Cara and Corey
With a bride from Durham and the couple meeting here, you could say it is a special city for Cara and Corey. The couple wanted to keep their ceremony and reception locally sourced. Not only did they choose renowned Durham locations, but kept their flowers, food and more, local! This locally infused Durham Wedding was seamlessly executed by Sally Oakley Weddings & Events.
Getting Ready
Cara chose a classically beautiful lace dress from Tre Bella Bridal with a transparent back. “The ladies at Tre Bella Bridal were so wonderful to work with,” said the bride. “The consultant really paid attention to what I wanted.”
“Bronwyn Duffield Photography took beautiful shots. She is the best! We loved that she helped us to look very natural and not posed,” said Cara.
Ceremony at Duke Chapel
Since the couple had met in Cara’s hometown of Durham while attending physical therapy school at Duke University, getting married at Duke Chapel was a natural fit. They built on that by choosing a local wedding theme, sourcing from virtually all in-state vendors.
Reception at The Cookery
Cara and Corey wanted their wedding reception to feel warm and inviting, and their planning team made that come to life with locally-grown flowers, silver and gold candle accents, and the warm brick walls of their venue.
“The Cookery was a beautiful and interesting space that allowed us to have the intimate celebration we wanted while still having over 100 guests. It’s use of artifacts and upcycled materials from Durham in the architecture and décor was also important to us since this is the city we met and I grew up in. We also loved meeting Tammy and her team at The Cookery and felt very confident that they could help us navigate the planning process,” shared Cara.
A special NC touch of Cheerwine and local pecans, candied by the bride herself, were given as favors to the wedding guests.
“Hiring Sally was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding,” shared Cara. “She made a custom service package for us according to what we needed, and provided invaluable advice for every aspect of our wedding throughout our 18-months engagement. On the day of the wedding, Sally made our lives stress-free and no task was too small – she and her team took care of us, our families, and our wedding party.”
SB&G Preferred Vendors
WEDDING CONSULTANT Sally Oakley Weddings & Events | PHOTOGRAPHER Bronwyn Duffield Photography | RECEPTION The Cookery | REHEARSAL DINNER Parizade | CATERER Donovan’s Dish | GOWN St. Patrick from Tre Bella Bridal | PARTY RENTALS American Party Rentals | ACCOMMODATIONS Durham Marriott City Center
Other Vendors
Ceremony: Duke University Chapel – Durham, NC | Minister: Pastor Chris Pappalardo | Bridal Shoes: Betsy Johnson | Bridesmaids’ Dresses (designer and salon): David’s Bridal | Florist: Pine State Flowers-Durham, NC | Cake: Details Cake Design-Cary, NC | Stationer: Reaves Engraving – Laurinburg, NC | Calligrapher: Marika Wendelken (chalkboard artist) | Ceremony Musicians: Jordan Prescott, Duke Chapel Organist | Reception Music: Bunn DJ Company – Frank Meldau-Raleigh, NC | Party Rentals (linens, tables, chairs, tent, etc): CE Linens | Transportation: Ecostyle Transportation-Raleigh, NC | Hair for Bridal Party: Makeup by Ashley Mooney-Raleigh, NC | Make-Up: Julie Robbins Makeup-Raleigh, NC | Engagement Ring: Heirloom from Nana of the Bride | Wedding Favors: Cheerwine and NC pecans candied by Bride
