February 1, 2021 | Posted by Village

Annie and Nathan got married under the willow oaks on a lovely fall day last year. They shared the story of how they met, how they got engaged, especially fun for us here at Fearrington, Annie’s memory of times spent here with her Grandpa. We love that Fearrington Village becomes a place that families visit for all sorts of reasons – a visit with the animals, a cuppa at the Belted Goat…or a beautiful wedding! Annie also took a moment to shine a much-deserved spotlight on our events team who are making magic happen even during these challenging times. Thank you Annie!

How did you and your partner meet?
We met our senior year of high school at a Young Life event. We both were very active in this Christian on-campus ministry called Young Life at both of our high schools, so we first met at an event we both attended. We ended up dating through college and we’ve been together for 6 years this December! Time flies.

Tell us about the engagement!
Nathan had this special “date day” planned for us in Greensboro, NC. We ate at Hops Burgers for lunch, then went to Starbucks, went to the zoo in Greensboro (which is my favorite) then went to Printworks Bistro for dinner (which was amazing). Nathan told me we were going to watch the sunset at Bur Mill Park on the lake after dinner, so we made our way there. Unknown to me, my best friend was hiding at the lake with her camera ready to capture the moment. Nathan was prepared with a blanket, because it was a chilly October evening to be watching the sunset, so we made our way down to a boardwalk overlooking the beautiful lake. Nathan talked about our relationship and how thankful he was for me and then he got down on one knee and surprised me by asking me to marry him! That night we drove back to his house where both of our families were waiting to celebrate us! Best day ever.

What made Fearrington the place for you to say “I do?’
I grew up visiting Fearrington with my grandpa which made it a very special place for me. I remember going to see the cows and chickens and eating at the Belted Goat for several birthdays over the years. My grandpa passed away many years ago, but I knew I had to have my wedding at this beautiful place where we made so many memories throughout my childhood, not to mention, Fearrington is a gorgeous village venu with exactly the right tone I wanted to set for our wedding and guests – a relaxed but stunning garden party.

Describe the highlight moment of your wedding day.
The moment after we were married when all of our immediate family and our wedding party were in the Garden House signing the marriage license together, celebrating with champagne and delicious hors d’oeuvres – that’s when we could finally take a breath, relax, and let the party start!

What was the biggest surprise of the day?
How fast the day goes by. People always told me to take it all in because it’ll be over in a flash, but that’s really true. We took in the entire day, all the details, all the special moments, and then the day was over so quick!

What was your biggest surprise about wedding planning?
How helpful and important it is to have someone like Gilda to help you figure out and organize all of the little details you never even think about. Gilda helped us throughout every single aspect of wedding planning and was able to help us put together a day that was exactly what we wanted, even in the middle of a pandemic. Without her reassurance and patience, we couldn’t have made any of this happen.

Anything you want to add about your wedding story?
Our day was nothing short of magical thanks to Fearrington, all of the staff, and especially Gilda McDaniel. We highly recommend having your wedding (of any size) at Fearrington and any other special event you want to celebrate. They know how to make every detail perfect and the execution is flawless. The food, the florals, the seamless transitions throughout the day, and the gorgeous environment all made our day better than we could’ve ever dreamed of. Don’t miss out on the chance to have your big day at Fearrington and make memories that you’ll cherish forever.

Photography: Kasey Smith Creative
Venue/Planning/Florals/Catering: Fearrington Village
Bridal Gown: Coastal Knot
Hair: Ashley Mooney Hair and Makeup
Makeup: @aubreynland