Real Weddings
Melissa & Taylor
Melissa and Taylor tied the knot on the Garden Terrace and then celebrated with friends and family in the barn. The day brought rain (which is good luck!) but that certainly didn’t dampen the joy.
How did you and your partner meet? Taylor and I met five days after I relocated to Chapel Hill for work. He was in his second year of medical school at UNC Chapel Hill at the time. We met at The Crunkleton, which is a bar right on Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill. We instantly hit it off and consider that night to be our anniversary because we have honestly been together ever since.
Tell us about the engagement? Taylor and I came to the Fearrington House for dinner on December 3, 2016. I thought we were just celebrating the holidays! We had a delicious meal, and afterwards, he proposed in front of the house! It was perfect – just us. Then, he convinced me to go downtown for a drink to celebrate. We walked into the wine bar and Taylor surprised me with our family and friends! I was shocked because Taylor can never keep a secret! It was one of the most incredible nights of my entire life.
What made Fearrington the place for you to say “I do”? I have been in love with the Fearrington since my first visit. It’s romantic, timeless, and elegant. We never considered anywhere else. Taylor actually had booked the wedding appointment with Gilda before he proposed because he knew that was where I wanted to get married.
Describe the highlight moment of your wedding day. Absolutely everything. It was perfect – from the flowers, to the food, to the decor, to the staff. I never worried about a single thing. And, of course, seeing Taylor at the end of the aisle during our ceremony. I was the happiest girl in the world.
What was the biggest surprise of the day? The entire week before my wedding the weather forecast showed 100% chance of rain. However, Taylor and I had buried bourbon at our ceremony site a month prior to the ceremony and IT WORKED! It did not rain at all during my wedding, and we were able to hold my cocktail hour outside as planned. It was the best surprise!
What was your biggest surprise about wedding planning? How amazing everyone we dealt with was. We truly had the most remarkable vendors that just made the entire day flawless – Gilda and Mary at Fearrington, Carrington with McLean Events, Krystal Kast for photography, Gilded Bridal for my dress, Sol Fusion through East Coast Entertainment, and countless more.
Anything you want to add about your wedding story? Taylor and I are so incredibly lucky to have had the wonderful wedding we did! It was all thanks to our wonderful families, our friends, and our vendors.
