Ken & Kathleen: Proximity Hotel Winter Wedding

A Winter Wonderland: Allie and Nick's Magical Wedding Day

On December 20th, the air was filled with love and holiday cheer as Allie and Nick tied the knot, beautifully honoring not only their union but also the special bond of family. This date held a special significance, as it was also the anniversary of Allie’s parents, creating a heartfelt connection that infused the entire day with warmth and nostalgia.

The day began with a touching ceremony held in a charming church, where friends and family gathered to witness Allie and Nick exchange their vows. The atmosphere was serene, accentuated by soft lighting and holiday decorations that added a magical touch. Allie looked stunning in her gown, while the bridesmaids—who were dressed in gorgeous gowns made by Allie herself—radiated elegance and style.

With Christmas just around the corner, the celebration was infused with festive vibes. Beautiful decorations adorned The Carolina Inn, creating a cozy winter wonderland. Twinkling lights, evergreen accents, and holiday motifs created a romantic backdrop that perfectly complemented the couple's joyful spirit. The combination of winter charm and holiday festivity made the event even more enchanting.

The reception was a delightful mix of joy and laughter, featuring a variety of games that engaged guests of all ages. The Shoe Game had everyone in stitches as Allie and Nick revealed their compatibility in the quirkiest ways. The scavenger hunt added an adventurous spirit to the evening, encouraging guests to mingle and connect, while the “Pass the Bouquet” game brought a playful twist to traditional wedding festivities. Each activity fostered an atmosphere of camaraderie and fun, making it a night to remember. One of the most touching moments of the day was during the reception at The Carolina Inn, where Allie and Nick honored Allie's parents with a special dance. This tribute was a beautiful reminder of the love that binds families together, echoing through generations. It was a moment filled with emotion, as guests joined in to celebrate not just the couple’s love, but also the love that has nurtured them.

As the evening drew to a close, Allie and Nick shared a private last dance, a sweet moment that allowed them to savor the day together before the festivities ended. Following this intimate moment, guests gathered outside for a stunning send-off, complete with a magical fake snow exit. As snowflakes swirled around them, Allie and Nick stepped into their new life together, surrounded by love and laughter.

Allie and Nick’s wedding day was not just a celebration of their love, but also a heartfelt tribute to family, fun, and the joy of the season. Every moment was captured in stunning detail, preserving the memories that will last a lifetime.

Thank you to Allie and Nick for allowing me to be a part of your special day. Your love story is truly inspiring, and I wish you a lifetime of happiness together.

Vendor Credits

Christopher and Danielle: The Grand Marquise Ballroom Wedding

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This wedding day wouldn’t be possible without an amazing team of vendors!

Planning: Bluebell Weddings

Venue: Grand Marquise Ballroom

Hair & Makeup: Wedding Hair by Liz & Onloktion

Florist: The English Garden

Dress: David's Bridal

Men’s Attire: New York Bride & Groom of Raleigh

Rentals: CE Rental

Catering: Unforgettable Food Affairs

Lacy Matusek Named Winner of the Knot Best of Weddings for Third Year in a Row

16th Annual Best of Weddings Awards Honor the Top Wedding Vendors Across America

Raleigh, North Carolina January 20, 2022— Lacy Matusek Photography is pleased to announce that they have been selected as a 2022 ­­winner of The Knot Best of Weddings, an accolade representing the highest- and most-rated wedding professionals as reviewed by real couples, their families and wedding guests on The Knot, a leading all in one wedding planning destination. This is the third year Lacy Matusek has been named a winner of The Knot Best of Weddings awards. 

 In its sixteenth annual year, The Knot continues its longstanding tradition of supporting local wedding vendors with The Knot Best of Weddings 2022, an annual by-couples, for-couples guide to the top wedding professionals across the country. This year, five percent of hundreds of thousands of local wedding professionals listed on The Knot received this distinguished award. 

To determine the winners, The Knot analyzed its millions of user reviews across various vendor categories—including venues, musicians, florists, photographers, caterers, and more—to find the highest-rated vendors of the year. These winners represent the best of the best wedding professionals that engaged couples should consider booking for their own unique weddings. 

The Knot has inspired 25 million couples (and counting!) to plan a wedding that’s uniquely theirs - from finding inspiration and local vendors to creating and managing all guest experiences, wedding registries, and more. On The Knot Marketplace, couples can connect with any of the hundreds of thousands of local wedding professionals across the country, and The Knot Best of Weddings award gives couples the confidence to book the best vendors to bring their wedding visions to life. In combination with years of trusted content, The Knot’s innovative technology helps all couples seamlessly plan a wedding that’s uniquely theirs.

Wedding professionals who win The Knot Best of Weddings are members of WeddingPro, a leading B2B wedding brand. As the largest marketplace and community for wedding professionals, WeddingPro connects businesses with more than 13 million unique monthly visitors who are planning weddings on The Knot and WeddingWire, as well as with hundreds of thousands of pros in the industry. Through its online marketplaces, educational programs, and community-building events, WeddingPro is dedicated to helping wedding professionals build relationships with couples and pros that grow their businesses.

For more information about The Knot Best of Weddings and this year’s winners, please visit https://www.theknot.com/vendors/best-of-weddings.

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I Said Yes to the Dress, At Home!

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For the past couple years, I have had my eyes set on Azazie’s Lafayette dress. It was a beautiful flowy gown with gorgeous layers of tulle, floral appliques, and basically everything a girl could dream of in a wedding dress! Right after I got engaged, I signed up to be on the waitlist to be notified when one was available in my size through their at-home try on program.

Little did I know, that meant I would only have to wait a couple of days. I got the email that my dream dress was available to try on so of course I went to order it immediately! Through their program, you are able to “rent” up to 3 dresses for a week. At the last minute, I decided it was probably a good idea to add 2 other dresses to my box “just in case.”

The dresses took about a week to process and ship and I knew I wanted it to me more of an experience than just trying them on as soon as they got there, so I invited some family and friends to join in on the fun.

Of course, as soon as the box got there though, I promptly FaceTimed my mom and ripped it open! I just wanted to see the beauty in real life! I immediately had a few concerns with the details that were way more obvious in person than online and was so glad I decided to order some backup dresses.

Saturday FINALLY came around, (do you know how hard it is to NOT try on a wedding dress when it is just sitting in your room!?) and we turned our house into a bridal boutique! No girls day is complete without a brunch board and mimosas.

After brunch, we headed to our church to meet with the pastor and let our mom’s see our ceremony location then spent some time on our newly renovated main street in Franklinton! We sent Cody on his way to play golf and then came home for what we’d all been waiting for.

In my mind, I knew the order in which I liked the dresses and decided to put on my least favorite first and work up to what I thought would be THE ONE. As soon as I put on the first dress and walked out into our living room, I knew that poor Lafayette was going to have a run for her money. We added a belt and a veil and everyone ooh-ed and ahh-ed over it. Spoiler alert: this ended up being my dress!

I reminded everyone that this was originally my least favorite and we had 2 more to look at first! As much as we all loved the train on the second one, we couldn’t get over some of the details in the lace. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the nude underlay. We’re getting married in a fairly traditional church and don’t think our pastor would have approved either.

Finally, it was time for the dress I’ve pictured myself walking down the aisle in for years! As soon as Taelor took it out of the bag, I knew it wasn’t going to be my dress. We laughed and struggled to get me into the endless layers of tulle and I walked out. It was such a pretty dress, but ultimately not the one for me!

I am SO grateful that I decided to do this at-home try on process. It was so relaxed and laid-back and we got to make a whole day of it! I would totally recommend this to all my brides. Also, I am blown away by the quality of Azazie’s dresses. I knew they were amazing for bridesmaids dresses, but their wedding dress line is absolutely incredible, and so much more affordable than I ever could have imagined!