Durham Wedding Ideas and Inspiration

North Carolina Garden Party Wedding with the Biggest Floral Arches We’ve Ever Seen

If we had our own Guinness Book of World Records for weddings, this fete would take first place prize for the grandest floral arches ever. Measuring in at 70 feet, these beauties set the stage for an at-home (yes! this is the Bride’s parents estate!) celebration for the books. McLean Events guided the gorgeous vision along with Blossom Bay on florals. There are plenty of views, thanks to Eric Kelley Photography—all here in the gallery.

From McLean Events… Vanessa and Dennis world travelers. Dennis was raised in Germany, while Vanessa has lived in multiple countries and states that her life, one of them being Germany. After graduating college her career path brought her back Germany, specifically Hamburg where she met Dennis. After a two year courtship the couple got engaged. They chose her family’s new estate in Durham, North Carolina as the backdrop for their wedding day. We were inspired by the beautiful stone arches of the property and home combined with their love of architecture in Hamburg, which is famous for its many archways and wrought iron gates. We used them to launch the design plan and even incorporated them in the die-cut invitations and the entrance of the tent.

The bride wanted to bring the feeling of Hamberg to her family’s new town while gracefully combining their love of the English countryside. Upon visiting the family’s home, we knew we wanted to incorporate arches in the ceremony. We decided to create four custom 70 foot arches that would be built on the pre-existing trees. Flowers in all shades of burgundies, blush, pale pinks, and greens were dripping over the custom aisle runner and ivory diamond back chairs. Post ceremony guests made their way through the families home to the backyard when they was greeted by custom crafted cocktails: Lemon Charlie and the Flying Cucumber.

As guests made way to the dinner tent they found their tables on the hand drawn seating chart that is a nod to the couples travels and adventures. The X-shaped head table was anchored in the tent by a large fountain that served as the center focal point. Guess receded and served their first course of Hochzeitssuppe, a traditional German Soup with Chicken, Meatballs, Asparagus, and Noodles. Later in the evening the men and women’s tents opened with vintage bottles of champagne and trench truffles for the ladies and a cigar roller and whiskey tasting for the men.

After dancing under the twinkle lights of the tent guests were ushered into the after party that was held over the families indoor pool which was covered for the event and a neon signs and party props and DJ ready to keep going to to the wee hours of the morning.

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Emotional Outdoor Wedding at Sarah P. Duke Gardens

You know we love a beautifully styled wedding! From the bride’s intricate lace gown by Tre Bella, to the rich jewel tones in the gorgeous garden blooms by Tre Bella Floral at the Sarah P.Duke Gardens all the way to the breathtaking twinkle lights setting the scene during their evening reception… every detail was on point for this lovely fall wedding in North Carolina! But this lovely celebration was so much more than that. Allison and Paul’s relationship felt serendipitous from the beginning and we witnessed the deeply emotional moments, all captured by the talented Caroline Lima Photography.

Oh, and not to mention, Allison and Paul involved their family members every chance they could, even including the woman who introduced them (then performed during their ceremony… swoon!). The thought and intention put into every moment during their big day made the pretty details planned by Grace Leisure Events that much prettier…

From Caroline Lima Photography… Allison and Paul were married at the the beautiful Duke Gardens. The Gardens were bursting with life, and clearly tended with love, so they made the perfect venue for the couple. Their ceremony was one of the most emotional I have ever had the privilege to attend (I love emotional weddings so much!). Paul’s father played the piano as his best man sang, his siblings also sang during the ceremony, so moving! Right before Allison walked down the aisle, I saw Paul press his eyes hard holding his mother’s hand, and I could see such deep emotion on his face; he knew that the love of his life was about to become his wife. A truly beautiful moment to witness!

And the bride…ahhh the bride! Allison radiated joy and grace in the perfect dress with an exquisite lace all-over. The delicate details of her headpiece and her romantic hairstyle were so lovely. And then, to everyone’s delight, this elegant bride absolutely rocked the dance floor! When a wedding runs the gamut from deep emotion to complete joy and wild celebration, it’s simply the best! At one point, Allison’s father took me aside and told me that he was blown away by my work. This meant the world to me.

I feel so very lucky to do what I love, and to share these moments with people as kind as Allison, Paul and their families. I hope you enjoy these photos from their day as much as I enjoyed taking them. A huge thanks to Grace Leisure Events, what a joy to work with them! Allison and Paul’s day was flawless.

From the bride… Paul and I had both recently moved from NYC to Durham when we were introduced by a mutual friend, one of my best college friends who was his pastor. Within the first half-hour of our coffee date I knew that we had a lot in common. Our bond grew from there as he took me on dates like independent movies and a lavender festival, we met each other’s family and friends (his friends and family were immediately fun, warm and welcoming) and discovered that we had a similar worldview.

Our engagement story is also full of synchronicity and it starts many years before we met. The High Line is my favorite place in New York City. I always felt it was a place worthy of something important and life changing, so when I first took my parents there to see it, I said, “I want to get engaged here!” (What can I say? I was dreaming big.) Sure enough, for my 34th birthday Paul took me on a trip to New York City and proposed on the High Line. When I asked him who tipped him off he said, “You did–when you talked about how much you love the High Line!”

We knew we wanted to be married outside and we planned our wedding around three of our most valued tenets: community, art and joy. The woman who introduced us performed the ceremony and we were lucky to involve our creative friends and family, so it was very personal. The whole day was magical! We want to thank our friends and family for their wonderful support as well as everyone who helped our wedding vision come together.

For more images from Paul and Allison’s North Carolina Wedding at Sarah P. Duke Gardens, head on over to Caroline Lima’s Blog! Plus… if you’d like to hear more of the couple’s story, take a peek at their equally charming Engagement Shoot.

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This Couple Survived a Home Renovation During Wedding Planning

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.

This is What a West Elm Stylist’s Wedding Looks Like.

When you work as a stylist for West Elm, it’s pretty much a given that your wedding is going to be absolute, pure gorgeousness. Hello, tablescape of my dreams! This beauty Bride put her creative brains behind all the lovely, with the help of Petal & Oak, who layered in those out-of-this-world blooms. A. J. Dunlap Photography worked their magic behind the lens for a gallery chock-full of inspiration.

From A. J. Dunlap Photography… This bride works as a stylist for West Elm, and used her design knowledge to create the most breathtaking wedding reception. She combined simple greenery with hues of pink, whites and gold to create luscious tablescapes that were beyond gorgeous. Her hanging greenery above her “T” style head table was breathtaking. Aside from the beautiful reception decor, we fell in love with her all lace, deep v wedding gown and solid greenery bouquet. Set against the rustic background of her venue and it was a perfect wedding.

Proof a Garden Party Wedding Doesn’t Have to Be Outdoors

Leave it to Erin McLean Events to plan and design a garden party-style wedding…and to do it all in just 8 weeks. With the use of cascading greenery and metallic accents, she transformed a classic ballroom into a reception any guest would die to attend. Laura Gordon photographed and you can dive right into the gallery this way.

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From Erin McLean Events… Celia had her heart set on an outdoor wedding, but planning for an August wedding day made that dream seem a little out of reach. Not only that, but because of Adrian’s medical school schedule, we needed to plan this wedding in a little less than 8 weeks! Never fear, why don’t we create an enchanted garden party in the iconic Hill Ballroom at Carolina Inn? Celia and Adrian were sold, so after being married in the newly reopened Duke Chapel in all its restored glory, they would dance the night away among flowing florals, glowing tablescapes, and the incomparable sounds of The Sleeping Booty Band.

Introducing blush tones ranging from the palest pink to soft ivories, paired with cascading greenery and metallic accents, the ballroom transformed into a lovely look never before created. With the addition of boxwood bars, barely golden chiffon runners, and a cake oozing with lush blooms, Celia and Adrian’s vision for an outdoor wedding day came alive indoors.

We brought in a crisp white dance floor and staging to bring the look together and of course provide ample room for celebration once Sleeping Booty Band kicked off the night!

When You Marry in a Train Depot and It’s Totally Chic

Luke and Sara currently call D.C. home, but when they began planning their wedding there was no question they’d return to their Southern roots. They decided on a fall affair in downtown Durham’s historic freight train depot and threw the party of a lifetime – live bluegrass and local craft beer included. Tre Bella Florist translated Sara’s “fairy meets lumberjack” vision and Graham Terhune didn’t miss a beat behind the camera. More this way!

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From the bride… Shortly after getting engaged, Luke & I started talking about how we wanted our wedding day to look and feel. We quickly settled on a few important things – we wanted good drinks, great music, and the wedding to take place in the fall in North Carolina. We currently live in DC, but knew there was no place we’d rather say “I do” than our home state. North Carolina holds such a special place in our hearts and we were incredibly lucky to find vendors we felt represented all the things we love about home.

The ceremony and reception both took place on the platform of Belt Line Station, an old freight train depot and historic site in downtown Durham. The ceremony was officiated by a close friend of ours. To share our love of bluegrass music, we hired a spunky, local band to play while guests arrived and during the cocktail hour. We stocked the bar with our favorite craft beers and the chef was able to use local ingredients she bought at the Durham farmers market in the menu.

I jokingly coined our vision as “fairy meets lumberjack” and, despite the silly description, our vendors were able to pull it off! We wanted the flowers to be a bit messy and wild to complement to the rustic yet urban setting of the venue, and full of reds, oranges and blues to celebrate the fall season. We incorporated organic elements, like copper, wood and glass accents, into the decorations and table settings. Our venue coordinator even picked fresh rosemary to top the place settings.

Putting the wedding together was truly a family affair! My father made all the wooden signs for the event (which Luke & I then painted ourselves) and we turned Luke’s parents’ house into ‘wedding crafts central’ during the weeks leading up to the big day. Luke’s sister even baked hundreds of spicy cheese straws – a southern staple and family favorite – for the welcome bags. Instead of cake, we opted for pumpkin, apple and buttermilk pies made by a family friend. In addition to the stellar bluegrass band, Luke put together an iPod playlist that kicked things off with our first dance (If Not for You, by Bob Dylan), followed by an awesome reception mix that got everyone out, and kept them, on the dance floor.

We knew we wanted the day to be filled with things that spoke to our personalities and our history as a couple, but more than anything, to be surrounded by the people we love. Our wedding was a perfect, intimate gathering of family and friends who have loved and supported us unconditionally for the 7 years we have been together, and we couldn’t be more thankful to have spent that special time with them.

An Aqua-Infused Garden Wedding That Will Make Your Hearts Happy

Say goodbye to the days of awkward aqua hues (I’m looking at you, 1980’s) and hello to a new version of one of your fave colors. It’s the POP of pretty that’s making this wedding sing, along with beautiful details from A Swanky Affair and gorgeous blooms from Tre Bella Florist. Fall in love with every colorful moment captured by Casey Rose Photography in THE VAULT.

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Al Fresco

From Casey Rose Photography… When Ben, an attorney in NYC, planned his proposal to Leah, a lawyer in the same firm whom he had met at Duke Law School, he knew it had to be memorable. He decided to trick her into coming to his family cabin under the guise their was an emergency at the house. Being more of a city girl, Leah hated the cabin and dreaded making the journey in the freezing winter temperatures, but agreed to go with Ben. When they arrived, Ben had a surprise picnic awaiting them. Even at the site of the candles and champagne, Leah still thought it was for the workers who were supposed to be coming to help with the fallen tree emergency. She couldn’t understand why Ben would choose to propose in a setting that was not her favorite place.

Then Ben told her that he chose that location because it represented everything that made Leah uncomfortable. He wanted her to know that even in darker days – he would always stand by her side. He knew marriage was never easy, but always worth it and he couldn’t wait to spend the rest of his days with her.

When it decided to rain every day before the week of their planned outdoor garden wedding, Leah and Ben were content with their Plan B. They knew that even in darker days, their marriage and vows would be the focus of the day. Their positive attitudes were rewarded by sunny skies for the entire morning and afternoon of their wedding. When the final picture was taken, a clasp of thunder and lightning greeted them in celebration and as all the guests and wedding party ran to the tent, they knew they had the most perfect day.

As Reverend Malcolm Roberts said in his blessing, “If you don’t believe in miracles, all you had to do was witness the end of Leah and Ben’s vows.”

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Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

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Spring 2016

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Boho Chic Carolina Wedding

You know what is magic about this wedding? Well, besides the amazing blooms by Tre Bella, the gorgeous boho chic design by Erin McLean Events and the lovely Bride, the delicious (in every sense of the word) cake from Ashley Cakes and the breathtaking images from Nancy Ray Photography? It took place during a hurricane. Yes, a hurricane. But even with last minute ceremony venue change, this gallery paints the picture of a day that truly captures the love this couple shares, and that’s really the best. See more in the VAULT.

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From Erin McLean Events…Danielle + Alex’s design was created around a gorgeous boho chic vest from Anthropologie that she loved. We wanted to bring a garden feel into the rustic feel of the Cotton Room. We brought in pops of sparkle in the champagne sequin linens, gold rimmed chargers, and gold table numbers, to add a sophisticated edge to the boho feel of the space. Danielle and Alex brought in creative pieces of themselves by offering a local coffee brand as favors for the guests and even bringing in a espresso bar during their reception. She also chose to integrate farm tables to give the reception a cozy and intimate family gathering feel. We incorporated beautiful wooden custom signage as an element that Danielle and Alex could have as a keepsake in their home.

Despite having to change ceremony venues at the last moment to accommodate the impending hurricane, their day was magical. The Chuppah transformed the space in the garden feel that Danielle so wanted. The rain even subsided long enough for the couple to capture a few photos on Duke University’s campus, where they first met and fell in love, and Alex proposed.

Classic Meets Industrial Southern Wedding

When classic meets industrial, beautiful things happen. Beautiful things like lush florals from Tre Bella, chic stylings from A Southern Soiree and a seriously yummy cake from Ashley Cakes. Now add in a crazy cool Bay 7 locale, gorgeous captures from Brandon Lata and a bride + groom who really know how to dance the night away and it’s a whole lot of fabulous sitting pretty in THE VAULT right this way.

And stay awhile for the fabulous film from Oak City Films below…

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From A Southern Soiree… Meeting and falling in love in North Carolina made Durham an easy choice of location for Elizabeth and Andrew to say “I do” this past May! Since they were both born and raised in North Carolina, it was important to them to gather their closest family and friends together in the state they love to share in their joy and excitement as they became husband and wife.

First Presbyterian and Bay 7 in Durham proved to be the perfect setting to bring Elizabeth and Andrew’s intimate summer garden inspired wedding to life. Soft peaches and corals accented with neutrals and gold created an elegant palette for a perfectly magical evening! Thoughtful, handwritten notes from the Bride and Groom were set on each table next to the oh-so-cute table numbers made from North Carolina state cut-outs. Guests were surrounded by beautiful blooms, hanging votives and farm tables as they enjoyed a delicious meal by Angus Barn and danced the night away to the amazing sounds of Six Stylez.

Elizabeth and Andrew said goodbye to family and friends and made their way through a sea of sparklers before they headed out as Mr. and Mrs. in a vintage Rolls Royce!

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Elegant Blush Pink Duke Gardens Wedding

Oh, to be a guest at this wedding. To stroll through the beautiful Sarah P. Duke Gardens, to sip on Georgia Peach cocktails, and to enjoy a darling welcome bag stuffed with locally sourced goodies. And as if that weren’t enough, I’d be in the presence of Erin McLean Events’ design work and dance the night away thanks to Bunn DJ. It all adds up to a Southern wedding done right, and Callie Davis of Nancy Ray Photography and Twenty One Films captured every pretty bit. More in The Vault!

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From Nancy Ray Photography….Although Lauren and Jeff are from completely different parts of the world; Jeff grew up in Singapore and Lauren in Kentucky, they brought her Southern upbringing and his worldly experiences together into the design elements of their wedding. From the mint julep floral arrangements to the small touches of Singapore culture, Lauren and Jeff thoughtfully planned each detail. They even cut their cake with Jeff’s family sword!

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Nicole Miller

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Elegant Southern Charm Wedding

Are you still searching for your something blue? Why not take note from this stylish Bride and add a subtle pop of color on your soles? It’s a super sweet and significant touch and the style doesn’t stop there. Because with Robyn Van Dyke behind the lens and A Swanky Affair coordinating, every minute is overflowing with loveliness as these college sweethearts say “I do” at their Alma Mater. See it all, here!

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From Robyn Van Dyke Photography…Kelly & Andrew’s wedding day overflowed with love and laughter as these college sweethearts said “I do” at their beautiful Alma Mater. Kelly looked absolutely stunning in her gorgeous tulle gown and radiated with grace and beauty and I loved the mint bridesmaids dresses with pops of pink and succulents in the bouquets! After they were officially announced Mr. & Mrs., they celebrated the night away at The Cookery, a beautiful restaurant in downtown Durham, where there were so many amazing details (including custom chalk art!) and beautiful southern blooms that softened the modern exposed brick and metal accents of the venue perfectly for an unforgettable, beautiful celebration!

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Watters

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Urban Woodland Wedding Inspiration

Living in a concrete jungle like NYC, you come to appreciate the pretty around you, which is why this urban inspired wedding from Nancy Ray Photography is seriously amazing. With an exposed brick backdrop and a butcher block table, the shoot comes together with the help of rustic ferns, eucalyptus, and more! No imagination needed for this stunning shoot, you can see all the details here!

From Tre Bella Bridal… A lush mixture of ferns, eucalyptus, lamb’s ear, and lemon leaf greens gave this styled shoot a rich texture. Vibrant plum and orange dahlias pop, while romantic blush spray roses and ivory garden roses add dimension. The river birch chutzpah softens the industrial courtyard of The Cookery. Butcher block tables lined with river birch logs, burlap table runners, floral china, and rose gold utensils, continue the mix of urban steel and natural materials.

Modern Trousseau’s clean structured strapless dress with lace and pearl overlays compliments the modern romantic look. Bella Trio created modern twists on classic elegant hairstyles and kept the make up simple with a bold pink lip.

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Modern Trousseau

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Elegant North Carolina Family Farm Wedding

Ladies and gents, you’ll want to spend some serious time cozying up to this beautiful backyard wedding from Jen Fariello. Because tucked in this gallery are stunning images of a day filled not only with pretty planned by Sheila Motley Events but so much love I can feel it through the screen. With lovely florals from Southern Blooms By Pat’s Floral Designs and a picture perfect cake from Sugarland Bakery, it’s safe to say this wedding is a winner.

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From the Bride…Falling in love is hard. But when it happens, it is easy.

That was certainly my experience.

By age 30, I had almost given up on the idea that I would find true love. A loving, trusting, caring, life partner who would challenge and inspire me.

Almost.

No, I didn’t marry my high school sweetheart or one of the many eligible, highly suitable suitors just because the clock was ticking, they looked good on paper, and society told me to do so.

I had all but resided to the notion that I was content and happy being a good, loving daughter, sister(hopefully an aunt one day), god mother to my best friend’s son, and doting mother to my loyal dog, Holly.

Life was good. As good as could be expected if not ever so marginally incomplete.

And then I received a mysterious email. Mysterious might be a bit dramatic.
Let’s simply call it random.

I had been alerted by a women with whom that I had become friends with that she felt compelled to pass my email address along to her son and now feared that perhaps she had over stepped her bounds and done a bad thing.

Thankfully out of embarrassment or boredom, my friend’s son had taken the time and initiative to reach out.

He explained that he was fiercely independent and that his mother had never before inserted herself or meddled in his life and as such he could not help but be intrigued.

From there we began trading slightly flirty emails about life, dogs, and other matters.

Did I mention that I lived in Palm Beach and he lived in New York?

Very quickly our email exchanges blossomed into marathon, all night telephone conversations and I knew that a rare, special someone had appeared on the horizon.

To be blunt, I suggested that he might now have yet another reason to visit Palm Beach.

He replied that he a slightly conflicted relationship with his hometown (who doesn’t) and now had really only one reason to visit Palm Beach and would I like to meet for dinner a Cafe Bolud that Saturday night. To be clear, he asked me to dinner, on a date. Not for drinks, not for coffee, not lunch, not to casually hang out or get together. He was bold and confident if not slightly humble while being refreshingly old fashioned. Let that be a lesson to all you “boys”.

Of course I accepted and from there, it was off to the races! Thank god for JetBlue and even more leg room!

We saw each other every weekend alternating between New York and Palm Beach.

Later that August he asked me to marry him in the wake of a holiday we had taken in Turkey choosing instead to get down on one knee on top of a cupola overlooking Charleston, SC.

Nicholas Sparks couldn’t have penned it better if he tried!

We would be married over a year later on my parents farm outside of Durham, NC. However, my mother had been visualizing if not planning the day since my family moved there from Chapel Hill over twenty years ago.

She would often joke that she was planting in anticipation of the big day when in reality, I was merely 12 and far more interested in horses than boys.

People often talk about their wedding as being one of the happiest and most beautiful days of their life. And thanks to my mother, and my above mentioned best friend who pulled double duty as maid of honor and wedding planner, ours truly was.

The weather was perfect, which I attribute to the bottle of Makers Mark that we buried beneath the alter.

Classic Glamour in Durham

We love it when weddings put glamorous spins on tradition. Read: this glitzy Jewish ceremony from Erin McLean. Rich pink and white florals from Tre Bella complimented the glittery gold while the The Cotton Room provided the perfect atmosphere for a party that lasted long into the night. Nancy Ray captured some stunning photos from the day and there’s all waiting right here!

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Winter Weddings

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Classic Weddings

From Nancy Ray Photography… This elegant evening wedding celebration took place at the Cotton Room in Durham, NC. Erin McLean designed and planned the details with her classic glamorous style. Some of the unique features include real snow on the dance floor, a lovely chandelier, silhouette menus, glitter tablecloths, candlelight, silhouette chair signs, and pink hues throughout the decor. What I especially love about this wedding is the rich Jewish tradition that was so important to this couple. I hope you enjoy this classic wedding, rich with tradition!

Preppy Durham North Carolina Wedding at the Carolina Inn

My inner prepster is totally in love with this wedding. With its gorgeous pink and green palette, seersucker bow ties and traditional yet fun styling, it is complete preppy perfection. Beautifully planned by Erin McLean Events, every gorgeous image sitting in this gallery from Robyn Van Dyke Photography will make you grin from ear to ear. See just what I mean right here.

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Summer Weddings

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Hotels + Resorts Weddings

From Robyn Van Dyke Photography…This gorgeous, southern wedding was inspired by seersucker and a joyful, preppy color combination of pink & green! This couple met while they were both working on a summer internship in D.C., and happily tied the knot this past summer on August 3rd! Their wedding day was so beautiful with all the green seersucker bow ties & details throughout their ceremony & reception, and I just loved how the bridesmaids’ lime-green Lula Kate dresses made the beautiful pink bouquets just pop! Erin McLean Events did a beautiful job with the design of the event to make the bride’s vision come true with pink sequin tablecloths, green wreaths, green seersucker wrapped vases, ties, and even decorated the fireplace mantle with candles wrapped in green seersucker bows! The pink lighting also added so much to the atmosphere of the gorgeous event and after lots of celebration and dancing, the couple happily departed with all of their guests waving green & pink ribbon wands!

Colorful Farm to Table Wedding Inspiration

If I wasn’t craving springtime already, this gorgeous shoot from Ashlee Little Weddings + Events and Kendall Lynnette Photography will have me begging Punxsutawney Phil to rethink his prediction of an early spring. Sitting in this gallery is everything I just adore about that wonderful season – bright blooms, pretty dresses and farm to table dinners – so if you need me today, I’ll be devouring all the goodness right here.

From Ashlee Little Weddings + Events…There is something about picking a tomato right off the vine on a hot afternoon in North Carolina, the steam rising from the ground following an afternoon rain shower, and shucking corn right on your front porch. The soil in the South has a certain richness to it that cultivates a beautiful final product.Our styled shoot celebrates the ability to take product from the ground straight to your plate – Farm to Table.

Set at a fabulous private residence in Durham, North Carolina, the white-washed farm table from Simply Put Vintage Rentals featured bountiful vegetables, fresh-cut blooms, and vintage place settings. A gorgeous mustard colored settee and other furniture details provided a beautiful backdrop for our bride and bridesmaids. Carrying hand tied bouquets of dahlias, chrysanthemums, zinnias, and celosia, our bridesmaids wore casual dresses from LaMaLu Boutique with bow back details. The bride wore a champagne colored gown with an ivory lace overlay, and her hair featured a gorgeous braided crown detail.

The final product has us ready to put on our cowboy boots and pull a chair up to the table!

The Cotton Room Wedding

When Julia Wade sent along this cozy candlelit affair, I nearly fell off my chair. Because on top of all the romance a girl could ever hope for, it’s a day that balances tradition and modernity in the prettiest of ways. The Cotton Room played the perfect setting, and you can have a peek at the gallery + Heart Stone Films’ lovely capture for lots, lots more.

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From Julia Wade… Get ready for some serious fall/winter coziness. My sweet Susan & Justin put their entire heart and soul into this wedding and what resulted was the warmest and most welcoming wedding I think I’ve ever photographed. Glowing candles, the PERFECT bride & groom chairs draped in magnolia leaves, and a handmade (by Susan and her dad!) escort card display complete with tiny keys for each of their guests. All of the letterpress was hand written and designed by the groom.

These two were relaxed, knew their style through and through and executed it with lots of love. The Cotton Room was THEIR perfect backdrop.. Celebrating their love for their city and their roots. Susan’s parents were married in the same church 30+ years ago.

I hope you enjoy this gorgeous downtown loft wedding in beautiful Durham, NC!

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Farm + Factory Southern Styled Shoot from Sarah Der + Gather Together

Are y’all ready for some fabulous farm wedding inspiration? That’s exactly what we’re serving up this morning darlings and let me tell you, every bit is pretty as a peach. Thanks to the fab lineup of vendors including Chelsey of Gather Together, we’ve got a handful of photos from Sarah Der Photography that are sure to inspire any southern style soiree. And Bonus? We’re including a little interview with lovely Chelsey herself, to find out how she makes all the pretty happen!

SMP: Hi, Chelsey! Tell us a bit about yourself and Gather Together Events.
GT: Hello! I am a born and bred North Carolinian, who once lived in Charleston and returned to my home state six years ago. I started Gather Together Event Planning + Design three years ago after experience in catering, corporate events, and hotels. Those roles left me craving creativity in event design and deeper relationships with my clients. In three short years, Gather Together has brought me so much joy as a business owner, designer and planner. I work closely with each client and feel so honored to be a part of the most special day of their lives.

SMP: What services do you offer?
GT: Gather Together is a full-service planning and design company offering custom packages of services to clients. We try to provide just the right support our clients need, whether that’s wedding day coordination only, full-service planning and design, or somewhere in between. Anything wedding-related, we are there and ready to tackle: venue selection, vendor negotiations, budgeting, layout planning, event design… not to mention, we often help clients navigate through etiquette and family issues, and sometimes simply offer a hug and a shoulder to lean on when things get stressful!

SMP: Can you describe your process with each couple?
GT: Beginning the wedding planning process with each couple, the first thing to focus on is priorities: What is important to them? What are their values? What makes them tick? This is the very simplest basis to decisions. Love great food & drink, but don’t care so much about flowers? We will make sure your caterer is over the top awesome and that your centerpieces are simple, tasteful and just right for the budget. Do they value buying local? We will make sure the caterer and florist source from local farms, and use seasonal produce. Knowing a client’s priorities paves the way for all next steps: Deciding on layout and flow of the event, selecting vendors, planning the timeline and more.

SMP: Best part of your job?
GT: It is truly an honor and a pleasure to become so close with clients and be trusted with their wedding day. The best part of my job is, knowing that we only have one shot to pull it off, seeing everything turn out beautifully with the bride, groom, and guests having the time of their lives. Seeing all of the hard work come together is so rewarding. Thanks and love from our clients who we’ve become so close with means the world.

SMP: Favorite moment of a wedding?
GT: Without a doubt, the moment before the bride walks down the aisle is my favorite moment of a wedding. It is filled with so much anticipation, joy, and love. The bride sees all the people she loves, gathered together in one place, just for her and her groom. It is a quiet, sacred, beautiful moment. I am so blessed to be able to experience this. Yes, I almost always shed a tear of happiness.

SMP: Any advice for brides + grooms to-be?
GT: Besides hire a wedding planner? My advice would be, to plan for your marriage, not just your wedding. Be each other’s best friend. Love and forgive unconditionally.

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Summer Weddings

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Eatery

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Romantic Rustic

From Gather Together Events… The Farm & Factory styled shoot was inspired by the rich history of Durham, NC and the sweet charm of the South. The Cookery, a recently opened local kitchen and incubator for food entrepreneurs, was the perfect setting to reflect Durham’s manufacturing and tobacco industry roots. Constructed in the early 1900’s, the exposed brick walls, hand-crafted metal work, and exposed wooden trusses tell the story of Durham’s rich history. The bar features a tobacco warehouse shutter, its facade made from an old Durham water tower and its foot rail made of a track from Durham’s historic trolley line. Railings on the stairs and mezzanine are comprised of metal crescents from the historic Heart of Durham Motel, and the center piece is a catwalk from the old Liggett Meyers building.

The Watering Hole bar, featuring a “Rusty Nail” signature drink and the “Working Man’s Lunch” beer, was adorned with a saddle and coffee can vases. The floral palette softened the look throughout the room. Our “farm girl” bridesmaid wore a necklace made of fresh roses and greenery, and our bride donned a single bloom of Queen Anne’s Lace in her hair. The burlap covered farm table was decorated with milk bottles and crates holding garden roses, astilbe, herbs and other beautifully textured blooms. Chalkboard farm animals at each place setting brought a quirky southern farm detail.

The catering reflected a modern Southern menu, with items like the Dairy Maid Chevre and Beet Stack (and a behind the scenes perk that only we know—everything tasted as good as it looked!). Specialty lighting perfectly accented the space, including a custom created LOVE sign and a chandelier made of pipes and Edison bulbs. Beautiful chalkboard lettering complemented the style of the letterpress paper suite, and wood grain in the cake detail matched that of the invitations and favor tags. Bags of grits for the bride and groom’s exit accompanied the favors on the table–what better way to put a Southern spin on the traditional rice toss exit?!

Re-imagining one of our favorite cities proved great fun and we hope it lends creative and beautiful Farm & Factory wedding inspiration to real brides!

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Durham Wedding from Robin Lin Photography + A Southern Soiree

You would never guess that this bride wasn’t the girl spinning around in her mother’s veil at eight years old dreaming about her one day wedding. Because just as she picked a super charming husband, she planned a super beautiful wedding. A Southern Soiree was on hand to help bring her newly discovered dream to life, and Robin Lin Photography graciously captured every sweet detail. We’ve filled a gallery with them all, so click here for more!

Hart to Heart Media captured these two in an entirely different, but totally beautiful way…

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Summer Weddings

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Religious Institution Rustic Weddings

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Whimsical

I was never the type of girl that dreamed about her wedding and I had no idea where to even begin after we got engaged. I met my now to be husband while he was living in Hermosa Beach, CA and I was living in NYC. I was out there with a bunch of my college girlfriends when we meet Memorial Day 2009. We began a long distance relationship 3,000 miles apart and after 8 months of bi-coastal flights he ended up getting a job in NYC. Time flew by and after two and a half years dating, he proposed in Hermosa Beach, the same place we met.

Once we settled back into NYC, I was initially overwhelmed thinking about where to even begin but slowly my vision for the day began to come together. We both wanted the day to feel extra special with personal details but didn’t want as much of a traditional setting. We got married in my childhood church in Chapel Hill, North Carolina followed by a shabby chic reception in the old Lucky Strike tobacco mill at American Tobacco in Durham, NC. We didn’t know about the venue until we started looking through a few local North Carolina wedding magazines. We fell in love with the venue as it had the casual feel we were going for and the large space was filled with exposed brick, beams and beautiful hardwood floors. We just knew this was the perfect space to celebrate with our family and friends.

Since it was an empty space, we were responsible for bringing in everything we needed for the big day- rentals, flowers, food, lighting and the list goes on. Since we were living in NYC and working with all different vendors I created a Pinterest page to help my vendors understand my vision for the day. We wanted garden flower boxes and mason jars filled with white hydrangeas. Market lights and lanterns to fill the large ceilings with a romantic glow. We both wanted this to be a party so we used red wine bottles as table numbers and set up the seating family style. Each wine bottle contained quotes about celebrations, family & friends. Our wedding invitations were market light themed and that carried through to every detail- wedding programs, menus, and place cards that were held up by wine corks. We used an old barn window as our seating chart and created signs for our gift table that were the top 20 reasons why we loved one another. Since we were steering away from some traditional elements, we had a mini wedding cake surrounded by smaller cakes and cupcakes. Other details included mason jars that held our signature cocktail, moss initials for the entrance doors, a vintage car to carry us after the ceremony to the reception and a photo booth for our guests. I also wore my sister-in-laws veil and garter and my great grandmothers brooch was attached to my bouquet.

The day went off without a hitch and I couldn’t have done it without all of my vendors, especially, A Southern Soiree, Robin Lin Photography, Hart to Heart Media, Get Lit Lighting and Durham Catering.

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Duke University Wedding from A Swanky Affair

Good morning SMPers. If bowties and billy balls make you smile and if pretty prints and a fresh pink palette are your cup of tea… ok let’s face it, if charm is your thing you’re going to heart this preppy garden wedding in a big way. From planner extraordinaire, A Swanky Affair this darling Durham soirée is as cute as they come. It’s North Carolina chic and you can see the rest of the beautiful images by Kristin Byrum Photography in the gallery.

From the Bride… Daniel and I met at Duke University as we were both about to embark on a 6-week study abroad program in Australia. Fast forward seven years later, I was living in DC and Daniel in Philadelphia. Daniel suggested that we go to Duke one fall weekend in 2011 to visit the Lemur Center (world renowned!) and catch a football game. Much to my surprise, while there, in the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, he got down on one knee and proposed to me. We knew almost immediately that we wanted to have a fall wedding in the place where we met. We set our wedding date — November 3, 2012. Our wedding ceremony would be outdoors in the same spot in the Duke Gardens where he proposed in November 2011.

Daniel and I spent almost a year planning our wedding — as a team. He was such a trooper and I’m lucky to have had him be such an integral part of planning our day. We wanted our wedding day to reflect us and give a nod to our favorite things, including fall and the wonderful seasonal fare that comes along with it. We decided on a color palette of warm coral and gray. After scouring Pinterest and wedding blogs for inspiration, I was able to incorporate all of my current obsessions — stripes, chevron, and succulents. Etsy put us in touch with a number of amazing vendors (artists really!) that made our gray and white striped runners, the chevron flags, provided our individual potted succulent plants for each place setting, chevron pillows, and the calligraphy for our menu, place card flags, and table signs. Daniel selected craft beer from five different breweries representing each state between North Carolina (where I grew up and where we were getting married) and Pennsylvania (his current home state) to serve at the reception. We gave a nod to fall with the persimmon fruits that Tre Bella included in our floral arrangements along with succulents, billy balls, dusty miller, garden roses, and fiddlehead ferns. In the early fall when figs started showing up in our local grocery store, we knew we wanted to have a signature cocktail around them: fig bourbon fizz. Our caterer, Durham Catering Company, put together a delicious fall menu using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients that included french onion soup, braised short ribs, and stuffed acorn squash.

Daniel worked his magic on the computer and put together the various signs used at the reception — for the bar, the guest book table, the gift table, the entry way area, and our chairs. I got in touch with my crafty side and love of geography by making our escort board — painting the map of the United States and using twine and washi tape to connect each guest to their current location — so everyone would know where each other came from! About a week before the wedding we spent an afternoon together repotting 125 succulent plants that had been shipped to DC from an Etsy vendor in California. Our family helped us with many of the last-minute details leading up to the big day — including assembling our wedding programs and wrapping each plant with a particular colored ribbon (for meal choice) and flag with each guest’s name. It was fun to get them involved and we were thankful for their assistance, distributing some of the final tasks.

We were especially glad that we hired an event coordinator to handle month-of to day-of final details. Amanda Scott of A Swanky Affair was invaluable in the assistance she provided — confirming and finalizing the details that we set in place. We loved working with Kristin Byrum Photography and were incredibly happy with their beautiful images that perfectly captured our day. It made a world of difference to have Kristin and Aaron as our photographers — their sweet and warm personalities show in their images. Kristin was especially incredible — shooting our wedding 8-months pregnant!

After pouring ourselves into the planning, Daniel and I were both extremely happy with how everything came together so perfectly, even the weather. Hurricane Sandy skirted North Carolina just a few days before our wedding so we were incredibly grateful for a beautiful sunny and warm fall day on November 3rd. Surrounded by our close friends and family, with great weather, in such a beautiful garden setting — our wedding day was more special than either of us could ever imagine it would be.

Wedding Photography: Kristin Byrum Photography / Venue: Sarah P. Duke Gardens at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina / Wedding Coordinator: Amanda Scott of A Swanky Affair / Floral Design: Tre Bella Flowers / Officiant: Reverend Mel Baars / Invitations: Bella Figura / Catering: Durham Catering Company / Cake: Cinda’s Creative Cakes / Rentals: American Party / Chargers: Party Reflections / Calligraphy (Invitations + Menus + Place Cards + Table Number Cards): Angelique Ink / Cocktail Napkins: Fine Stationery / Striped Runners: chiquiita / Chevron Flag Place Cards: rosepetalpaper / Chevron State Tote Bag: The Wedding Chicks Shop / Wedding Dress: Wtoo by Watters via Love Couture Bridal / Programs: Hello Tenfold / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Sung via Joielle / Bride’s Shoes: Lavender by Vera Wang / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Nina / Bridesmaids’ Earrings: JCarterHandmade / Flower Girl Dress: J.Crew / Ties: Ties.com / Socks: Bold Socks / Musicians: Arioso Strings / DJ: Frank Meldau of Bunn DJ Company / Hair + Makeup: Posh the Salon / Suits: Brooks Brothers / Bus: Duke Transportation / Getaway Car: Loni’s Antique Cars / Succulents: TheSucculentGarden / Ribbon: M&J Trimming / Hanger: noce / Chevron Pillows: bedbuggs / Bracket Table Number Cards: Paper Presentation / Straws: Isakay Boutique / Sparklers: I Love Sparklers / Paper Lanterns: Paper Lantern Store / Rings: Mervis Diamond / Guest Book: My Publisher