Imagine Your Wedding at The Willard Rooftop Lounge at AC Hotel Raleigh DowntownÂ
Imagine walking out onto a terrace that overlooks a city you love to marry the love of your life. If you’re looking for a Raleigh wedding venue with beautiful backdrops, put The Willard Rooftop Lounge at the top of your list. The Willard offers multiple modern indoor and outdoor event spaces located on the seventh floor of the brand-new AC Hotel Raleigh Downtown. Say “I do” next to a double-sided fireplace on the terrace or raise a glass to new beginnings in the Horizon Ballroom. Y’all, this is not your “traditional” ballroom. This is a contemporary event space with floor-to-ceiling windows and the chic-city ambiance of your dreams.
Fierce Florals by The English Garden RaleighÂ
The English Garden is always an absolute DREAM to work with, and I was so honored that they agreed to collaborate with us on this design. They did not shy away from any of the ideas I sent them and brought the entire vision of modern elegance to life in a beautiful, impactful way.
Meaningful Moments by Magnolia Collective
Owner of Magnolia Collective event planning company, Meagan Culkin, was thrilled to accentuate the beauty of this new event space. She centered the design around elegant neutrals to avoid detracting from the overall appeal of The Willard Rooftop Lounge at AC Hotel Raleigh Downtown. The styled shoot tells the story of an intimate rooftop elopement. Meagan emphasized the beauty that can be found in small-scale wedding celebrations through details in each of The Willard’s various event spaces.
The Willard can accommodate large-scale and small-scale events. Outside, you’ll find two terraces overlooking downtown Raleigh. The Small Terrace features plants, soft seating, heaters, and can seat 112 and 175 standing. Meanwhile, the 10,000-square-foot Large Terrace can seat 112 and 250 standing.
After you cozy up next to a dual-sided fireplace on the terrace, move indoors for the reception. The Horizon Ballroom features floor-to-ceiling windows and more skyline views. This 2,120-square-foot ballroom can seat 112 and 125 standing. Use the drop-down projection screen for a sentimental slideshow or emotional video compilation during the rehearsal dinner or cocktail hour.
Picture Your Wedding Day with Fancy This Photography
Sunlight reflected off every surface of The Willard at this styled shoot. But with a decade of wedding photography experience under her belt, Nikki Whitt-Belch of Fancy This Photography knew exactly how to use her camera to document every detail of the day. Models and real-life couple, Jessica Douglas and Kris Douglas, filled her camera lens with their authentic love and endless laughter. Hear what Nikki’s wedding and event industry peers have to say about working beside her on wedding day:
“Nikki is so wonderful to work with and not only makes the couple feel totally at ease, but she also beautifully captures the details of the day,” says Meagan. “She remains calm and cheerful throughout the day and is a joy to be around.”
Rooftop Romance at The Willard
Cocktail in hand, imagine walking across the terrace with your soul mate The Willard Rooftop Lounge at AC Hotel Raleigh Downtown. We love the way this colorful cocktail hour spread pops against The Willard’s chic bar. And how fun is that balloon garland? Magnolia Collective‘s very own, Meagan Culkin, also specializes in luxury balloon decor. These fabulous balloon creations add texture and movement to an event’s design and a playful photo backdrop!
Fresh on the Fashion SceneÂ
The bride and groom, modeled by Jessica Douglas and Kris Douglas, wore two wedding-day looks: a contemporary, fitted-mermaid Sublime wedding dress from Vow’d Weddings in Raleigh and a crisp white tuxedo with a black bow tie and satin lapels from Bernard’s Formalwear in Durham.
Vow’d Weddings has a new storefront in North Hills and racks of beautiful and unique gowns that are waiting to be worn. Meanwhile, Bernard’s Formalwear has been a staple of the Triangle formalwear scene for 50-plus years. Both Vow’d and Bernard’s have a reputation for selling reliable and high-quality products and outstanding customer service.
Beauty by Michelle Clark and jewelry from Diamonds Direct in Crabtree Valley Mall perfected the look.
CE Rental – Redefining Timeless Wedding Decor and Rentals
Gone are the days of tacky chair covers and boring tablecloths. Raleigh-based party rental supplier CE Rental has modern, high-quality products to complete your wedding-day design. From table settings to tents, CE Rental has an inventory of rental items that will elevate the experience your wedding guests receive. CE Rental is the largest regional event rental company in the Southeast U.S. with seven locations including Raleigh and Charlotte.
Exquisite Catering Services at AC Hotel Raleigh DowntownÂ
Couples will be relieved to hear that The Willard Rooftop Lounge at AC Hotel Raleigh Downtown has an amazing on-site caterer. Enjoy mouthwatering Mediterranean and Spanish-inspired cuisine via buffet, plated or passed. All of their food pairs well with classic cocktails, wine and local craft beer.
Wedding Video by Mark Maya Photography & VideographyÂ
In addition to beautiful wedding photography, Mark Maya can also create incredible wedding videos. We invited him to capture the first styled shoot at The Willard Rooftop Lounge at AC Hotel Raleigh Downtown. Click on the video below to relive the magic of this day.
Learn More About The Willard Rooftop Lounge at AC Hotel Raleigh DowntownÂ
If you want to have access to all three of this venue’s event spaces, we encourage you to select The Willard Wedding package. The Willard Rooftop Lounge’s catering sales manager will help you navigate the space, but we encourage you to hire a professional wedding planner or coordinator. Thank you to all of the amazing NC wedding vendors who brought this styled shoot to life! Click here to learn more about hosting your upcoming wedding or event at The Willard Rooftop Lounge.
