September 8, 2020
Carly and Dan’s Norfolk Hall Wedding
Carly and Dan’s Norfolk Hall wedding was definitely one to remember! Like all of my 2020 couples, Carly and Dan were affected by the pandemic and had to adjust their plans. I absolutely love intimate weddings, so Carly and Dan’s wedding was a real treat for me!
Getting Ready
I began my day at an Airbnb in Charlotte that Carly and her girls had rented out as a getting ready space. I think it is such a great idea to choose a cute Airbnb! It was so adorable, and the house was a perfect bridal suite. The backyard was absolutely perfect for some stunning summer bridal portraits! One of my favorite things about starting the day there, is that we were able to include Carly’s sweet French bulldog named Poppy! Yes, she has her own Instagram, and you should definitely go follow her. I’m obsessed whenever any of my couples include their fur babies on their wedding day!
Meanwhile, while I was with the girls, my second photographer hung out with Dan and some of his best guy friends! This group included his son Dylan, and he was so much fun!
First Touch
After everyone was ready, we made our way to Norfolk Hall. We made sure that Carly and Dan did not see each other as they were entering the venue. They opted to share a very emotional First Touch! This is a great alternative to doing a First Look. They decided to write letters to each other, and read them at the same time! This made for a very sweet moment, one of my favorites of the day!
Guests were starting to arrive, and a wonderful string trio played as everyone entered! The decorations by Every Last Detail and Willow Floral Boutique were so perfect! Carly and Dan chose to use the white wall near the window for their Norfolk Hall wedding. The decorations made it feel so fresh and intimate in such a lovely space.
The Ceremony
It was finally time for the ceremony! Carly and Dan had awaited this moment for so long! Dan finally got to see his gorgeous bride as her dad escorted her down the aisle. This is always one of my very favorite moments! One of my favorite parts of the ceremony was when Dylan read some scripture – I love that he was so involved in the ceremony! For their ceremony exit, the guests tossed beautiful pink and white flower petals to celebrate!
Photo Time
After the ceremony, Carly and Dan greeted their guests individually with a receiving line. They chose to do this because not all of their guests were attending the reception, due to the pandemic. A receiving line is actually a very traditional thing to do at a wedding! I think we will start to see this trend come back a little bit because of the pandemic. I have had this happen at several weddings this year and I actually really love it, because it gives the bride and groom time to visit briefly with each guest. After the receiving line is over, we completed all of their Family Formal Photos and bridal party photos! their families were so sweet and fun to work with! Next, it was finally time for bride and groom photos – the long-awaited best part of the day! We started with some Norfolk Hall wedding photos, then ventured outside to the greenway and light rail trail behind the venue. That area was a special request from Carly and Dan, and I am so glad we did photos there! All of the greenery and city buildings were a beautiful backdrop for their wedding portraits. One of my favorite shots is the veil tossed shot! We also made sure to get some individuals at this location because it was so beautiful! I always think it’s fun to do bride and groom portraits at a public place because the bride and groom get encouragement and cheering from every person that passes!
The Reception
Next, it was time to drive to QC Catering headquarters where Carly and Dan’s reception would be held! They opted to have a very intimate dinner party style reception and it was so lovely! The space was the perfect size for their friends and family that attended. The food was delicious, of course!!! They shared time with their friends and family and even Facetimed in Dan’s brother to bless the food. Toasts were given by Carly’s sister and one of Dan’s brothers, and they did a wonderful job! It’s so clear to me that Carly and Dan’s friends and family think so highly of each of them. They are truly a wonderful couple!!!
At the end of the night, we celebrated Carly and Dan with a fun sparkler exit, and of course, a mask photo to commemorate the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic. Carly and Dan went through so much, and made so many decisions to be able to get married this year and celebrate with their friends and family. My heart truly goes out to any couple that has been affected this year. However, Carly and Dan made their wedding day perfect no matter their circumstances, and I’m so glad I got to be a small part of their day and celebrate with them! Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Redding!!!
Vendors
Venue: Norfolk Hall
Coordination/DJ: CrackerJack Sound Decisions
Floral Design: Willow Floral Boutique
Dress: New York Bride and Groom Charlotte
Rentals: Every Last Detail
Groom’s Attire: Tuxedo Lady
Catering: QC Catering
If you love Carly and Dan’s intimate Norfolk Hall wedding in uptown Charlotte, you may also want to check out Blair and Zach’s intimate Farmstead wedding, and Josh and Anna’s colorful summer wedding at Separk Mansion!
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