Katie and Sam – Proximity Hotel Wedding – Greensboro, NC

From the bride:
Sam and I were introduced through a mutual friend at church one Sunday and began spending time together shortly after. One of the activities that we have come to love together are wine tastings and tours at the local vineyards in North Carolina. He even proposed at a gorgeous winery in Virginia, Chateau Morrisette! We knew from the start of the wedding planning process that we wanted to include our love of wine in the decor. Since we had saved all of the bottles we purchased from each winery we’d visited together, we used those as part of our centerpieces on the reception tables and named the tables after each winery. We also incorporated corks on placecards, beneath the seating chart, and of course we served some good wine!

Originally, I envisioned a rustic, barn wedding and a lacey wedding dress. But when we stepped foot in the first venue we visited, the Proximity Hotel, the exquisite contemporary design and decor took my breath away! I surprised myself many more times throughout the planning process. My dress was a gorgeous fun and sexy Maggie Sottero with not an inch of lace on it! While I loved the clean lines of the Proximity, I still wanted to bring part of the outdoors inside. We had Brenda, the Proximity florist, create arching trees over our ceremony space and alternating low floral arrangements and tall branchy arrangements on the reception tables. We also included a Wishing Tree as our guestbook with DIY tags.

Family and friends are also so special to us, so it was important to ask them to contribute to our wedding. My aunt, who shares my birthday, made the necklace I wore for the ceremony and the earrings my bridesmaids wore. Our bouquets and boutonnieres were created by a long time family friend, and my friends from college played our ceremony music. My maid of honor and sorority sister allowed me to wear her pin proudly on my dress as my “something borrowed”. And of course my mom was the most invaluable person throughout the planning period!

But the most memorable moment of the day was our First Look. We met in the empty Social Lobby, not yet set up for our ceremony. He stood alone, waiting for me as I was brought down in the elevator. Slowly I walked towards him from behind, and as I touched his shoulder, his tears started flowing. As he put it, “I’ve never felt such a flood of emotion. You were so beautiful, and it was a moment I wish I could relive again! Seeing you calmed my nerves, and I was ready to enjoy the rest of OUR day.” Neither of us would take back that time together, and if you’re debating over doing a First Look, DO IT!!! You’ll be so happy you did! The reception was a fabulous party, and we danced, danced, danced until it was time to go. It was such a blessing to share our wedding day with the most special people in our lives, and we will forever cherish our memories!