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 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!

Ok, seriously, prepare to be awed by today’s real wedding.  When it landed in my inbox, I struggled not to drop everything and just get lost for hours in the images.  I’m so excited to finally be able to share it with you all!

A spring wedding at the historic riverfront estate of Lowndes Grove Plantation in Charleston…*sigh*…what could possibly be better!?  Designed by the wedding masterminds at WED Charleston and captured for our viewing pleasure by Marni Rothschild, there is absolutely nothing about this wedding that isn’t complete and total perfection.

But don’t take my word for it, see for yourself!  I’ll be featuring every gorgeous detail all day.  Stay tuned, I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Large, lavish, six-figure wedding celebrations are easy to fall in love with.  The designer dress, the lush, abundant flowers, the over the top lounge areas…we love to “oooooo” and “aaaah” over all of them (guilty as charged).  These weddings get all the glossy  magazine features and make their way around the blogosphere at lightening speed.

Which is exactly what makes today’s real wedding feature from Missy McLamb Photography so special.  It is pure, unadulterated, bare-bones LOVE, stripped of the unnecessary and focused instead on the quiet beauty of commitment between two people in love. It is the kind of wedding you don’t see on blogs…which is exactly why I wanted to feature it.  The bride and groom married in secret on a Friday afternoon at the courthouse in Asheville, NC.  They told no one but their two witnesses and Missy, who they contacted the week prior.

Missy’s ability to capture the beauty and emotion of the moment is just mind blowing to me.  I love that, despite a sudden elopement, M.C. and Eric sought out such a talented artist to document their union.

From Missy:

“Wedding photography doesn’t get much more pure than this. At the end of the day it really can be about two people who are ready to commit the rest of their lives together. To have had such a quiet ceremony documented on film by a photographer validates the relevance of photography within the greater context about the story of life itself.”

Thank you so much Missy for sharing this gorgeous piece of work with White Thread.  I never get tired of looking at these images!  See more of Missy’s work and that of her associates at Missy McLamb Photography including more from M.C. and Eric’s wedding.  And, of course, congratulations to M.C. and Eric!

I’m a total sucker for any wedding with a military arch of swords.  Needless to say, when I saw this wedding by the fantastic Leigh Webber, I was determined to get it up on White Thread for you guys.  Jamie and Judson were married in a picture perfect wedding at The Citadel’s Summerall Chapel coordinated and designed by Ooh! Events.  I can’t get over how stunning Jamie is in her gorgeous Melissa Sweet gown.  Seriously, they should pay Jamie to wear that dress, it’s THAT amazing on her.  Not to be outdone are the gentlemen looking equally dashing in their black tie and white gloves.

Festivities continued with a tented reception at Charleston’s Wickliffe House. How great is that picture of Jamie’s bridesmaid catching the bouquet?  I don’t know if I’ve ever seen such an enthusiastic bouquet catcher, I love it!

See more of this beautiful event at Leigh’s blog and a big, warm congratulations to Jamie & Judson.  I loved sharing in the beauty of your day, thank you!