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Clean, Sleek, Modern, these are all words that wonderfully describe modern art museums which house awe inspiring contemporary works of art.  From time to time these elegantly modern spaces pull double duty, playing host to beautiful wedding soirees as well.  One might think that with such sleek surroundings it would be difficult to pull off a day with personality & charm, but nothing could be further from the truth as exemplified by Tracy Russell & Colin Beck’s personality plus wedding at CAM Raleigh!  Seeking something modern & fresh but uniquely Raleigh, Tracy & Colin embraced clean lines, a fresh color palette & cleverly surrounded themselves with amazing art on their big day.  Embracing the world around them, guests were invited to Instagram the wedding, #CTBWedding, as well the terrific gift of Tracy’s sister, and maid of honor, joining them via Facetime while stationed overseas.  Not missing a minute, her sister wished Tracy well moments before heading down the aisle herself, a la the beauty of modern technology in the form of an iPad!  The couple said ‘I do’ in the museum’s outdoor garden, shaded under the flying V roof, after which guests were treated to shows of art while surrounded by chevron as far as the eye could see in pops of coral & gray.  Every element chosen was perfectly modern, complimenting the open air space of the gallery setting.  Never a moment was wasted without a show of love, laughter, giddy & play.  Wanting nothing more then to end things on a bright note, giant sparklers were set a blaze, sending Tracy & Colin into their new life under a sparkler lite canopy!

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Novella of the Bride…

Colin + I met at a local watering hole through some mutual friends. What started as a bond over iTunes playlists, quickly became more.  We have a ton in common – we  love having fun, being around friends, laughing, are driven + are complete dorks around one another. We got engaged about three years after we met.

We chose to have the wedding in Raleigh since both of our families are from out of town. We figured this was a good meeting place for everyone. Plus, we are obsessed with the city and wanted to share all  that is Raleigh with our friends + family! Now with that decided, we just needed to find a venue within Raleigh. I had always envisioned our wedding at some sort of modern museum with great architectural elements. Once we found CAM Raleigh, we were sold. It’s a beyond beautiful venue within an area of downtown Raleigh that is active throughout the day and night. Inside are exceptional contemporary works of art from fairly new and emerging artists from across the United States.  It’s fun and thought provoking.

So shortly after we got engaged, I became obsessed with two things – chevron + coral. Needless to say, these two items became the focal points of our wedding theme. Then, once we found the CAM Raleigh venue, we were good to go. The modern, clean lines of the space gave us the opportunity to really play up our theme. We were able to use grey + coral  chevron table runners (total DIY), an amazing custom chandelier  and perfect floral centerpieces to make it all come together. The space was also brought together using various fun signage. Basically, we wanted a modern, but warm feel. We totally achieved it! Everyone felt comfortable and had a ton of fun, all while getting the chance to appreciate some cool art (and make some of their own with the photo booth)!

We literally couldn’t have done it all without the support of our families and friends. Whether it was a trip to the venue, meeting with a vendor or just a good ‘ol pep talk during the planning process, everyone was there for us. We love them dearly for it!

Bride’s Favorite Moment: “Do we have to pick just one? My favorite moment was having my sister and maid of honor who is in the Army present via FaceTime on my dad’s iPad. She was unfortunately denied leave to attend the wedding, but technology saved the day! My matron of honor “carried her” down the aisle and she was able to see the whole ceremony. She was even in our post-ceremony family photos! It’s a moment  I’ll treasure forever. Colin’s favorite moment was the mother-son dance. They danced to “Sunrise Sunset” from Fiddler on the Roof. It was a touching moment for everyone there!”

Vendor Love

Venue: CAM Raleigh | Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza | Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale | Shoes: J. Crew | Hair: Alter Ego | Makeup: Belle Trachtenberg | Groom’s Attire: Black by Vera Wang | Invitations: Umi by Elum via Charlottes Inc. | Transportation: Crank Arm Rickshaw | Music: Randy Bennett from Joe Bunn DJ Company | Lighting : ThemeWorks | Rentals: CE RentalsThemeWorks | Florist: The English Garden | Caterer: PoshNosh | Baker: Sugarland | Graphic Artist: Lauren Hall | Photobooth: PicPod | Day of Coordinator: Jame Leigh Events | Photographer: Carolyn Scott Photography