Alessandra Gironda + Matthew Beausoleil

Alessandra Gironda + Matthew Beausoleil

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Alessandra Gironda married Matthew Beausoleil in a Cinderella gown after a very Cinderella proposal. On a vacation to Disney World for Alessandra’s birthday in 2022, Matt chartered a private cruise that stops in front of Cinderella’s Castle to watch the fireworks display.

“The second that the first firework shot into the air, Matt was down on one knee and asked me to marry him,” Alessandra says. “Best birthday gift ever!”

Fourteen months later, on October 14, 2023, Alessandra and Matt got married on the Pinehurst No. 2 golf course, followed by a fairytale reception at the Pinehurst Country Club Outlook Ballroom.

During the reception, the newlyweds performed a choreographed first dance, and Alessandra, who worked as an NFL cheerleader, reclaimed her Carolina Panthers pom-poms for a special routine with her teammates.

Then at the end of the evening, a Cinderella carriage rented from Southern Breeze Carriages pulled up to the venue and picked up the bride and groom, with “the cutest black horse ever” leading the way.

“He loved my dress as much as I did, although maybe for different reasons,” Alessandra says. “He thought it looked like a tasty snack!”

photographer: Kaitlyn Blake Photography
videographer: Carolina Wedding Films
wedding coordinator: White Tie Planner
ceremony & reception: Pinehurst Country Club
dress: Ross by Rita Vinieris
shoes: Badgley Mischka
bridesmaids: Bella and Bloom Boutique
groom & groomsmen: Bunbury Custom Clothiers
cake & catering: Pinehurst Country Club
flowers: Jack Hadden Floral & Event Design
rentals: Ward Productions and Rock It Productions
custom crest: The Wedding Crest Lab, Etsy
transportation: Sandhills Trolley Company and Southern Breeze Carriages

Lisa Nines + Matthew Bettencourt

Lisa Nines + Matthew Bettencourt

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Archives: October 2023

Lisa Nines and Matthew Bettencourt bonded over turtles, snakes, and old architecture while clipping branches and removing debris from Hitchcock Creek to prepare for the Sandhills Children’s Center’s annual Duck Derby fundraiser.

“It was like getting together with an old friend you haven’t seen in ages,” Lisa says.

The two began dating and eight years later, while hiking through Morrow Mountain State Park with their faithful Dachshunds, Carnage and Kona, leading the way, Matthew dropped to one knee and proposed. Less than a year after, on October 14, 2023, the couple wed at Rubicon Farm, West End.

In lieu of bridesmaids and groomsmen, Carnage and Kona served as the wedding party, complete with flashing collars so guests wouldn’t step on the dogs while dancing the night away.

“Kona didn’t disappoint,” Lisa says. “He slipped his collar and decided to assist my son in walking me down the aisle.”

Besides the canine wedding party, the Nines-Bettencourt wedding was full of other special touches. Lisa wore a vintage monogrammed heart necklace from her mom, who passed away in 1988; the aisle was fashioned from the couple’s cowhide rugs; and the couple transformed a retro Volkswagen bus into a photo booth.

photographer: Auston Photography
wedding coordinator: Elizabeth Sugg, Rubicon Farm
ceremony & reception: Rubicon Farm
dress: Citrama, Etsy
hair: Defined Lash & Brow
makeup: Karma Spa Lounge & Beauty Bar
groom: ElegantWearsStudio, Etsy
catering: Thyme & Place Catering and Carolina’s Kitchen & Catering
flowers: Carol Dowd, Botanicals
rentals: Rubicon Farm

Larissa Lycholaj + Griffin Ray

Larissa Lycholaj + Griffin Ray

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Archives: October 2023

Larissa Lycholaj and Griffin Ray met in Garmisch, Germany, where they were both attending a military language course. At the time, Griffin was in the Marines, and Larissa was in the Army. The two became fast friends while traveling Europe on their weekends off.

“We had our first date in Venice, Italy, mostly by accident,” Larissa says.

She wanted to see the world-famous glassblowing on Murano Island, and Griffin was the only other person in their friend group who was interested.

“We had wine and seafood by the water, watched the glassblowing, and caught the last ferry back to the mainland when a storm blew in,” Larissa says. “During the ferry ride, Griffin wrapped his arms around me to keep me warm, and I just melted — we were basically living out the plot of a Hallmark movie!”

After Griffin proposed at 1895 Grille during a birthday dinner for Larissa, the couple tied the knot in an outdoor ceremony at Duncraig Manor and Gardens on October 8, 2023.

As a thoughtful touch, the newlyweds wrote personalized thank you notes ahead of time and placed them at each dinner setting.

“We wanted our guests to feel loved and appreciated even if we couldn’t spend a lot of time with everyone who came to celebrate with us,” Larissa says.

photographer: Kristin Guynn
ceremony & reception: Duncraig Manor and Gardens
dress: Vow’d Raleigh
shoes: Loeffler Randall
makeup & hair: Sunshine Beauty & Bliss
groom & groomsmen: Lile’s Clothing Studio
cake: Willabee Market
catering: Duncraig Manor and Gardens
flowers: Reverie Hill Farm
thank you cards: Paper Source