Real Wedding Spotlight: Front Room “I Do’s”

Wedding at a Glance

Ceremony & Reception | 135 Guests | Heavy Passed & Displayed Hors D'oeuvres | Choice Bar Package

Vendors

A First Look!

After mimosas & brunch at The Durham, me (Charlotte – bride in the burnt orange suit!) & my closest friends finished getting ready at The Cookery, while Ivy’s squad enjoyed brunch, drinks, & some cake baking (thanks, Tacie!) at our house. After getting ready, they arrived at The Cookery later that afternoon & though Ivy & I had already shared some coffee-mug-view selfies that morning, we had our fancy first look! Ivy sat with her cocktail & after a tap on the shoulder, a kiss, & a cheers, we kicked off one of the best days of our lives!

Welcoming Details

When dreaming up our wedding day, we envisioned a celebration with delicious food at every turn & drinks flowing the entire time – so of course we had to welcome our guests with beer & bubbly! Guests entered through the courtyard gate & enjoyed a flute of bubbles before making their way into the Front Room where the bar was open for those interested in a cocktail. Enjoy these detail snapshots taken before the party got started!

All in the Details

We wanted to share aspects of our lives in the small details of our day & wanted our loved ones to be involved in special ways too. Ivy had the coolest idea to have her aunt, who is an artist, paint small vignettes of our life, which we printed as mementos for our guests. We used magnets to hang the originals on the Front Room chalkboard & it was a simple detail that really made our day feel even more special!

Beer & Bubbly

Cocktail hours are one of the most fun parts of a wedding in my humble opinion & we wanted to be a part of ours! So, we joined in! It was so nice to greet guests, hug old friends we haven’t seen in so long, see the space all decorated & bustling, & share a drink before we snuck away to the dressing suite for a quick moment together before it was time to say “I Do!”

Small Touches

The Cookery’s courtyard wall is a gorgeous backdrop, but doubles as a blank slate (magnetic!) for dreamy decor! We received this adorable wood-burned sign as a gift from my Aunt Jamie & Cousin Lacey. How great does this look against this copper-colored wall?!

I Love You, Forever

One of the most unique parts of our wedding day was our ceremony. It was simple, intimate, sweet & for lack of a better way to express it – so us. It’s remarkable how close all our loved ones felt to us even though the room was filled with 130-some guests! Forgoing the chairs & adding a small stage to the space created a more theatrical ceremony that allowed guests to take in the experience from downstairs or a bird’s eye view from the balcony. With friends & family standing near & sneaking forward during our vows, it was so special to hear their reactions so close by – laughter, sniffles, happy tears & all.

From our vows right into a beer cheers & our first dance!

After we said “I Do’s” & sealed it with a kiss, one of our closest friends handed us a beer to cheers while “Walking on Sunshine” played. With everyone still standing around & peering from the mezzanine, we made our way to the dance floor to keep the celebrations going – flowing right into our first dance to “La Vie en Rose” (a cover by Lucy Dacus). After, we shared dances with our parents!

Let the Feast Begin!

After first dances, guests made their way to the ballroom for some seriously incredible food from AC Events. The words “heavy hors d'oeuvres” are a true understatement for the dining experience they brought. Menu highlights included an oyster boat display, mini lobster rolls, braised short rib sliders, mini tomato pies with basil & horseradish, blackened Carolina shrimp with saffron aioli, & the clear star of the show: macaroni au gratin frittatine with roasted tomato relish – YUM. Our guests still rave to us about the food. Mine & Ivy’s only regret is that we didn’t eat more!

While everyone grabbed another drink & hovered at the raw bar, Ivy & I spent a few minutes snapping some newlywed pics with our photographer (the lovely Joanna Sue Photography) & signing our wedding license with some very meaningful signees. Catch a glimpse of our model moments in the next section!

Vendor MAGIC!

Our vendors’ talent & eye for design truly brought this space to life – in the middle of a North Carolina summer at that! The whimsical & lush wildflowers were a total dream come true. I mean, look at those bright yellow billy balls! Fireside Farm outdid themselves on all our wedding florals, with vase arrangements by friend & floral artist Cut Flowers by Kris. All of our tableware came from American Party Rentals, with the variety of vintage vases from Greenhouse Picker Sisters. Lastly, at each guest placement, a painting print from Alexandra McGovern, Ivy’s aunt!

Toasting Our Love

Our parents & siblings gave the sweetest & most hilarious toasts – even if our nervous faces make you think otherwise!
When planning the ballroom layout, our photographer Joanna – who knows The Cookery all too well – suggested we have toasts given next to our table so she could capture everyone’s reactions together. How great did these shots turn out?!

Just Us

Couple portraits – the part of the day we were both most nervous about – but something I most looked forward to! When seeing wedding albums, one of my favorite parts are the snapshots of couples right after tying the knot. That newlywed giddiness is so sweet! I was also excited to have a short break during the celebration chaos to take in the day with Ivy!

We were in good, good hands with Joanna. I may be a ham for a camera, but in no way have we ever posed for photos in this way before. Joanna guided us through portraits in such a natural way. When I say all the emotion & head-back-laugher in these photos below is totally genuine – I’m serious! Joanna is simply the best.

All in the Neighborhood

These two shots below were ones we requested! I knew I wanted a photo below The Cookery cast iron skillet & Ivy (a civil rights attorney) wanted a picture with the Pauli Murray mural on the side of the building as The Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice is right down the street from The Cookery. This neighborhood & the businesses within are ripe with history!

Donut Stop Me Now

Following toasts, guests moved back into the Front Room to find a full display of more than 200 donuts, a gorgeous cake made by our close friend Tacie (@snackg1rl!), & an open dance floor ready for the taking. Ivy & I cut the cake (not without a moment where Ivy told me I was absolutely not allowed to shove cake on her face – “I’m serious!”) & enjoyed a yummy bite before hitting the dance floor. Soon after, late night passed bites of mini grilled cheeses & chicken & waffles circled around – yes, even on the dance floor!

Cake Cake Cake

Presenting Tacie: baking extraordinaire & one of Ivy’s best friends from college (& one of the four friends in the most active group texts of all time).
For cake inspiration, we only told her a few vague ideas & trusted her with the rest. She baked something beyond our wildest dreams: Naked lemon cake with whipped mascarpone, roasted raspberries, & lemony vanilla bean Swiss meringue buttercream.

You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life

Joanna snapped pictures until mid dance party, when we bid her adieu & our friends continued the photographer role with disposable cameras – something we’ll be able to keep (to ourselves, thank goodness) forever! We have yet to get those developed, but are excited to see snaps of our renditions to “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen, “Silk Chiffon” by MUNA, & our final song – “Dancing Queen” by ABBA. After, we headed to Surf Club for a stellar after party. It was such an incredible day & we’re so happy to be married!