Gorgeous Garden Wedding Dripping In Greenery

Garden party lovers will love this sweet celebration done in pink and green. Alex Austin Events & Design planned a day that dazzles, complete with a vintage beverage cart, twinkle lights, and three wedding cakes! Floral design by Elizabeth Earnest Florals was the exclamation point on the day, and Jillian Knight captured every magical moment in elegant imagery that is sure to stand the test of time. Visit the full gallery for all the dreamy details.

From Alex Austin Events & Design… Samantha and Nick’s love story began in an unusual place. A place where they dressed in workout clothes, our hair untidy and body drenched in sweat – CrossFit. Nick remembers Samantha always arriving at the gym with a huge smile and simply beaming like a ray of sunshine, sometimes cheering Nick on while he would struggle to finish the session. After their workout, they would sometimes have a brief encounter before both would shuffle out the door. These moments would generally consist of her saying “hello,” asking how each other’s day was and chats about the workout, but that was really it. Fast-forward a few weeks… where they were out at a restaurant in downtown Raleigh with some friends watching the 2019 Super Bowl, when Nick said he saw that same beautiful girl out with her friends. It was one of those fateful moments where they looked at each other at the same time, made eye contact and, again, Nick said he saw that beautiful smile I had seen so many times at the gym. Samantha was quick to walk over to Nick’s table and they began chatting. That evening, time flew by. They talked about life, careers, future aspirations, religious beliefs, and much more. As the night concluded, we left the bar knowing that we had found our soul mate. Samantha is originally from Pinehurst and knew she always wanted to get married in her hometown. The Country Club of North Carolina just felt the quintessential Pinehurst destination, and the perfect spot for their wedding. The wedding was southern hospitality at its finest! We bring you the ultimate pink and green garden party in the Pines! For the ceremony we transformed an open field into an intimate and spiritual setting where this couple said “I Do”. Then off to the cocktail style reception where there were specialty cocktails (named after the couples beloved dogs) served from a vintage beverage cart, a live action artist, band, 3 cakes and all the food you could eat. The clear top tent overlooking the clubs lake was adorned with twinkle light, lanterns and dripping in greenery; it was truly spectacular. The luxe farm tables, metallic linens, velvet lounges and dusty pink and cream flowers; was the garden party the bride and groom had always wanted!

From the couple… To be honest, Samantha and I truly believe everything about that day was incredible, intimate and super special. However, if we had to choose one part; we both agree the wedding ceremony was our favorite part of the wedding day. We cannot begin to explain the lasting impact that this 25-30 minutes had on our lives. After Samantha and I walked down the aisle, we looked into the crowd and we immediately could sense the love and joy in the air. We were at this perfect ceremony, surrounded by all our friends, family and loved ones, it was a time where all the people we love were in one place celebrating the beginning of our marriage. Alex and team truly went all out, she listened to our ideas and visions, ran with it, and created something truly astonishing. The attention to detail was impeccable and it was personalized to us a couple which will be something we will always remember! We could not imagine a better day.

Advice we would give to future couples during the wedding process. Our advice to future newlyweds would be to enjoy each and every moment of it! Time truly does fly, don’t take it for granted. The entire process from start to finish is a great time, from choosing a venue to selecting your dress – enjoy the process and take it all in. Another thing that is important is to not be afraid of adding personal touches to your wedding. That day needs to be special and is a representation of each of you and your relationship as a whole. You will cherish it.

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The Sweetest Vow Renewal Inspiration of All Time at Airlie Gardens

Vow renewals are always one of our favorite moments to see grace our submissions, they serve as the most beautiful reminder of how your love story all started, and how it’s grown so much over the years. Today’s romantic vow renewal planned by Lake and Lavender features the most adorable family of 4, shades of pink, soft greens and yellows, delicate blooms by Mother of Wild Flower House, and golden hour shining through the spanish moss – it just doesn’t get any sweeter than this! See all the vow renewal inspo you’ll need at the full gallery, captured by Emily March Photography!

Inspired by the romance of Spanish moss and a Needle and Thread dress from BHLDN, this vow renewal editorial designed by Lake and Lavender and Emily March Photography showcases a real-life couple as their love has grown and highlights the magic of embracing the location of your special day. Wedding planning couples and married couples alike are invited to take inspiration from this modern classic shoot in a dreamy outdoor setting.

Details:
I planned and designed this vow renewal editorial in collaboration with Emily Payne of Emily March Photography. We hope this editorial inspires married couples to renew their vows for another beautiful and unforgettable day in their lives while also inspiring wedding planning couples for their wedding day and beyond.

With a growing love at the heart of this editorial, romance took centerstage as the underlying theme of the day. It was through this romantic lens that we were particularly inspired by the Spanish moss of Airlie Gardens and a Needle and Thread dress from BHLDN. The Florentina Ruffle Dress brought the romance with colors, details, ruffles, and movement. A colorful floral dress is a current trend for today’s bride and a perfect choice for a vow renewal. With their delicate embroidery, the romantic Claudia heels from Bella Belle Shoes paired with the dress shined as brightly as the setting sun. We wove shades of pink, soft greens and yellows, champagne and gold throughout the design to highlight our dreamy setting and remarkable dress.

The Norris family told our story. Their love was radiant and their children were a delight. Their stunning family portraits are now treasured keepsakes that mark this special moment in time. We played into the couple’s refined modern style with classic elements reminiscent of their wedding day. The story of our couple told through the stationery by Longest Time Design was as inviting and romantic as everything else with the deckled edges, soft floral details, and classically modern fonts in gold foil. Other details, like black and white photographs and a Bible, showcase the couple’s roots and the many seasons their marriage has seen over the last decade.

Incorporating classic roses with other delicate and dancing blooms in the modern and whimsical style of Mother of Wild Flower House told the color story masterfully and further carried the feel of the day. Crêpe myrtles for the ceremony provided a unique moment reminiscent of the season. And repurposing the ceremony flowers elevated the lounge and added an unexpected touch.

Specialty rentals from Martha My Dear Rentals helped communicate many of the modern classic designs. And we love how their steeple arch framed the couple as the Spanish moss did. A patterned linen carefully chosen from Nuage Designs complemented the dress and echoed the sun setting against the Spanish moss. And the linen for the cake display highlighted the cakes and the surrounding Spanish moss, too. Plates from Party Suppliers mimicked the movement of the ruffles in the dress. Tying two tones of ribbon around the napkins added texture and layers and was another way to connect the dress to the tabletop design.

In the same way the setting sun is painterly as it sets behind the Spanish moss, the painterly cakes by Sugar Euphoria stood alone and reflected the flowers from the dress in a striking way. A toast to the happy couple with gold-rimmed coupes from Anthropologie at sunset was the perfect ending to this unforgettable day!

A Colorful Summer Wedding in The North Carolina Mountains with The Couples Golden Retriever as the “Dog of Honor”

This pretty pop-of-color wedding is sure to make you smile. Filled with a bright color palette of blooms by Spring Vine, sweet sips, and the couple’s adorable dog- Wren and Chick planned a day that delights at every turn. The joy of the day radiates through the imagery captured by McSween Photography, you’ll fall in love with every darling detail inside the full gallery.

From McSween Photography… Caroline and Evan met during their freshman year at UNC-Chapel Hill and began dating the next year as Sophomores. Caroline texted him “Hey, I’m single. Want to get dinner?” It’s okay … You can laugh. Looking back now that pretty much sums up their entire relationship. In August of 2019, Evan lost his twin brother Michael in a skateboarding accident. Every day after that was a struggle waking up and dealing with the loss. Then just two months later in October of 2019 Caroline’s brother, Drew passed away. Evan was with Caroline as she spoke in front of 400+ people at her brother’s funeral. In those two months, they knew they were meant to be there for each other. Truly knowing what it means to love each other through the ups and downs. During their senior year of college, Caroline got a golden retriever named Holden. She started a bucket list for Holden at UNC-Chapel Hill and blogged about him, it went viral. He now has quite the following on Instagram.

Holden has been through so much with Caroline and Evan he was the dog of honor at their wedding, along with his sister Sophie. Evan proposed on a trip to Colorado in September 2020, they took sporadically between Caroline ending a job and starting a new job. On a hiking trip, Evan popped the question and of course, Caroline said, “yes!” The stars aligned for them to take the perfect trip and for the perfect proposal, much like Caroline and Evan’s relationship, perfect for each other. The inspiration for their wedding was the gorgeous North Carolina Mountains, pops of colorful summer blooms, and an amazing day with their friends and family. Caroline wore a gorgeous Eva Lendel gown with a plunging neckline and all her bridesmaids in the same shade of Show Me Your Mumu pink, in different styles.

Spring Vine did an amazing job with the perfect shades of summer florals. Caroline and Evan honored their pups by including them in their wedding ceremony, but also with an appearance on their wedding stationery, and their very own signature cocktails at the reception. Holden the Golden was also featured getting a little mischievous on the back of the cake. Evan and Caroline also honored their late brothers by including a charm of each of their photos on Evan’s boutonniere and Caroline’s Bouquet. The love these two emanated on their day was an incredible honor to witness and be able to capture.