Claire Councill + Adam Ellison

Claire Councill and Adam Ellison met at a friend’s housewarming party in San Francisco, where they live. The two began dating and after the pandemic squashed several proposal plans, Adam asked Claire to marry him on a snowy December morning in Lake Tahoe, California. They spent the rest of the day skiing and celebrating with friends.

Even though the Ellisons live on the other coast, Claire knew she wanted to get married in Pinehurst. Her family has been vacationing to the dreamy little village for more than 50 years, and she learned to play golf there as a kid.

With that decision out of the way, the Ellisons chose the Country Club of North Carolina for their ceremony and reception venue. They wanted to get married outside on the beautiful terrace before dancing the night away in the ballroom. Thanks to an old Southern superstition to keep bad weather at bay, Claire says, they were able to.

“We were expecting cold rain on our wedding day, even two or three days before, but burying a bottle of bourbon worked for us,” she says. “We had a spectacularly beautiful spring day and celebrated by passing the bottle around the whole wedding party.”

photographer: Hillary Muelleck Photography
wedding planner: Katharine Mann Events
ceremony & reception: Country Club of North Carolina
dress: Elizabeth Fillmore
hair: Missy Claire Golden Hair
makeup: Make Up by Erin
groom & groomsmen: Harper and Jones
cake: Pinehurst Country Club
catering: Country Club of North Carolina
flowers: Thistle & Moon
rentals: Stradley Davidson and Party Reflections
invitations & programs: Designed by bride
transportation: Kirk Tours & Limousine