Southern Weddings

Since we’re based in Chapel Hill, we have a soft spot (not surprisingly) for North Carolina weddings, and Engle + Brian’s Bald Head Island celebration did not disappoint. The bride wore a crisp Lee-Ann Belter drop-waist gown, and dressed her maids in chic navy frocks from J. Crew. (Seems like navy is this year’s “it” color, wouldn’t you say?) Engle confessed that her flowers, styled by Kim Fisher Designs, was one of her – and her guests! – favorite details from her wedding, and we can see why! Yes, the boutonnières are just as cute as she promised! Special thanks to Kristin Byrum Photography for sharing!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Brian and I both went to NC State University. Looking back, we crossed paths many times in college and would run into each other at various social functions. However, it wasn’t until December 29, 2007 that we officially met. I had gone to my hometown of Mt. Airy, NC to visit my family for Christmas. I decided to drive back to Charlotte a little earlier than planned so that I could get settled before having to go back to work. On my way back to Charlotte I caught up with a friend I hadn’t seen in a while. We decided to grab some appetizers that evening, and then head to her boyfriend’s house for a small cookout. When I walked in the door to the cookout, Brian was standing in the kitchen and we recognized one another instantly. Brian’s best friend was hosting the cookout and sure enough, the hosts’ girlfriend and I were friends. After a night of good food, great friends and shag dancing to beach music, we spent the entire night talking, laughing and reminiscing about how we never actually “met” in college.
Describe the proposal. Brian and I had decided to take our summer vacation to Bald Head Island, NC. We packed the car and left Charlotte to head to Southport, NC. From there, we unloaded our luggage and fishing rods, Brian holding tightly to his tackle box full of new hooks and bait, and we climbed aboard the ferry to head across the water to BHI. Once we arrived in the marina, we collected our luggage and shuttled on over to check into our crofter. The weather was simply perfect when we arrived so we headed to the beach to spend some time in the sun. After the beach we headed back to the crofter to get ready for dinner. That night we went to Eb & Flo’s Steam Bar on the island and had the infamous steam pot while sitting on the deck overlooking the marina. It was one of those days where everything was perfect! After dinner we decided to take a walk on the beach. Instead, Brian steered our golf cart in the direction of the Bald Head Island Village Chapel. Brian proceeded to say that we should take a look inside while no one was there. The chapel was absolutely stunning! Eventually we went to the front of the chapel that overlooked the marsh and plopped ourselves in front of the live oak tree, where we sat and reflected about how great life had been since we met one another. As I started to get up to head back to the golf cart, Brian grabbed my hand. I turned around and he was on one knee: “Engle Nicole York, Will you marry me?” All day long, my ring had been hiding out in the tackle box!
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Every single detail! We worked so hard to find vendors and come up with ideas that would represent us and our relationship in some way. Because we got engaged under the beautiful oak tree in front of the chapel, we decided to carry the BHI location and the tree throughout the wedding as our theme. We selected BHI for the location because it is our favorite vacation spot and where we got engaged.