Elizabeth and Nick: St. Michael's Ceremony and Stockroom Reception

In honor of their 1st year anniversary - we are finally blogging about this seriously sweet couple! I met Elizabeth and Nick at Panera over coffee. We instantly clicked. Elizabeth is that person that you see and wonder how they became so genuine and kind. She is one of the warmest and sweetest person we have ever had the pleasure to work with. Nick is just as wonderful and one of those grooms that you hope your daughter will end up with one day. I mean they are both teachers and met teaching at St. Michaels. How cute is that!?!  I loved meetings with these two! It was never a chore, nor was it ever dull! We laughed, chatted, and at times got a little real about life. 

She sent us a random e-mail that she was looking for a house to rent for her family to stay in from Wednesday - Sunday. I replied back with - "well, I have this house -well venue actually - and it is free that weekend." This was the first time we had a group of people stay for an extended time. It was wonderful! We loved making the beds, washing the towels, making breakfast, and tending to their needs. They were the kindest people. I just loved that family! They held the rehearsal dinner there, and they invited everyone over for Sunday brunch the day after the wedding. It was one of those moments when you just got teary-eyed. THIS was what our vision was. Family and love. We were so grateful they chose us to host them for the weekend. 

She had a beautiful vision for The Stockroom and we were so thrilled that she also chose to use Bushel and Peck for her flowers. Becca was the designer and she did a great job! She wanted simple, lots of greenery, and very natural. 

Now this girl is gorgeous normally, but let me tell you- she was stunning in her dress. That dress! It was ah-mazing and fit her so perfectly- it looked like it was designed with her in mind. 

We loved every aspect of this night. Brett with Blest Studios was a dream to work with. Ryan with SPIN kept us laughing and entertained with their seriously awesome taste in music. Beau Catering gave us a delicious meal that was the talk of the night. We ended in an epic confetti blast that was released at "the note" from Whitney Houston's I will always love you. Total disclaimer here- Confetti is NOT allowed at The Stockroom. We didn't know- we do now and we know why. I am still finding gold confetti around The Bradford and in my bridal kit.

Enjoy these photos from one of my absolute favorites from last year! It was one of those events that makes you love your job so much. 

Our wonderful vendors:

Photography by Blest Studios

Design by Bushel and Peck Designs for C and D Events

Reception Venue: The Stockroom at 230

Ceremony venue: St. Michael The Archangel Catholic Church

Hair and Make-up: Perfection by Patricia

Catering: Beau Catering

Rentals: CE Rental

DJ: Ryan with Spin

Planning: Dana with C and D Events

Caroline And Sean's Love Story

Sean and I met junior year of high school at High Point Christian Academy. Now when most people hear that, they assume we are high school sweethearts. And while that would be a cute and wonderful tale, Sean and I laugh at the thought of our high school selves ever dating! In fact junior year, we were very far from it!

Sean and I met briefly one day after class just a few weeks into junior year. I was the new kid, and yet to have really found my group of friends, I didn't have my license, I was getting a ride from a boy in my class who's mother knew my mother and arranged him as my "chauffeur" for all of volleyball season. Because he played football, our practice got out at the same time, they lived close by and I needed to make friends and what better way to make friends then have your mother arrange it for you...... it was so humiliating for me that I don't even remember meeting Sean. However, Sean remembers the events very clearly.

He told me that up until that day Andrew, the boy with the car, was his ride to and from practice, and now he would have to find another ride because I stole him. To him I was the new girl that messed up his weekly schedule. What a great way to start of a relationship!

We didn't interact again until second semester during a class work day for spirit week. Because I was still the new girl, and lacked any real artistic ability I was assigned to boat duty. I was given a print out, youtube video and a cardboard box to turn into Captain Hooks ship for our Peter Pan themed hallway. Oh and Sean along with a few other guys were assigned to help me. None of them knew my name (and for the record I didn't know theirs but that's not the point!) Sean with his need to be witty and entertaining, decided to call me boat master, and for the rest of the year that was my new name. Although he swears to this day he really was just trying to be funny and knew exactly who I was, I still do't believe him.

From then on we were acquaintances and later into senior year became friends as we studied for anatomy and stats, oh and did I mention he dated my best friend, Ellen :/. I was the third wheel on many a date to Chick-fil-la and sporting events, and eventually became Sean's right hand man in figuring out how to make Ellen happy. Apparently I did't do that great of a job and by the time graduation rolled around the relationship was over and we all left for college.

Sean and I are on the left, this was taken in Florida on the annual high school senior service trip. 

Sean and I were two of the four people from our graduating class that ended up at NCSU. And the four of us stuck together as we navigated the new chapter in our lives. Eventually we began to form our own friend groups and drift apart, but Sean always seemed to be around. He quickly became my go to person and best friend and everything was great! Until I started dating Chris. Sean was moody and mad all the time, I didn't know why and it wasn't until Chris and I broke up that he seemed his old self again. As he comforted me after the breakup, we started staying out later just talking and hanging out, and eventually somewhere that year my feelings for him changed.

This was taken on a spontaneous beach day Freshman year of college.

I later found out he had liked me for quite some time and I had been completely oblivious! We started to go out on dates and just have fun. But I ruined it. Right before the summer of freshman year I told him I just wanted to be friends... it was a total lie, but I left, I mean I literally left the country for the next 10 weeks. Not exactly the best way to end things.

As school started back Sean and I respectfully gave each other the silent treatment. We didn't speak at all, and barley acknowledged each others presence even though we saw each other  ALLL the time, because he lived in the same building, right above my suite. Those next 6 months were the absolute worst. I think I cried everyday and was constantly in a pout. I missed my best friend and I still liked him, I was just scared to ruin a friendship, but the problem was I had already ruined it, so I decided that wallowing in self-pity was the answer. I was such a downer to be around and all my roommates can testify that they had had enough of this ridiculousness.

My roommate eventually helped me realize that it wasn't worth it, and that I had nothing left to loose, it was time to talk to him. After some liquid courage (because we all need some now and again) I walked right up to his door and asked to chat. After that things happened rather fast, within three days we were not only best friends again but officially and publicly dating. It was great!


After just a few months I knew he was it and I couldn't have been happier. About a year into the relationship we started talking about marriage. We knew were young, but waiting any longer was just not an option. We had great relationships with each others families and when you know, you just know.

And finally this past October he asked me to spend the rest of my life with him! And in just 75 days we will graduate and in 76 days we will tie the knot at The Bradford with all of our friends and family!

So no, we aren't high school sweethearts, and while that would make for a great story, I like ours a lot better.

Just a few photos from our engagement shoot with Blest Studios!

Top 16 - Theres lots to do... but...

In the sprit of our Top 16 things we are excited about this year, I thought I'd share a few personal things. 

First, I'm getting married!!!! My best friend proposed to me this past October and made me the happiest person alive. We have been talking about it for a while and its almost here! In a few short months, we get the privilege of standing up in front of our closest family and friends and committing ourselves to each other for life.

Along with getting married, we both graduate this year! FINALLY! Four years seems like forever, but on top of that we graduate the day before we get married. I know, we are crazy having graduation and a wedding all in the same weekend. But it just happened to work out this way and the more I think about it the more I am happy with our decision, we get to share two of the best moments of 2016 with all our loved ones, and I couldn’t ask for anything more.

On top of all that…. Sean will be attending grad school, which throws all our plans up in the air as we await to find our where we will end up.

So with graduation, a wedding, and maybe moving, my emotions are all over the place! But I’ve decided to use this burst of emotional energy and channel it into productivity. Because while we are all excited for next steps there is still a lot to do.

As I am knee deep in planning my own wedding, I have learned what its like to be “on the other side” of the process. Since joining the team I have only been introduced to planning a wedding for someone else, I am generally able to see things from a more objective stand point. Now planning my own, I understand at a much deeper level what our brides are going through and intend to use this new found knowledge as we go into the new work year. Especially in the area of communication. As a bride I want to know exactly what vendors can offer, exactly how much its going to cost and exactly what I need to do. But sometimes its hard for vendors to give us exactly what we want as there are always underlying factors we are unaware of.

So this year one of our goals as the C and D and Bradford teams is to be better at communication. So prepare to hear from us a lot more.  We are going to work o our presence on the blog and social media, as well as revamp our information packets so we can better serve you.

Now I know that’s a lot of stuff to look forward to but I really am excited for this year. So here’s to the new year and everything that comes with it


Here are some of our engagements photos thank to Brett Seay from Blest Studios!