Don't get married at the jail: Here's how to plan a speedy & special Fayetteville wedding
Even if you’re short on time or working with a small budget, your Fayetteville wedding doesn’t have to be a two-minute ceremony in the magistrate’s office at the Cumberland County jail.
To get the lowdown on making the big day special, speedy and cost-effective, we consulted Debbie Bender, a wedding planner and florist for more than a decade.
She gave recommendations for venues, florists, caterers, photography and dress shops suited to serve weddings with 10 or fewer guests.
Read on for a guide to planning an intimate wedding, like a minimony or micro wedding.
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Fayetteville wedding venues
Cape Fear Botanical Gardens offers two-hour ceremony rentals starting at $300 for up to 20 guests. Time slots are daily 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. and are usually available with a few days’ notice. Elopement packages for up to five guests start at $250. Appointments are available and walk-ins are encouraged.
Little Studio 215's elopement three-hour ceremony package for up to 30 guests includes an officiant, photographer, music, cake and flowers for the bride and groom for $2,850. It's available Monday-Thursday and can't be booked more than three months in advance.
Bender offers minimony packages at her office that include a bridal bouquet, cake, champagne and a boxwood arbor for $500 with three days’ notice.
Reservation fees for city parks like the Fayetteville Rose Garden or Cross Creek Linear Park start at $45.
Fayetteville wedding photographers
Bender said her best piece of advice is to hire a professional photographer.
“Your photos are what you’re going to have after the day,” she said.
Her recommendations: Hailey Hughes' micro wedding package starts at $1,500; Blush Moments' wedding package starts at $2,000; and Alyssa Joyce Photography's elopement package starts at $900.
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Fayetteville wedding florists
Though all the florists we spoke to recommend planning flowers at least 30 days in advance, each said they have accommodated next-day or same-day requests.
Always Flowers by Crenshaw floral designer Bill McPhail said a professional florist can help get the best look for the money spent. Before reaching out, he said to determine preferred colors and flowers, wedding party size and flowers needed for decor, centerpieces and the cake.
The style and type of flowers will determine price, said Johanna Brumm, owner of the Downtown Market of Fayetteville. Bridal bouquets start at $60 and boutonnieres start at $14.
Fayetteville wedding food and cakes
Bender suggests keeping food simple with platters or charcuterie boards for guests to snack on after the ceremony. She said restaurants specializing in tapas, like Blue Moon Cafe, are a smart choice.
Bender often works with Bees and Board Charcuterie Company, which offers customizable charcuterie, crudite, brunch and dessert boards starting at $25.
McPhail recommends Marci’s Cakes and Bakes in Hope Mills for wedding cakes.
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Fayetteville wedding dresses
Two Fayetteville bridal shops Bender suggested are Blush Bridal and Bridal & Pageant Connection. Need an alteration quickly? Otrebla’s Tailoring is up to the task, she said.
Reporter Taylor Shook can be reached at tshook@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Small wedding venues, florists & photographers in Fayetteville, NC
