2019 Year in Review
Updated: Aug 23, 2021
We have finished up our 2019 season at Bri By Design and boy was it a busy year. We officially launched our independent planning services June 2019 and booked up quickly throughout the rest of the year! So here’s a little recap of trends, favorites, and all the pretty that we had the privilege of sharing in this season!
We had 8 total weddings this year, starting in June 2019. All of these bookings were blessings to my leap of faith when I opened my online storefront. The busiest month was October and November by far, with 6 weddings and a trip to Disney crammed into 8 weeks.
The biggest trends we saw this year were navy suits for the guys, donuts in all forms, sparkler exits, and Polaroid captured guest books. We had a few rainy days, which came with some quick – less than 5 minute - ceremony flips and of course the most amazing photos! If that’s one thing you’ve learned about me through Instagram stories this year it’s that I LOVE a good rainy day photo, (peep our rainy day at the magic kingdom below).
Each wedding was uniquely their own and they each described their relationship perfectly. One of my favorite parts of what I do is getting to know each couple over the course of our contract and seeing their love shine on their day!
A June Western Wedding
The day of coordinator, not only manages the whole day, but I also try to keep you calm throughout the process! Getting married can be stressful, and your emotions are running high, even if you swear you are going to be calm. We were there to ensure her that everything was going great, we calmed her down, fixed her makeup, pinned up her hair and off she went down the rain-plan isle (after I ran through rivers of rainwater, lost my shoe twice, and got the men over to the chapel with umbrellas.) Wooooo, this was one for the wedding coordinator history books with the literal flood that happened! Becca looked absolutely beautiful walking to her retired military man, and the western backdrop of Circle M City was the best way for them to set the scene. You can tell from her bubbly personality that they are a fun couple but just in case you need more convincing, take a look at their whoopee cushion confetti send off!
Vendors
Venue: Circle M City
Catering: City BBQ
Photographer: Goette Photography
Florist: Garner Florist
Dessert Trucks: Cocoa Forte & Bourbon Street Beignets
DJ: Jimmy Esposito
A September Outdoorsy Wedding
The moment I heard Giulia and Ethan’s vows, I was in tears! This was the sweetest couple, whose day matched their personalities perfectly. Giulia’s minimalist tendencies were exemplified through her gorgeous dress and her simple accessories. I played DJ through the built in sound-system and although there were a few hiccups, guests and the couple had a grand time dancing the night away. The woodsy, rustic cabin of Spruce Pine Lodge, and her succulent centerpiece double favors were the perfect backdrop to the story of their relationship. The magic of your wedding day really comes from telling your relationship story, in my opinion, and forecasting the future of your life together.
Vendors
Venue: Spruce Pine Lodge
Catering: Neomonde Mediterranean | @neomondemediterranean
Photographer: Face in Lens | @faceinlens
An October Sunday Brunch Wedding
What is cuter than a wrapping the door hand hold sneak peek before walking down the isle… NOTHING! As soon as Ashley’s hand touched Tyler’s it was waterworks, and the most amazing display of love I had witnessed. The sense of touch affects our emotions so much, that this is a great alternative to a first look for any couple that is playing with the idea, and you get some great photos as well! This absolutely charming couple’s October wedding at The Cookery was filled with love and laughter, amazing chicken and waffles, and coffee! I love some good coffee, especially with a 5am wakeup call on my end! The smallest details added the most amazing storyline to this couple’s day, including tables named after cities they’ve lived in (that the groom designed!), market flower centerpieces in old coke and coffee bottles, and a Shake Shack Cookbook guest book (as they are both in the food industry). WHAT! How freakin cute!
Vendors
Venue: The Cookery | @durhamcookery
Catering: Durham Catering Company | @durhamcateringco
Photographer: Shoot with Bliss | @shootwithbliss
Cake: Ashley Cakes | @ashleycakesnc
An October Raleigh Skyline Wedding
Between the ceremony at the Arboretum and the skyline views from the Cannon Room, Alli and Justin set the scene right for their wedding day. Since the reception space had vendors arriving during the ceremony at the Arboretum, my trusty assistant (aka my fiancé) had to step in to help manage one place while I was directing the ceremony 15 minutes down the road. We make a pretty good team though (plus he didn’t want to mess anything up), and this sweet couple had the perfect day, complete with glow stick exit! Their wooden cutout favor is hanging on our fridge right now!
Vendors
Ceremony Venue: JC Raulston Arboretum | @jcraulstonarboretum
Reception Venue: The Cannon Room | @cannonroomraleigh
Catering: Chubby’s tacos
Catering Staff: Staff’d
Photographer: InContrast Images | @incontrastimages
HMU: Selah Beauty | @_selah_beauty_
Cake: Duck Donuts
DJ: Sound Connection
An October Boxwood Green Wedding
Shawna was one of the first brides to book me once opening my thumbtack storefront. She had everything planned and needed execution in October. This wedding setup is worthy of its very own pinterest board. The boxwood greens that Traine Raleigh have on their outdoor porch area are the perfect addition of privacy to this downtown venue. She decorated with wooden cutouts, copper piping, and candles. Plus her favors were everything but the bagel seasoning (my favorite ever). She even topped off the perfect space with a chocolate fondue fountain AND an ice cream cart.
Vendors
Venue: Traine Raleigh | @traineraleigh
Catering: Babba Ghannouj
Photographer: Arien Cronk | @ariencronk
Rentals: CE Rental | @ce_rental_raleigh
Cake/Dessert: Mama Birds | @mamabirdsicecream
DJ: Unlimited Sounds
Cocktail Hour Musician: Autumn Nicholas | @autumnnicholas
A November Renovated Church Wedding
Some of my favorite weddings ever are the simplest. Heather and James had a small wedding at All Saints Chapel in Downtown Raleigh. If you’ve never been, look it up! The character is amazing with a traditional church upstairs and white blank warehouse type space downstairs. The bridal suite is also gorgeous! This simplistic couple had the best guest book of the season. They found a vinyl (yes, like record player) of their first dance song and had guests sign the vinyl with metallic sharpies that they were going to frame and hang in there house. So unique, especially for music lovers!
Vendors
Venue: All Saints Chapel | @allsaints1875
Catering: Catering by Design | @cateringbydesign
Photographer: Veritas Digital Photography | @veritas_digital_photography
Florist: Whole Foods
DJ: DJ Stormtrooper | @dj_storm_tropper_421
A November Photographer’s Firehouse Wedding
My favorite venue from the year was The Firehouse in Goldsboro, North Carolina. OMG, this is a photographer’s dream venue (which makes sense since the creators and owners are photographers!) and of course the dream of a designed to have this beautiful space to bring to life! Chelsea and Will are super fun to work with and they have created the most photogenic space with a unique, modern, and cool vibe. Madison and Tyler were the most genuine couple and they created a beautiful and elegant day, filled with happy-tears speeches (not a dry eye in the room during her dad’s speech, who was crying before he started), and a super fun vendor #dreamteam.
Photos by: Halifax Hill Studios
Vendors
Venue: The Firehouse | @thefirehouse.co
Catering: Carl & 'Chelle’s Grill Room | @carlandchelles
Photographer: Halifax Hills Studios | @halifaxhillstudios
Videographer: RBevell Productions | @ryanbevell
Florist: Todd Miller
HMU: Kristan Osoria Makeup + Hair | @kristanosoria
Cake: Rachel Bailey the Cake Artist | @rachelbaileycakeartist
DJ: DJ Brian Burgess
An November Eclectic Charismatic Wedding
One of my favorite design moments from 2019 was my last wedding of the year, where I was able to design the cake display table. Emily and Troy most definitely made me obsessed with Nothing Bundt Cakes. The newlyweds cut the 2 tier bundt cake upon their grand entrance, prior to the dinner buffet opening, so guests were able to grab mini bundt cakes at their leisure. Most of them were gone by time the buffet line wore down. They ramped up the sweets notch by getting custom-made stickers for their Krispy Kreme Donut favor boxes after all the dancing was complete in the courtyard of Jiddi Space Raleigh, under a beautiful clear sided tent!
Vendors
Venue: Jiddi Space | @jiddispace
Rentals: DeeJays Event Rentals | @deejayseventrentals
Catering: Sitti | @sittirestaurant
Photographer: Keepsake Memories Photography | @keepsakememories
Florist: Victoria Park Florist | @victoriaparkflorist
Hair: Megan Pirocco | @meganpirrocco
Makeup: Tiffany Carnes | @makeupbytiffanycarnes