Wrightsville Weddings

BY Patricia Brown

Published June 22, 2009


Melissa and Michael



Melissa Andrus was puzzled when Michael Kennedy her boyfriend of five years gave her a book of poems before their dinner date. The first page included Michaels own poem to Melissa and instructions to turn to page 132. By the time Melissa turned to the page Michael was on one knee before her and a diamond ring was sparkling from the back of the hollowed-out book. Their wedding took place on May 2 2009 at the Arboretum in Wilmington. The bride walked down the aisle to a single bongo drum surrounded by beautiful springtime flowers. Melissa recalled that a friend returned to the Arboretum about a week after the ceremony and observed that most of the flowers were gone. “It was like they bloomed just for us ” she happily concluded. The newlyweds honeymooned in Ocho Rios Jamaica where they spent most of their nights dancing beneath the stars to the rhythms of live reggae bands. Michael now works as the program director and afternoon on-air personality for Surf 98.3 and Melissa is a fundraiser for UNCW.



CEREMONY SITE The New Hanover County Arboretum RECEPTION SITE The Balcony on Dock REHEARSAL DINNER SITE Indochine PHOTOGRAPHY Joshua Curry Photography WEDDING PLANNER (ceremony coordinator) Susan Chandler OFFICIANT Pastor Chris Thore GOWN Casablanca from Dawns Bridals (Lexington NC) SHOES Me Too Zappos.com JEWELRY Perrys Emporium Kingoffs Jewelers HAIR Jina Banner of Della Testa MAKEUP ULTA Salon BRIDESMAID DRESSES White House Black Market FORMALWEAR Cape Fear Formal Wear INVITATIONS Carlson Craft Swoozies FLOWERS Fiore Fine Flowers CATERING The Balcony on Dock CAKE Nicki MacRae MUSIC Baby Boy Productions Perry Smith FAVORS Candy Bar TRANSPORTATION Azalea Limousine RENTALS A Tent Event Party Suppliers HONEYMOON Ocho Rios Jamaica






Beth and Travis



Elizabeth Ambler Watson grew up visiting Wrightsville Beach every summer. Though she always loved the area she never knew just how special it would turn out to be for her. Travis Hedgepeth met Beth through mutual friends. The two dated on and off for five years. Then during a warm North Carolina summer while working in Raleigh Travis visited Wilmington for Beths birthday. As they drifted down the Intracoastal Waterway in a sailboat Travis led Beth to the bow of the boat knelt down on one knee and asked her to be his bride. The bride and groom were joined by family and close friends at Wrightsville United Methodist Church on May 2 2009. The celebration was focused on spending time at the beach. “We wanted everyone to enjoy Wrightsville that weekend as much as we do ” says Beth. Beth and Travis honeymooned at The Royal Plantation in Ocho Rios Jamaica. They now reside in Raleigh where Travis is a CPA and Beth works for Wake County Public Schools.



CEREMONY SITE Wrightsville United Methodist Church RECEPTION SITE Bluewater An American Grill REHEARSAL DINNER SITE Blockade Runner Beach Resort PHOTOGRAPHY Allison Breiner VIDEOGRAPHY Joe Fish WEDDING/EVENT PLANNER Jane Roberson OFFICIANT Rev. Tim Russell GOWN Barbara Allen VEIL Westwood SHOES Nine West JEWELRY Grandmothers diamond necklace HAIR Kelly Twisdale Brush Salon MAKE- UP Shannon Hill Brush Salon BRIDESMAID DRESSES JCrew FORMALWEAR Cape Fear Formal Wear INVITATIONS Reeves Engraving Inc. FLOWERS A Beautiful Event Wendy Wright CATERING Bluewater An American Grill CAKE Nancy Hearne MUSIC Carl Newton and the 5th Avenue Band TRANSPORTATION Joe Fish and his 1969 GTO convertible ACCOMMODATIONS Blockade Runner Beach Resort and Hilton Garden Inn HONEYMOON The Royal Plantation in Ocho Rios Jamaica






Elizabeth and Livingston



When Elizabeth Reynolds and Livingston Sheats first met on an adventure to a Maryland corn maze in 2006 they had no idea how many unexpected turns their relationship would take. Though the couple hit it off right away it wasnt until late 2007 at a mutual friends wedding that they reunited. “This time he was a keeper!” Elizabeth happily recalls. After eight months together Livingston planned a trip to Wilmington with the help of Elizabeths family. The couple took a cruise on Elizabeths grandfathers boat and the day was made perfect when Livingston proposed on Wrightsville Beach. Elizabeth accepted and though the two managed to beach the boat they still made it to their engagement party that evening. Elizabeth and Livingston were married on November 8 2008 in a ceremony filled with family and music at the First Presbyterian Church in Wilmington. The newlyweds honeymooned at two different locations in Jamaica. They now live in Washington D.C. where Elizabeth is an interior designer and Livingston works as an editorial project manager for the National Academy of Sciences.



CEREMONY SITE First Presbyterian Church Wilmington RECEPTION SITE Live Oaks a private home on Masonboro Sound REHEARSAL DINNER SITE Cape Fear Country Club PHOTOGRAPHY Kevin Millard Imagery OFFICIANT Rev. Dr. Ernie Trice Thompson III GOWN Jim Hjelm VEIL Family heirloom Elizabeth was the 42nd bride to wear it SHOES Filenes Basement JEWELRY Family heirloom and bride made necklaces and earrings for bridesmaids HAIR & Makeup Head to Toe Day Spa BRIDESMAID DRESSES Davids Bridal FORMALWEAR Banana Republic Outlet INVITATIONS Carlson Craft FLOWERS Sam Haddock CATERING Little Pond Catering by Tommy Mills CAKE Nancy Hearne MUSIC The Four Knights (Jacksonville NC) FAVORS Custom Lip Balm by Promotional Solutions Inc. TRANSPORTATION A & B Valet ACCOMMODATIONS Front Street Inn RENTALS Party Suppliers HONEYMOON The Caves Resort in Jamaica






Erin and Chad


Though neither is originally from the area Erin DeLeo and Chad Hogstons romance is pure Port City. The couples first date was in Historic Downtown. After enjoying dinner Erin and Chad went to a local pub and listened to the sounds of an Irish band. Much to Chads surprise Erin knew almost every word of every song. Erin jokes that Chads reaction to her singing was “Okay Im going to marry this girl.” And marry they did on March 20 2009 at St. Therese Catholic Church in Wrightsville Beach. The couple wanted a traditional Catholic ceremony and even flew Erins priest Father Patrick Daugherty up from Florida to preside alongside Chads pastor Mike Ashcraft. The wedding was all family flowers and tears of joy. “Everyone was truly happy for us ” Erin recalls still smiling. Afterwards the newlyweds pedaled away from the church on Earth Cruisers bicycles. For their honeymoon Erin and Chad explored the British Virgin Islands on a chartered catamaran captained by Chad himself with three other couples all good friends. Erin now works in marketing and advertising for Seaside Media and Chad is the founder and owner of Hogston Law in Historic Downtown Wilmington.



CEREMONY SITE St. Therese Catholic Church Wrightsville Beach RECEPTION SITE Hanover Seaside Club REHEARSAL DINNER SITE Chad and Erins House PHOTOGRAPHY Eric Von Bargen VIDEOGRAPHER Chris Whitehurst and Sean Sullivan WEDDING PLANNER Amy Kilgore Diane Duffus Martin and Trina Robinson OFFICIANT Father Patrick Daugherty and Mike Ashcraft GOWN Designed and handmade by brides mother Collete DeLeo JEWELRY Grandmothers diamond pendant Ivy Cottage and Kingoffs Jewelers HAIR Maureen of Ward Hair Design BRIDESMAID DRESSES Watters & Watters FLOWERS A Beautiful Event Diane Duffus Martin Trina Robinson CATERING Hanover Seaside Club CAKE Nancy Hearne MUSIC Global DJ TRANSPORTATION Earth Crusiers RENTALS Party Suppliers HONEYMOON Chartered catamaran through the British Virgin Islands






Daniela and Bryn


In the Jones family it is tradition to open one present on the night before Christmas. On Christmas Eve 2007 Bryn Jones hid a diamond engagement ring inside several wrapped boxes and handed the gift to Daniela Lucaciu. Daniela was certain she was getting the new iPod Touch but as the boxes got smaller and smaller one inside the next she decided Bryn must have bought her an iPod Shuffle. When she finally pulled a diamond ring from the package and found Bryn kneeling beside her with a bouquet of white roses her shocked response was “Are you sure?” Bryn was positive and the couple wed on April 18 2009 at the Temple Gardens in Wilmington. The ceremony was bright with sunshine and filled with flowers. Since the groom is originally from England and the bride from Hickory North Carolina the couple says that “We had family and friends that traveled across the world to attend that made it an amazing memory.” Daniela and Bryn recently relocated to London. They plan to honeymoon in Mauritius a tiny island off the western coast of Madagascar this fall.


CEREMONY SITE Temple Gardens RECEPTION SITE Country Club of Landfall PHOTOGRAPHY Eric Von Bargen VIDEOGRAPHER DJ Professionals and Video WEDDING PLANNER Jamie Thompson OFFICIANT Pastor William Leathers GOWN Monique Lhuillier VEIL Fenaroli SHOES JCrew (bride) and Hugo Boss (groom) JEWELRY Kingoffs Jewelers HAIR Alicia Kirkby at Brush Salon MAKEUP Sophia Bush BRIDESMAID DRESSES JCrew FORMALWEAR Armani (groom) and Mens Wearhouse (Ralph Lauren) INVITATIONS Justin Mitchner FLOWERS Fiore Fine Flowers CATERING Country Club of Landfall CAKE Marshall Beatty at Country Club of Landfall MUSIC Sugar the Band FAVORS Pastry Bar with European Pastries and Candy TRANSPORTATION Azalea Limousine and Bentley provided by Terrie Smith ACCOMMODATIONS Marriott Residence Inn Hilton Garden Inn Hampton Inn Landfall Park Suites HONEYMOON Mauritius






Kimberly and Benjamin


Like any girl raised by the beach Kimberly Russ always knew her “feet would be in sand” when she got married. Her dream came true when she wed Benjamin Andrews on May 16 2009 at the Hanover Seaside Club on Wrightsville Beach. Kimberly and Benjamin met at the chiropractors office where Kimberly interned in 2005. They dated for ten months and after a short split reunited in Charlotte in April 2006. On a surprise trip to Asheville Benjamin got down on one knee by a waterfall at the Grove Park Inn and asked Kimberly to be his bride. The ceremony was bright and casual. The bride wore two silk flowers in her hair her great-grandmothers handkerchief around her bouquet and white Rainbow flip flops on her feet. While pictures were being taken guests helped themselves to a buffet of traditional Southern comfort foods. The newlyweds spent their honeymoon surfing and traveling around Hawaii. They reside in Charlotte where Benjamin works as an accountant and Kimberly is an orthopedic technician for OrthoCarolina.


CEREMONY & RECEPTION SITE Hanover Seaside Club PHOTOGRAPHY Lee Pridgen/Pridgen Photo OFFICIANT Reverend Penelope Morningstar GOWN JCrew SHOES White Rainbow Flip Flops JEWELRY Jewelology (Charlotte NC) HAIR & Makeup Head to Toe Day Spa BRIDESMAID DRESSES Belk INVITATIONS Target FLOWERS Ikebana Design CATERING Hanover Seaside Club CAKE Nancy Hearne MUSIC Cooperative DJ Services and Sea Pans FAVORS Salt Water Taffy RENTALS Party Suppliers HONEYMOON Hawaii