A Modern, Pastel Wedding in the North Carolina Woods (Plus a Unique Southern Tradition)
High school sweethearts? Technically, you could say that about Nicole and Zackary, but their love story actually began when they were still in middle school. While attending her cousin’s eighth-grade graduation, Nicole spotted Zack in the crowd and asked her cousin for his info. “We became friends on Facebook shortly thereafter, but nothing came of it,” she recalls. Two years later, during Zack’s sophomore year, the two reconnected, but not in the school hallways. At a concert, of all places. This chance encounter led to four years of dating, the two only separating when they attended different colleges. “We spent about five years apart, and in 2018, we realized our work offices were a block away from each other,” Nicole adds. “We started grabbing after-work drinks together and eventually rekindled. The rest is history.” Every road seemed to take them back to each other, and soon, they were planning the biggest celebration of their lives. One that was “years in the making,” the couple says.
“Can you say Pinterest board since the age of 10?” the bride teases about their best day ever. “In all seriousness, this day was something I had dreamed about ever since I was young.” She and Zack wanted something that encapsulated their love story, a “light and airy” springtime event with a playful, pastel color palette. And of course, their golden retriever, Finley, had to be involved too. The couple found nearby Carolina Grove, a North Carolina venue tucked away in the woods on pet-friendly grounds with a stunning reception space full of natural light and minimalist yet rustic vibes.
With pastels leading the charge, Nicole and Zackary’s vendors got to work on crafting custom signage, invitations and floral displays, while also injecting some personalized touches from the to-be-weds. “I just knew I wanted to incorporate as many meaningful touches and details as possible and that’s what I felt like we accomplished,” says Nicole. That included a pale blue escort card display with a personal note for each of their guests, a special and heartfelt keepsake to show how much their presence meant to the happy couple.
Nicole found her dream dress to match the simple but chic aesthetic for the day, a sparkly ball gown with an empire waist and glittering straps, paired perfectly with a cathedral-length veil. Her blushing bridesmaids wore pastel pinks and flower patterns to complement their bouquets with garden roses, delphiniums and other spring blooms. Zack and his groomsmen wore beige linen suits and boutonnieres in the same colors as the bridal party’s florals. And they didn’t forget Finley, the ring bearer. Their pup also got all gussied up for the day, wearing a pink bow tie bandana around his neck as he ran down the aisle to his parents.
Many moving pieces were in place long before their spring wedding date. Just a month prior to the wedding, Zack and Nicole participated in a classic Southern tradition of burying the bourbon. This ritual involves burying a bottle of bourbon at the venue to ensure there’s perfect weather on the actual day of the ceremony. And according to the couple, the universe delivered. The bride says, “I'm pretty sure we were most ecstatic about not having any rain since a portion of our wedding was outside.” After digging the bottle back up, it even made a special celebratory drink.
Once their romantic ceremony beneath a canopy of trees ended, the party moved indoors to the rustic reception space, adorned with the same pastel hues and textured floral arrangements. The florist even reused the half-open arch from their ceremony as the backdrop to the newlyweds’ sweetheart table. “No detail was overlooked,” says the bride. And that included playful centerpiece touches and a last-minute addition of draping hanging on the ceiling’s white wood beams, something that became a highlight for Nicole.
The bride changed into a mini dress for the reception, so she could enjoy more time on the dance floor with her loved ones. And guests also received custom-painted wedding favors, painted live by a watercolor artist. Seeing how everything came together “perfectly,” the couple notes, was a true testament to their team of vendors bringing their unique vision to life. “Trust the professionals and choose vendors you love for the perfect wedding day,” Nicole recommends.