This Couple Survived a Home Renovation During Wedding Planning

Melissa Baran
July 19, 2017
Categories: Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance

I first need to give this couple a round of applause for their impeccably classic style—gorgeous aren’t they? And second, they deserve mad props for planning such a stunning day, with the help of Events by La Fete, WHILE renovating their home. Say what?! I can somewhat relate as my hubs and I purchased a new home the same month of our wedding. But to handle a renovation during the planning process is wild. And apparently their Big Day didn’t suffer at all—just one look at the imagery from Anna Routh and you’ll see what I mean.

From the Bride… Dixon and I met in Raleigh at Campbell Law School in 2011, and were pretty much inseparable ever since. We both practice law in Raleigh and work two floors apart in our office building downtown. We also live in Raleigh. As if wedding planning isn’t enough, Hurricane Matthew threw us a curveball in early October when a tree fell through our new house (we moved in about 11 months prior). This required 4 months of renovation, during which time we lived in an apartment with our new kitten, Jillian. We feel confident that we can survive the challenges of marriage if we can survive an extensive home renovation and wedding planning simultaneously.

I always dreamed of getting married in the Duke Chapel, and it was really a no brainer when it came time to choose our ceremony venue. I come from a long line (four generations) of Dukies. My parents were married in the Duke Chapel, and I was baptized in the Duke Chapel. Dixon has graciously welcomed Duke into his heart and embraced my love for the University, so he didn’t object to the Chapel as our venue (smart man!). Actually getting married in the Chapel was far better than I ever dreamt it could be. The magnitude of the building itself is enough to take your breath away, not to mention the soul shaking organ. Although most brides are probably most excited for the reception, I was most excited for the ceremony. Needless to say, it exceeded all expectations. Another special aspect to our ceremony was the choice of our officiant, Dr. David Burhans of Richmond, Virginia. He married Dixon’s parents at the University of Richmond Chapel in 1981, and has been very dear to Dixon’s family ever since.

The Washington Duke Inn as our reception venue was also a no brainer, and we really never considered anywhere else. My family, friends, and I regularly frequented the WDI while I was a student at Duke, and it has always felt like home to all of us. The feeling was no different seven years post-graduation, and the hospitality and elegance were exactly what we were looking for in a reception venue. The majority of our friends and family were able to stay at the WDI, which was great since convenience and comfort for our guests was a top priority. The Bull Durham Bar was a big hit for March Madness basketball updates and “after-party” drinks. Friday night’s rehearsal dinner and welcome party at The Rickhouse provided the perfect contrast to Saturday night’s formal elegance. We wanted a venue that was very “Durham” and The Rickhouse was just that with reclaimed wood and exposed brick from old tobacco warehouses in Durham. The venue overlooks the original Durham Bulls stadium, which was a nod to both of our families’ love for baseball. Dixon played through high school, the FOB played at Duke, and the FOG played at UVA. The décor included old family baseball photos, decorated baseballs, cracker jacks, Dixon’s old baseball glove, and a fantastic groom’s cake featuring red baseball threads from Edible Art. Our guests got the full effect, as they were able to catch the end of a live game from the patio. It was the perfect way to kick off the weekend.

From the beginning, we knew we wanted our wedding to be a classic, clutter-free, sophisticated black tie affair. We incorporated cherry blossom trees, candles, orchids, and white hydrangeas for a romantic, elegant, and somewhat unexpected twist. The overall goal was to be able to look back at our wedding photos 10-20 years later and not ask “what were we thinking?” To carry out this vision, our save the date and invitation design featured a navy, gold, and ivory palette, classic engraved script, calligraphy, and a gold beveled edge. Playing off of this color palette, we opted for navy tuxes as a modern twist to a classic staple. Bridesmaids wore floor length light gray dresses, which provided a stunning contrast to the navy, as did the flower girls’ ivory dresses and light gray sashes. Although not intentional (truly!), the wedding party attire complimented the color scheme of the Chapel’s stone exterior in the most perfect way. I chose a sophisticated gown by Austin Scarlett with clean lines and no frills. The Monique Lhuillier sash, Vera Wang veil, and lace Manolo Blahnik pumps provided just enough glitz without compromising the gown’s simplistic beauty.

Katie Dunn’s amazing room layout allowed us to creatively fit a lot of people into the ballroom, while also modernizing an otherwise traditional setting. The table layout provided the perfect framework to showcase Kelly Odom’s cherry blossom masterpieces. Another highlight was the escort card table in the gallery outside of the ballroom. Kelly was able to transform an oversized wooden table with white hydrangeas, acrylic risers, and massive glass candleholders. It was a head turning platform that perfectly showcased the classic beauty of navy calligraphy and traditional white escort cards. We modernized a classic five tier ivory wedding cake with an acrylic base, white hydrangeas, and romantic candlelight to bring the whole look together. The first time I talked to Katie, I told her we wanted a formal, but FUN reception/party. With her guidance, we created just that. There was constant energy throughout the night and the band never took a break, playing a variety of genres to please all ages. Their energy was contagious. The dance floor was packed, shoes were off, and drinks were flowing. It was just as we had hoped. We wanted to incorporate family heirlooms as a special touch. I wore my grandmother’s ring on my right hand and pinned a cameo to my bridal bouquet that was used by three generations of women before me.

We will never forget the moment our eyes met as I was walking down the aisle. We purposefully chose not to do a first look to make that moment as powerful as possible – it worked! We experienced a rain shower after the ceremony while finishing up photos. Dixon and I managed to stay dry, as did most of our guests, but it made the tail end of our photography shoot slightly hectic. However, the double rainbow that followed made any weather-related chaos completely worth it! Other favorite memories — Our “sneak peek” of the reception décor before the guests entered the ballroom. It was amazing to see all of our hard work and visions come to life. The ridiculous dance party and amazing band were also absolutely unforgettable. Listening to our loved ones speak so kindly of our relationship and marriage during speeches throughout the weekend was heartwarming.