Real Weddings
BY Mary Catherine Logan and Kelly Pittman
Maranda & Ryan
Maranda Denny met Kenny Ryan Tamson through a cousin at a mall in Charlotte. Even as teenagers they were an instant match. After dating just three months 18-year-old Ryan moved to Wilmington to be with Maranda who was still in high school there.
The two dated for five years maturing and establishing careers while deepening their relationship. Maranda knew a proposal was coming soon and especially expected it one night as she and Ryan walked on the beach. But the walk ended and she went home disappointed. Her parents were in their pajamas when she got there and she went to her room. Ryan had successfully fooled her surprising her with a room covered with candles and rose petals and their song Beyonce’s Dangerously in Love playing in the background. She turned to see Ryan on one knee. Right after his proposal they prayed together that their marriage would honor the Lord.
After the wedding they honeymooned on a cruise to the Bahamas and Coco Cay Island. Maranda and Ryan live in Wilmington. She is a certified occupational therapy assistant at Creative Hands Occupational Therapy and he is production manager at TruGreen ChemLawn.
Elements
Bride’s Full Name: Maranda Denny Groom’s Full Name: Kenneth Ryan Tamson Wedding Date: May 6 2006 Ceremony Site: Wrightsville Beach strand at the Surf Club Reception Site: Surf Club Rehearsal Dinner Site: Rossi’s Photography: Matthew Ray Videography: Mari Kittredge Wedding Planner: Mom and self Wedding Coordinator: Edith Kerns Officiant: Pastor Devin Kerns Gown & Veil: David’s Bridal Shoes: Dillard’s Cole Haan Jewelry: Earrings Island Passage Hair: Jon Fycyk at Hair Works Makeup: Kara Denny sister Bridesmaid Dresses: Bill Levkoff Online Formalwear: Belk Invitations: The Fisherman’s Wife Flowers: Hart’s Florist Catering: Surf Club Cake: Nancy Hern Music: Captain Cook and the Coconutz Guitarist: Marc Seigal Soloist: Cindy Pitts Favors: Chocolate seashells Honeymoon: Cruise to Bahamas and Coco Cay
Barbara & Garland
It’s every little girl’s dream to one day have a fairy tale wedding and for Barbara Kornegay the dream came true.
When she and (now husband) Donald Wall both moved into their neighborhood on the same day in 2006 they instantly hit it off. In fact their first date was the day they met over a shared dinner of take-out pizza. Because Barbara and Donald were both renovating their houses they were covered in sweat and dirt and dinner was in a yet-to-be furnished house. Four years later they were engaged on Christmas Eve and began making preparations for the big day ahead. Barbara and Donald both agreed that the Bottle Chapel in Airlie Gardens was the best place for the ceremony because of its cultural significance and the community participation in its construction. Plus it fit the fairy tale-themed wedding they had in mind. To top it off Barbara wore a princess-like dress and tiara. The newlyweds honeymooned in Mallorca Spain where they hiked into caves drove over mountains and even appropriately explored a few castles. The couple now happily resides in Wilmington where Barbara manages Kahili’s Pools — when not working as a real estate agent with RE/MAX — and Donald works as a hairdresser at Primp Hair & Body.
Elements
Bride’s Full Name: Barbara Ellen Kornegay Groom’s Full Name: Donald “Garland” Wall Jr. Wedding Date: May 28 2006 Ceremony Site: The Bottle Chapel Airlie Gardens Reception Site: Rossi’s Rehearsal Dinner Site: Home Photography: Bonnie Isom Washington D.C. Videography: Rob Shinah Officiant: The Reverend Roland Johnson Gown Tiara & shoes: David’s Bridal Jewelry: Spectrum Gallery Hair: Primp Hair & Body Heather Sexton Makeup: Voilé Esthetique —Primp Hair & Body Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal Formalwear: After Hours Invitations: Ladybugs Flowers & Cake: Merry Lynn’s Lovely Creations Catering: Rossi’s Music: Tim Buie — pianist Transportation: Rossi’s Limo Service Accommodations: Holiday Inn SunSpree Honeymoon: Mallorca Spain
Sara & Michael
It is common knowledge that many women go into their college years readily seeking an M.R.S. degree — as in Mrs. So-and-so — but most don’t expect to meet “the one” before school even starts. Sara Crohn met her beau Michael Herbert at freshman orientation where he was her orientation group leader throughout the event. Within a few months the fast friends were dating and four years later they became engaged. In a surprise romantic plot Michael had a limo pick Sara up at a friend’s house. She was whisked away to Wrightsville Beach where she was instructed to follow a path of roses to the water’s edge. There Michael stood surrounded by tiki torches awaiting this moment. He kneeled before her and asked Sara to be his bride. One year later the two were married at St. Therese Catholic Church with family and friends in attendance. Sara and Michael spent their honeymoon at a friend’s house on Bald Head Island where they soaked up the sun and dined at the club. The couple resides in Wilmington and is expecting a baby girl this August.
Elements
Bride’s Full Name: Sara Joann Crohn Groom’s Full Name: Michael David Herbert Wedding Date: August 11 2006 Ceremony Site: St. Therese Catholic Church Wrightsville Beach Reception Site: Lion’s Gate Rehearsal Dinner Site: Rim Wang Photography: Eric von Bargen Videography: Ben Phillips Wedding Planner: Coordinator Ovella Tippett Officiant: Mark Tippett Gown: Ashley Jordan Veil: weddingveil.com Shoes: Ann Taylor Jewelry: Grandma Margie Johnson Hair: Olivia Cheyne Makeup: Olivia Cheyne Bridesmaid Dresses: White House/Black Market Formalwear: After Hours Invitations: Erin Fede Flowers: All The Elements Catering: Michael’s Seafood Cake: Ashley Dobbins Music: DJ America Honeymoon: Bald Head Island friend’s house
Melissa & Brian
When Brian Emory Fulp and Melissa Claire Powell met in 2000 through a mutual friend their relationship stayed on a strictly casual level. All the while both knew that they felt more passionately about each other but neither admitted it.
After more than a year of hiding their feelings Melissa decided that she couldn’t wait any longer and asked Brian to dinner at Texas Roadhouse. From that point on the two knew they were meant to be and began seeing each other more frequently.
On Christmas Eve of 2003 the couple was opening presents together when Melissa opened a most unexpected gift — that oh-so-important ring. When Brian popped the question Melissa said yes without hesitation.
The two plantation lovers planned to have their wedding at Poplar Grove and three years later it was under blue skies that they did so. The rehearsal dinner wedding ceremony and reception all presented the Italian theme that both the bride and groom had chosen because of their honeymoon destination.
Brian and Melissa spent an extra long 11-day honeymoon touring France and Italy. From the French countryside to bustling Paris to the gondolas and ancient churches of Italy the couple saw it all.
The couple now lives in Wilmington with two Boston terriers Riley and Cooper.
Elements
Bride’s Full Name: Melissa Claire Powell Groom’s Full Name: Brian Emory Fulp Wedding Date: September 30 2006 Ceremony Site: Poplar Grove Plantation (gazebo) Reception Site: Poplar Grove Plantation (barn) Rehearsal Dinner Site: Marsh Oaks Club House Photography: Piner Photography Wedding Planner: Bride’s mother (Donna Crawford) Officiant: Minister Brenda Freeman Johnson Gown & Shoes: Camille La Vie Jewelry: Littman Jewelers Sarasota Florida Hair: Carmen! Carmen! Prestige Salon and Spa Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal Formalwear: After Hours Formal Wear Invitations: Handmade by bride and groom Flowers: David Hamilton; Billy and Bobbi Edwards from the Plant Place Catering: Musser’s Seafood and Barbeque Catering Service and A Taste of Italy Cake: Cookies and cupcakes Pam Hendricks Music: Buddy Langley Favors: Personalized burlap bags with roasted peanuts handmade by bride’s mother and grandmother Honeymoon: Paris France; Rome Florence Lake Garda and Venice Italy
Cameron & Shelton
Virginia Cameron Baldwin met Joseph Shelton Roberson when she roomed with his sister at Meredith College in Raleigh. After about a year of dating he proposed to her at the Carolina Yacht Club five days after Christmas. The couple had been riding around town with Shelton’s sister and her fiancé and stopped to walk on the Yacht Club dock. They began talking about their relationship over the past year and Shelton surprised her when he suddenly proposed right on the spot. His sister and her fiancé had pretended to move away but were actually sneaking pictures.
The couple had a big wedding at Little Chapel on the Boardwalk with more than 200 guests and 14 attendants and groomsmen.
They stayed active during their honeymoon in St. Croix at the Hotel on the Cay. They snorkeled rode a tour bus around the island learned to scuba dive spent time at the beach and took a moonlit kayak tour.
Both Cameron and Shelton grew up in Wilmington where they live now. She works at Palm Garden and Shelton is a chef and seafood specialist at Fresh Market.
Elements
Bride’s Full Name: Virginia Cameron Baldwin Groom’s Full Name: Joseph Shelton Roberson Jr. Wedding Date: November 4 2006 Ceremony Site: Little Chapel on the Boardwalk Reception & rehearsal dinner Site: Carolina Yacht Club Photography: Pridgen Photo Videography: Mabry Documentary Officiant: The Reverend Todd Wright and the Reverend Tim Russell Gown: Bridal Boutique Veil: Handmade by Eleanor Piner Shoes: Bob Ellis Charleston S.C. Jewelry: Pearl earrings borrowed from bride’s mother and bracelet gift from parents Hair: Blonde Salon Makeup: Chanel — Barbara Pelling Bridesmaid Dresses: J. Crew Online Formalwear: S & K Men’s Famous Brands Menswear Invitations: Fisherman’s Wife Flowers: A Beautiful Event Catering: A Southern Thyme Cake: Sweet T’s Cakes Music: The Imitations Favors: Bertie County Peanuts Transportation: Rickshaw Accommodations: Blockade Runner Honeymoon: St. Croix