Brooke+Peter’s Chapel Hill Wedding

It made Brooke happy when she found out that we were cat people even though she doesn’t have a cat (Peter’s allergic), and so it made us happy that it made her happy, and what we wish for them most in their married life is the development of a truly hypoallergenic cat so that they can get one and live happily ever after.

We hadn’t had the opportunity to meet these two until their rehearsal since they live in DC, but we did meet them (obviously) and they were as charming as we expected them to be and then some. Brooke went to school at UNC and actually worked at the Carolina Inn when she was in college, so it was quite fitting for her to get married there. Peter went to George Washington but roots heavily for the University of Maryland terrapins, so there was a lot of taunting and tongues sticking out and a cake shaped like a turtle and I believe a threat was made by the bride when she told someone to start cutting the terrapin cake at the neck (Peter did not). At the end of the night, pom poms were passed out in both UNC blue and white and Maryland red and black. The ultimate betrayal was committed by Peter’s mother who decided to use the UNC pom poms.

We were honored to be a part of Brooke and Peter’s wedding and so thankful to have had the opportunity to meet and work with them! More importantly – it seems that our Carolina Inn rain curse was finally broken and despite a more or less constant threat of an immediate downpour, it never rained. :) Thank you to Brooke and Peter’s family for being so awesome and for hosting an amazing wedding!

Date: July 20, 2013

Ceremony and Reception Venue: The Carolina Inn // Chapel Hill, NC

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Rev. Brian Wingo | DJ – Randy Bennett of the Joe Bunn DJ Company | Florist – Lyn Graves from Fresh Affairs | Cake – Cinda’s Creative Cakes | Caterer – The Carolina Inn | Hair/Makeup – Margo Williams from Belloviso | Coordinator – Tracy Adams of Adams & Events, Inc.

Margaret/Betsy+Jeff Have a Chapel Hill Wedding

The biggest moment of sheer panic I’ve had involving a wedding for a while involved Geoff and I meeting with a couple named Margaret and Jeff, booking Margaret and Jeff, labeling everything Margaret and Jeff (folders, client information, postcards, other things that they’d both see), and then receiving the timeline a week before from Sally Oakley, their coordinator, that was labeled, “Betsy and Jeff’s Timeline.”

Woah woah now! Who is this Betsy and Jeff? Surely Sally accidentally sent me someone else’s timeline by mistake. Open it up: no, it’s definitely our wedding. WAIT A MINUTE YOU GUYS HAVE I BEEN CALLING HER MARGARET FOR LIKE A YEAR NOW AND HER NAME IS ACTUALLY BETSY?!!! I am pretty sure that in the e-mails I subsequently sent to Sally and Margaret/Betsy that there were that many question marks and exclamation marks.

After apologizing for calling her the wrong  name for about a year I found out that her real name is actually, indeed Margaret. But everyone calls her Betsy. Her mother explained to me at the wedding that she just didn’t look like a Margaret when she was born, so Betsy it was. So to me she is both. She’s a Margaret in my folders and in my head, but a Betsy when I speak. Although to be honest, I felt like I had gained a client when I started referring to her as Betsy. I’m not entirely sure where Margaret went, but we have a Betsy now!

Anyway – Betsy and Jeff are terribly awesome. When we booked them, Jeff signed the contract by drawing in Trogdor. I wasn’t sure if that was legally binding, but I figured hey – we shouldn’t have any legal troubles with anyone signing a contract with a little cartoon Trogdor. They’re big book nerds (I use the word nerds with love) and centered them around their wedding accordingly. They unfortunately used us as their photographers despite knowing that we come with a rain curse when shooting at the Carolina Inn (we have literally never had a wedding ceremony/reception combo at that venue where it hasn’t poured). The curse did indeed follow us to their wedding, but held off for long enough where we could get photos outside despite it. We hope we were worth the rain curse. ;)

Date: May 18, 2013

Ceremony and Reception Venue: The Carolina Inn // Chapel Hill, NC

First Dance Song: “I Could Write A Book” – performed by The John Winntet

Betsy’s Occupation: Recent Library Science graduate

Jeff’s Occupation: Best Buy Mobile Lead

How You Met: Working at Barnes and Noble

Interesting Bride Fact: Has never lost a game of Risk.

Interesting Groom Fact: Keeps his bowling balls and shoes in the trunk of his car at all times, because you just never know. Last time he bowled: about six months ago.

Honeymoon Destination: Negril, Jamaica

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Rev. Barbara Lodge | Band – The John Winntet | Ceremony Music – Arioso Strings | Florist – Tre Bella | Cake – Lynn’s Traditions | Caterer – Carolina Inn | Hair/Makeup – Elaine Harrison | Coordinator – Sally Oakley

Kelsey+Drew Get Married at the Carolina Inn

Kelsey and Drew are going to have the luckiest marriage ever if the sideways rain at their wedding was any indication… and I think it was. Also, they were married on Cinco de Mayo which I’m SURE must be good luck somehow… or at least indicates that your marriage will be filled with excellent Mexican take-out (which, in my opinion, is good luck).

These guys are awfully sweet and wonderful, as evidenced by how many people love them and how they got their grandmother and me gluten-free cupcakes to eat for dessert. :) We hit it off right away at our first consult, and have had a wonderful wedding-planning courtship for the past year or so. I told Geoff, “What am I going to do when Kelsey is married?!” because we e-mail each other a lot. Drew asked Kelsey, “What, does she just sit at the computer waiting for our e-mails?” and the answer is yes… yes, I do. Apparently, I’m in safe hands because she specifically e-mailed me from their honeymoon in Costa Rica this week to assure me that she would not stop e-mailing me.

Drew moved to North Carolina for Kelsey and I hope that they stay because we love them and their furry dog-child, Miley. Miley was a big part of their engagement pictures and joined them again for some wedding pictures on the front porch of the Carolina Inn before the rain became too sideways. She’s very thrilled that her parents are finally officially married but is jealous that she did not get to accompany them to Costa Rica (she is e-mailing me in your place while you’re gone, Kelsey).

So congratulations to the wonderful Kelsey and Drew… and may your wedding have all the good luck in the world and excellent Mexican take-out!

First Dance: “Moondance” – Van Morrison

How You Met: Through friends

Interesting Bride Fact: Has a soft spot for any and all children

Interesting Groom Fact: Is awful handy – no wonder I keep him around :)

Honeymoon Destination: Costa Rica

Date: May 5, 2012

Ceremony and Reception Venue: The Carolina Inn // Chapel Hill, NC

Wedding Planner + Flowers: C&D Events

Officiant: Reverend Carl Johnson

DJ: Jon Fowler

Cake: Rhonda Mullen

Caterer: The Carolina Inn

Hair: Dani

Makeup: Michelle Clark