Destination Weddings and Honeymoons

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What happens when a wedding planner gets engaged to the man of her dreams? In Carrie Rosenow’s case, it meant personally planning the wedding of her dreams. When her boyfriend, Matthew Darling, proposed at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, she quickly ditched the idea of a beach wedding in their home state of Florida and opted for the fairtytale-worthy venue.

The couple said their I do’s at the historic Saint Lawrence Basilica in downtown Asheville. Not wanting to overpower the grand interior of the church, they kept decor to a minimum with a monogrammed aisle runner, carnation pomanders lining the pews and altar floral arrangements. Bridesmaids carried rose bouquets in pastel pink and lavender and wore dresses in the same color scheme.

The reception at the Biltmore’s Deerpark Restaurant was where Carrie’s wedding vision really came to life. The theme: “Enchanted Forest,” inspired by a scene in Disney’s animated Robin Hood movie. For decor, the venue was uplit in pinks, purples and blues, ficus trees wrapped in twinkle lights lined the former barn’s wooden walls and towering centerpieces with hydrangeas and roses served as stunning focal points. The bride and groom’s white quilted “sweetheart booth” (constructed by the groom himself!) allowed the newlyweds to watch over the dinner celebration before moving outdoors into the open courtyard for a night of dancing under the stars.

Details We Love
Cocktail Hour Theme With all the intricate details of this wedding, it was hard to pick just one! But we thought the cocktail hour was definitely a special standout. A section of the restaurant was transformed into the “Smooches Lounge” using pink fabrics and globe lanterns. The groom added his own special touch by constructing a lip-shaped entry sign stating the lounge’s special name. Guests sipped signature “Smooch Me Martinis,” posed for photos in the appropriately named “Smoochbooth,” and had their lip prints read by Lipsologist Jilly Eddy. They even had matchbooks and napkins printed with the lounge logo. How fun!

Photos courtesy Corey McNabb Photography

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