Art and Nature Merge at North Carolina Museum of Art’s Refreshed Spaces
The winding path leading to North Carolina Museum of Art’s West Building offers glimpses of the dozens of sculptural installations peppering the gentle hills and walking trails of the museum’s 164-acre park. A shining 46-foot-tall stainless steel tree, dubbed “Askew,” by artist Roxy Paine greets visitors near the building’s entrance, a bold emblem of the intersection of art and nature that’s a recurring theme throughout the museum’s spaces and this styled wedding design.
NCMA’s Newly Updated West Building
Upon arriving at the West Building, guests step into the reimagined galleries of the People’s Collection – the state art collection that was reinstalled along with an update of the West Building’s cafe and lobby areas in 2022.
“Galleries in West now offer thematic and interpretive art experiences, additional major loans from North Carolina and from national and international museums, and new site-specific commissioned works alongside visitor favorites presented in new ways,” says Catering Works marketing director Nicole Flynn. The building’s exterior is largely formed by glass, allowing natural light to sweep through its 127,000 square feet.
Modern Neutral Art Museum Wedding Design
This is the backdrop for an elegant, refined styled wedding created by a group of exceptional local vendors, under the guidance of Plume Events owner and creative director and Heart of NC Weddings creative shoot director Amy Plant-Perdue. “We leaned into materials, textures, and shapes to create interest, rather than going for a lot of color, which some might expect for an art museum wedding,” Amy describes.
An unconventional ceremony backdrop surrounded by potted plants and twisting branches creates a “submersible vignette,” describes Bloom Works director EW Fulcher. The organic shapes of leaves and petals contrast with sculptures and the bright, interactive digital displays of the West Building’s galleries, visible just beyond the ceremony display. A few unexpected magenta scabious and allium flowers deliver restrained, sophisticated pops of color amid ample greenery.
Model Chermere McAllister and her real-life husband, TJ McAllister, pose at the faux altar, Cher wearing a chic strapless dress from Raleigh boutique Gilded Bridal and TJ a classic black tux from Durham’s Bernard’s Formalwear. “We wanted the styling of the models to tie into our modern yet artful feel, so we selected a beautiful gown from Gilded with a clean, classic silhouette and an interesting paneled construction,” Amy says. Adorned with earrings and embellished gloves from Hushed Commotion, along with a delicate Diamonds Direct engagement ring, Cher’s slicked-back bun and natural makeup by Pinup Studio complete a timeless bridal look.
Cher carries an elegant bouquet of pitcher plants, pepper grass and various eucalyptus presenting a “modern natural” option, EW says. Similar blooms decorate an understated three-tiered cake by Raleigh-based baker Sugar Euphoria.
The museum’s permanent cafe naturally lends itself to cocktail hour. The cafe got a facelift during the People’s Collection reinstallation, including added seating extending out into the lobby area, a new stationary bar as well as an expanded sound system and screens to support events. Still, the curled branches of Patrick Dougherty’s “Out of the Box,” a 75-foot by 15-foot installation of red maple saplings, remains the most recognizable feature of the cafe and provides a textured, impactful backdrop for portraits.
Refining a Neutral Palette to Suit the North Carolina Museum of Art
Returning to the spacious main hall, an elegant head table draws together natural elements and polished rentals. “We leaned into materials, textures, and shapes to create interest, rather than going for a lot of color, which some might expect for an art museum wedding,” Amy describes. “We wanted our shoot to mirror the art museum – it’s a beautiful, neutral palette that allows the art in it to shine. We, in the same way, used neutral bases (in the linens and rentals) to allow the art of the floral design and stationery to shine.”
Sophisticated Neutral Tablescape Details
Neutral linens and tableware from Curated Events Raleigh allow overflowing florals and Revel NC’s rattan and acrylic table numbers, place settings and menus to take center stage. “We used NCMA’s water features as our main inspiration – we wanted it to feel as though we carried those ponds inside, which you can see in the tablescape designs,” Amy says. Centerpieces of greenery and stone mirror the lily pad pool, trees and sculptures in the outdoor space adjacent to the West Building’s galleries.
“Couples utilize the North Courtyard as the primary ceremony destination, weather permitting,” Nicole says. While it drizzled on the day of this styled wedding (let that serve as a reminder to always, always have a rain plan!) Fancy This Photography founder Nikki Whitt Belch patiently waited for a break in the clouds to arrange a brief photo session in the courtyard, and, alongside videographer Mark Maya, made good use of the Rodin and sculpture galleries as the backdrop for couple portraits.
The dreary weather didn’t drive away a festive feel as Catering Works staff prepared an overflowing grazing table, serving stations and bar for our annual vendor mixer following the styled wedding. Of course, taking to the dance floor with DJs Spencer McAvoy and Jason Huggins of Stylus S.E. always lifts the mood, too!
Learn more about the newly updated North Carolina Museum of Art!
