Bright Orange and Pink Summer Wedding Design at The Cookery
The Bull City’s industrial beginnings are part of the magic at The Cookery, where modern love stories meld with the city’s history. The property includes a pair of more than 100-year-old brick buildings, a private cobblestoned garden, a courtyard and dressing suite, which are spacious enough to host hundreds.
Pieces of Durham’s History at The Cookery
The Front Room – the smaller of the venue’s two ballrooms – features lofty 20-foot ceilings arching over twinkling strands of market lights. The focal point is a bar made from pieces of the original Lucky Strike water tower with a top formed by a tobacco warehouse shutter. Guests can rest their feet on a foot rail made out of a reclaimed trolley track from a route that once passed by the venue’s location on West Chapel Hill Street.
Salvaged metal crescents from the motel that once occupied the current site of Durham Station and repurposed pieces of a Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company building give the elegant mezzanine railing its distinctive character.
These tangible elements of the past play well with the whimsy of a vibrant summer event styled by Heart of NC Weddings’ Meagan Culkin. The couple pictured here, Nicole Oxendine (founder of Durham’s Empower Dance Studio) and Alvin Miles, tied the knot for real a few months after portraying celebrants in this editorial.
Industrial Vibes Meet Bright Florals and Playful Design
“The Cookery is this really cool, industrial, funky space, and I know couples often play it a little bit safe here,” Meagan says. “They don’t [typically choose] big, colorful palettes like this.” The design illustrates how bright tones and playful details both contrast with and soften the venue’s edgier side. Stunning stems from Bowerbird Flowers & Apothecary in warm shades bring bold energy throughout the outdoor spaces and complement the abundance of brick, stone and metalwork. In the courtyard, tables set with American Party Rentals linens and tableware are arranged in a serpentine pattern that encourages mingling and brings a fresh look to the alfresco reception.
“The Cookery offers both indoor and outdoor spaces, providing endless possibilities – and this design beautifully captures that versatility,” says General Manager Katie Horn. “It showcases how each area can be styled in unique ways, highlighting the contrast between soft, seasonal elements and the venue’s industrial aesthetic.”
Photographer Elyssa Kivus, founder of Kivus & Camera, says the decor and styling were a perfect pairing for her skill with colorful imagery. Elyssa’s talent for bold wedding photography shines in capturing cheerful and expressive moments. She highlights Nicole wearing a strapless Gilded Bridal gown and bespoke jewelry from Jewelsmith, while Alvin looks sharp in an ensemble from Bernard’s Formalwear.
The pair pose under a canopy of drapery that sets a romantic tone for the exchange of vows. Katie says that, during the day, the courtyard “offers a bright, airy backdrop with an industrial edge … in the evening, with market lights overhead, the space transforms into a warm setting with a soft, starry glow.”
The evening ends on a sweet note: a three-tier creation from Durham’s own S. Richardson Cakes decorated in sunset shades of orange and pink.
The Cookery provides a unique setting for unforgettable moments to unfold and lasting memories to be added to the Bull City’s rich tapestry. “There’s truly no place more Durham than The Cookery,” Katie says. – By Emily Gessner and Renee Ambroso
