Wrightsville Weddings
BY Richard Leder
It all started in 2004 at a Wilmington Memorial Day weekend party at a mutual friends house. Greg Hoffman saw Nicole Ferguson walk out of the house and was instantly thunderstruck. Nicole who hadnt seen him yet grabbed something from her car walked back to the house stopped in front of him and for some mysterious reason put her hand out and introduced herself. Talk about written in the stars. For their first date not long after the party Nicole took Greg to a Toastmasters meeting at which she was giving her first speech. He watched that speech and knew right then he was going to marry her. Talk about meant to be. In the spring of 2007 Greg bought an engagement ring for Nicole. But for the next nine months every time he planned a proposal something else popped up to throw him off course. Finally with her familys help he got her alone on the shore of Lake Waccamaw in January 2008 slid a sparkling ring on her finger and asked her to marry him. Talk about worth the wait. The couple was married at Airlie Gardens before 300 guests. To make the day even more memorable Phil Zanzano one of Gregs close friends performed the ceremony. “Life is an adventure” was the theme of their honeymoon but at press time the exact location was still top secret. Along with Captain their Jack Russell the newlyweds reside in Wilmington where Greg works for Carolina Drilling and Nicole is a real estate broker with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty. Brides full name: Nicole Lindsey Ferguson Grooms full name: Gregory James Hoffman Wedding date: August 23 2008 Ceremony site: Airlie Gardens Pergola Reception site: Bride and Grooms home Rehearsal dinner site: City Tavern Photography: dana hawley photography Officiant: Phil Zanzano Gown: Beautiful Brides Hair: Tangerine Hair Salon Invitations: Morgan McGuire Flowers: The Flower Exchange Catering: TLC Catering Service Cake: Nancy Hearne Music: Paco Strickland Accommodations: Jameson Inn Honeymoon: An adventure somewhere unknown Nicole and Greg
Joanna and David
The rest was history or maybe chemistry ” says Joanna Schimizzi about meeting her husband David. History or chemistry their story had a simple start: She was a senior at John T. Hoggard High School his alma mater. He was home for Christmas from UNC-Chapel Hill. She was friends with his sister Amanda who introduced them.
Four and a half years later on Mothers Day at Davids parents house with everyone in attendance including Grandma David announced he had something for Joanna and presented her with a little box. In the box was a sparkling engagement ring. After two years of meticulous wedding planning the couple was married in a gorgeous ceremony at Airlie Gardens. The wedding was performed by Rev. Jemila Ericson who had a special connection to the couple. Coincidentally before Joanna and David knew each other they both performed with Jemila in plays when they were high school seniors.
The newlyweds honeymooned in Italy spending time in Milan Lake Como and the Piedmont wine region and then settled in Matthews NC where Joanna teaches biology at Butler High School and David works as an economist for Bank of America.
Brides Full Name: Joanna Capozzi Albanese Grooms Full Name: David Gregory Schimizzi Wedding Date: June 21 2008 Ceremony Site: Airlie Gardens Pergola Reception Site: Airlie Gardens Oak Lawn Rehearsal Dinner Site: Marcs on Market Photography: Eric Von Bargen Photography Videography: Clinton McAfee Wedding Planner: Lynette OCallaghan Officiant: Rev. Jemila Ericson Gown & Veil: Rivini from Nitsas Shoes: Ilse Jacobsen from Denmark Hair: Harbour Club Salon & Spa Bridesmaid Dresses: Bill Leukoff from Elegant Brides Formalwear: Ralph Lauren from Cape Fear Formalwear Invitations: Mindy and Angies Fine Paper Flowers: Phil Davis Blooms on 2nd Catering: Marcus Burk Culinary Creations Cake: Dave Herring Masons Haunt Music: Jim Felds Wake Zone Favors: Donation to Airlie Butterfly Garden butterfly garden plant seeds Transportation: Chris Pratt of Platinum Limo Accommodations: Blockade Runner Honeymoon: Milan Lake Como Italy
Morgan and Benjamin
Morgan Green who was attending Queens University in Charlotte was invited to a Cinco de Mayo party in Boone at Appalachian State where Benjamin Reece was coincidentally matriculating. Ben got Morgans number written in Sharpie on his arm with her lone proviso: “If I write my number on your arm you have to call me.” Six weeks later he did just that.
For their first date Morgan met Ben in Myrtle Beach for a burger on the strip. Not all that remarkable an event until he bought her a burger joint T-shirt she has a thing for collecting T-shirts and won her over on the spot.
The couple dated for three years and then while visiting Tiffany & Co. the world-famous jewelry store in New York City Ben got down on one knee in a private room and popped the question.
Though the “when” was uncertain (1 1/2 years later it so happens) the “where” was never in doubt. After graduating college Morgan and Ben moved to Wilmington and knew their wedding would be on beautiful Wrightsville Beach. “I wanted it to be peaceful and calm and I didnt want to wear shoes!” Morgan says.
So 75 friends and family members attended the wedding at CAMA beach access 43 and nobody wore shoes.
Though the wedding was unforgettable the honeymoon was every bit as special. Morgan and Ben rented an apartment in Paris and lived in the worlds most romantic city for two weeks.
The newlyweds live in Charlotte with their dogs Riley and Charlie where Morgan works in the Learning Center for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system and Ben is a business development officer for First Capital Commercial Funding.
Brides Full Name: Morgan Blair Green Grooms Full Name: Benjamin Michael Reece Wedding Date: May 17 2008 Ceremony Site: Access 43 Wrightsville Beach Reception Site: The Oceanic Restaurant Rehearsal Dinner Site: Circa 1922 Photography: Shane Snider Photography Officiant: Rev. Emile Harley of Winter Park Presbyterian Church Hair and Makeup: Harbor Club Day Spa and Salon Bridesmaid Dresses: Davids Bridal Formalwear: Joseph A. Bank Invitations: Exclusively Weddings.com Flowers: Connie Proctor Catering: The Oceanic Restaurant Cake: Judy Kunf Cakes for All Occasions Music: Vince Stout of Sea Pans Rentals: A Tent Event Favors: Seashell placecard/photo holders Transportation: Wedding Trolley Wilmington Trolley Company Accommodations: Holiday Inn SunSpree Bryant Real Estate Intracoastal Realty Honeymoon: France
Catherine and Jeoffrey
King Neptune Restaurant on Wrightsville Beach is now known for two things: fabulous fried seafood and the place where Wilmington native Catherine Umstetter and Jeoffrey Nathan “really hit it off.”
It was actually the second time they had met at Neptune and this time Jeoffrey asked Catherine out on a date. Officially that first date was a Guns N Roses party. He picked her up at the marina in his boat and they never looked back.
One year later Jeoffrey proposed at Masonboro Island. He hid the ring on their boat made sure she found it got down on one knee and asked her to marry him.
One more year later she did in South Carolina on the private beach of DeBordieu. All 125 people in attendance were barefoot including the bride. The wedding was made all the more special by the fact that Catherines brother Luke performed the ceremony.
Instead of a honeymoon the newlyweds started a business Coastal Urge in the Landfall Center and have been happily honeymooning there since the doors opened on May 16. Not to worry: the couple have a trip booked to Hawaii for February.
Catherine and Jeoffrey live in Porters Neck with their yellow labs Emma and Brewer.
Brides Full Name: Catherine Umstetter Grooms Full Name Jeoffrey Nathan Wedding Date: June 7 2008 Ceremony Site: Beach of DeBordieu Colony Reception Site: Ocean Club of DeBordieu Colony Rehearsal Dinner Site: Oceanside Pool of DeBordieu Colony Photography: Harry Taylor Photography Wedding Designer: Dee Griffith Officiant: Luke Umstetter (brides brother) Gown: Vera Wang Shoes: Kate Spade Hair: Becky of Head to Toe Day Spa Bridesmaid Dress: Milissa Sweet Invitations: Mindy and Angies Fine Paper Catering: DeBordieu Catering Cake: Incredible Edibles Music: Travis Allison Band Honeymoon: Kauai
Meredith and David
You dont normally meet your future husband while buying a car but thats exactly what happened to hairdresser Meredith Nelson. She was looking at a Camry and the floor manager David Poole had the salesman introduce them. David asked for her card and she did his hair for three months until he finally asked her out.
Their first date was at The Pilot House Restaurant. Their conversation flowed so easily they both just knew “this was it.” In fact they talked about it on their second date only three days later.
David said he wanted to date for a year before getting engaged but he didnt make it. After four months he took Meredith to dinner and had the waiter place the ring on the dessert tray. Needless to say it was the sweetest offering shed ever had.
The couple was married exactly one year later on Wrightsville Beach in front of Shell Island Resort. One hundred-fifty friends and family members attended and in true beach wedding style no one wore shoes.
Monty Nelson Davids uncle performed the ceremony. Monty has married many members of the family so it was a special thrill for the couple to add their names to the list.
The newlyweds honeymooned in Cancun Mexico at Sun Palace Resort where they relaxed at the pool went horseback riding on the beach and snorkeled in the clear calm water.
Wrightsville Beach has become their number one vacation spot since the couple moved to Buford Georgia where David runs his own sales and marketing business and Meredith is a hairdresser doing in-salon education for other hairdressers. They live in a brand-new house near Lake Lanier with Sadie their black lab.
Brides Full Name: Meredith Anne Nelson Grooms Full Name: David Nelson Poole Wedding Date: September 8 2007 Ceremony Site: Wrightsville Beach Reception Site: Shell Island Resort Rehearsal Dinner Site: City Tavern Photography: Russell Hickman Photography Officiant: Monty Nelson uncle of the groom Gown: Elegant Brides Jewelry: Vanity & Olney Originals Hair: Salon Beyond Basics Makeup: Marjorie Land of GloMedspa Bridesmaid Dresses: Elegant Brides Formalwear: Mens Wearhouse Invitations: Party City and Mindy & Angies Fine Paper Flowers: Verzaals Florist and Jessica Biel Catering: Shell Island Resort Music: Adam Lassiter Honeymoon: Cancun Mexico