Real Weddings
Erin & Brandon’s Fearrington Wedding
Erin and Brandon tied the knot in the gardens under the willow oaks and then danced the night away in the barn.
How did you and your partner meet?
Brandon and I met at an all-girls summer camp on the coast of North Carolina. That’s right, an all-girls camp, and Brandon happened to be one of the few gentleman that worked on staff. We got to know each other and quickly became friends, but it took a little longer for our friendship to become a relationship. We would hang out on our days off one summer and quickly realized there was an undeniable connection. Brandon knew he was interested right away, but it took me a little longer to come around, but I’m sure glad I did. Once we officially started dating, I knew that what we had was something special.
Tell us about the engagement.
We had been talking about getting engaged and spending our lives together, but the weekend Brandon proposed, I had never been so surprised. We were with my family at Wrightsville Beach for the weekend. Brandon had already clued my parents in on the plan. We spent that Saturday in August on the beach enjoying a hot summer day. Brandon originally had planned to propose on the beach, but knew I’d want something more intimate during our special moment. He quickly changed plans and decided the balcony of our beach house would be just as perfect. After wrapping up dinner, which if you ask Brandon, I’m sure he couldn’t tell you what we had to eat, Brandon disappeared. It took me a little while to realize that he had sneaked away. After a quick search, I found him on the balcony of the third floor. He had his arms propped on the railing, as if he’d been waiting quite some time for me to find him. I open the sliding glass door and he turns around to grab my hands. He starts talking, but at this point, I’m so confused by what’s happening. I can see my parents running towards the balcony out of the corner of my eye. They come outside and stand behind us, catching it all on film! At this point, I realize something is going on and Brandon gets down on one knee. It was the perfect scenery with the sun setting over the horizon. This was truly a moment we will never forget and we’re thankful my parents had it all on video so we can relive it over and over again.
What made Fearrington the place for you to say “I do?’
I had never been to Fearrington before our first tour of the venue. It did not take long to fall in love with all Fearrington has to offer. The gardens were the perfect backdrop for the outdoor wedding we had envisioned. I knew I wanted a reception in a barn and loved how rustic yet elegant the barn at Fearrington was. It was the perfect size to accommodate our large families and all of our closest friends.
Describe the highlight moment of your wedding day.
The highlight of our day was our last dance. We had our guests clear out of the barn as they prepared for the sparkler exit, while Brandon and I had one last moment, just the two of us. Our DJ, Bunn DJ Company, played Speechless by Dan + Shay, while we spent the final moments of our special day alone. It was a magical moment to reflect back on the entire day, with our photographer, Heba Salama, capturing our every move. Looking back at pictures, you can see all the emotions from this one moment, filled with joy, laughter, and tears.
What was the biggest surprise of the day?
Our biggest surprise of the day was how quickly it all flies by. There is so much build up leading to the wedding that you don’t realize how quick the actual day will pass. We sure did soak in every minute and enjoyed each other’s presence, while spending this precious time with our friends and family. It was a day that will forever hold a special place in our hearts.
What was your biggest surprise about wedding planning?
There is no one big surprise that stands out, but rather all the little details that go into wedding planning. Selecting vendors was the easy part. No one prepares you for the numerous other decisions that have to be made throughout the process. From cocktail napkins to floral arrangements, there are countless choices. You truly don’t know much about weddings until you have to plan your own! Thankfully, we had Gilda and her team to help ensure everything was taken care of.
Anything you want to add about your wedding story?
We are so grateful for the Fearrington team and all their help in executing our vision for our special day. Everything ran smoothly and we loved every minute of working with Gilda and her team to ensure each detail was as we imagined
Photographer – Heba Salama Photography @hebasalama
Hair Stylist – The Makeup Culture @themakeupculture
Make-up Artist- The Makeup Culture @themakeupculture
Wedding Gown – Gilded Bridal @gildedbridal
Bridal Salon – NY Bride & Groom
Bridesmaids’ Dresses – Bill Levkoff @billlevkoff
Groom’s Attire – JoS. A. Bank @josabank
Stationery – If It’s Paper @ifitspaper
Ceremony & cocktail hour Music – Arioso Strings @ariosostrings
Reception Music – Bunn DJ Company @bunndyco