Weddings in North Carolina

I went to the Bridal Fair in Chapel Hill today – it was postponed from last weekend because of snow. Here are some of the cakes I saw there…

I’ll be featuring these “cake shooters” (above) in the next post. And here’s detail on Sugarland’s adorable Indian bride and groom:

My daughter turned me on to the “Wedding Bee” forums where I discovered that via many polls the brides have discovered that their guests’ favorite favors are edible, specifically: chocolate presents.

So today when a friend took me to Matthew’s Chocolates cute little storefront shop on Churton Street in Hillsborough NC I immediately thought: wow, these chocolates would make the BEST wedding favors! He makes them right in the back of the store, you can’t get more local than that.

Now that my daughter has signed a contract with Nawwaf Said of Jazmin middle eastern restaurant and our day is secure, I’m willing to tell you: after all the weddings I’ve played at, I think the catering from Jazmin restaurant is the best in the Triangle. We met with Nawwaf today and now I’m impressed, not just with his great food, but with his professionalism, courtesy, and intelligence. He really has a handle on how the flow of guests and servers and rental agencies and food must work together for maximum efficiency – and fun.

My daugher’s getting married at Duke Gardens and they make new vendors jump through a lot of hoops to sign up, so we’re glad Nawwaf was willing to go through the process. Duke also has lists of approved rental people – there are no chairs or tables on site, we must rent them all – and Nawwaf is going to help us coordinate that.

We’re getting a very nice spread of Near Eastern food – pita and hummus and grape leaves and salads and lots of stuff including chicken and steak kebobs and felafel – and a range of soft drinks and teas etc. – with an appetizer course outside (to keep guests happy while pictures are being taken) and a buffet luncheon inside – for $28 per person. He will take care of hiring servers for us who will do set-up and break-down; we are going to provide the wine and beer but Nawwaf’s people will serve it. His people are going to cost $25/hour and it takes quite a few of them.

Anyway, I wanted to give this experience, so far, my heartiest recommendation. I first met Nawwaf when Mappamundi was playing at the wedding of a very picky bride. I told him at the time it was the best food I’d had at a wedding and asked, “Has the bride called you as often as she’s called me?” He smiled. He made her happy, so I’m sure he can make you happy too.

Jazmin now has two locations: 2430 Hillsborough Road in Raleigh, the food court in the Cary Towne Mall, and the one where we met him today, the newest, at 1624 Walnut Street in Cary, right at the highway exit. Go have a meal, you’ll like it!

Sorry about the unprofessional videography. Do not hire me to shoot your wedding…

I made this for my daughter, but I may as well share it!

I recently got a chance to take some pictures at this lovely outdoor venue, near the Triad and the Triangle, on 138 acres with a 7 acre lake.

Here you see the chairs in place for an outdoor wedding that weekend. It would be lovely if the weather were good. If it’s hot – there’s no shade. If it rains – you’re a long way from a roof. Just saying.

The Pavilion is a giant tent, open to a back patio.

The patio overlooks the lake.

It looks nice inside, all set up.

It costs $3125-$4175 to rent the pavilion, which is 60 feet square. Catering tent, tables, 200 chairs, and dance floor are included. For more information: PineLakePavilion.com.

They call this an “Advantage Portable Restroom Coach.” I call it a trailer and as there are stairs to get in, I don’t see how it’s handicapped accessible. Maybe they have a system.

The biggest space available is the dining hall.

Maximum capacity is 200 people. Meeting space accommodates 150.
Day Use – 1-60 people: $330 per day, 61+ people: $5.50 per person, per day

The Dining Hall is a large open room with a central fireplace and a front wall of windows letting in natural light. The room is uniquely sectioned into three parts; partitions can be used to close off part of the room or left open to utilize the entire space. The tile flooring is newly re-finished! The building has central heat, air conditioning and bathroom facilities. The kitchen is closed for renovation, but a large refrigerator is accessible for rental use. The Dining Hall has a covered front porch that is the width of the building with rocking chairs and has picnic tables on its front lawn.

Maximum capacity is 150. Meeting space accommodates 125.
Day Use – 1-50 people: $250 per day, 51+ people: $5.00 per person, per day

This building is 1800 square feet and is one large, open space with central heat and air conditioning, two bathrooms, and a galley kitchen. Fleming Hall boasts hardwood floors, a large fireplace, large windows and a covered front porch and open back deck.

Meeting space accommodates 50.
Day Use – 1-25 people: $135 per day, 26+ people: $5.50 per person, per day

Oak Lodge has a large open room and full kitchen. Oak Lodge has meeting space for 50, bathrooms, wood stove, piano, heat and air conditioning. Oak Lodge also has a large private back deck overlooking woods.

Overnight capacity is 23. Meeting space accommodates 40.
Day Use – 1-25 people: $135 per day, 26+ people: $5.50 per person, per day

Dogwood Center is a multi-use building that can be rented for day-use or overnight. The building is T-shaped with a meeting room in front, a kitchen at the end, and two bathrooms and bedrooms on either side. The building has heat and air conditioning, fireplace, piano, kitchen, and meeting room.

For information on other buildings and outdoor spaces at the center: New Hope Camp and Conference Center. The center is located on 86 between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. For more pictures, see my previous post.

As I pointed out in the other post, the camp has its own tables and chairs, so that saves you a considerable expense and bother. I believe there is also a discount for church-related groups.

Of the places we considered, Camp New Hope was my preference for my daughter’s wedding next year. It is big, informal, outdoorsy but with nice indoor space, very close to where we live, and inexpensive.

I took these pictures yesterday – it’s late August so everything is kind of burnt up from the sun.

The guy who runs it is very kind and accommodating. I’ve played a number of weddings there and found the venue very pleasant.
There are two biggish cabins on site which can be rented for the weekend of your wedding, for people who don’t like to drive. The cabins have kitchens so you can settle in and have a vacation weekend!
[caption id="attachment_408" align="alignleft" width="475" caption="New Hope Camp and Conference Center dining hall"][/caption]The dining hall is large, air-conditioned, and L-shaped, so you can have one activity at one end and another at the other. Also, they have chairs and tables so you don’t have to go to the trouble and expense of renting them.Fleming Lodge, which is close by the dining hall, is smaller but nicer: it has a wood floor, I’ve done contradances there. It has a porch where people sometimes put food and/or drink.
There are several pavilions, some larger, some smaller; I’m a mentor with the Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate program in Carrboro NC and they sponsor family get-togethers at Camp New Hope, with volleyball on the grass and tons of people in the pavilion for a fried-chicken feast.

Also, having the pavilion means if it rains, or if it’s very hot, there’s shelter for you and your guests.

My daughter decided the camp was too rustic for her, but for an informal affair it would be wonderful. The next post will give prices.

On my way to the Bridal Show, held today at the Jim Graham Building at the NC State Fairgrounds, I happened across the weekly Raleigh Flea-market. It’s huge! And when I saw these $15 tuxedos I couldn’t resist.

My daughter is interested in buying locally for her wedding, and so she sent me to the Carrboro Farmers’ Market to look for flower growers and vendors who sell by the bucket. The first I talked to was Cathy Jones of Perry-winkle Farm. She was friendly and confident. Her variety of flowers was the most extensive.

See her website and farm at her Cooperative Extension Service website

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The next batch of flowers were available at the Wild Hare Farm booth …


Leah Cook is the owner.

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“Haygroves are multi-bay tunnels that the Hitts use to grow high quality crops like heirloom tomatoes and cut flowers. The tunnels protect crops from the rain and allow the Hitts to control the amount of moisture going to the crops.” (From the Hitt Farm site at NCSU Cooperative Extension Service.)


You can email her: abhitt (at) bellsouth.net

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The fourth and last flower vendor selling by the bucket was Ken Dawson of Maple Spring Gardens.

In general, it’s great to go see the vendors in action on Sunday mornings, 9-12 (here’s the Carrboro Farmers Market website to check for updated information). There are a few small parking lots on Weaver Street approaching the market, so you don’t need to park a mile away and hike like I did.

However, you can’t have much of a conversation there because they’re very busy! If you know you want local flowers for your wedding, call them at a more peaceful time and they can tell you what can be available at your wedding date. Ken said when his daughter told him she was getting married, he knew a year in advance and planted huge drifts of “her” flowers around where the wedding was going to take place. Sigh.

I was in Hillsborough today so I swung by Ayr Mount, a historic site where I have played a number of weddings. It’s within easy walking distance of downtown. A house tour is offered every day at 2 pm but the place was closed up tight when I was there.

There’s a grand, winding driveway up past the gate…

… and there’s parking enough for more than 250.

My daughter was quoted a price of $1000, the cost for 50 people. She also received this information:

Caterers have to locate on gravel surface yet the event tent can be located wherever you choose. Event must take place during daylight hours. And portable toilets must be rented if you have more than 50 attending or there is a handicap need. If it rains then everyone stays under your tent.

There is a handicap ramp into the house from the rear.

We did a Scottish wedding here once and the bridal party processed up this grass walkway to the house, and Ken played bagpipes to escort them, and the little flower girls all had plaid sashes, they were so cute.

Ayr Mont was built in 1815 and was restored in 1985 as part of the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust, an architectural conservancy. It’s gorgeous inside, but they’re very finicky about folks using it. All the weddings I’ve done have been outside, and while you’re allowed to walk around inside, be careful.

You’ll be dealing with the manager, Bill Crowther – his business phone number is (919) 732-6886. He writes: “Our goal is to share Ayr Mount with the public while protecting the integrity of both the structure and the setting, so we are opting to attract ceremonies only with an occasional reception included.”

The grounds (265 acres) are spectacular. In one of these pictures you see a pretty pond down the hill to the left. It’s quite quiet and if it isn’t raining you’ll have a spectacular site.

Why do I mention rain? Because the rainiest wedding I ever played was at Ayr Mount. Some of the wedding party, including the rabbi, got trapped in the house when the deluge began; others were in the tent with the food and with us, the musicians. We played and played and played while they waited for the rain to let up. The chupah got drenched. There was a break in the storm, they rushed out and dried off the chairs and had a very, very quick service, and then it rained again. We were sort of pushed to the very edge of the tent and water dripped/gushed into our instrument cases.

We’ve seen the back patio used successfully used for dancing. One time, though, we were hired to play background music and then contra dances. But the guests wanted to eat and schmooze, they didn’t want to dance. The bride got quite annoyed and actually stamped her foot about it.


Ayr Mount, 376 St. Marys Road, Hillsborough, NC 27278

Name of company: Careli Rental Service
Phone number: 919-697-3238
Showroom location: Durham NC
5? round tables seat 6-8: $8.00
chairs: wooden folding $2.60 each, plastic $1.30-1.60 each
6-8 foot buffet tables: $7
tablecloths for above: $11-15
20×20 tent: $230 (notice this is half the size of the others I’ve listed) includes setup and delivery
delivery charge: at the moment, free for orders of more than $125 in Durham and Chapel Hill, $175 in Raleigh
setup/breakdown: not mentioned on website

Shocked at the idea of spending thousands of dollars on a photographer for my daughter’s wedding, I looked on Craig’s List under services today for moderately-priced options. I was also looking for photographers who would provide copyright-free cds/dvds of the digital images.

Success! Note that I have not met or spoken with any of the photo studio folks below, but I liked the images on their websites. Each of them has a relatively low-cost package which includes a cd of your images so you can print away to your heart’s content.

I’ve decided that from now on I will feature on this blog only photographers with wedding options under $2,000 which include a cd/dvd of images which can be printed freely by the customer. If you qualify, or know a good photographer who does, please be in touch with me!

• Bennett Weddings

  Don’t let some photographer own all your wedding pictures, charging you exorbitant prices every time you want to print one! With my wedding packages, YOU OWN ALL THE PHOTOS – You can print as many as you want, whenever you want!

  I came to wedding photography through my experiences as a photojournalist. Twelve years in the newspaper business taught me to see things differently – and that comes through in my wedding photos.

  Ceremony & Reception Coverage (5 hours) $800

• Carl Johnson Photography

  Warning: Flash and automatic music

  Wedding special: Up to 3 hours of wedding coverage plus (limited time) free engagement session
  250+ images on a cd: $545 (regularly $629)

• Infantino Photography

  Photography Packages include “The Ruby” – 3 hours of photography coverage, over 250 images taken, high Resolution photo CD of all images (you receive copyrights to print all photos on CD) = $500. Additional Hour of Photography – $105.00

• Robert F. Filcsik Photography

  Warning: Flash and automatic music

  I like his images very much. He says “Offering modern and creative photojournalistic style photography at an affordable price. Wedding packages start at $600. 4 Hours coverage, including CD with edited high resolution images and the copyrights for all images.” The number of images is quite limited, however.

• Andrew Gloc Photography

  Gloc appears to be a newcomer to the business; he doesn’t have much of a wedding portfolio, but I liked the images I saw. He says: “I charge $299 for 4 hours of shooting including a cd of all images.”

This past week I went to a luncheon given by the local “Perfect Wedding Guide” folks, and I met many wedding vendors. One group I was very taken with: the people who can actually do the marrying. I met four of them and they were all friendly, smart, relaxed, and definitely people I’d be happy to spend time with. They are flexible, inter-denominational, non-judgmental folks. In the order I met them…

1. Christopher and Catherine Sanford. They say at their website:
   

   Chris and Kay work with couples to create and conduct individualized non-traditional weddings to emphasize your connection with your families and friends… We work with you to deal with [issues such as]:

   1. “We are actually already married.”

   2. “One of us or both have children. How do we include them in the wedding?”
   3. “We come from different religions (or cultures). How do we honor both?”
   4. “We have a very limited budget. We’re straining to pay for our wedding.”

2. Ron Grillo. He writes:
   

   I’m an ordained nondenominational interfaith officiant, a graduate of The New Seminary in 1994… I have performed a variety of different wedding ceremonies, including, but not limited to, Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Interfaith, Non-traditional, Medieval, Native American, Civil and Renewal of Vows. Depending on a couple’s wishes, I have incorporated into my opening and/or closing words, or their vows, wording from their native language, such as Hebrew, Turkish, Russian, Spanish…

3. Robin Renteria. She gave the keynote address on “The Five Languages of Love” and was sweet and funny. She writes:
   

   I’m a seminary educated, ordained non-denominational U.U. minister.

   I offer religious, interfaith, spiritual, and civil ceremonies, both traditional and contemporary, in the language of your beliefs and traditions.

   Whatever your faith, culture, life style, or traditions, it’s my joy to help you relax and enjoy your wedding, by creating a ceremony that is unique and personal to you…

My daughter was interested in getting married at the Burwell School, which is a historic site in Hillsborough. On my way back from the car mechanic this morning I took these pictures. Advantages: a big, beautiful sweeping lawn and a lovely historic house to serve as backdrop to an outdoor wedding. There is also an older building (perhaps the original school?) behind the main house.

Well, obviously the place looks fabulous on the outside. The inside would be fine for a small, intimate wedding, and the dark wood floors are quite nice (though the space is, in fact, pretty dark altogether). However, if you have a lot of people it gets cramped quite quickly.

The large gracious front porch helps. We wedding musicians have often been set up on the porch, along with food vendors and drinks tables. Be sure not to set people up in front of the door, because then they’ll get trampled when guests want to use the bathroom.

Festival tents are usually set up at the bottom of the front lawn, which is pretty steep. (There is another smallish flat area to the left of the house which is sometimes set up for wedding ceremonies.) A problem is that the traffic is quite close.

I have done festivals and weddings here. During festivals, the small back building is used as a “green room” for the musicians to store their instruments, and for vendors to keep additional coolers and supplies. During weddings, it has been used as a changing room or a chill-out space for the bride, groom, and friends. The bridal party often needs to relax away from the guests.

The Burwell School has a very small parking area, enough for a couple of vendors and perhaps three other cars at most. Otherwise, parking is on the street. You should be aware of this if you have any disabled guests.