A Cheerful Rooftop Ceremony at The Durham Hotel
Steps away from downtown Durham’s premiere entertainment venues, nightlife and restaurants sits The Durham Hotel. This reclaimed 1968 building provides an ultra-modern, utterly chic location for the not-quite-so-traditional couple. The Durham Hotel rooftop provides a space for events all year round.
The Roof at The Durham
The Durham Hotel’s rooftop overlooks the Bull City’s busy downtown. The hotel has 53 guest rooms and seasonal menus, making it an ideal venue for intimate weddings along with rehearsal dinners, welcome receptions, farewell brunches and showers. The boutique hotel retains much of its ’60s charm and original details, like its very recognizable mid-century facade.
Durham’s Chic, Urban Rooftop
“If you want to give your guests a true Durham experience, you couldn’t get better than The Roof at The Durham,” says Amy Plant-Perdue, Heart of NC Weddings editorial shoot creative director.
The roof is best suited for gatherings of 60-80 guests. The roof is split into three flexible areas: an open-air patio, a covered seating area and an indoor bar. Larger receptions of up to 125 are easily accommodated at the ground-floor restaurant and coffee bar.
And if the view wasn’t enough of a draw, the hotel’s convenience comes in at a close second. Guests can stay on-site, and a 1,050-square-foot penthouse suite features a private mini terrace just off the main rooftop. This is the ultimate honeymoon suite overlooking downtown Durham. Here, couples can enjoy a spacious living room, butler bar and double vanity bathroom. This is also where your wedding party can prep just steps away from the ceremony site on the big day.
To make the most of the rooftop’s view, Amy worked with hotel staff to use spaces in a way that reflects the best flow and guest experience for events. The covered part of the rooftop can be closed in and heated for use any time of the year. The Durham’s in-house catering team works to tailor catering and bar menus for each event, with a focus on elevating seasonal ingredients.
“The design was fun, modern and vibrant,” Amy says. “Balance and interest was created through juxtaposition – the bright colors of the florals with the deep blue of the table linen; the leather, wood and black details with flowy bridesmaid dresses and a velvet linen for the cake table; the detailed and heavily embellished bridal gown with a clean chignon hairstyle.”
Cheery, Eclectic Floral Design
Katie Thomas of KatieDid Florals chose a bright color palette of yellows, mauvy pinks and chartreuse to enhance the hotel’s mod look. Katie leaned into an airy design with plenty of texture. These blooms embrace her signature whimsical style. Many of these flowers were sourced from growers local to Danville, Virginia, where Katie’s design studio is.
Katie plays up the roof’s industrial vibe with greenery that climbs the railings and a delicate ceremony setup, which seems to grow out from the patio’s floorboards. Katie also decorated the backs of The Durham’s stitched leather chairs, a special touch that added to the eclectic look.
Tabletop rentals from Best Tents & Events further tie together the funky and mod aesthetic. Organic uneven stoneware paired with timeless glassware and brushed gold flatware holds up against luxurious linens in deep blue and ivory velvet. Leather place cards by Revel NC add more texture.
Durham baker S. Richardson Cakes made a three-tier cake decorated with molded arches and fresh florals. The cake aligns with sunny stationery from Cute Buttons Gift and Paper Boutique.
Playful Wedding Portraits at The Durham Hotel
Real-life couple Lillie Brown and Daniel Pan are pictured in this styled wedding. Their love story was captured by Ariel Kaitlin Photography’s Ariel Mason. She managed photographing in direct sun with the added challenge of spotty clouds and a breezy day by using a diffuser to soften the overall look of the rooftop portraits. Ariel further embraced the midday sun, playing with silhouettes created by rays and shade, which added a “funky twist on everything,” she says.
Inside, on the mezzanine overlooking The Durham’s restaurant and lobby, Ariel harnessed as much of the natural light flowing in from the building’s original two-story, floor-to-ceiling windows as possible. She used direct flash for a few playful elevator shots, adopting a photography style that’s growing in popularity.
Lillie models a beaded lace fit-and-flare Luna by Colby John gown with detachable organza sleeves. Daniel wears a classic suit from Bernard’s Formalwear. Lillie’s short, embellished Dany Tabet reception dress shows off a playful, trendy option. “Both dresses from White Bridal Boutiques are so elegant, and the short dress made me feel so American sweetheart chic. I loved it!” Lillie says.
Lillie’s tousled updo by Britnye Shore of The Bardot was the perfect choice for a breezy day at the rooftop. It also reflects a growing trend in weddings. “For the longest time, updos felt like a 1990s prom … but they’re becoming more common,” Britnye says. “They allow brides to feel beautiful and like themselves.” Lillie’s makeup reflects a youthful vibe with a natural glam finish. An edgy eye with rose gold eyeshadow, bold lashes and liner makes her blue eyes pop.
Nontraditional Wedding Jewelry by Jewelsmith
Lillie wears a stack of five wedding bands in mixed metals – a fresh, nontraditional option. “Having a set of coordinated rings allows the [wearer] to incorporate family diamonds of all different sizes, which can be challenging if [a client is custom] designing just one ring,” Jewelsmith’s Katherine Nielsen says. “It’s also a great choice for someone who works in a field that requires latex gloves, since there isn’t a large gem sticking up.” Daniel wears a hammered gold band, meteorite cufflinks and a handcrafted octagon lapel pin.
Mismatched Blue Bridesmaid Dresses
Maria Oviedo wears a Jenny Yoo dress in a muted chambray shade. Andreana Assimos models a flowy Dessy Group jumpsuit. Both looks are from Bella Bridesmaids Raleigh. Maria wears pearl stud earrings and a South Sea pearl necklace from Jewelsmith. Andreana models a matching Mountain Laurel earring and necklace set that is part of Jewelsmith’s Eno River Collection – which, fittingly, is inspired by and helps support one of Durham’s treasured natural resources through the Eno River Association.
“Dressed to the nines and taking part in the photo shoot, it became clear why so many people choose this location for their special day,” Maria says. “This venue holds a special place in the heart of the Durham community, and as soon as you step inside, you can sense a palpable shift in the atmosphere.”
