Is it possible to fall in love with a cake? I think I stand here as proof that it is because I am head over heels gaga for the pretty pastry below. The rest of this Parisian-inspired, Bald Head Island wedding by Kellie Kano Photography is organically chic and elegant dripping in all-natural romance. I adore the mix of birch-wrapped vases, mercury glass and larger-than-life pink peonies. Now how to get my hands on a slice of that cake! Settle into the full gallery to see all the gorgeous details!
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From the bride…
Bald Head Island is a magical place. Just off the coast of North Carolina at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, it offers untouched marshes, maritime forests, and miles of gorgeous beaches. You can’t drive on the island (no cars, just golf carts!) – and you have to take a ferry to get there. So you are forced to slow down as soon as you get to the dock at Southport. I always knew that BHI would be an amazing place to get married, and when I became engaged to a man who loves the beach and the coast of North Carolina as much as I do, our choice for a wedding location came pretty easily.
We were engaged in April of 2010, and after coordinating dates with several key vendors (had to have Kellie Kano!), we set our date for May 21, 2011. Having just taken a trip to Paris, my inspiration came from a very Parisian chic photograph that I found on Style Me Pretty. It was a beautiful outdoor table scheme set with a blue linen tablecloth and a linen/burlap covered chair, finished with a charcoal and white ribbon. Kim Fisher was key in corralling my ideas. She captured my concepts for the reception even better than I could have imagined. Kim let the island itself dictate the overall style, keeping everything fresh and natural, down to the actual wedding colors. She even had sea oats and magnolia leaves in large urns on either side of us as we said our vows – so southern and gorgeous. Shauna Harris, the event planner at the Bald Head Island Club, was essential in making everything work. Not only was she someone to bounce ideas off of (we became fast email buddies), but I knew I could trust her completely. I was able to let go of all the nitty gritty details and just enjoy everything. (My advice to brides- get yourself a Shauna!)
My Father walked me down the aisle and also performed the ceremony. We said “I do” on the terrace with a view of the ocean, brilliant blue skies, and many happy tears. The reception was the perfect culmination to a beautiful weekend. Our band, TFC, was bananas! They made the party from beginning to end – there wasn’t a moment when the dance floor wasn’t crowded with people. They even learned my parent’s song so we could surprise them with a chance to have the “first dance” they had always wanted at their own reception. We left the club that night with people cheering and singing the UNC fight song (we both went to Carolina), waving Tarheel blue pom-poms and eating paper bags full of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. What a way to end a weekend filled with so much joy. Having all the people we love most in the world in that one place was just precious to us – nothing short of heaven.
Photography: Kellie Kano Photography / Venue: Bald Head Island Club / Event Planner: Shauna Harris of the Bald Head Island Club / Dress: Amsale / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale / Flowers: Kim Fisher Designs / Cake: Flower & Flour / Band: The TFC Band / Hitched Banner: Minimega