As hard as it can be to cull down a guest list, intimate weddings are sooo worth it if you want to truly interact with every guest celebrating your Big Day with you. Call me biased (I had less than 80!), but I think today’s Bride & Groom, Heather & Michael, have the right idea. With Kast Events & Company to help plan every cherished moment, they were able create a beautiful experience for their friends and family. Photographers, Ally and Bobby were also on the guest list and we’ve got the pretty documentation right here.
From the photographers, Ally and Bobby… Heather and Michael were married in a quaint white chapel tucked away in the countryside of North Carolina. The joy in the air was tangible on that summer day! With less than 75 guests, they had an intimate celebration with their closest friends and family.
From the Bride… Michael and I both wanted to keep our wedding smaller and intimate with a meaningful venue that also incorporated the outdoors. We booked the sweet vintage chapel which was originally built in the 1800’s and renovated a couple of years before our wedding. It was just the right size, allowing less than 100 guests and incorporating a beautiful outdoor space. Additionally, the women who restored the chapel maintained many original details from the original church, including the pews and signage, which was special to see displayed. Since the space is so gorgeous, we wanted to incorporate greenery, and a classic color palette to highlight the natural beauty of the space.
We wanted our guests to feel loved and taken care of, much like they have loved and taken care of us, so we prioritized good food, drinks, and a fun ambiance. Choosing a fun and entertaining dj coupled with an interactive photo booth during the reception were additions that guests commented on how much they enjoyed all night. Almost 80% of our guests were traveling from out of town, so we wanted them to be able to enjoy themselves as we said I do!
From our venue, down to the florals, we chose to support mostly small local vendors with big hearts and personalities. We love supporting local businesses and wanted to continue that trend for our wedding as well. We also wanted to include as many friends as possible into our wedding day. One of our dearest friends officiated the wedding, another serenaded us as we walked down the aisle, and two of the bride’s former students were her flower girls. Our bridal party was intentionally small as well to include our most loved best friends and siblings. Heather wanted each bridesmaids to choose their own dress to complement their individual style and personality. While staying within a shades of blush color palate, their choices complemented one another and turned out better than she could have imagined.
The day was a whirlwind, so we were glad that we chose to have a first look and take a moment to see each other, calm some nerves, and be together without all of our guests, to share a quiet moment before the ceremony started. After much debate we decided to write our own vows to be read to one another during the ceremony, which was our favorite part of the entire day. Being able to use our own words to express our love to one another in the presence of our family and loved ones was such a special moment.
From our appetizers that paid homage to Michael’s southern heritage, to the florists incorporating all the bride’s favorite florals into her bouquet, everything felt like us. We included portraits of our parents’ and grandparents’ wedding days and used the bride’s late grandmother’s chalkboard to highlight how important our families are to us. The bride’s father even brought their beloved 12-year-old lab, Madison, to take pictures and enjoy an al fresco dinner under the market lights. The forecast leading up to the wedding was a downpour all day, so we were immensely grateful when the day was filled with sunshine and warmth. Our wedding will forever be a favorite memory of ours and we are so grateful to everyone who was a part of our day.
Photography: Ally and Bobby | Florals: Serendipity Designs | Cake: Simply Cakes | Catering: Durham Catering Company | DJ: Bunn DJ Company | Ceremony and Reception: The Parlour Chapel | Guestbook: Sage Paper Co. | Hair and Make-up: Radiant hair + makeup | Photo Booth: ZimZoom Photobooth | Planning: Kast Events | Rentals: Cottage Luxe | Rentals: Greenhouse Picker Sisters | Rentals: CE Rentals | Signage : Oaks + Gray Paper
