Pretty in Pink
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
THOUGHTFUL PREPARATIONS The couple began by hiring a wedding planner to ease the distance of their destination wedding. Sarah knew that it was important to pick someone with a vast knowledge of local vendors; who proves detail oriented and calm and cool, and most importantly a person you want to spend time with. She selected Jackie Fogartie, of Jackie Fogartie Events in Charlotte, to guide the process and execute the vision. “Planning the wedding from Indianapolis and doing it successfully all came down to having really good people involved, along with the benefit of technology,” said Sarah. From the early stages of planning, Sarah infused the couple’s
Pretty in Pink A memorable wedding in Davidson distinguished by color
style into their big day. Her personal touch put a punctuation mark on anything that might otherwise be ordinary. Cocktail napkins with quippy quotes, a stylized monogram sequin backdrop for the Candy Bar and a bucket full of pink flip flops for the dance floor with a sign that stated, “Girl, kick off those heels and break it on down.”
TEXT BY SHERRI K. OOSTERHOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL FLANAGAN EVENT STYLING BY JACKIE FOGARTIE EVENTS
According to Fogartie, one of the biggest trends in with today’s weddings is the do-it-yourself aspect inspired by bridal blogs and social networks like Pinterest. “Brides are looking for ways to put their own personal touch on their big day, so sometimes they have to create their own decor and style that best represents them,” said Fogartie. The entire wedding revolved around “fun and special” rather than a chosen theme, but if anyone one thing stood out, it was the palette of pink that was threaded visually throughout. It was deemed “pinkful” by those behind the scenes, as Sarah adores all things pink… and Kyle rolled with it.
Although they now call Indianapolis home, Charlotte has always been their common ground and the chosen destination for Kyle and Sarah Pietila’s fall wedding. They set out to plan a day filled with their favorite things, no different from most brides and grooms. Sure, it’s easy to get distracted by hot trends and sparkly objects, but the two never wavered from their goal. Everything from the ceremony site to the signature martinis held special meaning for this southern style affair. Take it from someone seated in the front row, the more the ceremony and reception reflect you as a couple, the more the more meaningful it will be for the people who share your special day. 1 | C H A R LOT T E L I V I N G
C H A R LOT TE L I V I N G | 2
IN THE SPOTLIGHT MEANINGFUL MOMENTS While a wedding is all about the details, preparations and planning, it’s the moments that happen throughout the event that leave a lasting impression. A festive atmosphere and delicious cake is only a slice of what makes it memorable. For the groom, a few of his favorite moments included family. “It meant a lot to me that my sister and her husband traveled from Boston, and it made me happy to see them having such a good time – dancing, laughing and smiling,” said Kyle. “I also liked the fragile (fra-geel-ly) sticker that my cousin, Olivia, pasted on the wine crate in front of my place setting,“ he added, explaining that it’s a nod to his favorite seasonal movie, A Christmas Story. For the bride, it was an unscripted moment after the guests retreated to the backyard and the families relaxed on the front porch waiting for photos. “I don’t have a big family,” said Sarah. “And I looked around and saw all these people who I can now call family, and it made me so happy.” ✱ For planning the perfect Charlotte affair contact Jackie Fogartie Events, jackiefogartieevents.com. For the perfect pictures visit michaeljflanaganphoto.com.
THE BEST DAY EVER When choosing the venue, area banquet halls and uptown locales didn’t have the intimate feel that the couple had envisioned for their sixty-person guest list. What did work beautifully was the home of the groom’s Aunt and Uncle (yours
soup. A fire roared in the fire pit and strands of lights lit the patio at dusk as guests celebrated and enjoyed the old fashioned photo booth filled with props. “Sarah is a great example of someone who incorporated her fun personality
truly, in the interest of full disclosure) who
into every aspect of their wedding,” said
without hesitation agreed to host the affair.
Fogartie. “She even had a sign on the bath-
“Their home had a special place in our
room mirror that read: ‘Thank you for being
hearts and nothing else we imagined meas-
here. BTW, you look great!’”
ured up,” said Sarah. “It was where I met
A sit down dinner was served in the 1,600
Kyle’s family and where the two of us felt
sq. ft. tent, draped in pink organza and up lit
most at home.”
with soft pink lights that glowed in the dark-
On the afternoon of October 27th, as
ness like a dessert sunset. Bright pink
guests arrived, they were served pink pop-
hydrangeas and pink garden roses were
corn and pink champagne and mingled on
placed in wine crates to create linear center-
the front porch, while the bride and her best
pieces surrounded by candlelight and
friends shared a champagne toast in her
stretching the length of the long U-shaped
dressing room before the ceremony.
tables that outlined the parquet dance floor.
“We were surrounded by people who
After a seated dinner of chicken pot pie
mean so much to us,” said Sarah, who wore her mother’s veil and incorporated
skillfully prepared by Dean and DeLuca, the tiered cake with pink ombre hearts
the vintage lace from her mother’s gown onto her custom made dress.
(by Wow Factor Cakes) won over the taste buds of the guests. Serving the cake
The entire evening flowed seamlessly. The couple was married on the front porch, transitioned to the back terrace for cocktails, and moved under the tent for dinner and dancing. The reception began with a cocktail hour and the groom’s favorite bite-sized fare – sliders, mini hot dogs, a wedge of grilled cheese and shot glass of tomato 3 | C H A R LOT T E L I V I N G
was a sign that it was time to dance, and the guests took full advantage of the party props which included glow-in-the-dark jewelry and rose colored glasses. “The sunglasses were a small expense, and we had so much fun with them,” said Sarah. “It was fun to see everyone join in and roll with it – right down to the straws with mustaches and pink hearts.” C H A R LOT TE L I V I N G | 4
C H A R LOT T E L I V I N G | 5
THOUGHTFUL PREPARATIONS The couple began by hiring a wedding planner to ease the distance of their destination wedding. Sarah knew that it was important to pick someone with a vast knowledge of local vendors; who proves detail oriented and calm and cool, and most importantly a person you want to spend time with. She selected Jackie Fogartie, of Jackie Fogartie Events in Charlotte, to guide the process and execute the vision. “Planning the wedding from Indianapolis and doing it successfully all came down to having really good people involved, along with the benefit of technology,” said Sarah. From the early stages of planning, Sarah infused the couple’s
Pretty in Pink A memorable wedding in Davidson distinguished by color
style into their big day. Her personal touch put a punctuation mark on anything that might otherwise be ordinary. Cocktail napkins with quippy quotes, a stylized monogram sequin backdrop for the Candy Bar and a bucket full of pink flip flops for the dance floor with a sign that stated, “Girl, kick off those heels and break it on down.”
TEXT BY SHERRI K. OOSTERHOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL FLANAGAN EVENT STYLING BY JACKIE FOGARTIE EVENTS
According to Fogartie, one of the biggest trends in with today’s weddings is the do-it-yourself aspect inspired by bridal blogs and social networks like Pinterest. “Brides are looking for ways to put their own personal touch on their big day, so sometimes they have to create their own decor and style that best represents them,” said Fogartie. The entire wedding revolved around “fun and special” rather than a chosen theme, but if anyone one thing stood out, it was the palette of pink that was threaded visually throughout. It was deemed “pinkful” by those behind the scenes, as Sarah adores all things pink… and Kyle rolled with it.
Although they now call Indianapolis home, Charlotte has always been their common ground and the chosen destination for Kyle and Sarah Pietila’s fall wedding. They set out to plan a day filled with their favorite things, no different from most brides and grooms. Sure, it’s easy to get distracted by hot trends and sparkly objects, but the two never wavered from their goal. Everything from the ceremony site to the signature martinis held special meaning for this southern style affair. Take it from someone seated in the front row, the more the ceremony and reception reflect you as a couple, the more the more meaningful it will be for the people who share your special day. 1 | C H A R LOT T E L I V I N G
C H A R LOT TE L I V I N G | 2
IN THE SPOTLIGHT MEANINGFUL MOMENTS While a wedding is all about the details, preparations and planning, it’s the moments that happen throughout the event that leave a lasting impression. A festive atmosphere and delicious cake is only a slice of what makes it memorable. For the groom, a few of his favorite moments included family. “It meant a lot to me that my sister and her husband traveled from Boston, and it made me happy to see them having such a good time – dancing, laughing and smiling,” said Kyle. “I also liked the fragile (fra-geel-ly) sticker that my cousin, Olivia, pasted on the wine crate in front of my place setting,“ he added, explaining that it’s a nod to his favorite seasonal movie, A Christmas Story. For the bride, it was an unscripted moment after the guests retreated to the backyard and the families relaxed on the front porch waiting for photos. “I don’t have a big family,” said Sarah. “And I looked around and saw all these people who I can now call family, and it made me so happy.” ✱ For planning the perfect Charlotte affair contact Jackie Fogartie Events, jackiefogartieevents.com. For the perfect pictures visit michaeljflanaganphoto.com.
THE BEST DAY EVER When choosing the venue, area banquet halls and uptown locales didn’t have the intimate feel that the couple had envisioned for their sixty-person guest list. What did work beautifully was the home of the groom’s Aunt and Uncle (yours
soup. A fire roared in the fire pit and strands of lights lit the patio at dusk as guests celebrated and enjoyed the old fashioned photo booth filled with props. “Sarah is a great example of someone who incorporated her fun personality
truly, in the interest of full disclosure) who
into every aspect of their wedding,” said
without hesitation agreed to host the affair.
Fogartie. “She even had a sign on the bath-
“Their home had a special place in our
room mirror that read: ‘Thank you for being
hearts and nothing else we imagined meas-
here. BTW, you look great!’”
ured up,” said Sarah. “It was where I met
A sit down dinner was served in the 1,600
Kyle’s family and where the two of us felt
sq. ft. tent, draped in pink organza and up lit
most at home.”
with soft pink lights that glowed in the dark-
On the afternoon of October 27th, as
ness like a dessert sunset. Bright pink
guests arrived, they were served pink pop-
hydrangeas and pink garden roses were
corn and pink champagne and mingled on
placed in wine crates to create linear center-
the front porch, while the bride and her best
pieces surrounded by candlelight and
friends shared a champagne toast in her
stretching the length of the long U-shaped
dressing room before the ceremony.
tables that outlined the parquet dance floor.
“We were surrounded by people who
After a seated dinner of chicken pot pie
mean so much to us,” said Sarah, who wore her mother’s veil and incorporated
skillfully prepared by Dean and DeLuca, the tiered cake with pink ombre hearts
the vintage lace from her mother’s gown onto her custom made dress.
(by Wow Factor Cakes) won over the taste buds of the guests. Serving the cake
The entire evening flowed seamlessly. The couple was married on the front porch, transitioned to the back terrace for cocktails, and moved under the tent for dinner and dancing. The reception began with a cocktail hour and the groom’s favorite bite-sized fare – sliders, mini hot dogs, a wedge of grilled cheese and shot glass of tomato 3 | C H A R LOT T E L I V I N G
was a sign that it was time to dance, and the guests took full advantage of the party props which included glow-in-the-dark jewelry and rose colored glasses. “The sunglasses were a small expense, and we had so much fun with them,” said Sarah. “It was fun to see everyone join in and roll with it – right down to the straws with mustaches and pink hearts.” C H A R LOT TE L I V I N G | 4
C H A R LOT T E L I V I N G | 5
