Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill NC Weddings

Ashley & Ethan Fall Wedding at The Bradford | New Hill, NC

College friends who fell in love after reuniting several years after graduation, Ashley and Ethan knew that they wanted to throw a party for the ages to celebrate their marriage, and they succeeded in showing their family and friends an unforgettable wedding day. The sun shined brightly on the stunning grounds of The Bradford, a European countryside inspired wedding venue located in New Hill, NC, as did the smiles of the bride, groom and their wedding party. Ashley and Ethan’s charismatic personalities were evident in every aspect of their wedding, from the personalized wedding party gifts to the radiant florals designed by Bloom Works to the hot pink sunglasses they wore as they recessed down the aisle as husband and wife. Guests were treated to a decadent meal prepared by Catering Works and a stunning 4-tier white wedding cake with gorgeous pink, peach and green florals designed by Pastry Works.

The day’s highlights included Ethan’s gift to Ashley- a book written by the groom entitled “The Reasons Why”, having their ceremony officiated by a close family friend, the bride and groom “making it rain” on the dance floor with Cash Cannons, a late night black and white sweets bar, and DJ Willis keeping the party going full speed until the very end.

Congratulations, Ashley and Ethan! We will never forget your contagious laughter, radiant smiles and kind, loving hearts. Thank you for trusting Chestnut & Vine to coordinate your dream wedding.

Photos Courtesy of FireRose Photography

Ashley & Ethan’s All-Star Wedding Team

Photographer: FireRose Photography

Day-of Wedding Coordination: Chestnut & Vine Wedding Logistics Coordinators

Venue: The Bradford

Caterer/Bar: Catering Works

Officiant: Elaine Kaplelanski

DJ: Willis J. Entertainment

Tent/Linen/Dinnerware Rentals: Grand Rental Station

Hair/Makeup: The Makeup Addict

Florals: Bloom Works

Cake/Desserts: Pastry Works

Decor Rentals: Greenhouse Picker Sisters

Photo Booth: Spark Photo Booth

Transportation: Homewood Suites Raleigh/Cary

Weddings For Real Podcast #32: Day-Of Wedding Coordination with Erin McCauley with Chestnut & Vine

This week I had the honor of being a guest on the popular Weddings for Real Podcast hosted by Megan Gillikin, owner of A Southern Soiree Wedding & Event Planning. I had so much fun talking with Megan about how Chestnut & Vine came to be and my approach to day-of wedding coordination. I even got to share a bit about my destination wedding to exotic Indiana and the time I had to coordinate 5 different transportation companies for the guests of a single wedding.

You can listen to our conversation here!

Samantha & Parker’s Merrimon-Wynne Wedding Featured in Three National Publications

Chestnut & Vine Day-of Wedding Coordination is excited to announce that our clients Samantha & Parker’s gorgeous Spring wedding at Merrimon-Wynne is featured on two online publications! A huge thank you to Ellen LeRoy Photography for submitting her stunning photos for these articles on Borrowed & Blue, Elysian Bride and The Carolinas Magazine. It has been a joy to relive Samantha & Parker’s special day!

Emily & Kyle’s Fall Wedding | The Matthews House | Cary, NC

As soon as I met Emily and Kyle, I knew that these two were already a strong, supportive team, and when they became husband and wife on October 8, 2016 at The Matthews House in Historic Downtown Cary, NC, it was obvious to all in attendance that these newlyweds have what it takes to weather through any storm that crosses their path. Despite an uninvited wedding guest, who went by the name Hurricane Matthew, Emily and Kyle threw a festive, heartfelt wedding celebration that their family, friends and day-of wedding coordinator will never forget. Not once did the bride and groom let the stormy weather dampen their enthusiasm. Even with a power outage in the main house during cocktail hour and hurricane force winds whipping through the breezeway outside the ceremony and reception hall, never have I seen a bride and groom smile more on their wedding day than Emily and Kyle did. As you will see in their wedding photos below, their smiles and positive attitudes were contagious and felt by every person in the room. Kyle and Emily put together an all-star wedding team that didn’t miss a single beat and made sure that the party inside was just as high energy as the storm outside.

Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Travlos! It was an honor to coordinate your wedding day, and thank you for making my first experience in a hurricane an absolute blast!

All Photos Courtesy of Rachel Linder of Blue Barn Photography

In accordance with an old Southern tradition that wards off rain, the bride’s parents buried a bottle of bourbon on the grounds of The Matthews House one month before Emily & Kyle’s wedding day. While the bourbon might not have kept the rain away, we can thank it for keeping the power on in the reception hall while the rest of Historic Downtown Cary was experiencing a blackout.

Emily’s Bridesmaids get their first look at the gorgeous bride

Kyle & Emily’s Private “First Look”

Emily & her Dad went all out for their Father-Daughter Dance – big, happy smiles run in the family!

Not even Hurricane Matthew could stop these newlyweds from having their Grand Sparkler Exit!

And Emily & Kyle live Happily Ever After…

Emily & Kyle’s All-Star Wedding Team

Ceremony/Reception Venue: The Matthews House – Cary, NC

Photographer: Blue Barn Photography

Floral Design: Tre Bella Florist

Day-of Wedding Coordination: Chestnut & Vine Day-of Wedding Coordination

Catering: Empire Eats Catering

Bartending Service: On the Rocks Bartending

Chalkboard Design: Chalkboards by Julie

Hair & Makeup: Hair & Makeup by Ashley Mooney

Cake Design: Simply Cakes

Officiant: Reverend Rick Edens

Reception Entertainment: Bunn DJ Company – Frank Meldau

Ceremony Music: Carolina Harp – Marilyn Weinand

Transportation: Triangle Car Service

Kristi & Doug’s Summer Wedding at Duke Chapel & Washington Duke Inn – Durham, NC

When I met Kristi and Doug at the April 2015 Southern Bridal Show at the NC State Fairgrounds, I knew immediately that I wanted to work with this lovely, sweet natured couple. Doug’s willingness to attend a bridal show with his winsome fiancée spoke volumes for how much this couple loves each other and will work well together as a team. So, I was thrilled when they chose Chestnut & Vine to be their day-of wedding coordinator.

Their story began when Kristi, who met Doug during her employee orientation at Duke Hospital, invited him to attend Sunday mass with her at the iconic Duke Chapel. By the end of the evening, Doug happily clued into the fact that he was on a date and astutely asked her if she would like to go out again. The two have been inseparable ever since.

When it came time to plan their wedding, Doug and Kristi had their hearts set on getting married in the very church where they had their first date, but as luck would have it, Duke Chapel was booked a year in advance and about to begin an extensive restoration project which would delay their wedding an additional year. Not to be deterred, this undaunted couple camped out in front of Duke Chapel for three days in North Carolina’s merciless summer heat and joyfully walked away with a July 2016 wedding date. As it turns out, their long engagement was worth the wait because their dream wedding venue, the renowned Washington Duke Inn, was available on the very same day.

One year later on a gorgeous, sunny afternoon in July, Doug and Kristi were married in the Duke University Chapel before friends and family who traveled from near and far to celebrate their big day. Kristi’s bridesmaids all wore blush-colored, floor length gowns of their own choosing. The mix of dress styles, patterns and colors were a stunning backdrop for the gorgeous bouquets of English Roses and succulents superbly arranged by Bea Miller and her team at Floral Dimensions. The newly restored Chapel organ filled the sanctuary with its rich, melodic tones as Kristi was escorted down the aisle by both her Mom and Dad and again when Kristi and Doug recessed out of the Chapel for the first time as husband and wife.

Later in the evening the guests were greeted by the newlyweds as they arrived to the cocktail reception outside of the Washington Duke Inn’s Presidents Ballroom. After a delicious dinner prepared and served to perfection by the Washington Duke’s Catering Staff, Kristi and Doug invited all of their guests to join them out on the dance floor. Never have I seen a bride and groom effortlessly dance together more than Doug and Kristi did that night, which set the tone for a high-energy, unforgettable evening of fun hosted by the one and only Randy Bennett from Bunn DJ Company. When the time came to send the newlyweds off to begin their life together, the guests formed a tunnel of twinkle lights for the couple to run under as they made their grand exit in a decorated golf cart driven by the bride herself.

Congratulations, Kristi and Doug! You could not have planned a more elegant, flawless wedding that celebrated who you are and will become as you journey through your life together.

SPECIAL THANKS TO BRIAN MULLINS PHOTOGRAPHY FOR SHARING KRISTI & DOUG’S STUNNING WEDDING PHOTOS