A Magical Lakeside Wedding That’s All About Love and Romance

Elena and Michael’s wedding was a beautiful celebration of love, tradition, and family, blending personal touches with meaningful moments. From a heartfelt first look to a champagne tower instead of a traditional cake, every detail reflected their unique personalities and journey together. Thoughtful cultural elements, along with unforgettable moments on the dance floor, made this celebration one that will be cherished for a lifetime.

Location: Mooresville, North Carolina, US
Style: Classic, romantic, intimate
Number of guests: 90
Setting: Lake Norman
Season: Spring

Elena and Michael’s love story began in 2014 when they met and worked together at the country club, where they would say, “I do,” a decade later. Their relationship started as a friendship, blossoming slowly before evolving into something deeper. They love exploring new cities, dining at new restaurants, and enjoying concerts and stage productions together.

After enduring a year of uncertainty due to Covid, Michael planned a surprise proposal during a trip to Pinehurst with friends. On the last evening, in front of the iconic Walter Payne statue, he got down on one knee and asked Elena to marry him.

Vision & Photography

Elena and Michael envisioned their wedding as a joyful celebration filled with great food, love, and a laid-back atmosphere. Both being in the foodservice and hospitality industry, they wanted the meal to be excellent without feeling overly formal. Their wedding style featured classic spring pastels and coastal blues, creating a romantic and intimate setting. Capturing the essence of the day, photographer Kelsey Mard beautifully documented both the candid moments and timeless portraits using a mix of digital and film cameras, perfectly reflecting the mood and warmth of the celebration.

"Our photographer Kelsey captured our day in the most perfect way that evoked the emotion of the special moments."

Elena, The bride

Couple's Morning & Fashion

Elena’s wedding dress journey took an unexpected turn when the first dress she chose didn’t work out, even after alterations. Four months before the wedding, she spotted the Jenny by Jenny Yoo Holden, which had once admired from the window but never thought would suit her. But the floral lace was too beautiful to resist, and when she tried it on, it fit perfectly, needing only minor adjustments.

Elena worked with makeup artist Cali Stott, opting for an updo with face-framing tendrils for her hair. The makeup was soft glam, featuring smoky brown wings and fresh, glowing skin, perfectly completing Elena’s bridal look.

Michael chose a dark blue velvet tuxedo jacket from Charles Tyrwhitt with a black bow tie, cummerbund, and suspenders with silver buttons, adding a modern twist to the classic tuxedo. The velvet gave him a boost of confidence on the big day, and he also wore Carolina blue socks with dogwoods as a tribute to his home state, gifting a pair to his brother and best man.

First Look & Pre-Ceremony

Once Elena and Michael were ready for the wedding day, the couple shared a private moment for their first look, where they exchanged personal vows. The intimacy of this moment was deeply meaningful for both of them. “It was very special and memorable,” they shared, a moment they would cherish for years to come.

Just before the ceremony, Elena shared a special moment with her family and bridesmaids. Their laughter and support set the perfect tone for the entire celebration.

Ceremony

The ceremony was held on a picturesque lawn, offering stunning views of Lake Norman and the 18th green of the golf course. To keep their guests comfortable during the outdoor ceremony, they provided white parasols, which turned out to be a fun and practical touch. The couple also had personalized programs that doubled as fans, which Elena made herself with the help of her sister using Canva, a printer, popsicle sticks, and glue.

Having worked together on numerous wedding ceremonies at the club, Elena knew exactly who she wanted to officiate their ceremony. After years of working with Rev. Patrick Maloy at the club, Elena felt a deep connection with him and knew he was the perfect person to officiate their ceremony. Their strong rapport made the entire ceremony feel effortless and personal, even though it followed traditional customs.

As the ceremony concluded and the couple was officially married, they walked down the aisle to the cheers of their loved ones, accompanied by The Cure’s “Friday, I’m in Love.” The song, fittingly chosen for their Friday wedding, perfectly captured the joy and love they felt in that moment.

Moments Alone

After the ceremony, Elena and Michael shared a quiet, intimate moment together, soaking in the joy of becoming newlyweds. Captured beautifully by photographer Kelsey Mard, their portraits reflected their pure happiness and connection. These moments would forever be a cherished reminder of the magic they felt, just the two of them, after saying “I do.”

Reception Details

The newlyweds aimed for a soft, romantic feel with their reception decor, using pale blush goblets and matte satin blush napkins as their pink accents. To bring in blue, they incorporated slate blue candles in various styles, along with white pillar candles. For food, they chose food stations, including a sushi station, and introduced a taste of Malaysia with confections from a Malaysian-inspired bakery. They also had a pie bar with pecan, peach, chocolate cream, key lime pies, and assorted Bundtinis.

Wanting to honor her Chinese heritage, Elena included the traditional symbol for “double happiness,” a symbol of joy for newlyweds. A gold acrylic symbol was displayed on the bar, accompanied by chinoiserie vases with delphiniums.

The Night of Joy

Michael had so much fun dancing with his young nieces, aged 3 and 5, who were full of energy and joy at the reception. Their infectious smiles, laughter, and carefree dance moves left an impression on everyone. For Elena, dancing with her father was a truly special moment she’ll always cherish. Michael also shared a heartfelt first dance with his mother, making it an emotional and memorable highlight of the day.

Instead of a traditional wedding cake, the couple opted for a champagne tower, pouring a magnum bottle of Champagne Dumangin gifted by a friend and owner of Orsini Wines over a tower of coupe glasses. The bubbly was then shared with their guests, adding a unique and celebratory touch to the evening.

For dinner, Michael had the idea of a “disco dinner,” where the DJ played classic disco hits to get everyone in the mood for dancing. Michael and Elena, both passionate dancers, brought their energy to the floor. It became the most fun, unforgettable wedding dance party the couple had ever experienced!

"We hear it all the time but there’s something so special about being surrounded by our closest people who are so excited to share in our joy."

Elena, The bride

Advice from the couple:

• Invest in great vendors and be honest in your expectations. I truly believe a lot of our wedding success was because we picked great vendors whose tastes aligned with ours and we trusted them to showcase their talent and expertise. Great vendors are those who sincerely seek to help you make your wedding day the best day for you.

• Our mantra during wedding planning was “at the end of the day, as long as we got married, the wedding was a success” and it helped take a lot of pressure off the wedding. The people you love will show up for you and celebrate you unconditionally; the vibes will follow.

Vision & Photography

Couple's Morning & Fashion

First Look & Pre-Ceremony