Earthy + Ethereal Wedding Weekend
A West Coast Wedding Flair
January 27, 2023
A celebration under the stars amongst the pines! We went from an island-inspired rehearsal dinner, to a whimsical wedding day packed with design details fit for this fun-loving couple.
Our Story
Couple / Adriana + Mike
Wedding Date / 10.22.2022
Location / The Cornealius Properties
Rehearsal Dinner
We kicked off this weekend-long celebration with an intimate, island-inspired rehearsal dinner! Living in St. Thomas and growing up in Hawaii for a bit, the couple wanted to incorporate little pieces of home into their wedding weekend. Complete with tiki torches, steel drums, a cigar bar, and all the fun!
(Photography) Jennifer Austin Photography
How We Met
Mike and Ana attended rival universities. She was an AKA (member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.) at Duke University and he was an Alpha (member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). The two met at a Greek house party hosted by Mike their junior year in college. She was impressed by his DJ and playlist curation skills.
What Excites us about Marriage
We are excited to pour into each other completely without being empty or lacking for anything. The opportunity to have a lab partner to experience and explore the wonders of life with is the best gift/blessing.
Our Design Inspo
We both wanted our wedding to look like the guests jumped into an ethereal fairytale and the groom wanted the feel of a breezy, fall evening rendezvous. From colors, to florals, to venue. All design choices were filtered through a whimsical, yet romantic lens.
(Stationery + Signage) The bride crafted most of the signage. Finding cute ways to bring in the personality of the couple was one of the more fun parts of the wedding design planning. From our bar sign to our invitation suite we loved crafting the copy together.
(Officiant) Our wedding officiant is a trusted friend and advisor. We were honored that he traveled from a great distance to ordain and sanctify our marriage under God.
Most Important Element to Us
We wanted nature to do the heavy lifting. There’s nothing more magical than North Carolina in the fall. We intentionally planned our “I Do” to coincide with the sunset, and planned the remainder of the night to embody an elevated after hours night in small town paradise.
(Photography) Bliss was on top of our schedule and prioritized our shot list. We recommend making a list of shots you most definitely need to capture. Start crafting this list early and keep in mind timing of the day.
Best Wedding Investment
The best wedding investments were easily our wedding planners and fantastical venue. Both enabled us to effortlessly manifest our vision, which was a wedding fit for a North Carolina “nature” king and queen.
Favorite Moments
For the groom, he truly enjoyed the rustic and isolated feel of the “groom’s” cabin, which helped him shake the nerves away before our “I Do.” Our expertly crafted Paloma and Old Fashioned drinks were also a highlight. For the bride, bringing in her Jamaican heritage through the food truck late night bite was an incredible treat!
(Reception Dress) To add some additional flair to the day, my reception dress is a Jovani from An Affair to Remember in Fayetteville, NC.
Our Advice
Internalize that it’s “your day.” If something doesn’t feel right for the both of you, it’s probably not.
(Getaway Car) We would love to shout-out Carolina Classic rentals for the badass getaway car!
Street Cred
Rehearsal Dinner
Planning/Designing: The Olive Branch by Honey + Thyme Events/ Venue: The Cornealius Properties /Catering: Los Fogones / Large Rentals: Elegant and Classy Events / Photographer: Jennifer Austin Photography / Napkins: Nüage Designs Inc / Florist: Seeded Events + Design / Entertainment: Nate Browns Rhythms Of Soul / Chair Rentals: Happy Rentz / Signage: Adriana Morrison / Bakery: Edible Art Bakery
Wedding
Planning/Designing: Honey + Thyme Events / Venue: The Cornealius Properties / Catering: Funky Fresh / Bartending: Black Moth Bars / Photography: Shoot with Bliss Videography: John Ryan Films / Ceremony Entertainment: Integrity Strings / Cocktail Entertainment: Pete Everett and The Total Package Band / Reception Entertainment: Jam / Emcee: Micheline Amisi + Richard Hall / Large Rentals: Curated Events Raleigh / Officiant: Dr. Timothy / Florist: Seeded Events + Design / Bakery: Flour & Batter / Hair: Pat Chapel / Makeup: AmberLynne Beauty / Transportation: Carolina Classic Car Rentals / Wedding Stream: Wedfuly / Guest Transportation: BarNew Luxury Transportation / Food Truck: Levy’s Jerkstand
