Lauren and Will's classic and elegant Uptown Charlotte wedding at the Charlotte City Club will always be one of my favorite's. I fell in love with this dashing couple from the moment we met - and boy, oh boy are they easy to love! I had an absolute blast getting to know this sweet couple and their family as we planned for their August wedding. Working with this dream couple was so awesome - can we do again, already?!
Our lovely bride wanted a classic wedding, inspired by Jackie O, in a neutral color palette of ivory and cream, silver, and navy that was luxurious and stylish, yet simple and timeless. The dining room of the City Club was filled with candles and candelabras to bring in the feeling of an intimate dinner party among friends. As we began designing, Lauren mentioned a wedding that would "stand the test of time", just like Jackie O's fashion. I just loved her inspiration!
Here's a fun fact about this couple: even though they both grew up not far from each other in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and had mutual friends, they didn't actually meet until Lauren took a trip to Charlotte to visit a friend! So, given that they met and now live in the Queen City, we incorporated the Charlotte skyline into their invitation suite by Elisabeth Rose - just wait til you see how gorgeous it is! Even their stunning wedding portraits were taken in the heart of Uptown Charlotte. It was important to the bride and groom that their families and friends traveling in for their wedding would be able to experience Charlotte, so they chose to keep the celebration Uptown with a ceremony at St. Peter's Catholic Church, followed by dinner and dancing at the gorgeous, and oh so classic, Charlotte City Club.
Oh and our bride and groom have a shared love/obsession of sports, so the brand new BB&T ballpark was the perfect location for their rehearsal dinner... And we even snuck in a sweet little engagement session with their photographer, Lauren Rosenau Photography. Here's a little peek... aren't they just the cutest couple ever?!
I'm so excited to share a few details from Lauren and Will's wedding with you today! I want to first thank all the talented vendors that helped give this amazing couple such an incredible wedding day:
Planning & Design: The Graceful Host
Photography: Lauren Rosenau Photography
Florist: New Creations Flower Company
Venue: Charlotte City Club
Church: St. Peter's Catholic Church
Catering & Bar: Charlotte City Club
Cake: Wow Factor Cake
Entertainment: Split Second Sound
Save The Dates and Invitations: Elisabeth Rose
Rentals: Party Reflections
Hair & Makeup: Paint Box (Michele Dula)
Hotel: The Marriott City Center
PediCab Transportation: R&R Pedicab
Trolley Transportation: Sunway Trolley
Wedding Dress Boutique: Hayden Olivia
Wedding Dress Designer: Hayley Paige
Ceremony Programs, Escort Cards,
Seating Chart, & Wedding Signage: The Graceful Host
We're so honored that Weddings Unveiled shared Lauren & Will's wedding! To see the full feature, click here.
Family heirlooms were important to Lauren. As the bride finished dressing, the mother of the groom gave her a few special pieces - the hospital cap that her husband to be wore as a baby and a family poem. Lauren pinned the hospital cap to the inside of her gown as her something "old". Another special heirloom tied to the bride's bouquet was a pendant her Uncle bought for her mother while he was deployed in Europe. Lauren said, "She always treasured it and I wanted to have something of his with me to honor him."
I love Lauren's face here.... such a priceless expression!
Seriously, how much do you love these portraits?! Lauren is just the most gorgeous bride ever and Will looks incredibly handsome! I can't get enough of these two!
After the first dance, our beautiful bride changed into a fun party dress that was perfect for dancing! This reception was definitely one of my absolutely favorites, and it had me wanting to jump on the dance floor to join in on all the fun!!
Love our brides killer style! She changed into an adorable romper for the sparkler exit. They made a getaway in a pedicab, and then headed out into the night to meet friends to continue the party! Don't you just love these pedicab photos?!
Lauren and Will, you are two of the sweetest people I've ever met! I enjoyed every second working with y'all. Thank you so much for choosing The Graceful Host to be a part of your wedding and for trusting me to bring your vision to life! Love you both to pieces! I hope one day your grandchildren will look through your wedding and talk about how classic & timeless your wedding looked with that Kennedy-inspired style! Or maybe they'll just mistake you for a famous Ralph Lauren fashion model, because you totally could be! :)
XO,
A.