Classic & Romantic Wedding at Merrimon Wynne House in Raleigh, NC

Julie and Will’s wedding day at the Merrimon Wynne house in Raleigh played out like a storybook romance. From a first look at the bottom of their iconic stairwell, some good-luck rain during the ceremony, and dancing all night with their closest loved ones.

I was honored to be included in documenting their rehearsal dinner/welcome party the evening before the wedding and was touched by how the families included me as if I were one of their own. Julie and Will were surrounded by so much love throughout their weekend and it’s truly a testament to how special their love is for each other.

The Proposal, Told by Julie:

Our engagement story is proof that sometimes, the most magical moments happen when you least expect them. It was a rainy Saturday morning, and I had accepted a last-minute cookie order from Amazon. We woke up early to drop off the cookies in the Virginia Highlands, and I had just wanted to throw on some sweatpants and a hoodie. But Will, always the joker, teased me about running into Jeff Bezos and convinced me to put on some jeans instead. After the cookie drop off, we headed to get pancakes, and then Will suggested we go to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. I wasn't feeling up for it and wanted to go to Costco - after all, who wants to walk around in the rain? - but Will persisted. Finally, I relented, as I always LOVEs the botanical garden.

As we walked around the garden, admiring all things plants, Will led me to a secluded corner of the garden, claiming it had the best view of the city (hint: it didn't). He began to speak from the heart, saying all the sweetest things about how much he loved me and how he couldn't imagine spending the rest of his life with anyone else. And then, before I knew it, Will was down on one knee, holding out a ring and asking me to be his forever. I was so shocked and speechless. I just burst into tears and hugged Will tightly. It was the easiest yes ever. We spent the rest of the day celebrating with friends at a surprise engagement party.

Looking back, Julie and Will can't believe how perfect that rainy Saturday turned out to be. Sometimes, it's the unexpected moments that end up being the most special day.