21c: Tell us your proposal story.
RC: Months after dating, Ryan and I had a trip planned to Asheville, NC for a concert. We had looked at rings but I wasn’t expecting a proposal so soon after. Ryan said he wasn’t planning to have the ring by then but got a call early from the jeweler. He was quick on his feet and planned a proposal on the balcony of the Omni Grove Park Inn overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. I of course, said yes!
21c: How did you meet?
RC: Actually, Ryan and I met on the internet. He knew that we had friends in common through his sister. He said if I met him for dinner he would tell me who they were. He planned a classy date in downtown Raleigh where we had much more in common than just friends. The rest is history.
21c: What were you looking for in a venue? How did you know you found the one?
RC: Ryan and I knew we wanted a moody, romantic and classic venue. In North Carolina you see a lot of rustic weddings. We wanted the total opposite! We’re both quirky, fun and enjoy the arts. We both felt like 21c Museum Hotel represented us and our vision for what we were looking for in a wedding venue.
21c: If you could channel some fuchsia-penguin godmother magic and relive your favorite moment from your wedding day, what would it be?
RC: Ryan said his favorite moment was either seeing me for the first look or taking pictures of the bridal party in the vault. My favorite part was having that proud moment of seeing everything set up for the reception and knowing all my hard work and planning had paid off.
21c: Which detail are you most proud of?
RC: Definitely our performer (Aerialist, Amanda Finch of Down to Earth Aerials)! It was way out of the box for normal wedding vendors. It was the best addition to the reception!
21c: How did your wedding reflect who you are as a couple?
RC: Our wedding was classic with an eccentric flare! We wanted a fun and unconventional wedding and I really think that mirrors us as a couple.
21c: What was the dreamiest dish from your reception?
RC: We can not say enough about the food! Our friends that had the butternut squash soup are still talking about it. But, everything that we had was literally a fine dining experience.
21c: Do you have any tips for brides-to-be to make their day as stress-free as possible?
RC: I would say if you have a dream, make it your reality. Not everyone will agree with your choices for your wedding. But, if it’s what you want, it’s your day! Just do it!
21c: What did your guests love most about Durham?
RC: I think our guests loved the downtown. They liked the convenience to all the restaurants during their stay and the charm of downtown as a whole.
21c: What did we not ask about that you’re dying to share from your wedding?
RC: We think 21c as a whole for a wedding venue is awesome! We stayed in the penthouse which was huge! Our cocktail hour was in the museum and we took plenty of pictures in the vault. It was truly an amazing wedding venue that Ryan and I will cherish the memories from forever!
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Photography by Photos by Clay
Ready to say ‘I do’ with 21c? Contact our wedding expert Tiffany Clark tclark@21chotels.com.
