Brittany & Ryan are one of the sweetest couples, so it was fitting that their wedding had the sweetest decor and vibe. The day felt lighthearted and playful, the weather was brisk and the sky was clear, and the calm confidence of the couple poured over every detail. After getting engaged in the Redwood Forest in the summer of 2018, they tied the knot on Nov 2, 2019, at The Pavilion at Carriage Farm in front of 150 friends and family.
Brittany and her ladies arrived at the venue early in the morning and had a full day of getting pampered by Tease + Blush. Once our lovely bride was dressed and ready to go, she shared a first look with her daddy (who was teary-eyed and smiling all day). The couple then took a few moments to read love letters they’d swapped, allowing all those butterflies to build up before meeting at the front walkway of the venue for a first look. After taking a few moments to soak it all in, they had some wedding party fun with Kelsey McGovern Photography and Jon Warlick Media there to capture it all (including Ryan’s socks, which had Brittany’s face all over them!).
At last, it was time for the ceremony. The arbor on the venue property was the main focus, with a floral piece added to the center. White ceremony chairs were curved around the arbor, with a large chalk program and a wooden welcome sign with greenery at the back. Family, officiant, and wedding party made their way down the aisle to “A Thousand Years” by The Piano Guys, followed by the sweet little flower girl and ring bearer. Brittany and her dad then walked down the aisle, where she joined her groom for the ceremony, officiated by the pastor of their home church. With the vows said and rings exchanged, the Brittany & Ryan were pronounced husband and wife and shared their first kiss as a married couple.
While the couple frolicked through the woods with their paparazzi team, guests enjoyed cocktail hour on the patio. A ladder shelf held mason jar wedding favors, the bar had custom koozies, and there was even a basket full of temporary tattoos of the couple’s faces!
As cocktail hour came to an end, guests were invited into the pavilion, where the reception was to be held. The front entrance hallway had a table with a wicker basket for cards, a sign with their last name, and a watercolor print of the venue for guests to sign the mat. A farm table on the other side of the hall was covered with photos of the couple and their families, as well as the mother of the bride’s veil and a memorial candle.
Guests took seats at any of the tables, with a few reserved for family. Three different centerpieces alternated among the tables, including wood slices with sweet blush and white floral arrangements, various lanterns with greenery, and wood slices with bridesmaid bouquets; votives were included at each table to create romantic mood lighting. The sweetheart table, decorated with a champagne tablecloth and pearl & bead overlay, greenery, and the bride’s bouquet, was situated in front of the pavilion’s grand fireplace, which was decorated with a rustic window, greenery, candlesticks, and lanterns. Place settings were sweet, simple and soft, with a loosely folded blush linen napkin and flatware. The dessert display included the cake on a whiskey barrel beside a table full of cupcakes on cute cupcake stands.
The wedding party and couple were introduced into the reception to “Crazy in Love” by Beyonce, and Brittany & Ryan immediately went into their first dance to “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton. A blessing over the meal followed, and then dinner was served. The rest of the evening included toasts by the maid of honor, best man, and sister of the groom, parent dances, cake cutting, bouquet toss, and garter toss. With all the formalities out of the way, the couple and their friends packed out the dance floor until the sparkler sendoff at the end of the night.
The Vendors:
Venue: The Pavilion at Carriage Farm, Raleigh, NC
Wedding Coordinator: Beauty & the Budget Events
Photographer: Kelsey McGovern Photography
Caterer: Beau Catering
Baker: Simply Cakes
Florist: Knots ‘n Such
Officiant: Pastor Ken Tilley, Crosslink Community Church
DJ: A Bride’s DJ
Rentals: CE Rental
Videographer: Jon Warlick Media
Bridal Shop: Maggi Bridal Raleigh
Groomswear: The Executive’s Cutting Edge
Hair & Makeup: Tease + Blush
“Stephanie went above and beyond all of our expectations! Would not have been able to have such an amazing day without her. Absolutely worth the money (and extremely well priced)” – Ryan, Coordination
“Absolutely amazing! I cannot imagine planning my wedding without Stephanie. She kept me on track, everything was so organized, she thought of all the little details, and made my day run so smoothly. Nothing but great things to say!” – Brittany, Coordination