Real Wedding: Ashley and Joseph at Charlotte City Club
Top: The bride fell in love with her graceful V-neck J.Crew gown, embellishing its simple lines with a jeweled belt from J. Major’s and a blusher veil from BHLDN. Joe and his groomsmen wore classic tuxedos from New York Bride & Groom, with off-white shirts, black buttons, and suspenders. Bottom: After the ceremony, the newlyweds enjoyed a private dinner overlooking the city at the Charlotte City Club before mingling with guests over the seated dinner.
FEBRUARY 14, 2015
St. Peter Catholic Church, Charlotte City Club
Photographs by Critsey Rowe Photography
Ashley Lawrence, a social worker with Carolinas HealthCare System and Joe Walsh, in software support at Impact Technologies, met in Naples, Florida, when he interned at the bride’s children’s advocacy center. Married on Valentine’s Day, the bride envisioned a Vogue wedding, with a romantic J.Crew gown, chic blusher veil from BHLDN, and lots of sparkle.
The reverend, knowing how hard the bride had worked, admonished Ashley to take a deep breath and enjoy her wedding day: “Don’t let the moment fly by.” The couple lit a unity candle, and friend Simone Holder sang “Ava Maria.”
“Sitting there, we were able to whisper to each other, ‘Wow all these people traveled here for us!’” Ashley says. “We felt so loved.”
Charlotte City Club was resplendent in Ashley’s colors of blush pink, deep pinot noir, and jeweled green, accented with gold and silver. Pink Petunia Designs created centerpieces in gold Jubilee vases and designed an emperor’s table with more than 30 candlesticks. “We thrift-stored and flea-marketed for all of those, and lit up with the city lights behind them, it was better than I ever imagined.”
Cake
The WOW Factor Cakes (Wedding Cake) and Carolina Pie Company (Assorted Pies)
Florals
Pink Petunia Designs
Gown
Purchased from J.Crew and Fitted by Anna’s Alterations
Shoes
Kate Spade
Bridesmaids
Alfred Sung from J. Major’s Bridal Boutique
Groom
New York Bride & Groom
Beauty
Kymm McLean with Who’s The Fairest?
Stationery
Red Stone Press
Entertainment
William Rainey (ceremony music), LeVar ‘Mista LG’ Gladden with Split Second Sound (reception)
Wedding Consultant
Nathan Hoffman with Charlotte City Club
Pink Petunia Designs created Ashley’s bouquet of maroon and cream kiss roses, dusty miller, eucalyptus, and silver brunia.
The Walshes cut a tiny confection of Swiss dot and almond by The WOW Factor Cakes, but the main dessert was an array of Southern pies by Carolina Pie Company.
The bridesmaids’ dresses by Alfred Sung were blush dupione from J. Major’s, paired with gold shoes and gold-and-silver crystal earrings.
Table numbers by Sixpence Press.
Sparkling place settings with brass and silver candlesticks, thrifted and flea-marketed by the bride and groom.
Rings were displayed in a tiny book, designed by The Paper Walrus and carried by the bride’s cousins.
Joe’s menu: a duet of fillet and macadamia-encrusted grouper served with Gouda mashed potatoes, asparagus, and sweet potato wedges.
