Maria and Andregus

April 12, 2014: CenterStage @ NoDa

October 9, 2014

Sarah Moïse Young,

Photographs by Best Perspectives Photography

With the help of planner Kelly Martin at Head Over Heels Wedding, this fun-loving couple planned their Charlotte destination wedding from their home in Tennessee, where Maria McNair works in human resources for the City of Knoxville Public Building Authority and Andregus Holmes is in security for a federal contractor.

With its barrel roof and elegant palette, CenterStage@NoDa gave a modern vibe to the vibrant silver, fuchsia, and royal-purple reception, complete with towering floral centerpieces from Chelish Moore Flowers and alternating fuchsia and purple uplighting by Charlotte Event Lighting. Two hundred guests sampled passed crab cakes, mini quiches, and mashed potatoes from the “potato-tini bar” as well as specialty drinks named “Ria’s Pink Party” and Andregus’s “Silk Purple Paradise.”

The menu, created with the help of Perkins Management Services, was Southern gourmet, with garlic-herbed chicken, baked macaroni and cheese, rice pilaf, and green beans, followed by a four-tiered Wow Factor Cakes confection. After their first dance to “Forever” by Dave Hollister, DJ Pyro of Queen City Weddings played classic funk. Maria danced to “Dance With My Father” by Luther Vandross for the father-daughter dance, and the groom’s fraternity brothers got the party rolling by dancing to “Atomic Dog” by George Clinton.

The newlyweds sped away by sparkler light in a Rolls-Royce Phantom from Royal Limos before their Laguna Beach minimoon in California.

Maria, the cheerleader, and Andregus, the football player, met freshman year at Fayetteville State University. The good friends bonded years later via MySpace.com, and reconnected at their college homecoming. After three years of dating, the groom made a sweet and funny proposal that included a ring and a note, “Will you be Mrs. Holmes? Check YES, NO, or MAYBE.” He made her check the box to make it official.

For the reception, CenterStage@NoDa was glammed up with silver Chiavari chairs and purple uplighting.

The bridesmaids wore pink and purple Jasmine Bridals gowns with pleated bodices.

Wow Factor Cakes created the four tiered, monogrammed confection with red velvet and cream cheese, vanilla with chocolate ganache hazelnut mousse, vanilla cake with strawberry mousse, and chocolate cake with chocolate ganache.

Chelish Moore created centerpieces in the couple’s fraternity and sorority colors, using purple and fuchsia stock, green and purple hydrangeas, orchids, purple lisianthus, and plum calla lilies.