The Stage is Set for a North Carolina Style Wedding

The main reason for our trip to North Carolina…

While we were there we started with a few days at the Outer Banks,

but my primary reason to go to North Carolina was because some very dear friends were hosting their daughter’s wedding. I was thrilled to be part of the decorating, and delighted to see the gorgeous grounds the wedding and reception would be held at.

Both wedding and reception were outside, at the groom’s parent’s home.

They built an outdoor amphitheater and their son’s wedding was the first event it was used for. This shows the amphitheater steps with hoses draped all over as they fastidiously watered so that the grass was perfectly green for the event.

With the lake beyond and surrounded by trees, the view during the evening wedding was glorious, and perfectly shaded from the heat of the sun.

The groom built the arbor that is situated on the stage. After the wedding it will be moved to its permanent home on the grounds with ivy growing on it.

With the beautiful and natural surroundings, we only wanted to add a hint, or suggestion of wedding décor, so as to not compete with what was already there.

The repeating elements in the decorating that the bride and her mom selected were metal, mostly galvanized buckets, burlap, hydrangeas, baby’s breath, and natural wood elements, all accented with tulle.

To decorate the arbor, I constructed symmetrical wired bouquets of faux greenery and flowers including hydrangeas along with tulle and burlap ribbon, then ‘wired’ it to the grapevine that was screwed onto the arbor.

But if you notice, I only decorated the two front corners, and didn’t try to drape stuff all the way across the arbor, just a hint.

Then to complete the stage, we added to each front corner the heavy wire planters with ferns and a bouquet of hydrangeas, baby’s breath and old fashioned pink carnations with tulle and burlap ribbon below, accented with a free standing shepherd’s hook with a candle lit lantern.

The tulle, burlap, lanterns flowers and natural wood effects are repeatedly used in several places at the reception too, to tie it all together.

As the breeze gently blew the tulle on the arbor, and the candles flickered in their iron holders, the friends and family of both the bride and groom eagerly awaited for the procession to commence.