A little earlier today, we were soaking up the pretty pinks and greens over at Mrs. Brown’s surprise birthday party. Now ~ we’re taking the same passion for pink and ramping it up a notch ~ to transform the Coast Line Convention Center into a wonderful wedding venue! From Scott Piner Photography and Courtney Arnold at Stellar Events in Wilmington, North Carolina, you’ll see how Jeannie and Jimmy solved a familiar problem ~ how to blend the traditional elements of their wedding with newer, more upbeat and modern vibes. Call in the expertise of a wedding planner and designer the likes of Stellar Events and voilá. Problem solved.
images courtesy of Scott Piner Photography
From Courtney … Jimmy & Jeannie are a super fun couple. I mean it! Jeannie is tiny but a big ball of energy – she’s full of life and her smile lights up a room. Jimmy is a little more laid back – probably the more “introverted” one of the two. When I first met with Jimmy & Jeannie they were coming out of a negative experience with a previous wedding planner. They both had high hopes and a solid vision of what they wanted their big day to look and feel like; however, they needed someone who was a better match for them. During our first meeting I could tell Jeannie was holding back a bit, somewhat guarded. But by the time we wrapped up she was bouncing and laughing and so excited for her big day! They needed someone who heard their desires and was willing to bring them to life. I’m honored I go to be that someone!
Jimmy & Jeannie wanted a day that respected the tradition of marriage while providing a place for their guests to celebrate and dance the night away. One of the biggest challenges with their wedding was to find a way to keep both the couple and their parents happy. Their parents wanted something traditional – ceremony in a church with a reception at the country club. Due to the number of guests and that most of them were out of town, Jimmy & Jeannie wanted to keep the festivities all in one place. The location finally chosen was the Coastline Convention Center in downtown Wilmington. Although this space is old it has character – exposed brick walls, original doors and views of the Cape Fear River. The best part of the space, for me, is that is was a big, empty box! We had the space and ability to go any way we wanted with the design.
For the wedding ceremony, we tried to keep things as traditional as possible all while taking into account our surroundings. We washed the room in soft white lights, used natural chiavari chairs and lined the aisle with nine foot cherry trees to create a canopy. We created a back drop for the bride and groom by draping white curtain liners and flooded it with soft, white light. A string trio played a mix of traditional and contemporary music.
For the reception, Jimmy stepped up to the plate and let his wishes be known – modern all the way. And then one word from Jeannie – FLOWERS! I heard her say, on multiple occasions, “I want to spend my entire budget on flowers”. She’ s a girl after my own heart! Jeannie’s favorite flower is a peony, next to impossible in July. However, Wendy Wright of A Beautiful Event, was our hero when she showed up with bucket after bucket of gorgeous peonies! To give the room a modern feel, we washed it with deep pink lights from the rafters to create a glow that put everyone in the mood to dance! The tables were covered in a slate colored linen and clusters of flowers that ranged from deep pink all the way up to pale pink took center stage. To throw in a twist of the traditional, we used full place settings even though food was stationed throughout the room.
I knew our goal of giving enough tradition for the parents and enough modern for the couple when the mother of the bride walked into the ceremony space and tears streamed down her face while saying “I never knew this could be so beautiful. She quickly called her husband who rushed over. As soon as he walked in, he uttered the same sentiment. When Jeannie & Jimmy saw the reception space Jeannie’s response was “This. Is. Amazing.”
In short, the day was all they had hoped for and more.
You can see even more over on Courtney’s own blog: {part 1} and {part 2}!
Jimmy + Jeanie from Brick Street Cinema on Vimeo.
Event Planning & Design: Stellar Events, Courtney Arnold / Photography: Scott Piner / Florals: A Beautiful Event, Wendy Wright / Cake: Flower & Flour / Lighting: High Performance Lighting, Steve Peterson / Venue: Coast Line Convention Center / Catering: Pete Daniels, AQ Catering Group / Cinematography: Brick Street Cinema / Rentals: Party Suppliers & Rentals / Entertainment: DJ Professionals / Transportation: Wilmington Trolley Company / Wedding Gown: Priscilla of Boston / Bridesmaids Dresses: Simple Silhouettes