Happy Valentine's Love Birds!

In honor of this love holiday (although you should love hard all the time), we've got the last wedding of 2016 to share with you -- FINALLY! We spent the day with an amazing couple, Amy + Jay, at Wrightsville Manor on November 20, 2016! Amy spent the morning getting ready with her mother and bffs in the bridal suite at Wrightsville Manor. Amy + Jay were bursting with excitement all day. She had that true bridal glow! They chose not to do a first look so the excitement was intensified as it drew closer to the ceremony. The couple tied the knot in front of the romantic fireplace with three large floral arrangements and an array of candles atop the mantle. The aisles were lined with rose petals, gold lanterns and gorgeous candles. The ceremony was set with mahogany chiavari chairs, included by the venue, in a semi circle formation. We love this type of seating because it offers an unique and intimate view from each seat. During the ceremony, Amy gave Jay's daughter a precious gift. It was such a sweet moment of welcoming her into their new family and the whole room smiled.

Following the ceremony, guests went outside for cocktail hour. There was a bar on the patio with cocktail tables placed around for guests to mingle. While guests were being wined and dined, we flipped the inside and set up the reception. Out came tables, linens, centerpieces and place settings. It's amazing what can happen in one room in one hour with a team of great vendors! Middle of the Island set up a gorgeous cheese and fruit display. The lounge furniture was set for guests to sit and relax. We set the picture frame seating chart outside during cocktail hour so guests could find their seats before going back inside to the reception. (This reduces the time it takes to get guests seated after cocktail hour.) 

After cocktail hour, we gave Amy + Jay a sneak peek at the reception space! They were in awe at how gorgeous everything came together. The tables were set with blush linens, lanterns, mercury vase centerpieces and a pretty place setting. Once they viewed the room, we invited everyone else inside for introductions. They were introduced as husband and wife before going into their first dance. Amy's brother-in-law then gave a welcome and shared a blessing. Next, Middle of the Island opened up the buffet and it was time to chow! Toasts were given by members of their bridal party during dinner, followed by Amy + Jay giving a toast to their guests to thank them for coming. They cut their delicious three-tier cake from Savory Layers Cake before it was time to do some dancing. Amy shared a dance with her stepdad and Jay shared a dance with his daughter. This was another sweet and heartfelt moment to be a part of! This Then, they kicked off open dancing and everyone boogied down, excited for the newlyweds!

Congratulations to Amy + Jay. We wish your family so much love and happiness and we're so excited for the new addition! :)
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Favorite Wedding Moment:
During the ceremony, Amy + Jay asked Jay's daughter to join them at the altar and receive a special gift to remind her that she will always be daddy's little girl and now she's Amy's little girl too. #tearshed
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Vendors
Venue: ​Wrightsville Manor
Music: Atlantic Premier Entertainment
Caterer: Middle of the Island
Photography: Distinctive Images 
Rentals: L&L
Mantle Flowers: A Friend's Flowers
Bridal Party Flowers + Centerpieces: DIY
Cake: Savory Layers Cakery
Officiant: Jared Coe - Port City Community Church
Hair: Laura Smith
Makeup: Tyler Kent Salon
Month-Of Coordination: Knot Too Shabby Events
Attendees: ​130

Rachel + Neal tied the knot overlooking the Cape Fear River downtown at the Coastline Convention Center on November 12, 2016. The sun was nearly set and the mood was just right. The couple was surrounded by their closest friends and family in their hometown of Wilmington. What more could we ask for?! They wed under a gorgeous four-post white arbor with a chandelier hanging in the middle from Martha My Dear Rentals. One of our favorite "looks" for ceremonies is mixing chairs and benches! Rachel is great friends with Martha of Martha My Dear Rentals. Martha was kind enough to gift her with any and all of their specialty rentals, including the white-washed chairs and wooden benches! We placed little lanterns with flowers at every other row. Bubbles were placed on each seat for guests to blow as the bride and groom exited the ceremony.

But let's back up a little - Rachel + Neal did a first look before the ceremony, which y'all know we love. They were able to enjoy some moments of privacy on their wedding day before all of the shenanigans began. After the first look, they took all of their bridal party photos. Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed cocktail hour outside on the river view terrace, where we had a cute bar cart set up, along with some cocktail tables! Thyme Savor passed yummy appetizers, including grilled cheese and tomato basil soup shooters! Guests lounged on some couches with fluffy pillows and much enjoyed cigars along the river walk. Cocktail hour wouldn't be complete without corn hole too!

The reception was absolutely gorgeous inside. The tables were set with navy linens, mint napkins, a lanterns on top of a wooden slab surrounded by greenery, mercury vases with tea light candles, DIY table numbers and a cute frame with their hashtags. The escort card table was so cute too! They had keys for everyone (that doubled as bottle openers) with a little piece of paper attached with their name and table number. Once everyone found their seats, Rachel + Neal were introduced as husband and wife! They went into their first dance, followed by the parent dances. Thyme Savor provided a delicious buffet for guests to fill their tummies. Not only did Rachel + Neal have a delicious cake from Creative Cake Designs by Tammy Hodge, but they also had a dessert bar from One Belle Bakery that did not last long! Key lime tarts, raspberry tarts, mini cupcakes and apple pops were the hot commodities of the evening. If the yummy treats weren't enough, AM Coffee Distributor made espressos, cappuccinos, and other coffee creations to keep the guests dancing all night. We danced and danced until it was time for their send off. They rode off in style with Port City Bike Taxi!

Congrats Rachel + Neal. We hope that every day is filled with love and laughter! See you soon at one of our sunday funday adventures downtown! XOXO

Favorite Wedding Moment: 
This favorite moment is a bit nontraditional but we're still laughing out loud, even a year later. There was a bar mitzvah taking place on their wedding day on the other side of the venue with about 300 guests and 100 kids running around unsupervised. It was only a matter of time before one of the kids pulled the fire alarm. So outside we went for about 30 minutes while the fire department came and scoped out the building. The couple could have freaked out and make a big deal about it but all of the guests enjoyed the fresh air, even on a chilly November evening. We made sure to keep the bride and groom's glass full with their favorite craft beer and all was well. This was a test for us and them and everyone passed. Unexpected things happen but it's how you handle them that matters. Rachel + Neal care more about their love and marriage than a silly kid being a kid! 

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Vendors
Venue: Coastline Convention Center
Ceremony + Cocktail Hour Music: Guitarist Joe Morgan
Reception Music: DJ Brian Hood
Caterer: A Thyme Savor 
Photography: indigosilver
Lighting: High Performance
Rentals: Party Suppliers 
Vintage Rentals: Martha My Dear 
Coffee: AM Coffee Distributor
Flowers: A Friend's Flowers
Cake: Creative Cake Design by Tammy Hodge
Dessert Bar: One Belle Bakery
Officiant: Andy Phillips
Hair + Makeup: Jamie Warzel
Month-Of Coordination: Knot Too Shabby Events
Attendees: ​115

Trish + Oliver wed under the old oak tree at Wrightsville Manor on November 5, 2016. Trish + Oliver are such a beautiful couple, inside and out. From our first meeting with them, we knew their day was going to be absolutely stunning because of how great they are as individuals and together. Their wedding was the perfect mix of fresh greenery with gold and burgundy accents. One of the best things about Trish's wedding is that she gave absolute design control to Blossom Bay Design and they absolutely knocked it out of the park. 

The ceremony altar was a white free-standing mantle from Relic Vintage Rentals, adorned by a greenery garland swag. Wrightsville Manor's green urns had two large floral pieces that were used at the back of the aisle and re-positioned on the bar for the reception. Once everything was set up, we were ready for the ceremony and ready to see Trish walk down the aisle. Oliver's reaction when he first saw Trish was priceless. Following the ceremony, guests went to the main lawn for cocktail hour. Relic set up two lounge areas, where they showcased some of their favorite pieces. This was one of Relic's first weddings at Wrightsville Manor since curating their company so it was nice seeing a large combination of everything they have in stock. The food was just as good as everything looked. Thyme Savor served grilled cheese paired with warm soup, shrimp + grits and bruschetta for cocktail hour, while the venue provided the open bar.  

Once the bridal party and family finished photos with Kate Supa, guests were invited inside for the reception. Everyone was blown away when they walked in from seeing a jaw dropping greenery chandelier in the center of the room with gorgeous blooms and lights, complete with thin garland swags stretching across the entire room! A year later, this is still one of my favorite weddings with one of the prettiest designs.

We used a mix of round and rectangular tables, set with floral centerpieces or greenery runners, gold candle votives and full place settings including gold rimmed plates. Once guests found their seats, DJ Professionals introduced Trish + Oliver for the first time! They went straight into their first dance, followed by the father daughter dance and the mother son dance. Oliver's father gave the welcome and then Thyme Savor opened the buffet! Following dinner, we had toasts and then the cake cutting! They had a delicious two-tier white cake with the most amazing red peony on top! The cake was display on an old vintage Singer sewing machine covered with lace. Every detail of this day was perfectly planned and Trish + Oliver had an amazing night with all of their closest loved ones. DJ Professionals turned the music up and the lights down low so everyone could danced the night away! 

CONGRATS Trish + Oliver! May every day be as incredible as your wedding day! 
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Favorite Wedding Moment:
Trish had no idea what the ceremony or reception design was going to be until the day of the wedding. She knew what linens and rentals she ordered and gave a few ideas to the florist but that was it. It was a bold move but totally worth it. Blossom Bay Design went above and beyond and not only surprised Trish, but they also surprised me. I was in the loop with what was going on, of course, but it was bigger and better than I thought it would be. My favorite moment was watching Trish walk into the reception for the first time once everything was set up and ready. She spent the morning quarantined to her bridal suite and it was worth the wait as she was so shocked and happy with how beautiful everything was. Much deserved for Trish because she was an amazing bride and is an amazing person! 
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Vendors
Venue: Wrightsville Manor 
Ceremony Music: Justin Hoke
Reception Music: DJ Professionals 
Caterer: Thyme Savor
Photography: Kate Supa
Videography: Light Cannon Films
Lighting: Illuminating Events
Rentals: Party Suppliers
Vintage Rentals: Relic Vintage Rentals
Flowers: Blossom Bay Botanicals
Cake: Imaginary Cakes
Officiant: Nick Arbia
Hair: Blush Haus of Beaute
Makeup: Amy Kennison
Dress: Hayley Paige
Month-Of Coordination: Knot Too Shabby Events
Attendees: ​160