Christie & Jennifer's Extravagant Burlap Wedding

The RiverRoom is all about marriage equality, and we enjoy hosting the weddings and receptions of couples of all genders.  On Thursday, October 23, 2014, we were lucky to host the wedding of Christie & Jennifer at The RiverRoom.  The couple had been previously wed in another state, but was joined by friends and family to say their vows again in their hometown, as North Carolina abolished the laws prohibiting same-sex marriage in October 2014.  This was our second same sex ceremony of the year, and our first ceremony since the marriage ban was overturned!  It truly was a joy to see the tremendous love this couple shared and be able to see them legally wed.  And what an incredibly beautiful ceremony it was!

The couple first held their ceremony indoors, as friends and family gathered around to watch the two exchange vows.  There was a wooden arbor with burlap and yellow daises for the brides to stand in front of.  During the ceremony, the couple invited their children to participate in a sand ceremony with rainbow jars of sand and a glass container with their family portrait to unite the two families into one.

Guests were seated at eight round tables adorned with white linens, gray table runners, and chairs tied with gray bows provided by Etc Party Rentals.  The couple also had their own sweetheart table with mason jar glasses painted with chalkboard paint that had both of their initials inscribed on them. How cute is that!

All of the tables had centerpieces made with yellow daisies and baby's breath in jars tied with a little gray ribbon bow on top of a wooden holder.  Each guest had a little burlap pocket at their seat with a "W", for the brides' last names, printed on to hold the silverware.

The couple made a D.I.Y. photobooth for guests to use, with gray and white chevron chairs, masks, hats and all sorts of cute and funny dress up props to use for photographs.

Before dancing, Christie and Jennifer gave their guests such a heartfelt and special speech, there wasn't a dry eye in the room.  The dance floor was decked out with more burlap, and a cute and colorful handmade backdrop! DJ Professionals and Video made sure to keep the crowd on their feet all night long, playing songs from oldies to new hip hop! It was a fun time, and everyone made their way to the dance floor at some point.

The food was made by Islands Fresh Mex Grill and they had a taco bar, which was so delicious! To top it off, Creative Cake Design by Tammy Hodge baked not only a beautiful yellow ombré cake, but also red velvet cake pops AND cupcakes!  The cake was stunning, with two little doves that had "We do" written on them, and a beautiful cake stand beneath it.  It truly was a beautiful sight when dusk hit, and the hanging lanterns with flowers shown bright.

The couple also had a candy bar with a handful of different selections, and the kids sure did love it!

We want to thank Christie and Jennifer for hosting their ceremony and reception with us at The RiverRoom.  We congratulate you on your marriage, and we hope you two have a lifetime of happiness!