August 27, 2018 | Posted by Village

Bridget and Charlie got married under the Willow Oaks in June.  Bridget shared some of the special moments from their big day, along with the story of their memorable engagement. Love it!

Charlie and I met in a way of fate with the help of a common voice pushing us together. I worked as a Volleyball Coach at a Next Level Training Center in Greenville while attending Nursing School at ECU and became very close to one of the owners of the gym, Mrs. Gaynel. Well, Mrs. Gaynel also was Charlie’s parents neighbor and had been one of Charlie’s Little League mom when he was growing up. I guess Mrs. Herring had mentioned to Mrs. Gaynel that Charlie was moving back to Greenville after graduating from NCSU because, every time I saw Mrs. Gaynel, she mentioned how perfect Charlie and I would be for each other and that we had to meet. Luckily, she was telling the same thing to Charlie! After months of hearing that, Charlie and I finally met each other at Next Level. We hit it off right away and after a couple of dates, including the NCSU vs ECU football game (where ECU won 33-30 in case anyone was wondering), we both knew within a short period of time that Mrs. Gaynel was right all along.

Charlie and I both knew very soon into our relationship that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives with each other! We were both telling our close friends and families that we were going to marry the other by month four of dating, but we never told each other! Come May 2017, my three roommates and I were planning a graduation party for our friends and families to attend! Charlie wanted to invite all of his close friends too, and of course I said yes without thinking anything of it. We even had some of his friends sleeping on our couch in our apartment! May 5th, the day before my graduation and the party, Charlie turned to me and randomly asked if I saw my life with him. I said “Duh” and then we both went to sleep. The next morning, I was getting ready to walk across the stage to officially earn my BSN with my parents, siblings, niece (nephew in his Momma’s belly), Aunt and her daughters, Charlie’s parents, his grandparents, and Charlie in attendance! The party was after the ceremony and held at The Landing, where my roommates and I had lived together for three years! Charlie’s close friends, his twin sister and her fiance were some of the first at the party! At one point, my roommates and I stood in front of all our friends and families and told them our plans after graduation. After we were finished, Charlie came up and said he had something to say to me, and I am going to write exactly what he said because, well, it was perfect. “I am very proud of you for graduating nursing school. I think you are going to be an amazing nurse, and I think you would make an even better wife. Will you marry me?” OF COURSE I SAID YES! I soon found out that I was THE ONLY person in a room full of people that did not know Charlie was proposing! My best friend, who became my Maid of Honor, even helped pick out the ring!

The Fearrington was the easiest “yes” we had while planning our wedding! It was actually the first venue that was on our list of appointments to see. After we visited, sat down with Ms. Gilda, toured the venue, and fell in love with everything, we called the other venues and canceled meeting with them. We knew that the Fearrington was exactly where we wanted to start our lives as husband and wife! Speaking logistically, the venue is close to the airport, which was important to me due to the fact that all of my family would be coming in from out of state, but it was also close enough for Charlie’s family and our friends to drive. Aside from the beautiful, breath-taking, jaw-dropping gardens, buildings, and views, what truly made us fall in love with the place was the team and their organization. Everyone we met seemed to have one priority: making our wedding exactly what we wanted. Fearrington plans MANY weddings throughout the year, but never did I feel like my multiple emails and constant questions and meetings were not the first thing on their list and I know that every bride planning a wedding with them had to feel the exact same way. They truly are the BEST in the business!

Choosing one highlight of our wedding is impossible! We both loved spending time with our closest friends as we prepared to say “I do”. The Fearrington provided a room for both parties to get ready in! Charlie and I chose not to do a first look with each other, but I did do one with my brother, brother-in-law, and, of course, my dad. Watching their faces as they walked in and how proud and happy they all looked has become one of my fondest memories. The best highlight for Charlie and I both was seeing each other for the first time that day as I walked towards my forever. Charlie shed some very manly tears and I just couldn’t look at anyone but him as I walked down with THE biggest smile on my face! However, the highlight for our guests was the FOOD! I am still receiving compliments about the food almost two months after and I don’t think it will ever stop!

The biggest surprise on our Wedding Day was Charlie’s Papaw’s moving speech at the ceremony. Originally, Charlie’s Nana was going to do a reading for us, but, God called his Angel home four days before our wedding after a long battle with cancer. Charlie’s Papaw read to us what his wife was going to and then surprised us with singing as well. He sang the song he sang to his Wife more than 60 years ago at their wedding. Not a dry eye was seen. It was moving and so special for his love for her to be shared with us on our day; a memory we will never forget and hold in our hearts forever.

Planning our wedding was my biggest fear because my mom lives in Ohio and my sister (matron of honor) lives in Boston, so I felt very stressed and alone about the process. Luckily, we chose the Fearrington! Ms. Gilda was so much more than a day of coordinator. She helped me feel at ease and took so much stress away. She was always willing to sit down with me and she responded to ALL of my emails so quickly! She paid attention to the small details on the day of the wedding too! We had signs going down our aisle with the 1 Corinthians verse. Before the reception, she had taken the signs and hung them in the hall entrance to the barn! It was perfect and was not planned at all; Just Gilda being Gilda! I guess the biggest surprise about wedding planning is the fact that, with the Fearrington team, it wasn’t stressful and truly was teamwork! Also, Charlie and I did not get much time to eat at the reception due to pictures and meeting with guests, but the Fearrington made sure we did by the end of our night. We entered our room at the Fearrington Inn to find plates of food, cake and champagne!

Dress: Pepper Gown by Haley Paige
Flowers: Ms. Mary, Fearrington Village
Cake/Catering: Fearrington Village
Day of Wedding Planner: Ms. Gilda, Fearrington Village
Bridesmaid’s Dress: White by Vera Wang
Officiant: Rev. John Oliver
DJ for Ceremony and Reception: Jim from Ninety-nine Entertainment
Ceremony Site: Willow Oaks
Reception Site: Fearrington Barn
Makeup/Hair: Lauren Osborne
Photographer: Montana Burkett