Laura + Zach
August 04, 2012
Blowing Rock, North Carolina
So many brides worry about the weather and nearly all who did, wished they hadn’t. Laura, whose pretty Shabby Chic, Blowing Rock wedding with lots of delightful details got rained on. Even She wished she hadn’t worried about the weather. Why? Because there’s nothing you can do about weather (except maybe have a solid plan B). Anyway, rain or shine, this wedding couldn’t be prettier. And be sure to read all of Laura’s Hindsight ADvice below…
Why a Mountain Wedding?
We never considered getting married anywhere other than in the mountains! My husband, Zach, and I both went to Appalachian State University in Boone, NC and knew we wanted to get married close to our alma mater. We knew we wanted to have an outdoor ceremony, surrounded by the mountains of NC that we are so fond of. Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock was everything we wanted.
Where did you find your inspiration?
I wanted to keep things simple for my wedding. My main goal was to not take away from the natural scenery. I wanted our surroundings at the venue to do the work. Once I decided to keep things simple and natural it was easy to pick the center pieces and all the other little details.
Three things you wish you had done?
- I wish I had made a list of things that I needed to have done on my wedding day, assigned people to each task and then distributed that list to all the wedding day “helpers”. With that, a list of “essential wedding day contacts” and their cell phone numbers.
- I wish I’d had a professional do my makeup.
- I wish I’d had a photo taken with my dad before the ceremony.
Three things you wish you hadn’t worried about?
- The Weather
- The first dance
- I was I hadn’t worried about not having a cocktail hour at the reception. Instead of a cocktail hour while we were taking pictures, the guests went ahead and started eating dinner. I was stressing about it, but it all worked out.
What is your very best hindsight advice?
- Don’t let things out of your control ruin your big day. I woke up to rain on our wedding day and had to face the possibility of having to move my dream of an outdoor wedding inside. I remained optimistic as the rain continued throughout the day. Our ceremony was set for 5:16 (we started dating on 5.16.06) so I had to make the call to leave the ceremony outside around 2:30. After all an outdoor wedding was the whole point in getting married in the mountains. Miraculously, as guest began to arrive and as the ceremony began the rain finally let up. BUT as I began my walk down the aisle the skys opened up again. As the guest opened their umbrellas they looked to me expecting to see a disappointed (wet) bride. I don’t think I could have stopped my ear to ear smile if I had tried as I continued my walk down the aisle arm in arm with my dad walking towards the man I couldn’t wait to spend the rest of my life with. Just keep smiling no matter what is my best advice! (As we walked down the aisle in the rain I told my dad, who was also the officiant, to move the ceremony under the reception to tent to keep the guest dry!) The guest at my wedding will never forget my rainy wedding fiasco!
Team Wedding
- Photographer: Nancy Ray Photography
- Favors and Gifts: The Mountain Cottage
- Floral Designer: Desi’s Floral & Design Studio
- Reception Venue: Chetola Resort
- Dress Store: David’s Bridal, South’s Speciality Clothier
- DJ: Ball and Ball
- Ceremony Location: Chetola Resort