Carolina Livery Services |

Jenn & John’s Fall Wedding at Duke Gardens | Durham, NC

Upon meeting Jenn for the first time, I knew immediately that this was going to be a fun wedding to coordinate, and it did not disappoint. Jenn has an enthusiastic confidence and delightfully personable charm that makes everyone around her feel at ease. So, it is no wonder that the quiet, reserved John wasted no time asking Jenn to be his partner in life, and just as quickly as they got engaged, the couple found themselves on the wedding planning fast track when a cancellation allowed Jenn to have her dream Fall wedding at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham, NC.

Jenn and John could not have asked for a more gorgeous October day on which to exchange their vows in front of their closest family and friends. A soft glow of sunshine encircled the Arboretum at Duke Gardens making it the perfect backdrop for the couple’s wedding ceremony. During the prelude, guests found themselves unconsciously humming along with the string quartet before realizing they were listening to the songs of Snow Patrol and other popular modern artists not often associated with either wedding ceremonies or orchestral music. A highlight of the ceremony was when Jenn was walked down the aisle by her parents to a bridal march arranged especially for the couple by Jenn’s sister and Maid of Honor, Amanda.

The evening continued with cocktail and dinner receptions catered by Durham Catering and music provided by All Events DJs, who helped kickstart the fun by inviting the newlyweds to have their first dance as husband and wife – a dance that perfectly captured Jenn & John’s unique personalities and will forever be remembered by their family and friends.

Congratulations, Jenn and John! Thank you for including Chestnut & Vine Day-of Wedding Coordination in your special day! It was one I’ll never forget.

A Special Thank You to RGB Insights for Sharing Their Incredible Photographs with Us

Jenn & John’s Wedding Team

Ceremony/Reception Venue: Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Photographer: RGB Insights

Floral Design: Pine State Flowers

Wedding Coordination: Chestnut & Vine Day-of Wedding Coordination

Catering: Durham Catering Co.

Decor Rentals: American Party Rentals

Officiant: Perfect Ceremonies – Reverend Phran Gacher

Calligraphy/Chalkboard Design: One Fine Morning Lettering & Calligraphy

Hair/Makeup: Blo Salon – Brier Creek

Cake and Cupcake Design: The Cupcake Bar

Ceremony Music: Audrey Cook Quartet

DJ: All Events DJs

Lighting: Get Lit – Special Event Lighting

Transportation: Carolina Livery Services

And a Personal Shout Out to Christa for Introducing Chestnut & Vine to Jenn and John!

Sarah & Christian’s Fall Wedding at Cross + Main | Youngsville, NC

On a gorgeous, sunshine filled Fall afternoon, Christian and Sarah were the first couple to be married at the newly christened Cross + Main (formerly The Boondocks before it was purchased by Rocky Top Catering) located in the quaint downtown of Youngsville, NC. The bride and groom, who relocated from North Carolina to Oklahoma so that Christian could continue his training with the U.S. Marine Corp, have Sarah’s parents and sister to thank for finding this small town gem 22 miles north of Downtown Raleigh. Cross + Main’s exposed red brick and pristine wood floors, which were immersed in a flood of natural sunlight, formed the perfect backdrop for an endearingly romantic wedding.

It was important to Sarah and Christian to make their wedding a family affair. They were married by the groom’s cousin under an archway built by the bride’s father that was cloaked with sheer draperies sewn together by the bride’s mother, and their siblings, nieces and nephew were all members of their wedding party. During the cocktail hour, the entire wedding party was shuttled to nearby Wake Forest for a photo session in Joyner Park. The majestic Carolina Blue sky made their outdoor photoshoot absolutely perfect. Once the wedding party returned to Cross + Main, guests were welcomed into the reception hall that was beautifully decorated with cranberry and navy linens and gorgeous floral centerpieces masterfully designed by Youngsville’s own Brandi’s Bontanicals. After a fun evening full of dancing and laughter, the newlyweds exited under an archway of sparklers that led them to their getaway car – an immaculate 1941 Packard Sedan owned by a local couple that the bride’s parents just happened to meet at a car show. It was the perfect way to end a wonderful celebration of such a sweet, thoughtful and loving couple.

Congratulations, Sarah and Christian! Thank you for entrusting your wedding day to Chestnut & Vine. It was a pleasure to work with you both and to see all of your hard work come to fruition.

All photos courtesy of Photographs by Stephanie