I have been wanting to feature a Graylyn Estate wedding on White Thread for a while now.   The locale is laden with history and its story is inextricably linked to that of the Winston-Salem area.  Plus it’s downright beautiful.

Just when I’d started to give up on finding just the right Graylyn wedding to share with you all, POOF!, photographer Crystal Genes drops an absolutely gorgeous one on me.  So excited to be featuring it today!

From Crystal:
When I first met with Carlton & Denise I knew that every detail of their wedding would be perfectly planned, very classic, and beautiful.  I was absolutely right!  The day was relaxed and flowed along so beautifully and stress-free.  The grounds of the Graylyn offered a gorgeous backdrop for the wedding day images.  The theme of the wedding was “Mint to be”.  They offered
guests signature mint mojitos and gave everyone a potted mint plant and mint tea bags to take home.  Guests found their seats at the reception by being assigned different street names.  The couple chose street names from their hometown that were significant to them – for example, the couple’s table was “Battleground Ave” which is where they had their first date.  During the beginning of the ceremony, bells were played by family to honor the passing of a close family member.  It was a beautiful and well thought out event all around!

Um…wow, I’ll say!  Bravo Denise and Carlton!  And with incredible images from Crystal to boot.

Maybe I’m just a hopeless romantic but I always love the intimate couple shots after the vows are exchanged.  The nerves have settled a bit and there’s an “OMG WE’RE MARRIED!” glow in the air.  Can’t you just see it in this next series of images?

These two are too cute for words!  Crystal was also kind enough to share some great vendor information from this wedding.  Yay Crystal, you rock!

Gown – New York Bride Loft, Charlotte, NC (Designer: Jim Hjelm)
Bridesmaid Dresses – The Wedding Mall, Charlotte, NC (Designer: Bill Levkoff)
Cake – Maxie B, Greensboro, NC
Florist – Central Floral Gardens, Greensboro, NC
Make-Up – Yudy McGuinness
Hair – Ebony Harper
Wedding Coordinator – Brio Espirt (Paula Latham)

Today I am off on a photo shoot with the super fun Nancy Ray for White Thread’s first ever DIY table scape feature.  Follow along on Twitter for some candid “behind the scenes” views of the shoot on location at Fearrington Village. And stay tuned for the full feature in a few weeks!

But don’t worry, I’ve got a gorgeous wedding to share with you today.  Sent to me by Sarah and Jordan of Sadie Higs Photography, it features the most stunning, uber-stylish bride.  I love everything about Alon’s wedding day ensemble, including the gown she custom designed with the help of the ladies at Myline’s Bridal in Greensboro, NC. 

This couple’s wedding day was a VERY long time coming…the pair have known each other since they were fourteen!!!  They were married on a perfect Carolina fall day at the Greensboro-High Point Airport Marriott, surrounded by the their closest family and friends, including the couple’s too-cute-for-words son, Koren.

This next series of images is straight out of a magazine, I swear.  I absolutely love the look on Alon’s face as she’s walking down the aisle toward her groom.  Priceless emotion captured forever.

A bride’s shoes can never be too blingy for me.  Alon is a girl after my own heart!

What a great couple right?!  Amazing images from Sadie Higs.  I’m so honored to be able to feature their work here on White Thread!  Thank you so much for sending this wedding my way.

To Alon & Ira – I can’t thank you enough for letting us all share in your beautiful wedding day.  Best wishes for a lifetime of happiness together!

The super talented Tara Mauldin has shared yet another gorgeous wedding!  Jen + Adam were married at the charming Victorian Crow’s Nest in Monroe, NC.  It proved to be the perfect, tucked away retreat for their intimate wedding with the ceremony taking place beneath the gazebo in the property’s garden.  I love that they kept the bridal party super streamlined – one maid of honor and one groomsmen, THAT’S IT!  Jen’s gorgeous gown is the Kyle style from Priscilla of Boston’s Vineyard Collection.

Adam’s family is from England and many, including his mom and sister made the trip over the pond to attend the big day.  As is customary for ladies at weddings, they both donned TO DIE FOR hats.  Seriously…why aren’t we (Americans) doing this?  There aren’t enough good reasons in life to wear a fabulous hat (Derby parties, Easter…?? I can’t think of any more!)

So simple and elegant, I love it!  Thank you Tara for sharing yet another wonderful event with White Thread.  And of course, thank you to the newlyweds for letting us share in your special day.

Today we’re featuring the first installment in a series with the fab Martha Manning.  We’ve heard from Martha on the countless reasons to love the Carolina Inn. Now Martha is back sharing a few images from the gorgeous wedding of Sarah + Andrew.

Having met as students at UNC, they knew a Carolina wedding would be just the trick to get all their friends and family back together in a location that is near and dear to their hearts.  The stunning flowers are by Fresh Affairs and that incredible cake is by Art of Cake.

Martha will be back soon with her next Top Six installment. Thanks Martha!

I am beyond excited for today’s real wedding. #1 it features the work of one of my absolute favorite photographers. Millie Holloman and her staff produce some of the most consistently jaw-dropping work you will find anywhere, but I am so proud to say that they reside right here in North Carolina.  #2 it is a perfect example of how something wonderfully personal can be incorporated and extrapolated into a complete design motif for a wedding.  Working with the amazing ladies at Salt Harbor Designs, Tiffany + Alan were able to craft a uniquely personal, totally “them” affair.

From Jennifer:
“One of our challenges as event designers is to help couples think past what some might consider “wedding traditional” and embrace that which makes them unique as a couple.  Tiffany and Alan are both fanatical sports fans and after several consultations, it became clear that their die hard love of the Red Sox was begging to be incorporated into their event.”

By taking a vintage inspired angle on America’s pass time, Salt Harbor was able to create a wedding-worthy, totally non-cheesy aesthetic while still incorporating the bride’s preferred Tiffany blue color palette.  The result is so effortlessly chic. All the details are just to die for!

On a personal note, as a lifelong Red Sox fan myself, this wedding instantly made me smile.  And as a Red Sox fan who inexplicably ended up married to a Yankee fan (his family is from Connecticut…the evil side), this post is my own little attempt to squelch all the Yankee love going around these days (bleh!).  Desperately needed since it’s October and the Sox have hung it up for the season!

Yup…this is pretty much perfect in every way.  And this is really the tip of the iceberg for the wedding greatness that the Millie/Salt Harbor team regularly creates.  Don’t believe me?  Spend a little while on their blogs (Millie’s + Salt Harbor Designs’).  I am so hoping to have more from these wonderful ladies on White Thread in the future as they are fantastic examples of the talented vendors and artists that we have here in the Carolinas.

And to Tiffany + Alan, thank you for letting us share in the love of your wedding day (and go Sox!).