Sam and TJ

These two soulmates had the perfect summer wedding day at Twin Oaks Barn, with friends and family who traveled from ALL over to celebrate them!

They met almost four years ago while in college, and have been inseparable ever since. When they first reached out to me they told me they were just over the moon to be able to get married and grow old together. I knew right then that this would be the sweetest day for them, and that joy continued to radiate throughout their engagement and on their wedding day. It was truly like watching two people perfectly made for one another become one.

Sam and TJ are both from New York, and relatively new to the RDU area! They have fallen in love with Raleigh, and when planning their wedding they loved the rustic atmosphere of Twin Oaks Barn in garner. It was the perfect place for all their family to travel to and celebrate them!

I especially loved their wedding ceremony, because they made it so unique and personal to them. They did an Irish traditional ring warming ceremony, which was the first time I’ve ever seen this! The wedding rings were passed around in a bag to each and every guest at the wedding to warm it up with a wish, prayer, or good thoughts for the couple. I think it was such a cool way to include all their guests in their ceremony! They also did a unity ceremony, but with baking! They love baking together, so they gathered all the dry ingredients needed for a cookie recipe and poured the ingredients into a jar together with references to what each ingredient symbolizes in a recipe for a wonderful marriage.

Here are some highlights to look for on the blog…

• Sam and TJ’s first look together was SO sweet and they were both so excited to see one another!
• All of the flowers for the day were handmade wooden flowers by the bride! She is so talented and the colors perfectly matched her bridesmaids dresses.
• The ring warming ceremony and baking unity ceremony!
• During the ceremony, these two also did a secret handshake they share and it was so cute!
• They kept their guests entertained during cocktail with fun lawn games and a welcome sign that had a crossword puzzle! Guests had to solve the puzzle with fun facts about the couple.
• Because most of their guests were traveling, they had a fun guest book idea for couples to sign postcards with messages to the Bride and Groom and take selfies with a polaroid camera.
• We had beautiful lighting all day long for portraits, and the golden hour lighting in the fields did not disappoint! We got so many beautiful bride and groom portraits and they just look SO happy!!!
• The reception dance floor was packed all night long thanks to Bunn DJ co! Sam got to dance in the cutest custom denim jacket that was painted by her best friend.

Congratulations to Sam and TJ! I have loved being a part of their exciting time in your lives, and I am so excited for all that is to come for you guys! Your wedding day was the sweetest beginning to your forever together!

Here’s a big preview of their summer wedding at Twin Oaks Barn! I can’t wait for them to see the full gallery!

Thank you to all of their amazing vendors!

Planner: Carla Moss with Perfect Peony Events

Venue: Twin Oaks Barn

Photographer: Sarah Hinckley Photography

Videographer: When Two Become One

Florals: Handmade by the Bride

Catering: Cannon Catering

Cake: Walmart Bakery

Dessert: Crumbl Cookies

Dress: Maggi Bridal

Designer: Justin Alexander

Bride’s Shoes: David’s Bridal

Bridesmaid Dresses: Birdy Grey

Groomsmen Attire: SuitShop

Stationary: Zola

DJ: Bunn DJ

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