Mary & Austin's Summer Wedding at Eseeola in Linville

On a gorgeous, sunny, 75-degree Saturday in June, Mary and Austin were married at The Camp at Eseeola in Linville, NC. We were able to catch up with Mary recently to hear some of her favorite moments and memories of their day, as well as a few pieces of advice for current couples who are getting married. Let’s dive in!

When we asked Mary how she and Austin met, her response was written so beautifully that we decided to share the whole excerpt with you:

“Austin and I met while living and working in Washington, D.C in 2021. Our first encounter was on the National Mall, where I was playing volleyball, soccer, and enjoying the beautiful weather with some friends, when a guy in spandex rolled up on his bike. I like to joke that “I saw all I needed to see to fall in love”. But in actuality, our proximity to our group of friends fostered interest in one another as we began to chat at different events. It wasn’t long before both of us started buying the other one drinks from across the bar at a live music venue, which led to Austin getting on the drum set and me taking the mic. From that night on, we found every reason to spend time together on lunch dates, picnics, and dinner and drinks around Georgetown, the National Mall, and the Capitol lawn. I even bought a fancy bike to go on bike rides with him just to spend more time together.

We spent 10 months laughing, sharing our future dreams, and most importantly, what we believed in. One night in particular, we were on the rooftop of his townhome playing a card game with questions to get to know one another called “We’re Not Really Strangers,” and I remember thinking, “I hope I marry this man”. Ten months later, Austin and I were strolling through Georgetown near the canal where we went on one of our first dates together. I pointed to the nearby swinging bench and reminisced, saying, “Look, that’s where we sat on our first date!” Austin thought I knew what was about to unfold. A few steps later, Austin turned to me and said, “Will you make me the happiest man in the world?” and got down on one knee. Shocked was an understatement filled with so much joy and disbelief that I got to spend the rest of my life with a man who made me laugh, feel seen, and irrevocably loved. It was the most incredible day filled with our families, FaceTiming friends, and staring at the rock on my finger as we danced and celebrated at Le Diplomat – our favorite date spot in the city.”

Mary had always dreamed of her wedding day, coming from a family of five brothers, so when she began her search for a venue, she was delighted to hear about The Whole Shebang Events. With The Whole Shebang’s extensive local knowledge, experience working at Eseeola, and a recommendation from Eseeola’s staff, she felt confident reaching out to us.

Her choice was confirmed after she chatted with Meris, Owner and Lead Planner. “From the first call, I knew that Meris was the one for the job!” Mary reflected. Meris’s “calm presence, quick laughter, and incredible organization” made selecting The Whole Shebang an easy choice.

As she jumped into planning, her favorite part was Meris’ understanding of her vision. “She created a mood board and chose details based on what was important to us”, Mary explained.

From viewing linen samples and stationery details to selecting a menu and assigning seats, she recalled that wedding planning brought more decisions than she had ever imagined. Meris’ checklists and spreadsheets cleared the overwhelm and brought clarity and ease to the process, so she always felt on track.

Meris further simplified the process by narrowing the options to three to four that most aligned with their vision, which made the process “much more enjoyable and digestible,” Mary shared.

As she looked back on the day, Mary didn’t recall anything going wrong, “If something went wrong – I didn’t know!”

She had many favorite moments to reminisce upon, but one that came top of mind for her was their BBQ, Bluegrass, and Bourbon Welcome Night hosted at Eseeola’s Alan Dickson Center. An evening filled with delicious bites, like a slider and southern grits bar, sweet potato fries with a cilantro aioli, and assorted hand pies, along with local beers served straight from the classic Eseeola “I Do” Canoe.

The evening continued with bourbon and cigars, while Mary’s father-in-law and bridesmaid took over the mic as the night went on. It was a top moment for both her and Austin.

Looking back, she offers this advice to future couples planning their wedding: “It’s easy to get lost in the little details, but what really matters is how people felt at your wedding.”

Make choices to enhance the experience for guests, such as renting couches to place next to the dance floor, allowing anyone who didn’t want to dance or couldn’t to still be involved in the party.

These details are what mattered most to Mary, and as we reflect on her day and advice, the feeling is mutual. Designing with the “feelings” in mind is what takes a great wedding day and elevates it to something extraordinary.

Reflecting back on their day, Mary wanted to give a special thank you to a few key vendors who brought their day to life: the Eseeola staff (specifically Barbara), their photographer, Michelle Lyerly, and Stick Boy Bread Company, who provided their beautiful wedding cake and welcome bag cookies.