Wedding Dresses You Have to Try On in Raleigh and Durham, NC

The Most Beautiful Wedding Dresses in Raleigh and Durham this Year, Heart of NC Weddings 2020 Fashion Editorial

Recently engaged in North Carolina? We’re here to help you find the most beautiful wedding dresses in the Triangle. Most of us are guilty of spending hours (ok, entire weekends) watching Say Yes to the Dress at Kleinfeld Bridal. However, it’s unlikely you’re going to travel all the way to Manhattan, NY to find your wedding dress. In fact, you shouldn’t even want to! Especially when you can shop local and find the dress of your dreams right here in NC. Gilded Bridal in Raleigh and Gavin Christianson Bridal in Durham are two of the best bridal boutiques in the area. Both salons carry a diverse selection of high end, designer wedding dresses and accessories. Ready to hear the best part? Both bridal salons are owned by kindhearted, hard-working, boss women! 

Together, alongside local jewelers, stylists and florists, we assembled this styled fashion editorial at Rose Hill. Despite cloudy skies and sprinkles of rain, Danielle Flake Photography captured the beauty of these women and wedding dresses. Take your time scrolling through this bridal fashion blog. When you see a wedding dress that speaks to your soul, book an appointment with the bridal salon it’s from! 

This editorial appeared in the Heart of NC Weddings 2020 edition. We’re sharing several gorgeous images that could not fit into the print editorial. Enjoy the extra images of Raleigh and Durham wedding dresses, stylists, jewelers and flowers. All of the contributors of this editorial are mentioned in descriptions as well as at the bottom of the post.

Gilded Bridal – Wedding Dress on The Cover of Heart of NC Weddings 2020 Edition

Drum roll please! The breathtaking wedding dress on our 2020 magazine cover is a Leanne Marshall design from Gilded Bridal. As you can see, this sensational gown is a modern fashion statement. With it’s embroidered lace bodice and silk skirt, this dress was meant for making magical memories. From vows to farewells, this dress will make any bride feel confident and beautiful. There’s nothing modest about this showstopper. 

Makeup for Your Day gave our cover bride a glowy wedding day look with effortlessly, gorgeous curls. She is holding a colorful bouquet of summer wedding flowers by Watered Garden Florist. We love that the pink blossoms of the bride’s bouquet match her romantic shade of lipstick. Not one to overshadow, Bailey’s Fine Jewelry styled our bride with a pair of elegant complementary earrings. 

Sincerity Justin Alexander Gavin Christianson Bridal Wedding Hair by Liz Watered Garden Bailey's Rose Hill Wedding Dresses Flake
VENUE Rose Hill
Rose Hill NC Wedding Venue Southern Style Country Wedding Dresses Raleigh Durham Danielle Flake
VENUE Rose Hill

Rose Hill Wedding Venue is Waiting For You to Arrive

The private lane leading up to Rose Hill is the first indication of this NC wedding venue’s beauty. As you drive up the road, you feel as if you’re driving through a natural tunnel of crape myrtles. Dreamy views of green pastureland flash by, and a herd of cattle grazes in the distance. Located in Nashville, NC, just west of Rocky Mount, Rose Hill is waiting for you to arrive. We were lucky to host our 2020 fashion editorial photoshoot at this beautiful NC wedding venue. The historic manor house is accompanied by a lakeside gazebo, pool area, gardens and idyllic lawns. Chef Rahman sustained our entire team of 16 wedding vendors with a delightful luncheon – a preview of how graciously they take care of their event guests!

The 18th century manor home was bought in 1979 and took several years of restoration and additions to become what it is today. Truly an elegant setting for weddings, celebrations and business events with the hope, in the words of owner Mayo Boddie, that “it would be enjoyed for many generations by people from all walks of life.”

Rose+Williams Gilded Bridal Burgundy Jenny Yoo Bella Bridesmaids Rose Hill Beautiful Wedding Dresses Raleigh Flake
VENUE Rose Hill

The Sentimental Story Behind this Gilded Bridal Wedding Dress

On the page, this may look like just another beautiful wedding dress. But wait ‘till you hear the emotional story behind its name. Designed by Tara LaTour, this wedding dress was made for Gilded Bridal salon owner, Susan Langford. The dress design is called “Connor” after Susan’s late dog. From the Rose+Williams collection, this dress features a lace over nude fabric bodice and romantic tulle skirt. Stories like this are proof that designers and local businesses are based upon authentic relationships. We are truly inspired by the meaningful story behind this gorgeous gown.       

Behind the Scenes with Wedding Hair by Liz and Makeup for Your Day 

You can choose your wedding hair and makeup stylist, but you can’t choose the weather. We scheduled this styled wedding shoot in September. Little did we know, rain and humidity was the forecast for the day. Luckily, we had two of the best wedding hair and makeup stylist vendors on our team. Wedding Hair by Liz and Makeup for Your Day delivered beautiful designs that lasted throughout the entire day. With an umbrella in one hand and hairspray in the other, they lead with positivity and grace.   

Behind the Scenes Wedding Hair by Liz doing Bridesmaids Hair and Makup in Burgundy Wedding Dress Raleigh NC Danielle Flake
HAIR & MAKEUP Wedding Hair by Liz
Behind the Scenes Rose+Williams Gilded Bridal Makeup for Your Day Helps Bride in Beautiful Wedding Dresses Raleigh Flake
HAIR & MAKEUP Makeup for Your Day

Breaking the Rules with Beautiful Dresses from Bella Bridesmaids Raleigh 

Gone are the days of ugly bridesmaids dresses. And we have Bella Bridesmaids Raleigh to thank! Your best friends will absolutely adore these beautiful Jenny Yoo dresses from Bella Bridesmaids. The best part? They will be able to wear these formal gowns on your wedding day and on other future special occasions. We love the texture of this rose velvet dress beside a high-low wrap dress with a chic floral pattern.

A Wedding Dress for Everyone…

One of the most wonderful things about finding a wedding dress, is that there is a style for everyone. Whether you prefer a sexy, form-fitting gown like the one above or a breezy, romantic dress like the one below. The dress of your dreams is out there waiting for you to try it on! Your dress might be the first one you try on, or it might be the twentieth one you try on. Either way, don’t get discouraged. And do not settle! Every bride deserves to look and feel their absolute best on their wedding day. 

The dress above is a Laudae design from Gilded Bridal in Raleigh. Our hearts stop everytime we see this silhouette bridal gown in timeless lace over nude-tone fabric. This wedding dress flatters the figure while also creating a stunning bridal day appearance. Hair and makeup by Wedding hair by Liz. Below, is a whimsical Alexandra Grecco bridal gown from Gilded Bridal. This dress is covered from top to bottom in romantic flower petal appliques.

Navy Blue Wrap Monique Lhuillier Bella Bridesmaids Dress and Whimsical Floral Alexandra Grecco Gilded Bridal Wedding Dress Flake

The Ultimate Wedding Dress Goals – Gavin Christianson Bridal in Durham 

Gavin Christianson Bridal is the newest wedding dress shop in the Triangle! Owner, Gineen Cargo, has wedding planning experience and an exceptional eye for beauty. #GCBridal is on-trend with unique bridal styles as well as some favorite, timeless classics. This modern and intimate wedding dress shop is a perfect fit for any bride looking for a personal bridal shopping experience.

The first dress from GC Bridal that we’d like to highlight is a Sincerity gown by Justin Alexander. Bedazzle your friends and family in this barely blush strapless stunner with embroidered floral appliques. The belted detachable overlay skirt creates a full train that can be bustled or removed when the dancing begins! Up next we have another beautiful wedding dress by Justin Alexander from Gavin Christianson Bridal. Slip into this bridal gown and you will feel time stand still. With it’s minimalistic white satin and plunging V backline, you’ll be evoking a modern yet classic glamour. Sophistication is the only word to accurately describe this bridal beauty. 

This Sincerity by Justin Alexander wedding dress from Gavin Christanson Bridal is all about detail. We are obsessed with its lace bodice and dramatic sheer cut outs. With an A-line shape, this wedding dress flatters the figure while emphasizing the modern design.   

Sincerity Justin Alexander Gavin Christianson Bridal Makeup For Your Day Bailey's Fine Jewelry Watered Garden Rose Hill Wedding Dresses Flake
VENUE Rose Hill
Diamond Engagement Ring from Bailey's Fine Jewelry in Bright Tiffany Blue Box Raleigh NC Danielle Flake
ENGAGEMENT RING Bailey's Fine Jewelry
Bella Bridesmaids Jenny Yoo Gilded Bridal Rose Hill Wedding Hair by Liz Makeup for Your Day Beautiful Wedding Dresses Flake
Swans at Rose Hill NC Wedding Venue Most Beautiful Wedding Dresses Danielle Flake
VENUE Rose Hill
Poppy and Co Pajama Set Planning a Bachelorette Party During a Pandemic: Dos and Don’ts Rose Hill Danielle Flake
LUXURY PAJAMAS Poppy & Co.

Swapping Your Wedding Dress for a Pair of Poppy & Co. Pajamas 

To say it was a long and exhausting day of trying on wedding dresses would be an understatement. Our models were more than happy to pose for one last photo in matching pajama sets! These fun, floral patterned pajamas are from Poppy & Co. online bridal boutique in Raleigh. Treat your bridesmaids to an array of specially curated gifts including luxury pajamas, jewelry and more. 

You might never want to take off your dream wedding dress. But trust us, after the marathon that is your wedding day, you’ll be reaching for those pajamas and a pillow! We hope you enjoyed the Heart of NC Weddings 2020 Fashion Editorial. Book an appointment at Gilded Bridal or Gavin Christianson Bridal today to try on any of these beautiful wedding dresses. Want to see more fashion inspiration and wedding dresses in NC? Check out our 2019 Fashion Editorial at The Bradford.  

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