Nicola & Tyler’s Colorful October Wedding at The Village Arboretum

Nicola & Tyler came to Sweet Oak Events in June of 2021 with big wedding dreams and a prime October wedding date. For many, 2021 was the year of complete overwhelm and business, especially in the wedding industry, but that didn’t stop us from taking on the challenge to plan their perfect day in just 4 short months. And I have to say, boy did we deliver.

I am so thankful for these two and the grace they showed through the challenging planning process with vendor mishaps, communication delays and even wedding crashers on the wedding day (special thanks to my husband and the best man for making them leave).

Enough of that though, let’s focus on the good. Nicola’s vision for their wedding was something colorful, fun and just moody enough to be an October wedding. We focused our efforts on creating a space that was welcoming, warm and had DELICIOUS food & drinks.

I am so excited to share with you some of the beautiful details, photographed by Chelsea Renay. This was one of my favorite weddings to date, and we felt so honored to be a part of it!

Nicola and her bridesmaids got ready at a STUNNING Air BnB in Pinehurst, NC while Tyler and his groomsmen got to hang out in an equally as cool Air BnB – it was a church converted into a living space! The girls enjoyed mimosas, matching pajamas and gorgeous blooms in the bridal suite while hair and makeup was beautifully done by PinUp Bridal from Raleigh, NC.

Then before you know it, it was time for the ceremony! The arboretum was so stunning on its own that we didn’t really need to add much. We spruced up the florals on the arbor with the help of Buffaloe Blooms and added some rugs down the aisle to add a little Boho warmth to the overall design. We kept the signage minimal for this one, just using Minted! These two love to challenge tradition as you can see by Nicola standing on the right side (her good side as she said ;). We are totally here for it!

Next up was cocktail hour which is always such a fun part of the day! When we first visited The Village Arboretum, it was a completely blank slate. We had to bring EVERYTHING in! So, we used that to our advantage and really utilized the furniture pieces we chose to incorporate with vintage and moroccan pieces that show off the whimsical flare that Nicola has. By incorporating mismatched pieces that still coordinated together, we were able to create a fun and festive environment that didn’t feel too stuffy.

This crew knew how to party! With the help of Southern Entertainment, the dance floor was packed all night long, and we all didn’t want the party to end. The reception was beautifully ordained with tons of bright and colorful flowers including a floral chandelier over the dance floor and a huge greenery wall with LED lights that read, “The Bucks, ’till death”. Guests were served my favorite meal to date from HL Catering – venison osso buccu, bourbon glazed salmon or a butternut hazelnut pasta. No one left hungry I can promise you that! We incorporated burgundy velvet napkins with dark rattan chargers and gold flatware for our place settings, and we can’t forget about Nicola’s grandmothers rose kisses – a family wedding tradition.

This wedding goes in the books as one of our favorites for sure (although we are quite partial to them all!). Nicola and Tyler, thank you from the bottom of my heart for trusting me with your vision. I wish you many many years of wedded bliss! <3

Featured Vendors:

Photographer: Chelsea Renay Photography

Caterer: HL Catering Co

DJ: Southern Entertainment

Hair & Makeup: Pin Up Studios

Rentals: CE Rentals & Greenhouse Picker Sisters

Florist: Buffaloe Blooms