Many month before anyone had ever heard of Covid-19 Madelyn and Kurt opted for a tiny intimate wedding in Raleigh, NC.
They married at the cutest little chapel with their 20 closest friends and family present. Afterwards they headed back to the Oakwood Inn where they had a lovely lunch and cake with everyone and enjoyed the gorgeous day.
Here are some words from their photographer, Rachael :
“Kurt + Madelyn planned a beautiful intimate spring wedding in Raleigh’s stunning historic Mordecai district. They got ready at the charming Oakwood Inn, a beautifully restored home on Raleigh’s historic registry. They shared a sweet first look on the front lawn before we headed over to St. Mark’s Chapel in Historic Mordecai Park for their ceremony. St. Mark’s is the sweetest little white chapel. Original aged pews and floors with a vaulted ceiling, a gorgeous backdrop for the couple to exchange their vows. Kurt + Madelyn invited their closest friends and family and kept their guest list at 20 people so that they could have a relaxed low stress day. It was absolutely perfect! After the ceremony we snuck them away to the park’s gorgeous gardens for portraits. They spent the afternoon on the grounds eating cake, sharing in laughter, and playing lawn games with their friends and family. It was a beautiful way to break tradition and spend their wedding day exactly how they wanted!”
Scroll down for photos and some Q&A with the couple!
Photography: Rachael Bowman Photography
Ceremony Location: St Mark’s Chapel at Historic Mordecai
Getting Ready and Reception : Oakwood Inn
Florist : The English Garden
Hair Stylist: Atomic Salon
Invitations: Minted
Maid of Honor’s dress: Renz Bridal
Bride’s Dress: A Bridal World
How did you meet?
We met at college – I was introduced to Kurt and remember looking into his eyes. They had such depth and soul that I knew I had to know more about him.
How did you decide to have an intimate wedding vs. something larger? What challenges did you have along the way?
We wanted to be able to focus on what matters most to us – our immediate family, few close friends, and our love for each other. Since we kept the wedding so small, there weren’t many challenges. The one challenge that comes to mind is being the primary planner/coordinator on all aspects of the wedding: venue, food, decor, ceremony and timing. The key was to be flexible!
How did you decide on the location?
We got married in our neighborhood. We wanted our wedding to be authentic to our relationship, and a big part of that is the community we live in.
What was your favorite part of the day and why?
Our favorite part of the day was the wedding ceremony. We had our close friend as the officiant, and we were very involved in choosing the scriptures, music (another dear friend played on his violin), and vows. Each of our siblings had roles to play, and our parents were there to see our love for each other. It combined so many different types of love into one moment. I can’t help but smile thinking about it.
What advice do you have for couples planning their elopements or small weddings?
Be authentic to yourselves.
