Elana+Kevin’s Wedding in Durham

When we first met Elana she told us that she was very much hoping that it would rain on her wedding day so that she could use an umbrella and get umbrella pictures in the rain. Then it did rain and Elana, while not devastated, was still maybe slightly less than thrilled despite her prior wishing. ;) She was still willing to go outside though and kept a super upbeat attitude (rain is good luck, right?)… and we did get pictures with an umbrella, so in a way her wishes did come true and all was not lost despite this crazy rainy October that we’ve had. :)

These two were our first wedding that we had on the books for 2013 and we were so excited to finally get to work with them at the Cotton Room! They had an amazing team of friends and family helping them out (Kevin’s uncle presided over the ceremony and his aunt did all the gorgeous flowers) and we had the opportunity to photograph yet another amazing Hora (our most favorite of Jewish wedding traditions)! There were also glow sticks and corn hole and favors of honey jars that were made by the bees that Elana’s parents keep in their yard (I took one home…a jar of honey… not a bee… and it is amazingly delicious).

Enjoy the wedding of these two adorable and amazing people! Elana and Kevin – you have been the best and we love you both so much!

Date: October 12, 2013

Ceremony and Reception Venue: The Cotton Room // Durham, NC

First Dance Song: “Beneath Your Beautiful” – Labrinth

Elana’s Occupation: Child/Adolescent Therapist at Diverse Family Services

Kevin’s Occupation: Entrepreneur

How You Met: We were both music majors at UNC. One beautiful Saturday morning we ran into each other in the Craige parking lot and the rest is history.

Interesting Bride Fact: Elana decided when she was six that the last name Zipkin just wouldn’t do, she was going to have move to the beginning of the alphabet one day. 20 years later, it finally happened.

Interesting Groom Fact: The first time Kevin’s mom met Elana she told Kevin “She is way out of your league, you are never going to get her.” He must’ve done something right!

Honeymoon Destination: Honeymoon is on hold…we’re work-a-holics…

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Thomas Campbell (Kevin’s Uncle) | DJ – Damien Maas | Florist – Susan Yuditsky (Kevin’s aunt) | Cake – Simply Cakes | Caterer – The Cotton Room | Hair – Curl Up and Dye with Kim | Makeup – Made Up by Lindsay Morse

Stacey+Brett’s Wedding in Pinehurst, NC

Once upon a time a girl from North Carolina (well, kind of… she lived in a lot of places, but she went to school at UNC so I’m going to simplify this whole thing and say she’s from North Carolina) and a guy from Mississippi met while both attending the University of Texas at Austin. Then they both got jobs back in Mississippi and moved back there. Then they got engaged and decided to get married back at Stacey’s parents’ retirement home that they built on an old tobacco farm in Pinehurst, NC (but not without an Ole Miss stadium groom’s cake with lots of tiny little sprinkles for people).

Now these two will settle back down in Mississippi together while holding the title of one of the most adorable couples of all time. Their wedding was a beautiful (but very hot) day and a flurry of activity with the biggest bridal party we’ve ever had (whose numbers, we’ve discovered, are standard of a Mississippi wedding). The reception was held in Stacey’s mom’s backyard at a house that her parents built together shortly before her father passed away in 2008, so it was a very important factor into where to have their reception and an absolutely beautiful and meaningful location. Everyone had a fantastic time as it turns out that Stacey’s family is quite the dance team… and there may or may not have been dancing on the actual tables toward the end of the evening (note: you can do this when your wedding is held in your own backyard, but probably not at a regular reception venue, so nobody go out there and say, “Well, I saw this on a blog once” and then get yourself kicked out of your friend’s reception).

We had a fantastic time at their wedding and wish a very happy future to this amazing couple in Mississippi!

Date: October 5, 2013

Ceremony Venue: Pinehurst United Methodist Church // Pinehurst, NC

Reception Venue: Private Residence // Pinehurst, NC

First Dance Song: “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” – James Taylor

Stacey’s Occupation: Clinical Social Worker

Brett’s Occupation: Accounting Professor at Ole Miss

How You Met: The Interwebs

Interesting Bride Fact: She eats ice cream every night.

Interesting Groom Fact: He has run with the bulls in Spain.

Honeymoon Destination: Hawaii

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Rev. Les Newsom | DJ – Art Dearing | Florist – Maggie’s Farm | Cake – Fifi’s Cakes | Caterer – Ashten’s Catering | Hair/Makeup – Bamboo

Rachel+Matt // Married in Cary

These two were the happiest people EVER to be married to one another. We really have never seen people so excited about getting married… and usually people are really excited. However, we’ve worked with Rachel and Matt before and every time we’ve met them under any circumstance they have been excited about pretty much everything… so maybe they’re just happy, excitable people. Either way you slice it, they still make our job very enjoyable since they’re so laid back and happy and we’ve loved working with them!

Their ceremony took place at their church where we had to reschedule some things last minute in order to take their photos riiiiight before a giant rainstorm came into town and stayed there the rest of the day. :( Thankfully we had some wiggle room in the timeline and got the photos out of the way before the rain came! Their reception included a giant, life-size game of Jenga placed on a stage above the dance floor and entertained people thoroughly throughout the evening. No one was injured despite giant Jenga blocks falling left and right, so we think that’s a win (although this did inspire Geoff to make Carolyn play Jenga the next evening and we were surprisingly good at it so it got really tall, fell loudly on our plastic coffee table, and scared our sleeping cat half to death). They had a monkey and a bluejay cake topper, some impromptu games of cat’s cradle, a glow stick exit, and Carolyn got to take home 4 succulents from the buffet table and was very excited. We cannot thank or congratulate Rachel and Matt enough on their awesome wedding and marriage!

Date: September 21, 2013

Ceremony Venue: Christ the King Lutheran Church // Cary, NC

Reception Venue: Cypress Manor at Cary // Cary, NC

First Dance Song: “Little Moments” – Brad Paisley

Matt’s Occupation: Manufacturing Quality Engineer

How You Met: Kayaking in a pool at ECU’s Rec Center

Interesting Bride Fact: Did her research on blue birds

Honeymoon Destination: Already went from Paris to Barcelona

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Rev. John R. Nagle | DJ – Steve Stowe of the Joe Bunn DJ Company | Florist – Mel Day of Dogwood Tree Floral | Cake – Cinda’s Creative Cakes | Caterer – Rocky Top Catering | Hair/Makeup – Makeup For Your Day | Coordinator – Sally Oakley