Devin and Michael are two of the most intelligent humans I have ever met, AND also two of the most adventurous. From the very beginning of their 18 month planning journey, these two were always jet setting to somewhere new, and equally as fabulous location, as the last. Due to their lifestyle, they didn’t want to be tied down with the administrative duties that come along with wedding planning. Just Us was contracted for full-service planning and design services, so that we could streamline the back end of the process, while they were able to fully enjoy their engagement!
The couple’s last names were used early on in their relationship to create their nickname as a couple, The WhaleBadger’s, and they wanted to use this in small details throughout their celebration. To kick off the weekend, the WhaleBadgers’s had a tapas-style rehearsal dinner at Barcelona Wine Bar in South End Charlotte, North Carolina. Forty of their closest friends and family members enjoyed decadent (and what seemed like endless amounts of) small plates with crisp wine pairings, all before walking to Trolley Barn Fermentory & Food Hall, for their welcome party! Both events were a hit, with most guests satiated beyond capacity, especially considering their specialty drinks for the welcome party were two martinis: the Whale Martini, which was an espresso martini, and the Badger Martini, which was a dirty martini. They also gave guests stickers of their custom wedding crest, which included both a whale and a badger.
Reign Beauty (makeup) and Veronica Pfaff (hair) were the first vendors to arrive onsite to their AirBnb come wedding day, to start hair and makeup for Devin and her favorite gals. Michael and his party spent the morning both relaxing and jamming out to musical stylings of DJ BDGR before getting dressed (remember this…).
Stephanie with The Axtell’s Photo + Film soon arrived to begin capturing the couple’s details, all while Just Us Weddings, Curated Events Charlotte (wedding/event rentals), and Heatherly Event Design (florist) went to work on setting up The Collector’s Room by Beau Monde, at the Elder Gallery in South End Charlotte.
Once details were captured, Michael and Devin got dressed in their respective locations, then made their way to Marshall Park in Uptown for their first look.For this moment on their wedding day the weather couldn’t have been more perfect. Bright sunshine throughout the morning, with a little bit of overcast clouds in the afternoon, gave for the absolute perfect light, and temperatures no higher than 80 degrees.
After their most precious first look, these two made their way around Uptown for some preliminary portraits, then traveled back to South End for a very quick ceremony rehearsal, followed by pictures with their full wedding party.
As the day moved along, DJ Derek with Split Second Sound set the tone for the ceremony, and before long the processional began. Devin & Michael got married in The Collector’s Room under the greenery chandelier, and in between two beautiful free-standing floral structures to bring them even more into focus. The ceremony was officiated by a close friend of the couple, Eric, and before long these two were recessing to Higher Love by Kygo, as husband and wife!
Guests then made their way into The Elder Gallery (art gallery) for cocktail hour, where Roots Catering (catering, bar, late night snacks) ran the bar and passed hors d’oeuvres, while the couple finished their formal family pictures, and also snuck out for a few final newlywed portraits around South End. All of this occurred while the team at The Collector’s Room, Just Us Weddings, and Heatherly Event Design flipped the space from the ceremony into their reception area.
After a little elbow grease, guests were invited back into The Collector’s Room, found their seats for dinner, and kicked things off with the couple’s grand entrance! Following their first dance, Devin’s dad welcomed guests, and then dinner was served! Following dinner, the couple cut their cake and gave a quick little ‘thank you’ speech to all of their guests, and then the party started. Not only did DJ Derek absolutely bring the house down, but guest star DJ BDGR (yes, the groom!) got up on stage and DJ’d a set (which might I add included songs by ABBA, so this planner was very happy) along with his new wife on stage right beside him dancing and firing off a CO2 cannon. The energy continued well after their reception ended and their grand exit occurred, as the party then moved to a bar in South End.
I had a blast not only getting to know these two but in planning their entire wedding weekend, and I cannot wait to watch them jet-set off to the most incredible locations, now as husband and wife, in the years to come!
VENDORS:
Full Service Planning & Design – Just Us Weddings
Photography – The Axtell’s Photo + Film
Ceremony & Reception Venue – The Collector’s Room by Beau Monde
Florist – Heatherly Event Design
Rentals – Curated Events Charlotte
Entertainment – Split Second Sound
Hair – Veronica Pfaff
Makeup – Reign Beauty
Catering & Bar – Roots Catering
Rehearsal Dinner – Barcelona Wine Bar
Welcome Party – Trolley Barn Fermentory & Food Hall
