Every wedding vendor team is created a little differently. In this series we explore how and why each couple selected the right wedding vendor team for their wedding day.
When the custom-designed engagement ring Brad would propose to Katie with was ready sooner than expected, he grabbed her favorite bottle of Champagne, and drove her out to the barn to go riding on a gorgeous Sunday. After she put her horse away, Brad asked Katie to check something out at the back of the car. That’s where he had the bubbly on ice and the ring in hand, ready to pop the question. A happy “yes” quickly followed.
They waited a bit to start wedding planning, but set a date for January 2, 2021, with the plan to wed in New Orleans. Due to the pandemic, they had to cancel and reschedule, and in the process, shifted the plans to be smaller and local to North Carolina that March. With several months to plan something from scratch, they then began making moves for their colorful, intimate, and truly memorable celebration.
As soon as Katie and Brad made the decision to marry in North Carolina, they reached out to Rebecca Rose Events for their full planning and design services. The team, spearheaded by Becca Atchison and Betsy Krug, quickly bonded over the eclectic, vibrant, and elegant mood board Katie had put together.
“Right away, we knew this project would be so special and we could see that Katie had both a discerning eye and an appreciation for adventurous design.” —Becca Atchison, founding partner and creative director of Rebecca Rose Events
“Without a doubt, selecting Rebecca Rose Events as our planner was the most important vendor decision we made. Given their unique talents as both planners and creatives, they functioned as our event designers, florists, guest experience leads, and managers of the catering experience. Additionally, our chosen color palette of oranges, reds, and pinks was certainly a nontraditional choice that would have been a disaster in the wrong hands. They artfully and elegantly highlighted the colors, bringing out their innate warmth and vivacity.” —Katie, bride
Together, the couple and their planners set out to find a wedding venue near the couple’s home in Winston-Salem that would best embody their spirit of hospitality and allow for an elevated guest experience. Armed with a bevy of potential options that would fit the bill, Rebecca Rose Events presented their recommendations to the couple, honing in on two particular venues that would accommodate the size of the wedding and its aesthetic. The McAlister-Leftwich House—a historic but newly renovated property in Greensboro—afforded them the opportunity to utilize multiple interior spaces for different purposes, transitioning the guests through the property seamlessly throughout the span of the evening. The fireplaces, wood floors, tall windows, and privacy were also important decision-making factors.
Once the venue was confirmed, it was on to selecting a caterer. But not just any caterer would be right for what the couple had in mind for their reception. They wanted a catering partner who could collaboratively design and execute a unique menu for an intentionally paced, multi-course meal that was to serve as the true highlight of the evening. Many wedding receptions build up to a large dance party, but for this particular event that was never the goal. The couple instead wanted a prolonged dining experience that delighted their guests with each course, held everyone’s interest and attention, and served as a key component of sensory ambiance for meaningful conversation and quality time together. After having the opportunity to experience 1618 On Location’s service as a dinner guest and speaking with them about the unique opportunities and preferences for this event, Rebecca Rose Events knew without a doubt they were the perfect fit.
While the caterer was a new partner for the planning team, the photographer was one they’d worked with multiple times: Ally and Bobby Fine Art Photography. Katie valued design elements so much that it was important to capture the essence of the overall design, as well as each intricate design. Not to mention the couple and their guests! The photography duo is one Rebecca Rose Events knew would document the pair in an authentic way, and whose personalities would put Katie and Brad at ease in an instant.
Katie envisioned a bold bridal beauty look that was elegant but interesting, with a bit of retro glamour. The team at Beauty Asylum had the capabilities to deliver, and after a hair and makeup trial, Katie was happy to confirm them for the big day.
Next, efforts turned to entertainment. This was a bit of a challenge as a traditional party band wasn’t what was desired—instead the couple wanted a smaller ensemble with a soulful range who could play ceremony classics, but also jazz and background dinner sets with beautiful vocals. The size of the group needed to be petite to align with the intimate guest count (only 39 people were in attendance) and the space they’d be playing in. So Rebecca Rose Events turned to multiple music agency partners to source options before narrowing it down to the selections they presented the couple, who ultimately chose the Noel Freidline Quartet.
With key vendors contracted, the focus then shifted in full to the design process, kicking off with a full-day creative session with the bride at the Rebecca Rose Events design studio. Aesthetic preferences–from paper stocks to fabrics were explored, and from there the team got to work on the specific selections to bring the couple’s style and sensibilities to life.
In-house graphic designer, Allison Steinfeld, and creative director, Becca Atchison, worked together to develop artwork and proofs for save the dates, which then gave the couple a library of artwork, colors, and fonts to utilize as the comprehensive design of the day took form. Working in a chronological order of the guest experience, the rest of the event’s elements were designed.
Linens, furniture, and tabletop rental pieces were then sourced from Emerson James, Professional Party Rentals, Nüage Designs, Inc., and Party Reflections to get the best possible assortment of pieces. And since floral design is handled in-house, Rebecca Rose Events developed their plan for all things flower-related at this time.
“The ombré carnation hallway was the most popular focal point for our guests and certainly the most photographed part of the day. Guests traveled down the hallway after a more muted, traditionally white ceremony. We nodded at the drama to come with pansies and Johnny Jump Up violets as garnishes in the Champagne we offered to welcome guests. But the hallway was the true crescendo—brimming with cheerful, punchy carnations and lined with servers pouring pink Champagne. Guests were guided to their fabulously vibrant tables, of which no two were alike. It was joyful and radiant and a celebration of the beauty of life. Is there anything more cheerful or determined than a carnation?” —Katie, bride
“The design was heavily influenced by Katie and Brad’s shared love of bold colors. Katie has such a sophisticated and adventurous sense of style and it was such fun to play off of that! We also incorporated a few of her favorite blooms such as pansies and feverfew daisies and added a bit of a nod to the architectural pattern play of the Art Deco era as well. The style was eclectic, but cohesive in its playfulness and soulful blend of details. Coming out of the winter season in 2021, with vaccines newly available and so much hope after a dark stretch, this wedding was a chance for our clients to bring their loved ones together for the first time in a long time, and our greatest goal was to bring Katie and Brad’s joy to the forefront of that celebration.” —Becca Atchison, founding partner and creative director of Rebecca Rose Events
Katie knew she wanted to have Louie and Honey's Kitchen bake the wedding cake, as the owners are dear friends and it was important to her to support them. Plus, their cakes are incredibly delicious and well-suited for smaller events. The confection’s interior highlighted fresh, organic ingredients (guests chose between brown sugar cake with salted caramel buttercream, and blackberry lemon cake with muscovado buttercream), while edible flowers on top tied it in with the day’s look.
