1. Real Weddings

A Rustic Black-Tie Wedding at Fearrington House Inn in Pittsboro, North Carolina

<b style="font-weight: normal;">Wanting to exchange vows close to her family and beloved hometown of Durham, North Carolina, Kara Brothers (29 and wor

Wanting to exchange vows close to her family and beloved hometown of Durham, North Carolina, Kara Brothers (29 and works for Google) and John-Marcus Phillips (28 and a strategy manager) hosted an elegant black-tie wedding at Fearrington House Inn in Pittsboro, North Carolina. The couple planned an outside ceremony in the rose garden framed by romantic white arbors. “My mother always had rose gardens,” Kara says of the sentimental value behind the ceremony site. In addition to the rose garden venue, roses themselves played an integral role in all the bouquets and floral centerpieces, focusing specifically on a chic color scheme of mauve and navy. Moving into the night, a candlelit cocktail hour was hosted al fresco while the jazz band set the tone for a cozy evening. The 1920s wooden barn lit by twig chandeliers, candles and draping string lights was the perfect rustic contrast to the otherwise upscale wedding. “I was really into the rustic-chic trend. I did want to maintain the look of Fearrington, because the barn and grounds are beautiful,” Kara says. The bride was effortlessly elegant in a dress with a ball gown skirt and a lace corset. As a statement piece and her “something blue,” Kara wore large blue crystal earrings, which were shown off with her hair in a low bun. John-Marcus and his groomsmen sported classic black-tie tuxedos, but the groom paired his tux with velvet loafers for a bit of eccentric flair. The pastoral landscape of the rustic barn gave Kara and John-Marcus the most magical night to begin their lives together. —Juliette Cheatham

As a sentimental tribute to her mother’s rose gardens, Kara made sure roses were the prominent flower varietal in both bouquets and centerpieces. The flower honored the couple’s sophisticated mauve and navy palette.
Kara decided on an effortlessly elegant hairstyle, tucking strands into a relaxed, low, messy bun. “I wanted very natural make­up,” she says of her subtle look with neutral hues.
John-Marcus proposed with a solitary diamond set onto a delicate gold band. The wedding band consisted of two rose gold bands with six diamonds around the perimeter.
Kara’s bold, blue crystal earrings added not only a pop of color but also a glamorous touch to her bridal look. Her other accessories include a pair of mauve stilettos, keeping in line with her color scheme.
Kara’s six bridesmaids chose floor-length jewel-toned dresses. The bridesmaids carried minimalistic bouquets of baby’s breath that juxtaposed nicely with the black-tie dress code.
John-Marcus’s tuxedo, vest and shirt were all custom creations by Tom James Company of New York. The groom wanted to spice up the classic look with socks that were fun but consistent with a black-tie event. “I was also pretty particular about the shoes—velvet loafers,” he says.
Kara’s classic dress consisted of a ball gown skirt with a lace corset top. With her dress she also wore a lace embroidered floor-length veil.
The ceremony was held outside in an open rose garden under white arbors. The couple were married by Kara’s childhood preacher. “Because the space was already so beautiful, we barely used any additional decorations,” Kara says.
Hanging elegantly from the center of the vaulted barn ceilings, a chandelier made entirely out of twigs illuminated the dance floor. Several strands of lights were strung and candles were scattered around the room. “I love lighting and wanted to make sure it was soft and just right,” Kara says.
“We didn’t really have a palette,” Kara says. Mimicking the flowers in the bouquets, the floral centerpieces contained many of the same navy and mauve tones. Runners of delicate lace flowed through the center of each table, and simple black-and-white table numbers were added.
“I love food, and it was half the reason we picked this place,” Kara says, admitting that she forgot to enjoy dinner. She did, however, remember to try their specialty dessert: s'mores in a glass.