The French Bee Events Brings Together New Bern’s Top Local Vendors
Wedding planning and floral design duo Christa Tarver and Anne Griggs partner as The French Bee Events. Christa and Anne have each been involved in planning and decorating hundreds of weddings. This seasoned pair rallied a group of top-notch vendors to conceptualize and produce this styled wedding photo shoot in New Bern, North Carolina.
New Bern is Christa and Anne’s home base. New Bern is a city near the coast that was established in 1710, making it the second-oldest European settled colonial town in the state. As these romantic scenes display, New Bern is a highly sought-after area for events. The city offers historic character and beautiful waterfront views from its location at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent rivers. “It is really a perfect spot for a destination wedding,” Anne says. “We have some amazing vendors and venues here.”
Wedding Venue Options in New Bern, NC
New Bern offers many venue options for hosting weddings. The eastern NC town is home to mansions like The Jarvis at 220 to the Riverfront Convention Center of Craven County, which can easily host hundreds and offers stunning views of the waterfront. Tryon Palace, the former home of Royal Governor William Tryon that was constructed in 1770, also caters to weddings across its grounds and extensive gardens.
Another draw is New Bern’s bustling downtown area. The city has plenty of architectural charm as well as restaurants, cafes, antique shops and galleries to explore. “Guests love to come stay in the historic part of town and walk around during the day and poke into shops,” Anne says. “We have a big selection of golf courses, or maybe a boat outing is on the menu,” she adds. What is certain is that wedding guests will find varied entertainment options to explore throughout their stay.
Anne and Christa made use of a weathered warehouse as the backdrop for this particular styled wedding, showcasing a warm, romantic design in addition to New Bern’s picturesque waterfront.
Romantic Floral Designs by The French Bee Events
Soft yet colorful blooms create an impressive display that stems from Anne and Christa’s vision of a hopelessly romantic scene. The French Bee’s aspiration “is to make florals look as Mother Nature intended them to,” Anne says. This is achieved in part through “grouping similar flowers together – in a garden you normally will not find one delphinium blooming all by itself, but within a group,” Anne adds. In keeping with this principle, clusters of Moab, Candlelight, Gobi peach, Moonstone and Pastella blush roses emerge from natural greenery that Anne sourced locally. “I find that incorporating things that grow around us gives the flowers a much more natural look and lends a lot of interest,” she says.
These overflowing floral arrangements accompany flowy drapery, creating a cozy, welcoming feel in the industrial space. Anne emphasizes that multiple decor elements tie together the overall theme of a celebration and are necessary to transform any location into an elevated setting.
“I don’t just design one aspect of an event,” Anne says. “I think about how all the different elements – such as drapery, linens, rentals, lighting and florals – will help me create the entire look or feel.” A grand floral installation perched on a ceiling beam helps to balance the scene, Anne says, while rosy linens, lanterns and plush seating from The Carolina Refinery further cushion the venue.
Throughout this styled wedding, Kate McMillan models two gowns from New Bern’s own Thornbury Brides; Reign by Kelly Faetanini with a cascading skirt of blush ombre tulle, and a strapless lace Eddie K dress.
“Kelly Faetanini is classic with a twist,” says boutique owner Nell Todd. “We were looking for a romantic, soft look with the rustic surroundings.
Paired with a tousled updo and peachy makeup by Reign Beauty, Kate looks radiant next to her make-believe partner, George Zaytoun III. He’s dressed in a navy suit from Bernard’s Formalwear.
After their imaginary vows, the couple heads outside for portraits during golden hour. The sun gently slips toward the horizon. Gazing out across the water as it catches golden rays, it’s clear that New Bern’s enduring charm will continue to capture the hearts of couples for years – perhaps centuries – to come.
