patio wedding reception

Cara & Matt

February 23, 2022 by Chatham Station

Cara and Matt tied the knot in 2020 with a simple ceremony in a pasture during the height of Covid. They pulled out all of the stops and held their second, more formal ceremony in May of 2021 on the patio at Chatham Station. Both UNC grads, they planned the wedding while Matt was in grad school and Cara was finishing up her undergrad degree. This couple is so sweet and we loved hosting them and their clans on a gorgeous spring day.

Cara and her bridesmaids got ready in our dressing suites and enjoyed a little time together that they couldn’t have during their first ceremony.

Faith is a big part of the lives of these two, so they chose to have moments where that was displayed or celebrated privately. One such moment was a “first touch” before they saw each other. Cara had a first look with her father instead, which was very sweet and private as well.

The Ceremony

Cara and Matt “renewed” their vows in front of their friends and family and afterwards, a praise band played following the ceremony, another touch showing their commitment to their faith. Matt has a big, welcoming personality and the couple were genuinely excited to walk down the aisle as husband and wife for a second time.

The Details

After the ceremony, they captured great shots around Cary with their photographer Sarah Reeves.

The Reception

The soft blues and golds they chose looked elegant and fresh and blended perfectly with the brick, wood and glass we have at Chatham. The whole venue looked amazing as guests flowed inside and out. From the donut wall they had instead of a wedding cake, to the blue plates of varying sizes, to the lounge area that replaced the ceremony seating, every corner of the place shined. Cara, Matt and their guests shined too. It was a wedding fit for a magazine shoot.

The newlyweds and Chatham Station are happy to share the vendor list:

Planners: Something Fabulous
Catering: City BBQ
Desserts: Duck Donuts
Bartender: Johnnys Bartender Service
Rentals: CE Rental
Photographer: Sarah Reaves Photography
DJ: Willis J Entertainment
Florist: Dayspring Flowers
Hair and Makeup: The Makeup Addict

Molly & Brian’s Elegant Southern Wedding

September 1, 2020 by Chatham Station

What do you get when you combine an outgoing nurse and reserved nuclear scientist? Newlyweds. And you also get a wedding that feels like like a throwback to Southern gentility but with easy and modern touches. Molly – the outgoing bride – planned a wedding for 170+ guests that was both elegant and casual. In fact, the day felt more like a large family reunion than a party. The personal touches and Southern charm were everywhere.

Pre-Wedding Moments

For this autumn wedding, this couple had the weather gods on their side. Molly and her helpers, all of whom wore monogrammed lavender shirts, readied themselves in one of our dressing suites. Her attendants and friends spanned the generations and all had fun surrounding and assisting the bride-to-be.

Brian and his groomsmen relaxed and enjoyed a beer while waiting for the groom’s First Look at Molly before the ceremony.

The couple’s First Look moment was idyllic and incredibly touching. They chose the lush green gardens at the nearby Page-Walker Hotel.

The Ceremony

Molly and Brian were one of the first couples to use Chatham Station’s herringbone backdrop for their patio ceremony. It was expertly decorated by Lilac Floral Decor and hooded with greenery, individually suspended flowers and a hand-held fan that has sentimental value and is a nod to old Southern charm and Molly’s desire for elegant simplicity.

Pinks, purples and shades of lilac could be found in the bridesmaids gowns, the bouquets and in floral arrangements throughout the space. Guest were invited onto the patio and to their seats by a lovely hand-made wooden sign. Greenery and lanterns marked the aisle.

The Details

Molly’s commitment to simple elegance extended to most of the elements of that day: the lace, the hand-held fan, framed photos and even signature hangers for her attendants. Guests were greeted with a table where there was a list of fun facts about the couple and a place to leave advice for the newlyweds.

Molly’s gown was also a triumph of pure elegant simplicity. Creamy white with a high satin waistline embellished with minimal fabric flowers and beading, she looked regal and happy.

The Reception

The colors seen in bouquets and dresses were also reflected in linens at the reception. Some linens had delicate lace overlays, which complemented the lace flowers on Molly’s dress.

Throughout the toasts, dancing, desserts and conversation, everything was casual and thoughtful. Guests mingled inside and on the patio, chatted, played cornhole and surrounded the couple with love and best wishes.

We loved hosting this special day for this wonderful local couple and wish them many, many years of happiness.

The newlyweds and Chatham Station are happy to share the vendor list:

Catering: City BBQ
Bar Services: Brewmasters
Photographer: Rose Trail Images
DJ/ Band/ Music: Island Sound
Florist: Lilac Floral Decor
Rentals: CE Rentals
Cake: Once in a Blue Moon Bakery
Wedding Day Hair & Makeup: Made Beautiful by Roya
Wedding Coordination: Sweet SaraBelle Weddings
Venue: Chatham Station

Ashley & Zack’s Elegant & Modern Wedding

January 22, 2020 by Chatham Station

The Couple

If the image above tells you anything, it’s that this couple is not afraid to live big. They entered their reception with a fabulous dance number that impressed and delighted their guests. Transfer that energy to every detail of their day and you have Ashley and Zack!

These two live in dynamic Chicago, but their ties to Cary, NC brought them back for their October wedding last year. They brought elegance, vibrance and fun with them and were extremely hands-on and intentional with their day and all of the details that made it special.

The Ceremony

Couples with a vision create amazing wedding day memories and these two are not only deeply in love, but it was evident that those in attendance were extremely important to them too.

After Zack walked to the front of the aisle, he took time to greet their large wedding party who were filing in and made everyone feel warmly welcomed. When the sheer curtains were drawn to reveal Ashley, however, he and others were clearly moved. In that moment, this fun-loving couple was ready to say their vows with solemnity and grace.

Ashley was graceful in a sleek, modern, sleeveless form-fitting white gown that included a dramatic veil and train. She carried an all white bouquet, featuring primarily roses and anemones.

The Reception

As previously mentioned, Ashley and Zack made a grand entrance from the patio into the reception space and danced before their 170 guests. Their nearest and dearest loved it and clearly they had fun too!

After dances with their parents, the couple sat at a beautifully decorated exposed wood head table and listened to several emotional toasts from loved ones. The sense of togetherness and inclusion was infused throughout the evening.

The Details

Ashley and Zack were bold in their decor choices. From the tables adorned with two dimensional gold floral chargers, to the navy and gold accents in napkins and acrylic signs placed throughout the space, the couple branded their wedding with loads of personal flair.

Ashley and Zack selected elements that would enhance their guests’ experiences, even crafting some of the wedding day accessories themselves. The wooden arbor that the couple stood before to say their vows was lit and decorated with flowers, but the piece itself was hand-made by Zack’s father from locally sourced railroad ties just for the occasion. He also created the wooden mug board that greeted guests.

The reception spilled out onto the patio, where guests partied under the autumn stars, courtesy of a lovely clear tent lit from within. And finally, the couple was sent off with sparklers and cheers. It was an amazing night and we were so happy to be a part of it.

The Newlyweds and Chatham Station are happy to share the vendors with you!

Vendors:
Venue: Chatham Station
Photographer: Anchor and Veil
Coordinator: Sweet Sarabelle
Florist: Lilac Floral Decor
Catering: Rocky Top Catering
Rentals: CE Rental
Officiant: Personal Weddings of NC
DJ: Making Memories
Tent Rental: Capital Events
Videographer: Dean Garris
Hair and Makeup: Wink Hair and Makeup