Real North Carolina Weddings

Yuval and Swathi by Vesic Photography

Thu, 17 May 2012 21:22:00 GMT

Alive. That is the word I would use to describe how I felt at around 12:30am Saturday night after what was an intense two day Indian wedding experience with Yuval, Swathi, their friends and family. It really was more than just a wedding, it was an experience.

Friday's late night Garba was a 5 hour festival of color, dance, food, ceremony and kinship; while our morning started quite early at Brier Creek Country Club in Raleigh, NC around 7:30am, with a small photo session of Yuval & Swathi together.

From there, they separated and Yuval began his portion of the day, which included a great ceremony in a horse and carriage with all the guests parading their way to the ceremony site (with live drummer, music and dancing, of course).

The ceremony itself was a fantastic free flowing event where guests were happy to come up to the platform to take their own photos, move their chairs into the shade where they liked, or to step back and enjoy a proper tea and snack at the tables in the back.

After the ceremony and a great lunch, we took a small break and rejoined at the Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, NC for another small photo session and then the start of the cocktail hour and reception. The Prestonwood's reception hall is a fantastic site, and the lighting was spot on and matched perfectly with the colors from Swathi's dress to the table linens and flowers. After some more great food, the parent dances and toasts, DJ Rang set the pace for the next 4 hours of one intense song after the next. Seamlessly blending in American music into Indian I am happy to report not one slow song the whole night. The dance intensity was led by Yuval's dad, who used the Garba as a warm up for his reception night discotheque experience. The lights came on about 12:30am with the huge crowd pushing DJ Rang to play "one more song" - even though he had played "one more song" two or three times already

Special cheers go out to Images by Denise (Denise Hutter) and the staff of both the Prestonwood and Brier Creek Country Clubs

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Photos: http://www.vesic.com Hair and Makeup: www.imagesbydenise.com Venues:www.prestonwoodcc.com and www.briercreekcc.com

An Evening at The Angus Barn

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:44:00 GMT

Jon & Amanda are such a great couple together. From the time I spent with them during an engagement shoot, to dinner, to the wedding day - it was so clear,there was nothing here but a LOT of love. The fact that they're such hip, good looking couple doesn't hurt either. I started with Amanda at a nearby hotel where hair and makeup for the ladies was all put together before we headed to the Angus Barn.

Angus barn has two very cool rooms for the bride and groom to get ready in, which led to some great images before we headed outside for a first look. The first look went perfectly and we took the momentum and energy right into some photos of Jon & Amanda together - both in the Angus Barn itself and outside by the lake.

The sunset ceremony couldn't have been more perfect, and led nicely into a indoor/outdoor cocktail hour. The first dance revealed that Jon & Amanda are fantastic dancers - which only served to encourage the rest of the guests to join in with them.

Special thanks go out to the Angus Barn for putting on a fantastic wedding. This was a beautiful wedding and I was so glad to be able to capture it for this amazing couple.

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Hooman Baharani http://www.vesic.com/

Colorful October Wedding at the Marbles Kids Museum

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:39:00 GMT

Sean and Tori came to Orangerie Events by way of Brett and Jessica. We coordinated Brett and Jessica's wedding in October 2010 ( seen here ).

Sean and Tori are friends with Brett and Jessica and were married in October 2011. Brett and Jessica are wedding photographers who photographed Sean and Tori's wedding. Orangerie Events coordinated Sean and Tori's wedding and we're crossing our legs like we have to pee and jumping up and down to show you what happens when good friends attend a wedding as great photographers. Make sense?

Describing Sean and Tori in one word is easy: infectious. Tori has a shy smile that makes you blush and a bursting smile that captivates you. Sean is a total cool cat with a knack for tasty beers (Pun completely intended: He owns Tasty Beverage Company in downtown Raleigh) and giving well-deserved thumbs up. To work with them was like putting a quarter into a slot and getting the best, most colorful bouncy ball a vending machine can offer.

I love collaborating with couples that combine splashes of classic style (Hello birdcage veil!) with modern. Sean and Tori picked the Visual Art Exchange in Raleigh to host their ceremony and continued the wedding festivities at the Marbles Kids Museum for an anything but boring wedding reception. Rocky Top Catering kept mouths chewing and bellies full by providing a delicious assortment of food. Fallon's Flowers provided the stunning bouquets and arrangements while The Square Rabbit created a beautiful and tasty wedding cake. Guests danced the night away while DJ Yes Sputnik! kept the jams spinning. As a take away, Sean and Tori included an Old Time Photo Booth for guests to enjoy throughout the evening. A huge thank you to Sharon and Kate of Orangerie Events who coordinated the ceremony and reception the day of to keep things moving smoothly.

From the moment Tori showed me her invitations, I smiled every time we talked about her wedding. The custom design was created by Jaime Van Wart and was carried throughout the invitations to the table numbers to the wedding website. Which, by the way, their wedding website sprinkled colorful confetti the day of the wedding in celebration. The wedding was a perfect representation of them as a couple. It was like stepping into a box of crayons and leaving with a smile plastered on your face.

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Wedding planner:www.orangerieevents.com

Catering: www.rockytopcatering.com

Katie and Matt by Erin McLean Events

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:29:00 GMT

Katie and Matt were married at the Sutherland Estates in this stunning Pink and Gray Wedding! This was one fantastic couple!

Katie was one of the most elegant and graceful brides I have ever seen. So stunning!!

Her color choices of turquoise and violet for the bridesmaids was so fresh and unique. The florals popped in an array of bright pinks, reds and greens.

Since Katie and Matt are both currently serving our country in Afghanistan as fighter pilots, we had a sabre guard exit for the couples. Such a meaningful touch! The couple hiked Mount Kilimanjaro for their honeymoon!

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Event Planning and Design: Erin McLean Events

Venue: The Sutherland Estates

Photoraphy: Julie Poole Photography

Caterer: Rocky Top Catering

Rentals: Party Reflections

Hair and Makeup: makeupforyourday

Invitations: Cute Buttons

Lindsay and Dave from Events by La Fete

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:06:00 GMT

Dave and Lindsay met in Charlotte, NC at a “group dinner” with mutual friends. Everyone knew each other at the dinner except for Dave and Lindsay. They ended up sitting next to each other, and have been together ever since.

Getting married in Chapel Hill was a no-brainer for the couple. They have a mutual love for the town, the school and the Carolina Inn. They both grew up going to UNC football and basketball games and the Carolina Inn was always a meeting place for their family and friends. "We love going back there to relive old memories and create new ones," says Lindsay.

From the Bride, "The most special part of our wedding day was the wedding ceremony. We got married in the Episcopal Church on Franklin Street, The Chapel of the Cross. It is such a beautiful church with stained glass windows, old wooden benches and a slate floor. The whole experience was so moving - being in one room with our closest family and friends, wearing our wedding attire and exchanging our vows was truly magical."

The bridesmaids wore light blue strapless dresses by Thread and our groomsmen wore traditional tuxes with custom-made yellow and light-blue cummerbund sets by Alexander Julian.

For the flowers, the couple chose a romantic yet sophisticated look with white calla lilies, hydrangeas and roses.

Design and planning: Katie Dunn, Events by La Fete

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Weddng planner: www.eventsbylafete.com

Venue: www.carolinainn.com

Photography: www.waltersandwalters.com

Rentals and linens: www.classicpartyrentals.com

Rachel and Adam from Orangerie Events

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:06:00 GMT

I met sweet Rachel to talk about all things wedding six months before her big day. She was a breath of fresh air. Throughout the entire process, I could always count on her to be cool, calm, collected and smiling.

She and her Australian beau were married at Mordecai Historic Park in Raleigh on a gorgeous September Sunday. The outdoor ceremony took place at Mordecai with the grape vines as a perfect backdrop. Gregg, with Brides & Bouquets, added flowers in various shades of purple to compliment the setting. The ceremony was flawlessly performed by Rev. Roy and two four-legged members of the wedding party almost stole the show. Almost. The reception was held at Humble Pie in downtown Raleigh. Following introductions, the couple shared their first dance as DJ Brian O’Toole provided the soundtrack for the entire evening. The restaurant provided an amazing buffet spread highlighted by phenomenal service. Throughout the reception, guests were able to be a little silly at the photo booth provided by Hice Photography. Simply Cakes NC showcased their talent in the form of a square 3-tier wedding cake complete with intricate detail, pintuck and a touch of purple. And yes, it tasted as good as it looks. Once the dancing began, the seemingly shy and reserved Rachel took center stage with an inflatable guitar for a solo performance to Journey. Capturing this unforgettable moment and every other detail was the dynamic duo of A.J. Dunlap Photography. Seriously? How incredible are these photos? I love working with AJ and Kyle! Rachel and Adam spent two weeks following the wedding in Australia for a continued celebration with the groom’s family. I’m slightly jealous. If any couple deserved an extended vacation, it would definitely be these two. Their positivity for life and love for each other was infectious and I’m grateful to have shared in their wedding day. Priscilla Erwin www.orangerieevents.com

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Wedding Planner: Orangerie Events

Flowers: Brides and Bouquets

Megan and Rob

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:05:00 GMT

With Rob being from Charleston, Shrimp and Grits were a must! It was a perfect representation for the Charleston gang.

Everyone knows one of my all time favorite foods is Mac n' cheese! So despite some questioning looks from the club staff, they agreed to serve up Mac n' cheese shooters for our guests. It ended up being a huge hit and Rob and I both had our favorite foods to enjoy :)

Flowers- My favorite flowers (and the only flower Rob is familar with) have always been Hydrangeas. They remind me of my childhood and I think they are so beautiful. The wedding had a very romantic feel, so white hydrangeas were a perfect compliment to cascading Orchids (another favorite) that our florist, Kelly beautifully arranged.

Wedding Party Bios- Rob and I had a very large wedding party- 12 on each side! It took a lot of coordinating, but neither of us could imagine the day without our best friends next to us. Friends have always been hugely important to us both, and we wanted people to know how lucky we are to have the friends that we do. With there being so many bridesmaids and groomsmen, we decided to have two tables set up- one for Robs groomsmen and ushers, one for my Bridesmaids. We framed a picture of each attendant, and wrote a short paragraph on how we knew them, how we became friends, and some of our fondest memories with that friend. It was a very special and personal touch that we loved and that our wedding party appreciated. Our guests also loved getting to know them each a little better.

Family "tree"- Family is everything to Rob and I. That was one of the things that brought us together in the first place- we both shared a very strong connection to our families. We knew that we wanted to display our Family portraits at the reception- and ended up displaying them in a very unique way. Our florist helped create a "tree" that we hung wedding portraits of our Grandparents, Parents, and siblings. Rob and I both know that without our families, we wouldn't be who we are today- and we wanted to make sure we showed people exactly where we came from. It was a beautiful display that we were extremely proud of.

Guestbook- We knew that we wanted a Guestbook, however I wanted to allow our guests to be a little more personal than simpily signing their names. We had a book made with a variety of beautiful envelopes and enclosure cards. Our guests were able to write a special message to us and stick them in the envelopes. This book now sits on our coffee table and we love looking through and reading the beautiful messages we received from our friends and families. It is something special from our wedding that we'll always love to revisit.

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Ceremony- White Memorial Presbyterian Church, Raleigh NC

Reception- Carolina Country Club, Raleigh, NC

Photographer- Lauren Jackson Photography

Bridesmaid Dress- Melissa Sweet

Groomsmen suits- Ralph Lauren

Groomsmen Ties- Drake's of London

Whimsical Wedding by Orangerie Events

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:05:00 GMT

When I first met with Amanda and listened to her describe her vision for her May wedding, I was dying to be a part of it.

Although I projected a professional front, every ounce of my creative inner being was screaming to work with her. She must have caught on because luckily she granted me the opportunity to take on a role within her extremely artistic and whimsical wedding.

There was nothing traditional about this couple or their wedding. The bride showcased her talents from the handcrafted bridal and bridesmaid’s bouquets to the guy’s boutonnieres. She even constructed the cake topper out of wine corks. The carnival-like theme was carried out from the aisle lined with multi-colored rugs to the handmade flag pendants spanning the perimeter of the tent to the “Fortune Teller Fish” wedding favors.

The ceremony and reception took place at Mordecai Historic Park in Raleigh, North Carolina. If rain on your wedding day is good luck, then this couple won the lottery after pulling off a ceremony during a torrential downpour. The rain didn’t deter the couple nor did it stop Gallant Fox Photography who was there through every drop capturing each moment. Following the ceremony, the sun reappeared and guests moved to the tent for the reception. As they enjoyed Chubby’s Tacos, Anything Music provided a stellar playlist that packed the dance floor.

From the bright colors, pinwheels and quirky details, this wedding was a perfect reflection of the bride’s eclectic and crafty style. The pictures below highlight one of the sweetest couples I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with and provide the perfect sneak peek into a whimsical wedding wonderland.

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Wedding planning and Design: Priscilla Erwin www.orangerieevents.com

A Duke Gardens Wedding by Erin McLean Events

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:07:00 GMT

Shan & Sam’s wedding day paid homage to Shan’s heritage with Asian inspired touches appearing throughout their big day.

Their Sarah P. Duke Gardens wedding ceremony and reception was filled with bright, colorful touches that really set this wedding apart.

To start the big day, Denise from Images by Denise did the bridal party’s hair and make-up. To compliment her beautiful look, a sapphire necklace and blue touches of trim were added to her veil. Bold colors and touches of bright blue were sprinkled throughout the wedding day, all taken from from Shan’s blue bridal shoe.

The bridesmaids were not without their own elegant blue apparel. Choosing bridal gowns of the same fabric but with different styles is a great way to let your bridesmaids pick styles that they’ll love and wear again without compromising a unifying bridal party look.

Would you believe this bridal bouquet is actually made of silk flowers? The bride’s grandmother crafted silk flower bouquets for the bride and her bridal party. The bride, wanting to infuse elements of her Asian heritage, decided to use these handmade silk flowers centerpieces. Her grandmother in China made each flower individually!

These richly hued silk flowers perfectly complimented the floral pattern on these silk Asian linens.

String duos and trios are a wonderful addition to any outdoor ceremony. In an outdoor setting, these musicians help create an ambience in an open space

As a creative guest favor, the bride and groom used their couple nickname, Sham, and gave guests a sweet jar of “Sham Jam”. Personalized wedding favors are an easy way to incorporate elements that are unique to you as a couple.

Written by: Erin McLean

Photography: Luster Studios

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Wedding Planner: www.ErinMcleanEvents.com

Photography: www.lusterstudios.com

Hair and Makeup: www.imagesbydenise.com

Betsy and Ed, A Southern Soiree Wedding

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:04:00 GMT

On April 11th of this year, I received a call from Betsy telling me she and her fiance, Ed, would like to get married on June 11th at their farm and that they needed help with planning everything from start to finish.

A quick calculation in my head told me that gave us two months to plan an entire wedding. One consultation later that day and we were off with a bang!

Something I’d like to mention that makes Betsy special (not that all our brides aren’t special!) is that Betsy is the founder of Petfinder.com. Started in 1996, Petfinder.com houses and offers access to the largest database of homeless pets on the Web, and to this date has assisted in the adoption of 17 million pets! So, needless to say, Betsy loves animals!

Something else that was important to Betsy was serving an entire vegetarian and gluten-free menu to all of her wedding guests. Betsy told me that with all of the traveling she did for work, she had eaten too many terrible gluten-free and vegetarian meals in her day and that on her wedding day, she wanted to serve an awesome menu where she knew she could eat everything that was offered.

Betsy and Ed told me that several of their friends and family would be traveling from all over the United States and they wanted to make a weekend out of their wedding. It started Saturday morning with a brunch and pool party and went into Saturday evening with the ceremony, dinner and dancing. Sunday morning, everyone was invited back out to the farm for a farewell brunch.

I’m so proud of my team, Kailey and Melissa, for managing this event on the day of with such grace, dedication, and flexibility. Due to a torrential downpour that occurred the evening of the wedding, all of the vendors worked together to move tables and seating onto the porch for the meal, move the photobooth, and re-arrange the timeline of the evening activities to create a seamless event for the guests. A fun-filled, farm-tastic wedding was had by all and I’m excited to share these images below by Shane Snider

Written by: Megan Brewer Gillikin

www.asouthernsoiree.com www.myraleighevents.com

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Wedding Planner: A Southern Soiree

Photography: www.shanesnider.com

Andrea and Michael by Erin McLean Events

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:08:00 GMT

Vintage Grace and Custom Taste

Andrea and Michael met on the tennis courts of Elon College and live in Washington DC. Andrea has a vintage grace and style to her that just had to be reflected in her wedding day details. As a result the bride and groom were married surrounded by family and friends in a picture perfect church in downtown Greensboro.

Following the ceremony, guests were greeted at the Greensboro Country Club with signature cotton candy martinis decorated with flags containing Andrea and Michael's crest. The crest theme was repeated throughout the reception ― most notably on the menu cards, the invitations and the cake.

As guests arrived for the reception they found the guest book table where the Mother of the Bride had created a stunning family tree, covered with pictures of grandparents and parents and lit by garden lights. The groom’s cake was a stack of edible legal books surrounded by the scales of justice and a number of antique law books to highlight the groom’s profession.

The ballroom was decorated in pale pink linens with floral appliqué cream overlays. The pin-spot lighted tables were adorned with a combination of high and low centerpieces, pale pink velum votives, custom menu cards and table numbers featuring engagement pictures of the couple. The head table was a long rectangle scattered with striking low centerpieces and candles. The bride and groom’s chairs sported monogrammed seat covers created by the Mother of the Bride.

The band The Dickens, kept the dance floor packed the entire night. The guests were also treated to warm Krispy Kreme favors as they made their way out to the formal exit for the couple. The happy couple left the reception in a shower of pink rose-petals. They were whisked away in a bright pink pom-pom decorated powder blue vintage automobile.

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Wedding Planner: Erin McLean Events

Photography: Abigail Seymour Photography

Sandra and Joe by A Swanky Affair

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:28:00 GMT

Joe and Sandra were college sweethearts who met while they were both at Johns Hopkins University. When they decided to take the marriage plunge they knew that it would be the perfect fit to wed on Labor Day in Durham.

Family and friends arrived from all over the country to share this special day with the happy couple. The ceremony was held at Durham's Duke Gardens, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes ― the perfect backdrop to the bride's color choices of turquoise, green and white. Guests kept cool outdoors by waving fan shaped programs while waiting for the party to begin. The evening festivities at Paridize, a chic and colorful local hot spot, started out with cocktails in the courtyard. The surrounding trees were decorated with hanging globes and a spectacular ten-foot waterfall. Mojitos were served to guests along with Grey Goose and Patron shots all night long to keep the party going.

The dinner was held in the main restaurant, a very colorful building with large murals on the ceiling and elegant paintings on the walls. The flowers for the seated dinner were all white roses, spider mums and hydrangeas. These tasteful touches allowed the colors and details of the restaurant to pop.

The pre-meal appetizers included goat cheese stuffed mushrooms, crostinis with black olive tapenade, candied fennel with goat cheese, maple bacon wrapped scallops, proscuitto with truffled fontina, crepes with spinach and pine-nut empanadas. For the main meal the guests were given the choice of grilled lamb chops with a rosemary mustard crust, filet mignon with shrimp scampi or Scottish salmon.

The wedding cake was a trendy and striking black-and-white design made by a family member and personally driven to Durham from New Jersey. Surprised by a memorable dance number courtesy of their bridal party, Sandra and Joe danced the night away with friends and family, making their wedding an unforgettable occasion for all.

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Wedding Consultant: Amanda Scott/A Swanky Affair

Photographer: Martha Manning Photography

Todd and Candice by The Cherry Tree Events

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:18:00 GMT

When Candice and Todd met on a mission trip to Belize (in Central America) in August 2009, neither of them was thinking about finding a mate.

They were totally involved with the love of their faith and the beautifully spirited friends they were making in the enchanting city of Belize. Candice and Todd were not smitten with each other until after they had returned home from this life-changing experience. And after a few short weeks back home Todd had another life-changing experience in mind, the proposal.

Todd embraced the simplicity and beauty of nature that he saw in Belize and transformed his international experiences into his proposal to make it one of the best moments in the next chapter of their lives. On November 11, 2009 he proposed to Candice under a tree in their quaint neighborhood on the way back from a lovely dinner at Todd’s favorite restaurant, Daniel’s in Apex.

They both love the Italian Ices at Sunset Slush of Raleigh, so Todd creatively hid the engagement ring in a Mango flavored Italian ice, Candice's favorite. With love and celebration in tow, Todd and Candice's friends had previously arranged a surprise engagement party at their home immediately following the proposal. Soon after their engagement, the blissful pair contacted Laci Banks, of The Cherry Tree Events and Décor to help create their dream wedding.

Candice and Todd decided Jones Chapel on the Meredith College campus would be the perfect place to exchange vows. Since they wanted the natural aesthetics of the venue to gleam, the pair decided not to over-decorate the chapel. Nestled between huge oak trees on the historic campus of Meredith College, this amazing chapel’s plush green grounds, classic architecture and ornate organ all create a very beautiful and romantic ambiance that does not need embellishment. Candice and Todd are both devout Christians so they decided on a simple ceremony consisting of family prayer, communion, and hymns that reflected the two of them perfectly.

Candice was absolutely stunning in a strapless sweetheart designer gown infused with beaded, intricate lace detail. She complimented the gown with a monochromatic bouquet consisting of fragrant red roses designed by Flowers on Broad Street. The groom was just as handsome in his traditional yet timeless black tuxedo and red-rose boutonniere.

Following a perfect ceremony, guests headed to an upscale Raleigh hotel for a euphoric celebration which included food, drinks, and lots of dancing. “When I first saw the inspiring and distinctive style of the hotel I immediately knew that’s where we would have our reception. We wanted everyone to have an amazing time celebrating this dream-filled day with us,” Candice explained. With over 8,000 square feet of upscale event space, the already sophisticated hotel ballroom was transformed into the space the bride had always dreamed of, adorned with awe-inspiring candlelight and tons of red rose petals.

Guest favors included assorted slush flavors and custom koozies provided by Sunset Slush of Raleigh. This unique choice of favors was smoothly palatable and the guests absolutely loved it! Once the dance floor was unveiled, the dinner reception definitely transformed into the dancing-the-night-away party Candice and Todd had dreamed about for months.

After exchanging I dos, the pair departed for Turks and Caicos for their honeymoon. As their relationship continues to grow by allowing God to lead, they’ll indeed live happily ever after.

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Planner: The Cherry Tree Events & Décor

Photography: Robin Lin Photography

Florists: Flowers on Broad Street

A Plantations Celebration by Bridal by the Sea

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:34:00 GMT

This exquisite ceremony was held on the grounds of the historic Whitford Plantation just outside of New Bern.

The festivities were held on a beautiful September day under spreading Magnolia trees and with a breathtaking view of the Trent River. All of the newly weds closest family members and friends were in attendance as the bride walked down the aisle in a flowing white gown with a wide shoulder and fitted bodice. The bride carried a mixed bouquet consisting primarily of fragrant white Gardenias. Bridesmaids wore cocktail length navy blue dresses and each carried a bright yellow flower - a striking contrast in colors. The groom and all of his men sported khaki suits with white shirts and navy blue ties. After the ceremony the bride and groom exited to a shower of rose-petals. The happy couple exited from the front of the plantation and left the scene in the groom’s classic car.

Guests arrived to a reception filled with live music and fantastic food that consisted of mouth watering pot roast, mashed potatoes and numerous other classic Southern dishes. Instead of just one cake, the couple chose to have six different cakes all prepared by a talented family member. The cakes included many of the couple’s favorite flavors such as German chocolate, carrot and double chocolate. The flowers and centerpieces incorporated a number of different styles and colors all selected by the bride. Her tasteful touches provided a perfect blend of the bright colors that she envisioned for the wedding and the style that represented the tastes of both her and her lucky groom. Modern centerpieces consisting of bright cobalt vases and yellow flowers adorned the reception tables. Brushed silver lanterns and river rocks topped with an orchid floral accent were placed throughout the reception area, creating a soft romantic atmosphere. After hours of dancing and dining, the bride’s sorority sisters serenaded the happy couple as they left the reception on the nostalgic New Bern Trolley.

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Coordination and Design: Bridal by the Sea

Photographer: Diane McKinney Photography

Beth and Brian by Bliss by Sam

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:19:00 GMT

Beth and Brian were student athletes at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Beth was on the women’s golf team and Brian was a member of the men’s basketball team.

They met through several mutual friends within the Athletic Department at UNC. After dating for six years, Brian proposed to Beth at the beach ― one of their favorite locations to hang out together. So given their strong UNC bonds, it was a natural choice for them to choose The Carolina Inn as their ceremony and reception venue.

Of course, couples dream of a beautiful and sunny wedding day but as everyone knows, Mother Nature reigns supreme over the weather and you guessed it ― rain. Although the rains came, guests managed to stay dry and enjoy the day's events. The soft and gentle rain falling during the ceremony gave the wedding an impossible to stage romantic feel. Guests and bridal party were forced to snuggle close together offering wonderful chances for dramatic photos.

Beth graced the aisle in an ivory chiffon asymmetrical Barcelona gown by Augusta Jones. The lovely look featured a sweetheart neckline embellished with beading and fabric flower accents. Her hair was adorned with an ivory organza flower covered in Swarovski crystals and freshwater pearls. Beth also carried a breath taking bouquet built around her grandmother's wedding ring ― included to honor her grandmother and as her something old, something new.

The rain-muted elegance of the evening continued under a tent in the Anne Watts Hill Courtyard. The lovely setting was decorated with a white and cream floral décor that made a stunning backdrop for a classic party. Guests dined on fantastic foods and a three tiered cake covered with flowers in all shades of white and cream.

At the end of the night, guests were given beer bottle koozies, heart-shaped wildflower seed cards and Carolina-blue car antennas as a send-off for the couple. Guests will never have a problem remembering this wonderfully wet wedding day.

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Event Professionals: Bliss by Sam Weddings and Occasions

Photography: www.lusterstudios.com

Cake: Swank Cake

Venue: Carolina Inn