Photos from a Wedding at The Cookery • Samantha + Cole

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When I met Samantha and her mom at a bridal show I felt an instant connection. I sincerely wanted to work with them and photograph her and Cole’s winter wedding at The Cookery. I patiently waited as they finalized some plans, including confirming with The Cookery for their January date, to be one of the first couples in the chic, urban Durham venue after their new expansion. It was definitely worth the wait in every regard.

How They Met

Samantha and Cole were introduced by her water polo coach when Cole and his friend wandered into a bar she was hanging out in with her teammates, after a tournament they hosted at their school, University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. They met on a Friday, had their first date on Monday and were quickly smitten. Soon they were spending lots of time together and, fast forward a little while, found themselves moving forward as partners in life with a house, three dogs and lots of wedding planning!

Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bride and the groom took pictures in front of a rustic, urban wall at the venue. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bride's white gown hung on the front iron gate of the venue in this detail picture. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The brought gifted her bridesmaids monogrammed button-down plaid shirts with their first initial on the pocket, as shown in this picture, for the getting ready and mimosa portion of the winter morning. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bride had her makeup applied by Wink Hair and Makeup and wore a button-down grey and black monogrammed shirt. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The brought gifted her bridesmaids monogrammed button-down plaid shirts with their first initial on the pocket, as shown in this detail picture.

Samantha got her bridesmaids really cute plaid button-down shirts for getting ready during their winter wedding. White embroidery indicated each woman’s initial of her first name. Her wedding vision came to life throughout the day from the moment I saw her gown to every time I peeked in the ceremony and reception space as it was being set up for the day. She wanted lots of greenery, candlelight and neutral colors.

Her bridesmaids, who were family and her water polo teammates, helped her get dressed for her wedding at The Cookery after her hair and makeup were complete. She put on her white mesh and silver glitter heels (which I adored!) and they ensured her hanging diamond and pearl earrings were on before she had a special first look with her father.

Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The flower girl had her hair done in a high bun and makeup done! Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. This detail picture shows the bride's diamond and pearl hanging earrings. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bride wore a strapless beaded gown, shown in a detailed picture on a rustic front gate at the venue, on a special pearl and rhinestone hanger. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bride wore silver glitter and white mesh heels by Betsy Johnson and wore a simple veil. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bridesmaids helped the bride put on her white mesh and silver glitter wedding day shoes. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bride is pictured with her father, after a private special first look. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bride helped pin a white sweetheart rose boutonniere on her father in this picture from her winter wedding day.

Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bride and groom had a winter wedding invitation to match their blue and green color palette. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The groom wore a navy double-breasted blue suit with a striped tie and white boutonniere. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The groom opened a card and gift from his bride the morning of their winter wedding day. Detailed Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bride gifted the groom a wooden watch gift. Detailed Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bride gifted the groom a wooden watch, inscribed on the back with their winter date.

I love the unique gift Samantha gifted Cole: a wood watch with their wedding date and a message from his wife inscribed on the back. Cole gifted Samantha a beautiful Pandora charm bracelet. It was the last piece to photograph before they met each other for their wedding at The Cookery, in the outdoor courtyard, for their first look.

First Look for a Wedding at The Cookery in Durham

We continued the afternoon with portraits of the two of them and their wedding party.

Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. In this cute picture of the bride and groom he kisses her neck in front of the venue's rustic metal door. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bride wore a strapless gown, had her hair in an up-do with a crown braid. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bride wore a strapless gown, had her hair in an up-do, and had many layers in her tulle skirt. The groom softly kisses his bride in their Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bride's glitter shoes, couple's rings and monogrammed back of their winter invitation are styled in this detail photo. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bride and groom did their first look by the venue's rustic, aged wall. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bride and groom stole a kiss in front of their brick, urban venue during their winter day.

Samantha opted for an up-do and had her hair in a braided crown, finished with a sparkly rhinestone head piece. It perfectly complimented the beaded bodice of her strapless gown, that had a very elegant and feminine layered tulle skirt with a small train. She added a veil for the ceremony. Cole and all his groomsmen wore navy blue suits and blue ties. (Cole had a fun blue striped tie!) Their brown shoes matched the earth tone palette of their winter wedding day, as evident from their Durham wedding photos at The Cookery.

Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bride wore a strapless beaded gown, braided up-do and held a bouquet of roses, blue thistle and eucalyptus for her winter day. In this picture she's posing in front of the venue's rustic doors. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The groom wore a navy double-breasted blue suit with a striped tie and white boutonniere. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bride wore a strapless beaded gown with many layers in the skirt and groom wore a navy blue suit at their rustic winter day. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bride wore a strapless beaded gown and held the arm of her groom in this wedding picture. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bride wore a strapless beaded gown with many layers in the skirt and groom wore a navy blue suit at their rustic winter day. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery with the bride and groom by the rusted exterior stylized sign by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The groomsmen wore a detail of bullet cufflinks, all police officers and some ex-military friends of the groom. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The groomsmen wore navy blue suits with ties and brown shoes.

Another fun detail was their cufflinks: they were the ends of bullets, very appropriate for a wedding party with groomsmen, most of whom are police officers. Cole is also a former marine, which is how he knows his best man and long time friend, Shane.

Bridesmaids Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bridal party wore different blue dresses, had white shawls for the winter wedding, and stood by the bride for this urban picture. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bridal party wore dusty cornflower blue dresses. Each gown was different and they all held a bouquet of roses and eucalyptus. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The groomsmen wore navy blue suits with ties and brown shoes, posing for a picture in front of the brick urban outside of the venue. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bridal party wore dusty cornflower blue dresses and one of the bridesmaids took a picture in front of a rustic, urban wall at the venue.

Wedding Party Photos at The Cookery

The bridesmaids looked so pretty in different gowns, all of the same dusty, cornflower blue chiffon fabric. The commonalities between their outfits were pearl and rhinestone stud earrings from Samantha, and the same eucalyptus and rose bouquets. Samantha also got them white shawls to stay warm during the winter wedding – they didn’t necessarily need them because it was 70 degrees for their January day! But they looked great for a photo or two before everyone headed inside for their indoor ceremony. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bride and groom posed for a picture with the flower girl. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bridal party took pictures in front of a rustic, urban wall at the venue. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bridal party wore dusty cornflower blue dresses. Each gown was different and they all held a bouquet of roses and eucalyptus. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. This detail picture shows the bride's round halo diamond engagement ring, marquee wedding band and groom's gunmetal ring. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bride's father created a faux fireplace, decorated with lots of candlelight and green garland and white roses. It served as the indoor ceremony backdrop and eucalyptus lined the aisle.Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bride and groom got married in a romantic indoor ceremony during their winter wedding. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The cocktail hour was inside a semi-clear tent with a white and blue palette. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The couple had a memory table with flowers and a framed prayer. Indoor reception Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. Table numbers were indicated with wooden numbers. Indoor reception Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. Candlelight and green eucalyptus garland line the rectangular dinner tables. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bride's father created this faux fireplace, decorated with lots of candlelight and green garland and white roses. It also served as the indoor ceremony backdrop. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The reception room had rectangular tables with garland greenery and candlelight illuminating the room. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The reception room had white and blue linens and lots of candlelight. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The reception room had white and blue linens and lots of candlelight.

Reception at The Cookery

Their reception was aglow with an abundance of candlelight, dashed between long strands of eucalyptus garland. White and blue linens carried the color palette throughout the evening. They had a wood pallet that served as the board for the guest table cards, next to a memory frame and flowers for the same purpose. Wooden table numbers were placed on top of each table for guests to find their seats. Their family and friends enjoyed light appetizers and drinks in the semi-clear tent next to the reception room and were able to play corn hole before it was time to have their meal. A cute wooden script, “Mr. & Mrs.” sign was placed where Samantha and Cole sat.

After funny and heartfelt speeches – by Samantha’s sister and maid of honor, and Cole’s best friend, it was time to PARTY! The DJ played songs that got the crowd dancing from country, to pop and line dancing songs. I loved capturing their friends on the dance floor but my favorite person to photograph was Cole’s daughter, the flower girl Cora. She was a STAR on the dance floor! Everyone seemed to love dancing with her too!

Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The groom danced with his daughter, the flower girl, during the winter reception. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The indoor reception had a DJ and a lot of dancing! Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The indoor reception had a DJ and a lot of dancing! Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The small buttercream cake was a special naked-cake design by her sister and Maid of Honor. It was decorated with eucalyptus and rose flowers. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The cake was served on blue and white porcelain dessert plates. Durham wedding photos at The Cookery by Mikkel Paige Photography in North Carolina. The bride and groom kiss during their first dance.

Their perfect-size tiered semi-naked buttercream wedding cake was extra special: Samantha’s sister, Gini, created it! It was served on plated Samantha admitted she had to have. The blue and white pattern plates definitely brightened up the dessert course!

I am so glad I could be a part of their wedding at The Cookery and wish them nothing but happiness and beautiful days always, just like their first day of marriage!

Vendors for their Cookery Wedding

Venue: The Cookery Durham / Hair and Makeup: Wink Hair and Makeup / Florist: Liz Newlin / Invitations: Basic Invite / DJ: Island Sound & Video / Gown: Elegant Bridal, designer Kenneth Winston / Officiant: Ben Kane / Men’s tuxedos: Menguin / Rentals: American Party Rentals / Bridesmaids gowns: David’s Bridal / Wedding coordinator: Donna Cooper

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