Gianna & Kelbie’s Formal Ceremony at Donovan Manor
A mutual friend introduced Gianna Acri to Kelbie Cox at a country-rock concert in 2021. Gianna was seeing someone at the time, but Kelbie waited patiently for a chance to ask her out, and three months later they went on their first date. About two years later, Kelbie proposed at Romare Bearden Park in Charlotte, surrounded by close friends and family.
The pair swiftly got started planning a formal wedding, and hired Magnolia Collective to ensure the day went off without a hitch.
Black-Tie Raleigh Wedding Planned by Magnolia Collective
Set against the classic architecture and serene outdoor spaces at Raleigh’s Donovan Manor, Gianna and Kelbie’s May wedding was timeless down to the smallest detail. The event incorporated many personal touches, even including the couple’s dachshund, Finn, in the special day.
“We’ll forever be grateful to Meagan [Culkin, founder of Magnolia Collective], and her team,” Gianna says. “They not only saved our wedding day [when our original venue closed without warning], but did so with such grace, care and attention to detail that our experience was more perfect than we imagined.”
Elegant Cream and Ivory Wedding Design
The pair exchanged vows on May 5, 2025, on a circular platform surrounded by cream and white Heritage Floral Design arrangements. Rentals from Curated Events Raleigh tied the event together from cocktail hour to reception. “We wanted an elegant wedding that our friends and family would talk about for years to come,” Gianna says. “We valued quality and expertise over quantity – that mindset influenced everything from our wedding bands to water glasses.”
Finn was an honored wedding guest that the pair paid tribute to by including his image on custom cocktail napkin and wedding invitation designs. Gianna says that she and Kelbie share a favorite memory of the big day: walking into their reception for the first time. “[Wedding planning] can be stressful and overwhelming, but it’s all worth it to see everything come together,” she says.
The couple and their guests danced to a soundtrack from Bunn DJ Company that perfectly blended their tastes in country, pop and rock and roll as the pair celebrated joining their families. “There was never a dull moment on the dance floor,” Gianna says.
