Photo: Corbin Gurkin
When Kevin Boyle moved to North Carolina for a job in 2007, his friend Brian knew he'd need to meet some Tar Heel natives, so he introduced Kevin to MarySue Zaytoun, and the introduction stuck. In February of 2012, when MarySue, a fashion buyer, was coming home from a business trip, Kevin surprised her with a proposal at home. After she said yes, he surprised her again as their families joined them for champagne and celebrating.
The pair wasted no time planning their wedding, setting a date a mere nine months later, on November 3rd, 2012. They hired Ivy Robinson Events to get all the details in order and design their eclectic-meets-French countryside luncheon (and their evening cocktail party!), and Corbin Gurkin to take the incredible pictures.
Photo: Corbin Gurkin
Rifle Paper Co. designed the flower-laden invitations. Because they were wed in an 11 a.m. ceremony, MarySue and Kevin decided to invite their family and close friends for a post-wedding brunch, then have a larger cocktail party later with a bigger group.
Photo: Corbin Gurkin
The dress MarySue wore down the aisle is a real family heirloom. "My great-great-grandmother made the dress, and my great-grandmother, grandmother, great aunt, and mother wore it," she says. The bride made it modern by shortening the sleeves and adding a tulle overskirt.
Because the church was small, the couple chose to keep their wedding party small, each tapping two people to stand with them at the ceremony. MarySue's 'maids wore dresses of their choice in black and dark gray. All three women carried brightly-hued bouquets of dahlias, roses, and peonies in coral, orange and burgundy, accented with pops of light green.
MarySue and Kevin had a full Catholic mass at St. Peter's Catholic Church.
MarySue's headband and veil were a combination of the veil that was created to go with her gown and an heirloom pearl headband that was a gift from a family friend.
Instead of a traditional venue, the bride and groom rented a private home for their wedding—a penthouse condo with an open floor plan and a fantastic patio. "We wanted our wedding to feel like a party we'd throw in our home," says MarySue. They decorated with neutral linens, lush pink and orange centerpieces, and MarySue's mother's family's china.
Even the menu was full of family heirlooms. The couple worked with Craig Barbour, the owner of Roots, a Charlotte-area food truck serving up local, seasonal, homemade foods. "For breakfast we had casserole, hash, and of course my grandma's biscuits," says MarySue. "Craig did an amazing job working with our family's favorites."
Photo: Corbin Gurkin
A wedding wouldn't be complete without cake. MarySue and Kevin had not one, but three! "We didn't want a huge six-tier confection, so we chose to have three smaller cakes instead." Buttercream coated layers of orange bourbon cake, filled with orange zest buttercream and topped with vintage cake toppers.
Photo: Corbin Gurkin
That evening, MarySue changed into a strapless column gown that she found for only $99 at a local bridal shop that was going out of business. She dressed it up with a pink fur coat and brocade pumps.
Photo: Corbin Gurkin
For the cocktail party, a live band played as guests ate passed hors d'oeuvres or drank hot cocoa and played beer pong on the patio. "It was a great opportunity to do something less formal," says MarySue. They reused the arrangements from the brunch to decorate the tables.
"We both have big families," says MarySue. "Having a more intimate family brunch, then inviting our friends for cocktails later, was the perfect way to accommodate both crowds and celebrate with everyone we love."
Ceremony Venue: St. Peter's Catholic Church || Reception Venue: Private Residence || Wedding Planner: Ivy Robinson Events || Bride's Wedding Dress: Family Heirloom || Shoes: Rupert Sanderson || Clutch: Olympia Le Tan || Hair: Jacqueline Bush || Makeup: Elizabeth Black || Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids || Groom's Attire: Hickey Freeman || Wedding Bands: Dezso by Sara Beltran || Florist: John Lupton & Andrew Thomas || Invitations & Paper Goods: save the dates, brunch invitations, escort cards - Rifle Paper Co.; evening invitations - Arzberger Stationers; menus - Anne Watkins || Calligraphy: Kathryn Murray || Music: brunch - Robyn Springer, evening - In The Pocket || Catering: Roots || Cake: The Art of Cake || Rentals: Party Reflections || Favors: Davidson Chocolate || Photography: Corbin Gurkin