This Couple's Sophisticated Mountain Wedding Brought a Little Bit of London to Highlands, North Carolina

When David and Brittney met as students at Oxford University's Hertford College, "The timing was not ideal," says David: "I was in my final year as a student, while Brittney was in her first." But they each knew they had found someone special, and felt the long-distance relationship was worth trying. "After our first date we fell for each other quickly, and within a few months we had introduced each other to our respective parents," says David. "We made it work by traveling regularly between Oxford and London, even if it meant taking bus rides and train journeys late at night and early in the morning."

In May 2020, both Brittney and David had stepped away from their jobs to plan their move to the United States, and David told Brittney he had bottle of her favorite wine on hand to celebrate. "I told her that it waited for her at the end of a scavenger hunt," he says. "I cobbled together 20 clues, each with rhyming couplets that directed her to an object in our apartment. When she found the 20th clue, this led her to the wedding ring box, which prompted me to get down on one knee to ask her the big question."

Highlands, North Carolina, felt like a clear choice for the couple's wedding, which would bring together friends and family from all over the world. "My family has spent summers in Highlands since I was very little," says Brittney. "When I brought David home to meet family for the first time, we all gathered there. It's a gem of a place: incredible food and wine, great shopping, kind people, plenty of trails to appreciate the natural beauty, and it's only two hours from an international airport." The couple chose Old Edwards Inn to host their 124 guests on June 5, 2021—a smaller party than they originally envisioned, as COVID-19 prevented many of their international guests from traveling to the United States. "In the end, we celebrated on our original date with the American contingent and are hosting a second celebration in London July 2022," says Brittney.

The mountain landscapes inspired much of the wedding day aesthetic, from the jagged-edge table numbers to the green and black color palette. The couple also worked in references to their time in the U.K.—a garden party-themed cocktail hour with croquet; a floral ceiling installation in homage to one of their favorite London restaurants. "David and I wanted the wedding to feel elegant, thoughtful, and modern," says Brittney. "We wanted to pay homage to the romanticism of Oxford where we met, the modern spaces we loved in London, and the natural beauty of Highlands. Our day had the perfect blend of what we love about all of these places."

Elaborate curled script contrasted with sleek sans serif text on the couple's invitation suite. A custom monogram on a gray wax seal secured a small tag reading, "Meet me in the mountains" to the overlay on each invitation. "The mountains in and around the Highlands are very telling of the atmosphere of the wedding and it was important to share that theme with the guests," says Brittney. "It was fun to use the mountain motif throughout the wedding."

The couple chose their wedding rings from Monarc Jewellery, the same company that provided Brittney's diamond solitaire engagement band. "David designed my ring with Ella Drake, the founder of Monarc Jewellery in London," says Brittney. "It was very important to me that we work with a sustainable and boutique design company—together they made a timeless engagement ring and wedding band."

An aerial shot of Old Edwards Inn showed off its manicured property, which was a selling point for the couple.

Brittney's wedding dress from Rosa Clará caught her attention thanks to its combination of classic elements with contemporary accents. "I saw it when scrolling through endless wedding photos and just kept coming back to it," she says. "It was so timeless and elegant, but had a modern edge as well." Silk crepe—and a high front slit—gave the gown fluid, fairy-tale movement that contrasted with the long sleeves and bateau neckline. The back of the gown provided a dose of unexpected drama, with a deep v-neck surrounded by beaded flowers and leaves from her shoulders to her waist. "It was simple and elegant," she says.

The bride kept shopping simple for her bridesmaids, relying on the elegant black accents of their palette to create a formal and elegant aesthetic. "My bridesmaids were coming from all over the world, so I wanted them to pick a floor-length black dress that they were comfortable in," she says. "Everyone looked beautiful and unique!"

The flower girls' mother—Brittney's cousin—picked out ivory silk dressed with floral lace overlays, flutter sleeves, and silk sashes. "She wanted the flower girl dresses that her daughters wore to be a nod to London, so she picked out stunning options from Nicki Macfarlane," says Brittney. "There were silk covered buttons on the back and tulle petticoats that added volume to their skirts. They looked beautiful and the dresses were very fun to twirl in at the reception!"

Floressence created a hand-tied bouquet in shades of ivory, white, and cream for Brittney; flowers included peonies, roses, and ranunculus.

In a private moment before the ceremony, David and Brittney met for their first look. "I knew Brittney would look stunning in any dress she chose, but when I saw her for the first time in her dress, so many emotions rushed to the surface," says David. "The main one was that I was so happy and proud to finally be marrying my person."

With his groomsmen wearing black tuxedos, David chose a traditionally-cut tuxedo that coordinated, but added a jewel-toned green velvet dinner jacket. "This attire was typical of some of the black-tie occasions Brittney and I shared at Oxford, and I am looking forward to wearing it to future events," he says. Brittney gave David a pair of slipper-style loafers, which he wore in honor of his late grandfather. "He became known for his Gucci loafers that he would wear everywhere, including around his house, daily," says David. "None of my grandparents could see me get married, though to have my grandfather represented in this way was special to me."

The duo posed for a few pre-ceremony portraits—including a few on the property's scenic bridge—after their first look.

Brittney and David asked both of their religious officiants to oversee the ceremony, which "reflected our shared values while honoring our different backgrounds," says Brittney. "David and I worked with my pastor, Dr. Bob Shettler, and David's rabbi, Rabbi David Mitchell, for months to make sure the ceremony was authentic to both sides without compromising on the integrity of either religion." A wall of windows in the property's Orchard House—and a floral-covered chuppah—gave the indoor ceremony an al fresco atmosphere.

Though Brittney and David planned to change the vow "love and obey" to "love and cherish," an in-the-moment mishap led to one of their favorite memories. "As the moment came for me to repeat after my pastor, he accidentally stuck with 'love and obey,'" says Brittney. "I paused and repeated, 'love and… cherish.' All of our family and friends roared with laughter, a few stood to applaud and cheer, and David and I cracked up at the front. It was a really great moment."

In a nod to David's love of jazz—and past membership in a jazz band—the couple hired Phat Katz Brass Band to lead a parade from their ceremony to the cocktail hour. "The band played Benny Goodman's 'Sing, Sing, Sing,' a big band classic that instantly got people in the mood to party," says David. The groom might have been one of the biggest fans in attendance: "Whenever I couldn't find him during cocktail hour, he was in front of the Phat Katz band, singing along," says Brittney.

The couple designed their outdoor cocktail hour to mimic an Oxford garden party, including setting up croquet (a favorite of the flower girls). Guests sipped "Appalachian Lemonade," a mix of honey bourbon, mint syrup, and lemon juice, while an appetizer menu included beef brochettes with chimichurri sauce, oysters on the half shell, and buttermilk-fried lobster tail with Jack Daniels honey glaze.

In another homage to the couple's Oxford roots, Grit and Grace provided a bevy of floating candles leading to the escort wall.

"Our guests' names [were] calligraphed onto floating candles in the alcoves above where everyone walked into the reception venue," says Brittney. "It was moody, ethereal, and just looked better as the night went on."

A stunning overhead floral installation was inspired by "the iconic, flower-filled ceiling of Clos Maggiore, one of the most romantic restaurants in London," says Brittney. "David and I consider it to be one of the most beautiful spaces we have ever been in, and he had the idea to weave that into our wedding day! The large installations of branches, vines of elaeagnus, and large clusters of dripping ivory-and-white flowers were gorgeous. The chandelier was also stunning; it was draped in greenery and white florals."

Brittney and David added metallic accents, scallop-edged chargers, and black plates to their table settings. "We still wanted a modern, cool take on this romantic greenery and floral ambience, so [we went] with slate gray, black, and touches of gold with tons of candles to add drama," says Brittney.

Delicate hanging table numbers—in the same color and style as the invitation—were finished with a ripped edge inspired by the mountain skyline.

 Dinner was served from several different stations, including two salad options, another with made-to-order paella, and entrees of herb-and-lemon grilled chicken and bone-in ribeye. A two-tiered Champagne cake from Mrs. Sugar Booger anchored the couple's dessert buffet.

Before the reception, Brittney changed into a long-sleeved Reformation dress with a deep v-neck. "It provided much more movement for David and my first dance—and all the dancing that followed!" she says.

For the newlyweds, seeing the space they designed full of family and friends celebrating together was a favorite wedding-day moment. "Our involvement in the planning process meant that we had an idea of how the space would look, but our expectations were blown away," says David. "The reception space, with a ceiling adorned with leaves, flowers and lights, glowing over our family and friends, looked like something out of a fairy tale."

By the middle of the evening, Brittney found herself too hot in her long-sleeved dress, so the bride called on her planner for a quick fix. "She pulled out her handy scissors and cut off the sleeves to my dress!" says the bride. "Most of my guests thought I had changed into a third dress!"

And even a line of powerful storms couldn't stop the couple's party. "The thunder was so powerful that the entire town of Highlands lost power for a couple of hours," says David. "During the couple minutes that it took for our DJ to get his equipment back up and running, all the guests continued singing and dancing to the song as if it was still playing! That's when we knew our guests were undoubtedly having a great time."

Photography, Abby Jiu Photography
Venue and Catering, Old Edwards Inn
Wedding Planning and Event Design, Grit and Grace
Flowers, Floressence
Videography, Wild Light Films
Cake, Mrs. Sugar Booger
Music, Deans' Duets (ceremony); Phat Katz Brass Band (second line and cocktail hour); The Flash Dance (reception)
Rentals, Crush Event Design; Professional Party Rentals
Bride's Gown and Veil, Rosa Clará, Reformation
Hair and Makeup, Flawless
Flower Girl dresses, Nicki Macfarlane
A/V production, Active Production
Rings, Monarc Jewellery