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 big day.
After Brittany proposed to Adrienne in bed one morning, the pair decided to keep their nuptials on the intimate side as well—opting for a private elopement (save for a handful of friends they’d spend the morning with while getting dressed) and dinner for two.
They began their venue hunt and planner search a few weeks later, aiming for a date in May 2020. Like so many, the pandemic shifted their timeframe, and they postponed until October. But thanks to their coordinator, The Gathering Co., they were able to have the modern elopement in North Carolina that fit their style—not only for the event, but for their planning preferences too.
“We had so many ideas but we do not like to actually plan. I can’t say we are the type of people that want to taste cakes and look at a million options. So we allowed Chelsy [of The Gathering Co.] to work her magic. That was crucial for us.” —Adrienne, bride
Adrienne and Brittany found a beautiful rental home in the mountains of Asheville for the big day that checked all the boxes: scenic views for the ceremony and enough space to set a table (for brunch in the morning and again for dinner that evening). They let Chelsy take it from there—not even seeing the place in person until the night before the wedding.
The couple did still consider how they wanted the day to feel and who they wanted to work with, particularly queer-friendly vendors and vendors of color. Their next move was to begin building their team, starting with photographer Ellie McKinney Photography.
“We looked at so many wedding photos and wanted someone who would be able to capture what we envisioned without taking a lot of time on the day. Ellie was amazing!” —Adrienne, bride
A few floral designers were considered before Adrienne and Brittany found one they were confident could capture the design they had in mind. Petal and Fern WNC created bridal bouquets that complemented one another, as well as the blooms and grasses used on the triangular ceremony structure and dinner table.
To create their stylish tablescape, rental company CE Rental was chosen and gold flatware, modern glassware, and simple stoneware plates were reserved.
While the guest list was small, the food and beverage component was a big one, and selecting the proper caterer to pull it off was important. Céline and Company Catering set up a chai and coffee bar in the morning, and brunch was prepared for the brides and their friends before Adrienne and Brittany got dressed for the ceremony. A petite cake was ordered from 50/Fifty for the newlyweds to cut into was the finishing touch.
A pair of musicians, Calvin Lockett Music and Nemon Marcus, who encapsulated Brittany and Adrienne in music form were then selected to play during the ceremony, and Tie the Knot with Torri, an officiant who enabled the couple to personalize their nuptials was also cemented around the same time.
Another duo was then confirmed—two talented artists to do hair and makeup, Taji Salon and Tiwa Lawrence. Trusted friend Dustin Byrd was also enlisted to help style the brides’ attire and accessories (both incorporating lace, with Brittany in a two-piece ensemble and Michelle wearing a mermaid-silhouette wedding dress), including their after-ceremony looks.
The final move in planning the elopement was booking a vintage Mustang convertible from Blue Ridge Classics to take a spin in before sitting down for dinner and dessert.
“The timeline allowed Brittany and Adrienne to soak in the memories. They relaxed over brunch with their friends, slowly got ready, had an intimate ceremony and dinner, and ended the evening with the coolest drive around the mountains in a classic car paired with cigars.” —Chelsy Ferguson, coordinator
