Chapel Hill Weddings at The Carolina Inn (Beth + Brian)

As I drove to Chapel Hill for Beth and Brian’s wedding at The Carolina Inn I couldn’t help but feel a hint of familiarity, but also an overwhelming sense of anticipation and excitement all at the same time. Even though I’ve photographed there many times before, there’s always a fresh perspective that comes with each wedding that I’m asked to document. And that’s why I love this profession SO much! It truly is the people that make each event unique. Each participant arrives with their unique set of personalities excited to interact with those that they may not have seen in a long time. Everyone is usually a mix of emotions that range from nervous to ecstatic. On top of this I’m able to work beside talented and creative wedding vendors who play instrumental roles in setting the tone, look and feel of the day. I couldn’t be happier that I had a chance to work with this amazing couple and everyone else that made the day special for them.

For Beth and Brian, The Carolina Inn was a “no-brainer” when they began looking at wedding venues since they feel so connected with UNC. They initially met through mutual friends within the UNC Athletic Department where Beth played golf and Brian played Carolina basketball. A strong friendship was born and continued as they both joined the Athletic ticket office. Beth worked there as a student and Brian has now been there for over 8 years. This is where they have been able to meet some of their best friends… including each other.

Even after getting to know them for a short time it was quite clear to me that their relationship is built on this friendship. They shared with me that it “just works” because they always feel that they can just be themselves around one another. They shared with me that they immediately discovered this on their first date and when Beth prepped herself to look strikingly beautiful and Brian rolled up in his Jeep Wrangler with the doors off and the top down! Beth just went with the flow though… Then later after they shared a movie and went out for pizza they both discovered each others insatiable appetite as Beth scarfed down a few giant NY style slices. I can only imagine Brian turning to Beth and saying something like “You had me at ‘Are you going to eat that last piece?’”

As a couple now, they love to cook together and entertain. Their favorite channel is the Food Network and they love trying out new recipes. Brian specifically loves to grill (charcoal of course) and over the past year has picked up the hobby of smoking meat. This is somewhat fitting since Brian’s sister, Laura and her husband, are both chefs who own their own catering company in St. Simons Island, GA. His other sister, Kristen’s, husband is a chef as well! They are a family that loves great food! Along with this is also their love for the beach and they enjoy traveling to the Outer Banks every year.

For this reason it seemed only fitting that Brian asked his best friend and life long foodie to marry him at a location that was special to both of them. It was 5:30 am on July 8, 2009 at the family’s rental vacation home in Nags Head, North Carolina. Brian asked Beth to accompany him to the beach to watch the sunrise that morning. It was a classic “Beth and Brian moment” when Brian dropped to one knee to propose at the same time that Beth started to head back to the house to get them some coffee. She almost fell over him not realizing what he was doing. As she regained her balance, he proposed to her in the sand with the rising sun as their backdrop and she couldn’t wait to say “YES!”

Wedding Consultant: Bliss By Sam – Samantha Dockery
Cake: Swank Cake Design – Wayne Steinkopf
DJ: Joe Bunn DJ Company – Frank Meldau
Flowers: Fresh Affairs – Lyn Graves