In honor of it being the last day of spring, I am sharing a beautiful real wedding today that showcases the breathtaking natural beauty of a North Carolina beach on a spring evening. Maria and Shane got married at Holden Beach on April 12, 2014 in front of 100 family members and friends. Lauren DeMoss Photography did an amazing job capturing the soft beauty of the day–get ready for a whole lot of gorgeous:
From the bride:
“Shane and I met just over four years ago at Triangle Day School in Durham. I was hired as the girls basketball coach and Shane was teaching middle school social studies. We got engaged on April 1, 2013 at Carolina Beach. Our favorite hobbies are working out together, watching Smallville, and spending time with our families.”
Tell us about choosing your wedding venue.
“We chose the location at Holden Beach because we wanted to spend an extended amount of time with our family and friends. I found the beach house online by googling ‘big beach houses,’ and we rented it for a week. Having the wedding out of town allowed us to keep the wedding small, intimate, and affordable.”
Tell us about the ceremony.
“The ceremony took place on the beach and was about 20 minutes long. The aisle was lined with sea shells and guests simply stood on either side to form the aisle. Our favorite reading was from a poem called ‘The Art of Marriage’ by Wilfred Peterson.”
What was the most difficult part of the planning process?
“Finding the Port-A-Potty. The house required us to rent a Port-A-Potty, and it took us over a month to find someone to rent from.”
How did you creatively work within your budget?
“I bought white lights after Christmas, when they were really cheap. They looked great at the wedding, and now we have decorations for future holiday seasons! Another money saver: the flowers, all bought in bulk from Sam’s Club. The bridesmaids made their own bouquets and the centerpieces. Also, my Mom made the table overlays, which saved a lot of money. We had two photographers who are personal friends, so having them both was incredible, made us comfortable, and was less expensive than hiring someone else. We are so grateful for Lauren DeMoss and Jay Stubbs for their generosity and talent!”
Tell us about the food at the reception.
“We had North Carolina-style BBQ, pulled chicken, brisket, red potatoes, and green beans. Dinner was catered by our friend Al Myers, who caters in the Durham area and competes in BBQ competitions around the region. For drinks, we had Western NY red and white wine, and bottled beer from Rochester, NY. We also brought soft drinks. It saved a lot of money by bringing these beverages. Many venues force you to buy through their vendors, so it was nice to have that flexibility. My sister baked our wedding cakes. One was German Chocolate and the other was Strawberry Shortcake. She is 16 years old and an aspiring baker. This was another money saver and it meant a lot that she made our cakes.”
What was your favorite moment of the day?
“Our wedding party entrance to the reception was really fun. We were announced to the theme song of the Chicago Bulls circa the 1990’s. The DJ got really into it and so did the guests. Each groomsman and bridesmaid had a special handshake, and one groomsman even did a backflip.”
Isn’t this wedding stunning? I love how the couple incorporated the talents of their friends and family members into the planning process. Congratulations, Maria and Shane!
Photographer: Lauren DeMoss Photography; second shooter Joseph Heffner
Save the Dates: Bride’s sister
Invitations: Bobbi Stubbs (friend of the couple)
Bride’s Dress: Impression Bridal; purchased at Bridal Mart in Burlington, NC.
Veil: David’s Bridal
Bride’s Shoes: Lulu Bee
Bridesmaid Dresses: Banana Republic
Groom’s Attire: Macy’s
Groom’s Shoes: Banana Republic
Officiant: Cheryl Walker of Wilmington, NC
Flowers: Sam’s Club
Catering: Al Myers (friend of the couple)
Cake: Bride’s sister
Want to submit your own real wedding to be featured on the blog? Contact me here.
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