From the Blog

Engagement at the NC Hot Air Balloon Festival

Published February 1, 2016

·

Updated April 8, 2020

Advertisement

Proposal Inspiration from The NC Hot Air Balloon Festival

It’s that moment that changes your lives forever and marks the start of two becoming one – full of the most joyful emotions. If you have a groom who is organized enough to plan documentation of this occasion, lucky you! If not, you can always reenact the scene at your engagement session. And could there be a prettier proposal scene than the NC Hot Air Balloon Festival?

Last spring, WRAL sponsored the first North Carolina hot air balloon festival at Bennett Bunn farm in Zebulon, just a few minutes outside of Raleigh. This picturesque country property with historic tobacco barns, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, beautiful pastures and a gazebo, hosts weddings and events in their rustic stone and timber lakeside lodge. The festival hosted dozens of hot air balloons in Bennett Bunn’s expansive fields, and made the perfect photo-opp for a proposal picnic-styled shoot that SB&G put on with the help of Erin McLean Events, featured in our 2016 magazine.

The day was mostly beautiful, but blustery winds grounded the balloons while our now newlywed couple, Brooke and Jason McDowell, enjoyed the time together with the picnic fare. For a proposal or engagement shoot at the NC Hot Air Balloon Festival, include pretty details for the photos, such as food, flowers or a favorite quote on a mirror or a chalkboard – along with a picturesque location. The beautiful diamond ring from Diamonds Direct Crabtree sparkles on a summer day.

Enjoy the colorful and fun images captured by photographer Jamie Blow below, and take note of ideas for your own creative proposal or engagement shoot!
Hot air balloon engagement photos in NCPink peony bouquetHot air balloon festival in north carolinaDiamonds Direct engagement ringsChalk board signs in weddingsNorth Carolina engagmenet and wedding photographyCute engagement photo ideasOutdoor picnic engagement sessionsPicnic engagement session by Jamie Blow PhotographyPink engagement and wedding inspirationPastel and pink color pallette for summer weddingVENUE Bennett Bunn  | PHOTOGRAPHER Jamie Blow Photography | STYLING & FLORALS Erin McLean Events | CHALKBOARD SIGNAGE Pen Pointed Calligraphy | EARRINGS & ENGAGEMENT RING Diamonds Direct Crabtree

Thank you to the other shoot participants: Hot Air Marketing, producer of the WRAL Freedom Balloon Festival; and Ramey Rhodes, local fashion designer of the bride-to-be’s dress.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Weekly Wedding Planner

We're Here for You Every Step, Every Week

NC vendor spotlights, real wedding inspiration and planning advice from our local wedding community.

You're in! Go find your welcome email (could be in Spam or Promotions) and whitelist us so you don't miss a thing.

Find Your Wedding Pros

Ready to Start Booking?

Browse NC venues and vendors who fit your budget and your style.

Search the Directory

Why Trust Our Recommendations

How We Choose Our Vendors

We've been connecting North Carolina couples with wedding pros for more than 40 years. Every vendor in our directory is a local business we know – and we only recommend the people we'd send our own friends to. Read more about how we choose.

We review their work

Our editors look at real weddings, portfolios and style before anyone joins.

We check the business

Business registration, insurance and years of experience are part of every application.

We ask around

References from fellow NC wedding pros and past couples round out the picture.

Love is love

Every vendor supports our mission to represent all weddings, including LGBTQ+ couples. Read our statement on inclusivity.

Scroll to Top

Step 1 of 3

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

2027 Magazine Preorder

Reserve Your FREE Copy of the 2027 Wedding Guide

Real weddings, local vendor features, budgeting advice and creative inspiration from across the heart of North Carolina. Preorder now and we'll ship your free copy straight to your door in January.