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October 21, 2019

Durham Arts Council Wedding

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Mary & Danielle’s Durham Arts Council Wedding

Velvet dresses, custom suiting, crepes, and love! All found at Danielle & Mary’s perfect wedding day hosted in the heart of downtown at the Durham Arts Council building. The brides got ready together and walked into the ceremony together. To an instrumental version of Dire Straits’ Romeo & Juliet, no less. Magical!

Everyone I talked to all day was incredibly kind and enthused to be celebrating with Mary & Danielle, and when Danielle thanked everyone, during the couple’s welcome speech, for making the choice to be in attendance at their wedding, there were numerous replies of “we wouldn’t choose to be anywhere else.” These ladies have an amazing village and I feel so lucky to have been witness to their love. (Literally! They had me sign the marriage license!!!)  

Rockstar Durham Arts Council Wedding Team:

Venue: Durham Arts Council
Planner: Folie a Deux Events
Florals: Pine State Flowers
Hair & Makeup: Culture Hair Studio
Mary’s fresh haircut: Erica at Rock’s Bar & Hair Shop
Officiant: Natasha Derakhshanian, good friend of the couple
Catering: The Crepe Cakerie
Bar: Celebration Sidekicks
Beer: Ponysaurus!
DJ: DJ John Jay
Danielle’s dresses (that’s right, she wore two!): handmade by her grandmother in the 1920s!!, with hemming, reinforced seaming and general freshening from Rocket Betty Designs
Mary’s suiting: Ticknor’s
Jeweler for custom wedding rings: William Travis Jewelry, based in Chapel Hill
Photography: Kivus & Camera, of course, with plenty of help from Jess, who second shot for me!

Durham Arts Council Wedding Preview:

Getting ready together is the sweetest! Honestly, I wish I’d thought of doing this at my wedding. I think I would’ve been much more relaxed during the early part of the day. Then again, my blue dress wouldn’t have been a surprise. I don’t think you can go wrong either way though, so think about what fits your day best! 

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Some time for a few quick portraits out in the Durham Arts Council courtyard before the ceremony. There was a little bit of good luck rain in the air though, so we didn’t stay too long.

Lipstick kisses are the best! And these colorful blooms from Pine State Flowers were pretty great too. 

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When it came time for the ceremony, Danielle and Mary entered hand in hand. They exited that way too, with a break in between to become wed. 

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Meanwhile, Erica and her Folie a Deux team were getting the decor looking just right, while Joan with the Crepe Cakerie was putting out a delicious spread for all of the guests. 

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I never say no to more time for portraits, and with the sun setting so early this time of year, our second block of portrait time was under darker skies, so we got a little bit more dramatic. Also, those rings!! They told me who the jeweler was, but I didn’t write it down, so I’ll have to come update this once I make sure I have the name right. Because these rings were freaking amazing and deserve recognition. — EDIT: The rings are from William Travis Jewelry! Hit them up 😀 

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Back inside, the lights were dimmed down, and DJ John Jay had the party going, but first Crepe Cakerie desserts and drinks from Celebration Sidekicks…

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And now dancing. After half a minute of their first dance, Mary & Danielle invited all their friends and family onto the dance floor with them. Isn’t that a great treat? To be in the arms of the one you love most, while surrounded by a bunch of other people you love. 

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A heartfelt thank you from the brides, and a toast from Danielle’s dad kicked off plenty more dancing. 

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Mary was also apparently giving out temporary tattoos. 

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When there’s not a formal exit, I always like to find a way to get a great dramatic closing shot, and these two were game to come out one last time for a quick series of portraits. Thanks so much for having such a wonderful day and for allowing me to be part of it!!

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