small wedding

Ellyn & Joe

October 13, 2021 by Chatham Station

The Couple

Cary native, Ellyn married Joe in December 2020 in what was the sweetest ceremony. Since we had not yet begun to see the beginning of Covid decline, the couple opted for a small and intimate affair. They provided masks for guests to wear with their wedding hashtag #WalkingBrownTheAisle, laced up their Converse sneakers and met up at Chatham Station to say their vows.

Downtown Cary, outside the holiday decorations at Cary Arts Center.

A First Look

Ellyn was able to do a first look with both Joe and her father. The first look with her father was a very sweet moment, ending with him wrapping her up in his arms and smiling from ear to ear.

The Ceremony

The couple was keen on including as much family as possible on their special day. Ellyn’s brother Peyton officiated the ceremony, and her grandmother flew several hours, at a difficult time, to make sure she was there to witness Ellyn becoming a wife.

An intimate ceremony doesn’t mean there is no love or warmth from friends and family. In fact, you can make the argument that there is even more of both, especially during a universally rocky year. For their December ceremony, little touches of holiday color and green garlands were all it took to make the place feel magical. Bridesmaids, wearing seasonally perfect gowns in burgundy, carried lanterns with flowers down the aisle instead of traditional bouquets. The effect was lovely.

The couple’s flowers incorporated accents of reds, pinks and whites including gorgeous anemone. They even included paper flowers from the Harry Potter Books into their bouquets for a special touch and nod to their particular favorites.

The Reception & Details

Ellyn wore a beautiful fitted lace gown that had an illusion back with buttons running down the dress. After the ceremony the couple was able to share a sweet first dance in Chatham surrounded by their guests!

Details in the decor were simple, elegant and thoughtful. Ellyn’s family lived intermittently in Italy for the last few years and Ellyn and Joe wanted to include Italian influences for the day. The couple had wine boxes imported from Italy, which were used to line the aisle and added an elegant European touch.

Ellyn and Joe had their photographer, Veritas Digital, take amazing shots around the city of Cary, which was decorated for the holidays and added a fun element and memories of their day.

Congratulations and cheers to many happy decades of marriage to you both, Ellyn and Joe!

The newlyweds and Chatham Station are happy to share the vendor list.
Planner: Something Fabulous
Rentals: CE Rentals
Photographer: Veritas Digital Photography
DJ: Willis J Entertainment
Florist: Dayspring Flowers
Hair: Dry Bar – Waverly By Brenda Peterkin

Nakeva & Otis create simple elegance

January 19, 2021 by Chatham Station

In September of 2020, Chatham was pleased to host Naveka and Otis’ Covid-safe, indoor-outdoor wedding. Like many couples who married last year, they had to make adjustments and concessions, but not where style was concerned. There may not have been a reception, but the ceremony, the bride and groom, and the day were beautiful.

The Couple

Nakeva and Otis were a pleasure to have: both were so kind, so chill and lovely and their style – traditional, classic and spare – made for the elegant, if simplified day. They originally planned for a large wedding, but when the pandemic made that impossible, our venue with open air options was the perfect spot.

The Wedding

Nakeva’s gown was a fitted and modern sheath and her bouquet was a blend of eucalyptus and pale roses. She was escorted down the short aisle by her father while a violinist played.

Otis looked amazing in a non-traditional light blue suit, and waited for Nakeva in front of an elegantly decorated wooden backdrop adorned with minimalist greens and flowers to match the bride’s bouquet.

Approximately 15 guests, made up of family and close friends, enjoyed a live violinist and faced each other on our outdoor patio, in a twist on the usual wedding set-up.

The Details

Other than Otis’ pop of color suit, the colors were white, pale pink and green with blush tones. The couple shared slices of their extra tall layer cake with guests and toasted with champagne.

The ability to gather with some of their more elderly relatives and still have the laughter and joy of a larger wedding was important to this couple and the images show that.

Chatham extends our heartfelt congratulations to Nakeva and Otis and we wish them only happiness in 2021 and beyond.

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

Florals: Serendipity
Photographer: Lady Iman
Live Musician: Brian Ford with Allegro Music
Bakery: Sugar Euphoria
Venue: Chatham Station

Heather & Caleb Make a Bright Choice

August 18, 2020 by Chatham Station

When Heather and Caleb toured Chatham Station in mid-spring of 2019, their plan was to get married in June of 2020. We all agreed it would be a beautiful occasion for Cary native Heather and her groom-to-be Caleb, who serves in the military.

The Couple

The couple soon after found out that Caleb would be deployed and in a bold move, decided to move their wedding date up to August of 2019. Considering the state of affairs in June of 2020, they are probably feeling pretty smart right about now. Of course, with the help of favorite local vendors Heather chose, like Brides and Bouquets and the venerable Once in a Blue Moon bakery, we were all able to make it happen.

Pre-Ceremony

Both Heather and Caleb dressed at Chatham in our dressing suites, with the mothers helping out with details and special moments. The bride had a first look with her father and bridesmaids before being escorted down the aisle. Everyone was beaming on what turned out to be a gorgeous late summer day in Cary.

The Ceremony

Guests walked up the patio and entered through one of our large bay doors to access the ceremony site. The vows were spoken in front of a white arbor that complemented the natural tones of the space and embellished with asymmetrical floral sprays in gentle hues. The bride chose striking flowers, such as anemones, hydrangeas, and various types of roses that were both traditional and understated.

Next to the bridesmaids gowns in a deep blue, everything looked elegant and was well-planned and the prevailing mood of the room was soft and ethereal.

After the I Dos, as guests mingled before the reception, the newlyweds sneaked off for photos at the nearby Page-Walker Hotel and a local fountain that was lit in a beautiful shade of purple.

The Reception & Details

The details of the reception were as thoughtful, elegant and clever as the couple. Each guest table featured a special photograph of the couple and all were adorned with a mixture of white lanterns, floral arrangements, gold accents and blue napkins that matched the wedding party’s attire. Other glassware and fabrics were in subdued tones of blue, lavender and cream.

The cake was a traditional tiered affair with buttercream frosting and after the couple was introduced and toasted, they danced in the idyllic summer evening light.

They couple moved out west to prepare for Caleb’s deployment and, we are happy to share, are expecting their first child. Congratulations and cheers to Heather and Caleb.

Chatham Station and the newlyweds are happy to share their vendor list with you.

Wedding Planner: Paisley and Pearl
Photographer: Jen Hagan Photography
Decor: Greenhouse Picker Sisters
Officiant: Reverend Carl Frazier
Florist: The Flower Girl, Rachel Schmoldt
Musician for Ceremony: Patti Cook
Reception Music: Willis J. Entertainment
Linens: CE Rentals
Catering: City BBQ
Bar: Brewmasters
Wedding Cake: Once in a Blue Moon
Venue: Chatham Station

Latisha & Patrick’s Spring Wedding

July 22, 2020 by Chatham Station

These two were married in March of 2020, just before we all realized the extent to which Covid-19 was going to change the trajectory of just about everything. Latisha and Patrick were concerned of course about their guests and their plans, but because they selected a significant date for their wedding day they wanted to proceed. The solution was to have their event scaled back, with fewer guests and only at Chatham Station. Along with their amazing vendors, we all moved forward thoughtfully.

The Couple

This couple has been together for a long time and have two children. As Patrick is a DJ in the wedding industry, he and Latisha hand-picked the vendors and collaborators for their day, so theirs was a celebration thanks to pros from our industry. In fact, it wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that the success of this wedding was due entirely to the skill, flexibility, and incredible graciousness of the vendors.

Latisha decided to dress in one of our on-site dressing suites, while photographer Cara of F8 Studios worked her magic capturing details and moments. You would never know from the photos and details that this was not the larger scale wedding they’d planned. With only 90 minutes, Cara was masterful at also gathering and grouping the couple, the family and some sweet moments both in and outside.

Latisha’s gown was epic, with beads and an elaborate ruffled train. Her bridesmaids’ dresses were a deep blush, and they carried complementing bouquets. Groomsmen wore dark gray suits that coordinated with Patrick’s attire.

The Ceremony

With a compressed schedule, Latisha and Patrick said their vows at Chatham Station in a South-facing ceremony. The custom, in-house backdrop we provided was laden with ferns and the aisle lined with bouquets of pastel florals and lanterns provided by the couple’s planner Diane of Bustled Events. Latisha was escorted by her extremely proud father where she was awaited by Patrick and the couple’s children, acting as ring-bearer and flower girl.

The Details

The music for their ceremony was provided by on-site DJ Nyce Danger and Bustled Events spared no attention to detail, providing a linen draped table so that the couple could have a sand ceremony.