An Enchanting, Moody Mountain Wedding at The Farm at Old Edwards Inn in North Carolina's Highlands
When George and Aly met in college, they had chemistry. Quite literally. The two met in their chemistry lab and became partners but didn’t begin dating until their final semester. After graduation, the two made their long-distance relationship work for 6 years before Aly moved to South Carolina to be with George. “Eventually, once our lives got settled and we had a house and motorcycles and a few cats, George felt the time was right to make "someday” a reality,” Aly says of getting engaged. On a motorcycle trip to the mountains, like many they’d taken before, George led Aly on a hike to a waterfall, where he got down on one knee and proposed.
Incorporating the mountains into their wedding day was a must for the couple, especially the little town of the Highlands they frequented on visits. There, they found the perfect venue: The Farm at Old Edwards. The ceremony space, to them, didn’t need much in terms of lighting or decor, thanks to its open, bright windows and white accents. With the venue sitting on acres of gardens, the nearlyweds pulled from the pastoral surroundings for their aesthetic. “ “I love that calm feeling you get walking through a lush forest surrounded by green moss, ferns and trees, so I took inspiration from that. Our [palette] was black, dark greens and creamy whites, with gold as an accent,” Aly says.
Finding a balance in a nontraditional wedding that spoke to their relationship and style, Aly and George wanted lush greens to lead the day. With her engagement ring and George’s wedding band of moss agate, they created DIY signage with moss and ferns to complement the moody colors. Working with their florist, the arrangements around the ceremony space and in the bouquets were full of natural greenery and pops of white blooms, blending the couple’s love for the woods with an elegant touch for the wedding day.
The two of them found a way to incorporate these colors and motifs in their attire, as well. Aly knew she found the dress when she had tears in her eyes, with the creamy off-white gown embroidered with leaves and a matching veil that elevated the look. George opted for a forest green three-piece suit to match the venue’s landscape, with a gold tie to match the wedding decor. Another way Aly brought her DIY expertise into the day was through her hair and makeup, having watched tutorials the months leading up to practice. “I wanted a natural, glam look. I wanted to look like myself but enhanced… I have never felt more beautiful [than] I did on my wedding day,” she says.
The first time the couple saw themselves in these outfits was during their first look on the wedding day, one of the most anticipated moments for the bride and groom. Aly says, “We have been together 10 years, and he’s seen me a lot of different ways, but I really wanted him seeing me on our wedding day to be special and new. The look in his eyes when he saw me made me fall in love all over again.” George adds, “When Jen, the photographer, finally told me to turn around, I could hardly find the words to describe how stunning she looked in her dress. I’m so glad we did the first look ahead of the ceremony, and it went perfectly.”
Aly and George exchanged vows inside The Farm at Old Edwards, underneath a double-peaked, wooden arch with green foliage and creamy white florals. Candles throughout the space added a “romantic vibe,” says Aly, along with a bit of decor close to the bride’s heart—books. “I love reading, so incorporating books into the day wherever we could was important to me,” she adds.
At the reception, guests got to see all of Aly’s hard work in DIYing signs and collaborating with their wedding planner to blend books, greenery and even motorcycles into the decor and favors. “Walking into the reception space the night of the wedding felt like stepping into a dark wooded clearing, and it was absolutely everything I dreamed,” Aly says of the rustic reception space with its natural stone and dark wood. Their planner filled this venue with hanging foliage and dark, romantic hues in their tablecloths, place settings and dinnerware. Place cards were stamped with a fern design, similar to one of Aly’s tattoos, making it even more personalized for their loved ones.
But the books decorating the tables and aisle runners weren’t just for show. The thrifted books, in black and green covers, were available for guests to take home as favors. Another wedding favor for their friends and family was keychains with the couple’s initials attached to 10mm sockets. Aly says, “With many of our guests being people he had met over the years either riding or working on bikes, he looked for a favor that would be appreciated by the moto lovers… the joke being that the 10mm size is the one socket you always need and can never find. ‘Keep your loved one[s] close, and your 10mm even closer’.”
At the reception, guests enjoyed a seated feast of Southern classics with an elegant twist, including some late-night offerings of fried chicken and waffles, complete with bourbon maple syrup. When the party winded down, the newlyweds departed in a classic Model A Ford for their grand exit that began their married journey.
Part of what made the day so stress-free for the couple, according to Aly, was finding a wedding planner to offer their expertise and tackle any issue as it arose. She and George both ensured the event was catered to them, making it a personal experience that both of their families appreciated. George says, “My biggest advice to any other couple is [to] do your best to plan the wedding that you want, but when the time comes, don’t sweat the small stuff. The day goes by so quickly; just enjoy that day together and celebrate together with your friends and family.”