Rachel Rocha + Nolan McNeill

Rachel Rocha + Nolan McNeill

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Bridal Guide

Rachel Rocha and Nolan McNeill met in a college communications class when they were paired up for an assignment. They exchanged numbers for the project and ended up eating lunch together every day that semester. Seven years later Rachel and Nolan got engaged, and on Oct. 4, 2025, they were married. “We recently sent wedding pictures to our professor thanking him for the introduction!” says Rachel.

The couple exchanged “I dos” in the Fair Barn. Decorations of burnt orange and shades of green complemented the autumn season. “I wanted to be a fairy princess in the fall,” Rachel says.

The wedding ran smoothly. The couple was happy with all their vendors, though one stood out to the bride. For photography the couple hired Kaitlyn Blake, who made sure to help the bride honor her late mom. “My mother died when I was a teenager, and it was really important to me that we celebrated her,” Rachel says. Thanks to Blake, Rachel has photos of her mom’s saved seat “holding” her wedding bouquet.

photographer: Kaitlyn Blake Photography
wedding planner: Pamela Butterworth, Hollyfield Design Inc.
ceremony & reception: The Fair Barn
dress & shoes: Grace Loves Lace
hair & makeup: Reign Beauty
bridesmaids: Birdy Grey
groom & groomsmen: Nordstrom Rack
flowers: Hollyfield Design Inc.
cake & catering: Elliotts on Linden
rentals & music: Ward Productions
transportation: Wright Car Services
signature drinks sign: FoxWillowStudio, Etsy

Emma Taylor + Holden Brown

Emma Taylor + Holden Brown

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Emma Taylor’s cousin-in-law set her up with Holden Brown, and it was a match. A couple of years into dating, Holden proposed to Emma during a family photo session on the fittingly named Holden Beach. A couple of years after that, the spouses-to-be wed at Village Pine Venue on Sept. 27, 2025.

The bride and groom loved the trees on Village Pine’s property. “My family owns a sawmill, so we are constantly planting pines on all our land,” says Emma. “My parents’ house is surrounded by pine trees, and I think they are beautiful.” The Browns doubled down on Southern foliage, incorporating magnolia leaves into their floral arrangements with the help of Jack Hadden Floral & Event Design.

Personal touches completed the big day. Emma wore a tennis bracelet her dad had gifted to her mom long ago. The bride’s brother and his best friend’s jazz duo, Soul Noises, performed during cocktail hour. As for the seating chart, the couple’s grandmothers created an art gallery of paintings and pottery.

photographer: Hailey Davis Photo
videographer: Gold Leaf Productions
wedding planner: Nicole Smith, Vision Events Wedding & Event Planning
ceremony & reception : Village Pine Venue
dress: Coastal Knot Bridal
jewelry: Bailey’s Fine Jewelry and Schiffman’s Jewelers
shoes: Jimmy Choo
hair: Olivia DeSena
groom & groomsmen: Satin & Lace
flowers: Jack Hadden Floral & Event Design
catering & desserts: Rocky Top Catering
rentals: Curated Events, Decoraciones Sonia and Greenhouse Picker Sisters
transportation: Kirk Tours & Limousine
invitations & programs: Minted

Amanda Salloum + Robert Simmons

Amanda Salloum + Robert Simmons

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Pinehurst native Amanda Salloum and Kinston native Robert Simmons had their first date at Barcelona Wine Bar, in Raleigh, in 2021. Three years passed, and Robert took Amanda back to the very same tapas restaurant for a brunch she won’t forget. After finishing a delicious meal, he proposed in front of a picturesque, ivy-covered wall near where Amanda was living. A hidden photographer captured the moment.

One year later the Simmonses married in The Village Chapel in front of 140 guests on Sept. 13, 2025. After exchanging vows, the newlyweds hitched a ride with Sandhills Trolley Company to their reception at the Country Club of North Carolina. The space was decorated in a subtle palette of pale pink and pale green, white and gold.

Looking back, the couple have no complaints or regrets. “We had the most amazing day,” Amanda and Robert say. “Everything turned out so beautifully from start to finish — we could not have asked for a more perfect wedding day.”

photographer: Jennifer B. Photography
videographer: Nate Berry, Pretty Films
wedding coordinator: Pamela Butterworth, Hollyfield Design Inc.
ceremony: The Village Chapel
reception: Country Club of North Carolina
dress: Anne Barge, Lana Addison Bridal
shoes: Maeve, Anthropologie
hair: Bamboo A Boutique Salon
makeup: Retro Studio Bar
bridesmaids: Bella Bridesmaids
groom & groomsmen: Men’s Wearhouse
flowers: Hollyfield Design Inc.
cake: C Cups Cupcakery
napkins & chargers: Richmond Rentals
transportation: Sandhills Trolley Company
invitations: The Village Printers

Mackenzie Donoghue + Christopher Yang

Mackenzie Donoghue + Christopher Yang

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Mackenzie Donoghue and Christopher Yang met a modern way — on a dating app. But they went on their first date an old-fashioned way — in person, walking around the water at Southern Pines’ Reservoir Park. After getting engaged, the couple chose Duncraig Manor, in Southern Pines, as their wedding and reception venue. They got married at the magical estate on Aug. 23, 2025.

When Mackenzie walked down the aisle, she wore earrings repurposed from her late grandmother’s rosary. Personal touches on their wedding day didn’t stop there. Mackenzie was born in Korea but moved Stateside as an adult. To pay homage to her roots, the couple incorporated wedding ducks into their big day. “In traditional Korean weddings, a pair of ducks symbolizes unity, friendship and love,” Mackenzie says.

The couple’s only regret? “We would have found a way to invite more of our close friends!” says Mackenzie. “We did the best we could with the size restrictions and other factors, but looking back, we dearly missed several people we love.”

photographer: Kaitlyn Blake Photography
ceremony & reception: Duncraig Manor
dress: Maggie Sottero, Smithfield Bridal
shoes: Betsey Johnson
hair & makeup: Chelsea Regan Makeup + Hair
bridesmaids: JJ’s House
groom & groomsmen: JoS A. Bank
flowers: Duncraig Manor
catering: Vito’s Ristorante & Pizzeria
transportation: A Ride Transportation
invitations & programs: Minted
music: Stone Dolls

Lexi Valentinas + Michael Madrid

Lexi Valentinas + Michael Madrid

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As a kid Lexi Valentinas spent summers in Pinehurst, and her parents eventually moved to the area full time. Lexi’s groom, Michael Madrid, began visiting the village when the couple started dating in 2023. He’s an avid golfer, so the visits from Charlotte have been more than OK with him.

Michael proposed to Lexi dockside at her family’s beach house in Surf City. His daughter participated in the significant day, too. “After the proposal, Joelle came running with a single red rose, leaping into Lexi’s arms at the end of the dock,” the couple say.

The Madrids hosted their wedding over the weekend of Fourth of July, their favorite holiday. The weekend started with an “I Do BBQ ” catered by Southern Q Catering, followed by an Independence Day packed with golf, brunch and the rehearsal dinner. Then came the big day on July 5, 2025. The Madrids said “I do” in the Community Presbyterian Church, celebrated in the Pinehurst Country Club’s Outlook Ballroom and ended the night in Dugan’s Pub. The next morning guests said farewell at a brunch hosted by the bride’s parents.

photographer: Jennifer B. Photography
videographer: Endless Cinema Weddings
ceremony: Community Presbyterian Church
reception: Pinehurst Country Club
dress: Colby John, Bride of the Pines
rings: Honeycutt Jewelers
shoes: Betsey Johnson
hair & makeup: Caroline Cartier
bridesmaids: Stacees
ring bearer outfits: JoS A. Bank
groom & groomsmen: Gentlemen’s Corner Jim’s Formal Wear
flowers: Botanicals Fabulous Flowers & Events
transportation: Sandhills Trolley Company

Yathelis Ayala-Gonzalez + Jesse Gutierrez

Yathelis Ayala-Gonzalez + Jesse Gutierrez

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It’s a classic story. Born and raised in Moore County, Yathelis Ayala-Gonzalez and Jesse Gutierrez met at Pinecrest High School when they were searching for prom dates. Mutual friends introduced them and it was a match. Seven years later — to the day — the high school sweethearts married on June 7, 2025.

Following a surprise proposal and a spread laid out by Pinehurst Picnic Co., the couple selected Soirée on South for their wedding venue. They liked the intimacy of the space for their 60 guests to enjoy their ceremony and reception. Inspiration for the timeless event came from Pinterest and magazines like this one. The color scheme of the day was dusty blue, black and white, accented by a mix of floral pastels.

“There was a five-minute thunderstorm about an hour before the wedding, and we thought it was going to be ruined,” Yathelis and Jesse say, “but the sun came out, and the sky cleared up like nothing ever happened.”

photographer: Dove & Fox Photography
wedding planner: Styled Events by Rianna
ceremony & reception: Soirée on South
dress: Hera Couture Le Chic, Katie Yeung
hair: Emma Williams, Homegrown Roots Hair Salon
makeup: Carmen Powers
bridesmaids: Azazie
groom & groomsmen: Calvin Klein
flowers: Jack Hadden Floral & Event Design
cake: Ashley Morfin
catering: Visions Catering Inc.
rentals: Ward Productions
lighting & music: Dow Oak Events

Brittney Ortiz + Jake Williams

Brittney Ortiz + Jake Williams

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Brittney Ortiz met Jake Williams while she was vacationing for a few months on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Brittney wasn’t looking for a relationship, but Jake was respectfully persistent. “It was a very Covid proposal, intimate and casual. In our living room on Hilton Head Island, he got down on one knee,” Brittney says. “We eloped the next day.”

A wedding with family and friends came five years later, on May 25, 2025. The couple had moved to Moore County, and their ceremony was held on the grounds of the Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities. “It was the perfect setting for our garden chic theme,” says Brittney.

The husband and wife had eloped in the library of her South Carolina synagogue. They paid homage to that decision by signing their Jewish marriage contract, the ketubah, in the library of the Boyd House. “I thought the literary significance of Weymouth fit perfectly for our love story,” Brittney says. Particularly special details from the Williams’ wedding included the intricate, limited-edition design of their contract from ketubah.com, as well as the challah baked by DeLucia’s Bake Shop, in West End.

photographer: Anasasiia Meskh, Love Exists Photography
wedding coordinator: Styled Events by Rianna
ceremony & reception: Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities
dress: Custom, Love Story Bridal
shoes: Manolo Blahnik Hangisi
eyelashes: Revive Spa & Lash Lounge
bridesmaids: JJ’s House
groom & groomsmen: Belk
cake & challah bread: DeLucia’s Bake Shop
catering: On Demand Chefs
rentals: Richmond Rentals
custom wood chuppah: Volpert Floral Co.
floral preservation: Pine Pressed Flowers

Jennifer McKinnon + Michael Nunziato

Jennifer McKinnon + Michael Nunziato

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Jennifer McKinnon and Michael Nunziato met and live in New England. But the bride’s uncle is a priest who moved to Southern Pines to start a church. “He is my godfather, and I wanted him to marry us,” Jennifer says. “I decided to travel to North Carolina to make it easier for him.”

The couple welcomed their guests with a delicious dinner at Ironwood restaurant in Pinehurst. The next day, May 17, 2025, they wed lakeside at the Pinehurst Resort. Mike adores the water in his home state of New Hampshire. He asked Jennifer to marry him on a dock. “I wanted to choose a place where Mike could look out and see a lake and boats and have his moment,” says Jennifer.

The bride walked the aisle, the first part by herself, and the rest of the way with the groomsmen — her two sons. For the after party, everyone headed to the Carolina Hotel.

“Coming from Connecticut, I underestimated true Southern charm, the Pines area, and just how perfect my vendors would be,” Jennifer says. “North Carolina beat my own high expectations.”

photographer: The Photobrief
wedding planner: Events by Sara Kayleen
ceremony & reception: Lake Pavilion, Pinehurst Resort and Country Club
dress: Maggie Sottero
shoes: Jessica Simpson
hair: Lovely by Lindsey
makeup: Tara Biondi, Tara’s Beauty Studio
flowers: Jack Hadden Floral & Event Design
cake & catering: Pinehurst Resort
specialty rentals: Greenhouse Picker Sisters and Curated Events
transportation: 1957 White Rolls Royce Princess, Carolina Car Rentals

Brandt Davis + Garrett Lance

Brandt Davis + Garrett Lance

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Places have played a big role in Brandt Davis and Garrett Lance’s relationship. The couple met in Washington, DC. For three years, they dated long distance, traveling between DC, Philadelphia and New York. “We became Amtrak loyalists,” Brandt says.

When the time came, the proposal took place in the Midwest, in Garrett’s hometown of Geneva, Illinois. Brandt popped the question at Christmastime while the two were out shopping and grabbing coffee. For the wedding itself, the husbands-to-be landed on Brandt’s hometown of Pinehurst. His parents hosted the welcome party in their backyard. The couple stayed outdoors for their Episcopalian ceremony, exchanging “I dos” near the fountain, on the lawn of the Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities on Apr. 26, 2025. Inspired by the natural beauty of the venue, the color scheme was green and blue. As a nod to all their collected places, Brandt and Garrett took their guests on a journey. “Instead of table numbers, we ordered retro-style postcards from cities we’ve lived in,” Brandt says.

photographer: Rae Marshall Photography
wedding planner: Natasha Churches, Aisle & Co.
ceremony & reception: Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities
suits: SuitSupply Dallas
bolo ties & shoes: Outpost Fine Goods
flowers: Thistle & Moon
cake: The Bakehouse
catering: Elliotts on Linden
rentals: Curated Events
transportation: Kirk Tours & Limousine
invitations & programs: Avant-Garde Impressions

Jessica Ammons + James Noble

Jessica Ammons + James Noble

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James Noble knew his then girlfriend, Jessica Ammons, wanted an intimate proposal.

“He proposed in our cozy apartment in front of the tree as we were exchanging gifts on Christmas night, just the two of us,” Jessica says. “It was absolutely perfect.”

For their wedding venue, the future Mr. and Mrs. Noble chose The Village Arboretum.

“It was very important for us to get married in Pinehurst,” says Jessica. “We love living here and wanted all our family and friends to be able to experience our little hallmark town.”

The Nobles got married on Apr. 5, 2025. They accentuated the season with a spring garden theme, incorporating loads of florals and pops of pink and green. Jessica’s dad even built a planter box that served as the couple’s seating chart. Bubbly & Bright Event Design Co. filled the box with fresh blooms, and Jessica designed escort cards on wildflower seed paper that guests could take home and plant. The couple also paid tribute to Pinehurst, gifting hats with embroidery that read, “Noble Golf Links — EST 2025.”

photographer: The Photobrief
wedding coordinator: Deanna Bozich, The Gathering Co.
ceremony & reception: The Village Arboretum
dress & veil: Gilded Bridal
shoes: JW PEI
hair & makeup: Cortney Rice, Blissful Muse Co.
bridesmaids: Wilmer Dress, Caitlin Crisp
groom & groomsmen: Men’s Wearhouse
flowers: Bubbly & Bright Event Design
catering: Elliotts on Linden
rentals: Ward Productions and Bubbly & Bright Event Design