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April 1, 2019

City Club Wedding in Downtown Raleigh

Downtown Raleigh Wedding Kivus and Camera

John & Nicole’s City Club Wedding in downtown Raleigh

This was our first City Club wedding, and it was actually my first time at City Club period. It’s quite high up! The club occupies the 28th and 29th floors of the Wells Fargo building, with views north over the Capitol and south down Fayetteville Street. It’s really something.

And it was a beautiful backdrop for John & Nicole’s wedding day. The downtown Raleigh setting was also special because they had their first date just up the street at Bittersweet, and the City Club wedding venue was close enough for us to walk over during cocktail hour for a few photos at the exact same table where they first started falling for one another. <3

Before we get to those cocktail hour portraits though, we’ve got getting ready and ceremony images, and before those we always give a shout out to the wedding team:

City Club Wedding Vendors:

Venue & Catering: City Club Raleigh
Planner: C&D Events, Whitney Davis
Florals: Mel Day with Dogwood Tree Floral Designs
Hair & Makeup: Wedded Kiss
Officiant: Rev. Becca Gillespie
DJ and Ceremony music: McSound Productions
Cake: Edible Art
Wedding gown: Liancarlo from Alexia’s Bridal Boutique

City Club Wedding Images:

City Club Wedding - Raleigh Wedding Photographers

That’s a sixpence taped to the bottom of Nicole’s shoe. I first learned about this tradition from Lace at her wedding, several years ago now. Nicole’s other sweet details included one grandmother’s cross, another’s ring, and her christening bonnet to use as a handkerchief. Oh, and this PERFECT jeweled hair piece that looked like a delicate tiara and worked so perfectly with her dark hair. Bride Prep City Club Wedding

You can see clear to our house out that window (not really, but maybe almost?)
City Club Wedding - Raleigh Wedding Photographers

On the other side of the building, the guys were looking down Fayetteville street and pointing out landmarks. John also had some lucky money, including a $2 bill!Groom Prep City Club Wedding City Club Wedding - Raleigh Wedding Photographers

Before the ceremony we took some group photos utilizing the wall of windows as both a giant softbox and as a backlight. This venue put our flashes to work y’all! Group Photos City Club Wedding City Club Wedding - Raleigh Wedding Photographers

Meanwhile, Mel with Dogwood Tree Floral Designs was turning the ceremony space into a work of art with this incredible floral arch and tons of rose petals to line the aisle. City Club Wedding - Raleigh Wedding Photographers

And then it was time for the ceremony itself. Nicole’s smile!!!! City Club Wedding - Raleigh Wedding Photographers Unity Candle Wedding Ceremony City Club Wedding - Raleigh Wedding Photographers

After Nicole & John made their way back down the aisle as husband and wife, we stole them away for some portraits, starting with a couple inside City Club, and then moving down to Fayetteville Street.  City Club Wedding - Raleigh Wedding Photographers Downtown Raleigh Wedding Photography

As we were headed back to City Club, the newlyweds asked if we had extra time to walk a couple blocks to Bittersweet, which was where they first met. Um, yes, of course! So we reenacted John’s first time seeing Nicole, and then the staff at Bittersweet was kind enough to let us sneak in for a couple quick photos at the table where they had their first date. Downtown Raleigh Wedding Photography

Back at City Club, the details were all in place for a beautiful wedding reception, and everyone cheered as Nicole & John entered and had their first dance as married people.City Club Wedding - Raleigh Wedding Photographers City Club Wedding - Raleigh Wedding Photographers

After dinner (and sunset, if you couldn’t tell based on the different colors out the window), both Nicole and John’s fathers gave toasts…City Club Wedding - Raleigh Wedding Photographers

… then came parent dances and an anniversary dance…
City Club Wedding - Raleigh Wedding Photographers

… followed by cake and a dance party, facilitated by Edible Art and Brian with McSound Productions, respectively.
City Club Wedding - Raleigh Wedding Photographers City Club Wedding - Raleigh Wedding Photographers

After the newlyweds’ final dance together, surrounded by their loved ones, all the guests headed down to Fayetteville Street for a sparkler exit, but we couldn’t resist grabbing a couple nighttime shots with the chandelier in City Club before following. City Club Wedding - Raleigh Wedding Photographers

Now the sparklers! 

That’s a wrap. Congratulations John & Nicole! I hope you had a truly amazing time at your City Club wedding!!!