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December 21, 2020

Christmas Wedding in Durham, NC

Dramatic and colorful wedding photography in Raleigh, NC

Surprise snow for Victoria & Bryant’s Christmas Wedding!

I think Victoria & Bryant somehow knew we’d all need a little bit of Christmas wedding magic this year. And they delivered Santa & snow. So yeah, Christmas wedding dreams come true.

They’ve been planning their Cotton Room wedding for a while and while Covid has derailed a lot of their plans, their wedding Saturday was pure Christmas magic. And I think everyone left the wedding feeling that much better about what has been a really tough year. But yes, snow!! North Carolina’s forecast didn’t call for it, but Santa did, and everyone was treated to a little snow flurry as the party ended.

I’m also excited about sharing some of Victoria’s bridals soon!! I’ve been itching to share them everywhere because as you can see, she is a simply stunning bride. But first, wedding photos. Where you’ll see the way she and Bryant look at one another. Y’all. Warmth and love and eyes watering with emotion.

I still have one more elopement in 2020, but this was the best full wedding I could have asked for to round out the year. Everyone was so kind and fun and we had a blast celebrating with these two and their favorite people.

The Cotton Room winter wedding team:

Venue (& coordination & catering): The Cotton Room and Belt Line Station
Photographer: Kivus & Camera of course
Video: Twenty-One Films
Hair & Makeup: Kaitlyn Elizabeth Styling
Victoria’s Dress: Gilded Bridal
Florist: Victoria Park Florist
Chalkboard Art: Emily Rinker
Ceremony Music: Courtney Schultz
Officiant: Preacher Donald Warren
Cake: Simply Cakes
Dessert Favors: The Flour Box Bakery NC
Entertainment: DJ Al-Ski Love
Snow Machine: Island Sound
Getaway Car: Carolina Classic Car Rentals
And Jim Dyer’s good friend Santa!!!

And a preview of Victoria & Bryant’s wedding day for ya:

Christmas Wedding Photos

Wedding details for a Covid wedding include custom bride and groom masks Don't you just love pretty wedding details? The Magnolia Suite at The Cotton Room in Durham, NC has the prettiest room to put your dress on in.

Victoria got ready with her mom and her bridesmaids in The Magnolia Suite, which is one of the most gorgeous getting ready areas in the triangle.

Make sure you hire a hair and makeup time that have you looking this happy with the results!

Popping bubbly in front of my favorite wall in Durham 🙂

Make sure you pop your champagne before you put your wedding dress on. (you can pop some more later too!!!) Bridesmaids robe selfies ftw! Cheers to our best friend getting married today Mother of the bride wedding dress inspiration gorgeous brides puts on her finishing touches of earrings and garter Bride puts on her shoes in the Magnolia Suite in downtown Durham, NC

Meanwhile, Bryant and his groomsmen (and Victoria’s dad) were getting ready down in the Bull Durham Suite. Getting ready for guys involves straightening ties, tying shoes, and foosball. Generally speaking.

Groom gets ready at the Bull Durham Suite in Durham, NC Groom gets ready at the Bull Durham Suite in Durham, NC Groom gets ready at the Bull Durham Suite in Durham, NC Groom gets ready at the Bull Durham Suite in Durham, NC

Some of Bryant’s groomsmen couldn’t make it to the wedding because of Covid, so Victoria surprised him with video messages from them before the ceremony.

Some of the groomsmen couldn't make it to this wedding because of Covid and the bride surprised the groom with video messages from his friends!

The bride and groom didn’t want to see one another until the ceremony, but Victoria did want to do a first look with her dad. <3

A first look with your dad? Yes! Gets me every time.

And we snuck them into position to read letters from one another without actually seeing each other.

This couple exchanged letters without seeing one another before the ceremony This couple exchanged letters without seeing one another before the ceremony

And then Bryant scooted around the corner (WITHOUT PEEKING) so they could hold hands and chat for a minute.

This couple exchanged letters without seeing one another before the ceremony

Don't want to see one another before the ceremony? Consider a first touch as a way to chat anyway!

The gents had a final hype huddle just before the ceremony.

Groomsmen hype huddle pre ceremony!!!

And The Cotton Room was all done up in her Christmas finery. We’ve had several winter weddings at The Cotton Room now, and it is one of my favorite places to be at Christmas. It looks gorgeous and feels so cozy. All that’s really needed is a snow flurry and a visit from Santa…

The Cotton Room in Durham, NC set up for a Christmas Wedding ceremony mother of the bride gift inspiration

Bryant & his best man look pretty good, but can we also talk about how perfect Caleb’s ring bearer look is? This little man was head of ring security, and he meant business.

Dress your ring bearer up like he's security!!!

And then it was time for Bryant to see his almost-wife.

The groom's reaction at this Christmas wedding is so sweet The groom's reaction at this Christmas wedding is so sweet Father of the bride takes one last look after walking her down the aisle The Cotton Room in Durham, NC set up for a Christmas Wedding ceremony The Cotton Room in Durham, NC set up for a Christmas Wedding ceremony The Cotton Room in Durham, NC set up for a Christmas Wedding ceremony

And just like that, they’re married!!! Time for some group photos in front of the hearth and Christmas trees! Always sending love to parents and rockstar wedding parties. The people who really go out of their way to make your wedding incredible.

Winter wedding inspiration, sparkly gold bridesmaid dresses and black tuxedos Winter wedding inspiration, sparkly gold bridesmaid dresses and black tuxedos Winter wedding inspiration, sparkly gold bridesmaid dresses and black tuxedos Christmas wedding inspiration Christmas wedding inspiration

Let’s check on the reception… I think it looks warm and inviting. Let’s go!

Christmas wedding at The Cotton Room in Durham, NC Wedding dress inspiration Couple shares their first dance at The Cotton Room in Durham, NC Couple shares their first dance at The Cotton Room in Durham, NC Couple shares their first dance at The Cotton Room in Durham, NC Couple shares their first dance at The Cotton Room in Durham, NC Couple shares their first dance at The Cotton Room in Durham, NC Custom bride and groom masks for Covid weddings - handmade by a friend of the family

After their first dance, Victoria & Bryant snuck out with us during dinner to get some more portraits. Y’all know how much I love an over-dramatic sky.

Dramatic wedding portraits in Durham, NC at a winter wedding Dramatic wedding portraits in Durham, NC at a winter wedding

But look, I can make pretty natural light portraits too!! (to be fair, these two make everything look pretty)

See, I shoot natural light too!!! I just don't share it as much

And a silhouette fit for a Disney Princess.

Dramatic wedding portraits in Durham, NC at a winter wedding

Back inside to warm up with some bubbly and toasts.

Matron of toast with a bonus bridesmaid waiting to be born :-) Best man toast - bring the jokes! And props.

And cake of course!

Christmas wedding inspiration Christmas wedding inspiration

Who’s ready to tear up a little? Victoria recorded a special message to her dad to play over their father-daughter dance. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house.

This bride recorded a message to her father to play during the father daughter dance and his reaction was priceless.

Bryant’s mom shone during the mother-son dance, but even more on the dance floor later in the evening! This woman raised some awesome sons and she can party as hard as them and their friends 😀

Mother son dance at The Cotton Room in Durham, NC

Now, let’s check out that party! Everything moved from The Cotton Room to Belt Line Station after the parent dances, so the open air would allow for closer quarters and general shenanigans. What a party to close out our 2020 wedding season!! Thank you for going hard y’all!!

A great DJ, colorful lights, and a fun crowd make for the best wedding receptions

As the party came to an end, Victoria & Bryant snuck back upstairs for one last slow dance just the two of them…

This couple chose to have a final dance with just the two of them while their guests lined up for the exit

And Santa was there!!!!

Santa came to this Christmas wedding!!

After visiting with the newlyweds, he went downstairs to say hello to their guests and hand out some delicious Christmas treats. Then he told some wonderful Christmas stories as everyone lined up for the farewell, and as he was talking, it started to snow. Okay, okay, yes it was a snow machine. But it was still magic and beautiful.

Santa came to this Christmas wedding!! Santa came to this Christmas wedding!! Snow machine exit at a Christmas wedding in Durham, NC

Congratulations Victoria & Bryant. And Merry Christmas to all!!!


We believe that love is bright and colorful, and your wedding photographs should be bright and colorful too.

Kivus & Camera are Raleigh Wedding photographers who create bold, colorful, magical memories of your wedding day with beautiful, artistic portraits AND enthusiastic, genuine moments. Your unique love story deserves to be told through unforgettable, breath-taking photographs that stand out from the crowd. Kivus & Camera love creating that magic. After all, as past bride Courtney says, we’re photography sorcerers.

And though we call ourselves Raleigh wedding photographers, we definitely photograph Durham weddings, Chapel Hill weddings, Cary weddings, etc. We’re all over the Triangle area, and we’re happy to head to the beach or mountains and even to places outside of North Carolina! Just let us know where your love story is headed.

Want to know more? Check out more of our images or learn more about our nerdy selves or just send us a note! Can’t wait to hear from you.

  1. […] promised these when I shared Victoria & Bryant’s wedding last month, and here they finally are! The stunning Victoria’s Raleigh bridal portraits. This […]