It may rhyme with another holiday but Ballantyne Hotel & Spa was made for a New Year’s Eve wedding. Or at least, this NYE wedding. The soft grays and sparkly silvers, the campy-chic hats and tiaras, the lush florals and the faux NYE ball… made for this fabulous venue. And of course, add Steve Michael of Kristin Vining Photography into the equation, and it’s all over. Over in a wave of total fab. There is no countdown to the gallery… it’s right here, right now.
From the bride … Jeremy and I were next door neighbors in Charlotte, NC for over a year before we met, in May 2008. We would always offer a quick smile and wave, but never progressed to a full conversation. However, one spring day in 2008, my mother was visiting and walking my dog when Jeremy decided to introduce himself and boldly suggest that she set us up on a date. Surprisingly, she obliged, he and I finally met, and we have been together ever since. Life has taken us from Charlotte to Chicago for Jeremy to attend graduate school and now to life in the Big Apple, New York City.
While we were living in Chicago, I came on a snowy February Friday in 2012 after a long weeks work to Friday, find a stack of packages on the counter. This wasn’t uncharacteristic, considering my eBay business and love of online shopping. I ignored the packages, but after some prodding from Jeremy, I began to go through the boxes. The first one held my engagement ring, and Jeremy got down on one knee in our living room and proposed, to which I repeatedly screamed yes in response. I was so happy with the proposal – nice and quiet in our own home, just like I’d wished for.
We knew almost right away that we’d get married in North Carolina – my parents live there, it’s where we met, and the winter weather was much kinder than Chicago. I began planning right away, flying to Charlotte to meet my mother to begin searching for venues. We visited a wide range of venues all over North Carolina, from farms to hotels to high rise buildings, but we both knew when we arrived at The Ballantyne that it was the place! I’d always wanted an October wedding but didn’t think I would have enough time to plan, so we settled on New Year’s Eve – a decision that I’m so glad that we made. The planning process was stressful at times, but always lots of fun, and I got to rely heavily on my future mother in law and bridesmaids for their input and suggestions. We were so lucky to ring in the New Year surrounded by our closest friends and family!
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Photography: Steve Michael & an assiciate for Kristin Vining Photography | Cinematography: Isabel’s Corner | Flowers: New Creations Flower Company | Day of Wedding Coordination: The Graceful Host | Cake: Cake Lady Jill | Music: Split Second Sound | Venue: Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge | Invitations: Kate’s Paperie, NYC | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Dress: San Patrick | Hair & Makeup: Lindsey Regan Thorne | Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale