I’m having trouble deciding what I love the most about Noel and Griff’s western North Carolina wedding: the bold and modern color palette, the devastatingly romantic castle or all of the heartfelt DIY details. Maybe it’s the tiny matching star tattoos. I know you’ll adore this charming mountain wedding too. Blue Bend Photography was on-hand to showcase every lovely detail and each happy moment.
Noel + “Griff”
Castle Ladyhawke
May 01, 2015
Wedding day weather: 60s- a little overcast and chilly but beautiful
Number of guests: 116
Your budget: $20,000-ish
Biggest splurge: The castle and photography (both worth it!)
Biggest savings: Wedding Cakes
Why did you choose the Mountains for your wedding?
I moved to the mountains from Chicago and met my now husband who had also moved from Charlotte to Asheville to get out of city life. When we were dating my husband, Griff, took me to Bear Lake and it became our special camping spot. When we found out a Scottish style castle was just minutes from the lake it seemed meant to be! I can’t imagine a more beautiful setting for our perfect day than the North Carolina mountains where we fell in love and plan to make our home.
Wedding day theme:
Simple and Classic. Romantic. Our colors were black, white with accents of brown. All the flowers were white or green except the head table had some pops of yellow as well.
Where did you find your inspiration?
I’m not sure where the inspiration came from but we both agreed so easily on the colors and details and seemed to share the same vision from the beginning
How did you choose to personalize your wedding?
We collected mismatched plates and vases from goodwill and salvation army, the flowers were bought in bulk and arranged by myself and my girlfriends, my best friend and sisters put together the bouquets, my husband made the center pieces, table numbers as well as our communion table himself out of repurposed wood pallets, my friends and I made over a hundred paper cranes for the place settings
What was your favorite part of the reception?
The first dance with Griff, the dance with my dad and a surprise dedication and dance with my mom!
What are three things you’re super glad you did?
- The venue was absolutely perfect.
- Nick and our second shooter Kevin were amazing and fun to work with and the pictures are unbelievable!
- The special DIY touches- the whole day felt so perfectly ‘us’.
What was the biggest challenge in planning your mountain wedding and how did you overcome it?
It was really challenging to find a caterer who would make the trek out to the venue (a little over an hour outside Asheville) and that was within our price range. We ended up with Corner Kitchen who worked with us on creating the menu and even came in $1000 under budget when the wedding was all said and done!
How did you find and choose your vendors?
- I encountered Blue Bend Photography online and fell in love with their work only to find out a couple friends had also used them for their weddings.
- Corner Kitchen is just minutes from where we live.
- 12 Bones catered the Rehearsal Dinner. Anyone in Asheville likely knows the amazingness of 12 bones!
- Rehearsal Dinner: Bywater is one of our favorite post-kayaking spots
bywaterbar.com - City Bakery did a variety of delicious and even custom ordered cakes at an amazingly low price. I had always driven by the bakery so they just came to mind when thinking of dessert options.
What is your best piece of advice to other mountain brides who are planning their weddings?
If you are going to do a lot of DIY- try to get it done early! Also make a plan ahead of time for clean-up at the end of the night because it’s no fun when guests and family and even the bride and groom end up having to clean and load up the cars post-wedding. You might assume that certain vendors will do this- but that’s probably not the case…
Western North Carolina Wedding Vendors
Wedding Photography: Blue Bend Photography | Wedding and Reception Venue: Castle Ladyhawke Reception Catering: Corner Kitchen | Rehearsal Dinner Catering: 12 Bones | Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Bywater | Wedding Cakes: City Bakery | Floral Supply and design: Cynthia Gillooly from BB Barnes and the bridesmaids and friends made the bouquets and arrangements | Officiant: Sam McLamb from Biltmore Baptist Church | DJ: DJ Mitch Fortune | Wedding Gown: Mikaella | Groom’s Suit: H&M | Mensware: Mens Wearhouse |
Find Bridesmaids Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar