Amelia Grove Wedding in New Bern, North Carolina | Catherine + Josh
You will never find a couple more in love than Catherine and Josh. Their wedding was full of happiness, tears, and an abundance of devotion towards one another and those that surrounded them. Catherine and Josh had dated for 6 years prior to him proposing in their hometown of New Bern, NC. Needless to say, this day at Amelia Grove was much anticipated by all.
They chose to hold their wedding at one of the most beautiful, timeless, and classic venues this city has to offer, Amelia Grove. It sits right on the Trent River, accompanied by a dock that allows you to go right onto the water for sunset photos. Along the river, tall oak trees were strung with lights which made for such a magical grand exit! Catherine was a bride wanting a mix of classy and modern vibes. Between her venue selection, flowers, dress, and overall details, this was a wedding that you could plan 100 years from now and do everything exactly the same way. I remember when Catherine first sent me her Pinterest board, I told her I was going to save it for my own wedding planning.
For their ceremony, they lined acrylic chairs in the open area in front of the house. The aisle, which was embellished with flower petals, led to a giant circular arbor covered in white and blush roses. Beside the arbor was a small table that had the necessary items for them to share communion during the ceremony. This was such a special touch for them to include. It took everything in me to keep the tears in my eyes. The love they have for one another was so evident during this time.
The rest of the night was history. Catherine and Josh danced the night away with their friends and family before waving goodbye during a sparkler exit. It was an honor to capture this day for these two and leave calling them friends.
From the couple, Catherine + Josh…
What did you love about your venue?
“We loved that it felt like home. It was very important that we got married in a location that felt special and right for us as a couple. Amelia Grove is in the middle of our hometown and placed perfectly on the waterfront. It just felt right! It was also very important that we had our ceremony and reception in one location so that was a big plus!”
What was the most memorable part of your wedding day?
“I think the most memorable part for both of us has to be our first touch. We stood on either side of a wall, held hands, prayed together, and exchange gifts before the ceremony. We both knew that we didn’t want to do a first look but wanted to speak with each other somehow. This was so sweet and perfect, and helped calmed both of our nerves before walking done the aisle.”
What was the funniest moment on your wedding day?
“I have to say the funniest moment (more confusing than funny at the moment) is when my husband decided to start his vows by reciting the JFK inaugural speech (background: he loves anything presidential). He started reciting it and I think everyone in the crowd and myself was all kind of looking around thinking “what the heck is he talking about”. Eventually, he broke and admitted those were not his vows and had the whole crowd laughing. He started reciting his true vows moments later and it ended up being the perfect comedic relief from how cold it was!”
What is something that you are so happy that you included in your wedding?
Last-minute we decided that we wanted to have a private last dance, just us, while our guests set up outside for our sparkler exit. It was the most perfect moment we shared where we took a quiet moment to reflect on the day and really take at the moment together.
What advice would you give to others planning a wedding?
The advice I would give to others planning a wedding would be to enjoy it. Being engaged is such a sweet season that goes by so quickly. There’s so much that goes into planning a wedding and wanting every detail to be perfect (as it should, it’s your big day!). But, don’t let that overwhelm you. Let it excite you more than ever and simply enjoy every bit of it!
Venue – Amelia Grove // Photographer – Alexandra Marie Photography // Planner – Down To I Do // Dress – Pronovias, Thornbury Brides // Bridesmaids Dresses – Revelry // Makeup – Dollface By Melissa // Hair – Courtney Thomas // Groom and Groomsmen Tuxes – The Black Tux // Florals – Your Perfect Day // Rentals – The Carolina Refinery // Cake – Famous Baking Company // Catering – Strange & Sons // Stationery – Copy and Print // Videography – When Two Become One // DJ – CK Entertainment
