This 1705 East wedding embodies classic elegance with satin, roses, and candles! The Bride’s elegant loose hairstyle by Rachel Yandle, makeup by Gabrielle Duvall, the artful florals by Bella Bloom, the color palette so pretty you’ll long for the fall season, the bridesmaids, the venue… you name it, this wedding has it. With planning by Jessica George, every step of the way is carefully designed for these two beautiful people. 1705 East was the perfect canvas for this romantic wedding celebration. The best part? The Raleigh wedding photographers In His Image Photography captured every moment so that each and every image stands stunningly on its own, yet tells the complete story when strung together.
1705 East Wedding Preparation
How they met:
We met at a sports bar. Jon was out with his twin brother. Megan didn’t want to make dinner for herself so she went to the closest restaurant/bar to watch football. They met and 5 hours later they were still talking. They have talked every day since. Note: Megan NEVER goes anywhere in the evenings alone but for some reason, she did that day.
How he proposed:
They dated for 2.5 years before the proposal. Jon was super slick in keeping it a secret. He texted earlier that day (Valentine’s Day 2018) “Sorry babe, I don’t have a ring yet. We will get there soon.” On that day, he suggested they go out to watch a basketball game. After the game, he wanted to go to the place they first kissed. Once they arrived, he got down on one knee and pulled the ring out from his sock and asked “Megan, will you marry me?”. Megan responded to the question: “Are you serious? Yes!” She was in shock because it was such a surprise but elated that he asked!
The inspiration behind their day:
Color pallet was grey and burgundy for our October wedding. We wanted classic, elegant, satin, roses and candles and we got it. It was beautiful!
What attracted you to 1705 East?
We wanted a one-stop shop. 1705 East was ideal because they have an in-house caterer, large but not too large reception space, options for a ceremony space, good parking and a bridal suite.
Tell us about your wedding florals:
We wanted dark red roses and got them. They were spectacular. Tons of balls of roses. Lots of guests commented on the flowers.
Let’s talk about fashion. How did you choose your wedding day look?
The wedding day look came to me one day while exercising – grey and dark red. The groom liked it too. The bride does not like pastels and wanted an evening wedding. The gown was bought at the second store visited. I thought I wanted straps but ended up with strapless, A-line, satin with beading on the top. Jon loved it.
Tell us about your bridesmaids:
My maid of honor was my local bestie. My first bridesmaid was my out-of-state bestie. The second bridesmaid was his sister. Everyone got along great and they were amazing the whole way. Super supportive, quick to do things and were great fun on the big day.
Tell us about his groomsmen:
His groomsmen were his 3 brothers. His best man was his twin brother. They are a close family and it was great fun to include all of them in the wedding party.
1705 East Wedding Ceremony
What is your fondest memory from your wedding day?
Walking down the aisle and seeing Jon at the altar. I was super calm all day until that moment, I cried the whole walk. Seeing the love of my life who I have waited so long for, it hit me right then. He was amazing to make jokes during our vows to help stop my tears, and it worked thank goodness.
What’s your favorite image from your wedding day, and why:
We cannot pick one. There are so many that we want to put in our home.
Tell us about your wedding photography:
Dajuan was our photographer. He was AMAZING! Dajuan helped tremendously in planning key parts to the flow of the day beforehand. He worked so hard and was incredibly patient with getting so many shots in the moment. We could not have asked for more!
Tell us about your cake.
Artylicious was our cake vendor. We wanted a 3-tiered cake with white icing, piping, and real roses. It was perfect and so tasty!
How about the wedding invitations & stationery:
We used Basic Invite and lots of guests commented on how pretty they were.
Wedding favors:
We did lottery tickets. We used Etsy to get personalized ticket holders that had our names, our date and “Lucky in Love” printed on them.
1705 East Wedding Reception
Favorite item on the reception menu:
Beef short ribs barely beat out the cocktail shrimp shooters.
What songs did you choose for your wedding ceremony and reception, and why:
All alternative. Zero country. Why? Well, that’s what the bride wanted. Enough said?
Tell us about your wedding planner:
Jessica George was amazing ESPECIALLY on the big day. She was incredibly organized and very calm. She made our vision a complete reality. Some family members refer to the day as magical. We agree!
What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples?
Stay calm and enjoy the planning process. Take your time picking your vendors because you need to be able to trust them.
Any advice for future brides:
Be honest about what you want. Hire the team I had. Thank each person with a monetary tip and provide them with thorough feedback.
Venue: 1705 East
Planner: Jessica George
Photographer: In His Image Photography
Makeup Artist: Elle Beaute Events
Hair Stylist: Rachel Yandle
Florist: Bella Bloom, A Floral Concept
Entertainment: Island Sound DJ
Catering: Rocky Top Catering
Dessert: Artylicious
Furnishings: Greenhouse Picker Sisters
