Inspired by the vintage elegance of Downton Abbey, the beauty of North Carolina, and the nostalgia of the bride’s family farm, Kathryn and Chris’ garden party wedding was full of romantic details and personality, all of which were brilliantly captured by Rob + Kristen Photography. A couple who has their wedding at home has room to do things their own way, and with the help of wedding coordinator Nicki Cloud, Kathryn and Chris created an experience their guests will never forget. We love that the Southern wedding included burying a bottle of bourbon and enjoying s’mores around a camp fire after sunset!

The Couple:

Kathryn and Chris

The Wedding:

Private Residence, North Carolina

The Inspiration:

We wanted our wedding day to be comfortable and fun, but with a touch of elegance and romance. Our inspiration stemmed from our choice of venue – my family’s farm. Holding the wedding day on our family’s property allowed us the freedom to create the day from the ground up and to incorporate meaningful touches that represented who we are as a couple.

Our wedding coordinator, Nicki Cloud, helped us create decor to complement the venue – colors were kept neutral, with a pop of dusty blue and soft pinks and greens as accents. We liked to refer to it as our “Downton Abbey garden party.” We held the cocktail hour in the stables and let the guests mingle with the horses (carrots were provided), and the reception lawn was tented and strung with garden lights. The tables were draped in dusty blue linens with vintage-inspired dinnerware, set with gold lanterns, mercury glass votives and bud vases scattered throughout. Chris handcrafted three farm tables to serve as our head table at the reception.

The most important element for us was fun! In true Southern tradition, we made sure to bury a bottle of bourbon, and even though the forecast called for 100% chance of rain the skies cleared and we had a rain-free wedding day. The groomsmen celebrated by digging up the bourbon in the middle of the reception and passing the bottle around. Our guests capped off the night with popcorn and s’mores by the fire.

The Moments:

During the reception Chris and I were able to step away from the crowd for a few minutes and soak in the evening – just the two of us. It was so wonderful to be able to take moment to just watch our guests enjoying themselves and take in the whole scene.

My little brother, Chandler, surprised me during the reception by performing Ben Rector’s “Forever Like That” for Chris and I. I’ve never been able to see him perform, and I had managed to hold myself together throughout most of the day, but hearing Chandler sing and play for the first time sent me over the edge! Knowing that he took the time to learn the song just for Chris and I, and the courage it took for him to perform infront of that many people was so incredibly special.

The Couple Recommends:

Without question, our wedding day would not have come together without Nicki Cloud. She managed everything from start to finish. Putting together a wedding at a private residence requires a special type of patience and meticulousness…to put it simply, Nicki is wonder woman! She is a designer, coordinator, therapist, friend and all-around rockstar.

Our photographers, Rob and Kristen, were AMAZING. Not only is their work incredible, they are just great people. We had a huge bridal party, a lot of moving pieces and a tight timeline, but Rob and Kristen didn’t bat an eye! They are a blast to work with, professional and fun. Photography was the top item for Kathryn, and the work they did was absolutely beautiful. The images they captured are breathtaking, and we will forever cherish them.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Rob + Kristen Photography
Event Planning – Nicki Cloud Event Design & Production
Venue – Private Residence
Floral Design – Kelilabee Flower
Catering – Zada Jane’s
Officiant – Rev. Richard Sears
DJ – DJ Wood
Videography – Go North Pictures
Makeup Artist – Cali Stott Artistry
Wedding Dress – Casablanca Bridal
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Dessy

We’re totally convinced that every wedding should end around a campfire thanks to Kathryn and Chris! Be sure to check out more of Rob + Kristen Photography in Katie and Jeff’s Sunset Beach wedding in North Carolina.