John & Deanna | Haw River Ballroom
Haw River Ballroom Wedding in Saxapahaw NC
Deanna White and John Donnelly celebrated their vibrant and heartfelt Haw River Ballroom wedding in Saxapahaw NC, on May 4, 2024. Their spring wedding week was filled with color, joy, and meaningful moments. Every expression and detail was beautifully captured by Sarah Martin, a partner at Fancy This Photography. We’re thrilled to share their special day with y’all on the blog!
Sarah also had the honor of photographing John’s surprise proposal to Deanna on a rooftop in downtown Durham in February 2023. Click here to see the photos from their epic engagement.
Haw River Kayaking & Durham Rehearsal Dinner
Deanna and John kicked off wedding festivities with a really cool experience for their wedding party—a kayaking trip along the Haw River, coordinated with Haw River Canoe & Kayak, on May 2.
“It was the perfect way to kick off the weekend—allowing us to relax, soak in the beauty of our venue, and spend some informal quality time together.”
Following their outdoor adventure on the Haw River, they hosted a rehearsal dinner and welcome party at 21c Museum Hotel Durham. The evening was filled with special moments, including toasts from their nieces and nephews and a cherished family tradition—John’s parents gifted them the family blessing cup, which was later used to serve communion during their Haw River Ballroom wedding ceremony.
Thanks to Kelly Morrison of Color Fields Flowers, the couple was able to repurpose their floral arrangements from the rehearsal dinner. Kelly smoothly incorporated them into their Haw River Ballroom wedding decor.
Keep scrolling to see how Deanna and John brought their dream Haw River Ballroom wedding in Saxapahaw NC to life with the help of talented local vendors.
On May 4, 2024, Sarah Martin of Fancy This Photography captured John and Deanna’s Haw River Ballroom wedding in Saxapahaw NC.
Haw River Ballroom Wedding in Saxapahaw NC Planned by The Gathering Co.
Deanna and John poured their hearts into creating a personal Haw River Ballroom wedding in Saxapahaw NC. It was a one-of-a-kind celebration of love, and Sarah of Fancy This Photography was honored to capture every moment.
Chelsy Ferguson of The Gathering Co. planned the couple’s wedding and seamlessly transitioned their originally outdoor ceremony indoors when rain forced a last-minute pivot. The indoor celebration turned out even more magical than they had imagined, and guests never knew it wasn’t the original plan.
“Our wedding night was the best night of our lives, and we can’t tell you how many compliments we received about the details. Guests kept telling us how intentional everything felt, how every design choice told our story, and how seamlessly everything came together—all thanks to The Gathering Co. From the moment we started working with Chelsy, she helped us establish a thoughtful, well-organized planning process, guiding us through every decision to ensure each element was both beautiful and executable. As the wedding day approached, she took the reins, allowing us to focus on what mattered most while she handled the logistics with ease.”
Deanna’s gorgeous gown is from Gavin Christianson Bridal, a wedding dress shop in downtown Durham.
Getting Ready at 21c Museum Hotel Durham
On the morning of the wedding, John and his groomsmen treated themselves to fresh shaves at Rocks Bar and Hair Shop in downtown Durham—a relaxing way to start the festivities. Later, they donned dapper suits and bow ties from The Black Tux. John stood out in a sharp maroon suit and black bow tie.
Meanwhile, Deanna and her bridal party got ready in style at the 21c Museum Hotel Durham Penthouse Suite. The suite provided plenty of space for Reign Beauty’s hair and makeup artists to work while the bridesmaids enjoyed some pre-ceremony fun. Deanna wore a stunning dress from Gavin Christianson Bridal while the bridesmaids looked gorgeous in an assortment of colorful gowns.
21c Museum Hotel Durham Events
Deanna and John chose 21c Museum Hotel Durham for its generous room block availability, suite options, and breathtaking ballroom, which they used for their rehearsal dinner and welcome party.
“As longtime Durham locals, we’re familiar with all the downtown hotels and needed to select a primary landing point for our out-of-town guests—many of whom were traveling from New York, where Deanna is from. With 30 to 40 rooms needed, securing a sizable room block at a discounted rate was a priority, and 21c was incredibly accommodating throughout the process. Their flexibility and bundled service options made negotiations seamless.
One highlight was the 21c Penthouse Suite, which stood out as the largest and most luxurious in Durham. It was perfect for the bridal party’s wedding-day preparations and also served as the setting for our farewell brunch on Sunday. Additionally, 21c offers a variety of smaller suites, one of which worked perfectly for the groomsmen to get ready.
The 21c ballroom was an ideal venue for our rehearsal dinner and welcome party, thanks to its spacious layout, affordability, central location, and exceptional in-house food and beverage program. The 21c staff truly went above and beyond to make our wedding weekend special—including a thoughtful surprise: custom robes embroidered with our new last name, waiting in our room after the wedding.
For anyone planning a wedding in Durham, we highly recommend 21c Museum Hotel—it exceeded our expectations in every way!"
The wedding parties got ready at 21c Museum Hotel in downtown Durham.
John looked dapper in a maroon suit and black bow tie. The hat was a perfect accessory for groom photos at 21c Museum Hotel in downtown Durham.
First Look on Third-Tier Balcony at Haw River Ballroom
Deanna and John’s first look took place on the third-tier balcony of the Haw River Ballroom—one of their most treasured moments from the day. It was a quiet, intimate time to share their vows privately before the whirlwind of the ceremony.
Their original plan was to have the first look outdoors, surrounded by nature along the Haw River. But the rain had other ideas, prompting them to move it inside. Thankfully, Haw River Ballroom offered the perfect alternative—a magical, private third-tier balcony overlooking the ballroom. With its cozy furniture and industrial windows, the space created an intimate setting.
“It was there, in that quiet moment, that we shared our first look and privately read our vows to each other—an incredibly special memory we’ll cherish forever.”
Deanna and John’s first look took place on the third-tier balcony of the Haw River Ballroom.
Puppy Love
Deanna and John’s two beloved pittie-mix pups, Miller, 8, and Savannah, 4, played a special role in their wedding day. They proudly walked down the aisle, joined the bride and groom for photos, and even “sponsored” cocktail hour—treating guests to Miller Lites and Savannah Ciders in their honor.
Deanna and John’s two beloved pittie-mix pups, Miller, 8, and Savannah, 4, played a special role in their wedding day.
Real Review of Fancy This Photography
Deanna and John can’t recommend Fancy This Photography highly enough.
“They have truly earned us as lifelong clients—we’ve trusted them with our proposal, wedding, and birthday party, and we’ll continue to rely on them for future milestones.
What sets Nikki and Sarah apart is their thoughtful approach and attention to detail. From the very beginning, they took the time to familiarize themselves with our venue, timeline, and event details, always ensuring they understood which moments mattered most to us. Customizing our wedding package with them was effortless, and they brought their A-game on the big day—arriving with a full team and seamlessly adapting when unexpected rain forced us to adjust our plans.
Beyond their exceptional planning and communication, we fully trust Fancy This to document our most important moments authentically while incorporating their unique creative vision—capturing perspectives we never would have thought of ourselves. We’ve already recommended Fancy This Photography to friends planning their weddings and are excited to attend a wedding in January where they’ll be behind the camera!”
“Given our passion for live music and nature, Haw River Ballroom felt like the perfect place to celebrate our love.” - Deanna Donnelly
Q: Why Plan a Haw River Ballroom Wedding in Saxapahaw NC?
A: “We share a deep love for music, live performances, and the outdoors, making Saxapahaw, NC one of our favorite places to visit. Whether it’s kayaking on the Haw River, attending the Saturdays in Saxapahaw Summer Concert Series, or catching a show at the Haw River Ballroom, we’ve always felt a special connection to this charming town.
Long before we got engaged, we were walking past the Haw River Ballroom when John casually remarked, “This would be a great wedding venue. I wonder if they even do weddings here.” Curious, Deanna asked a staff member, who enthusiastically shared that not only do they host weddings, but they also have a dedicated wedding team and planning program. When we got engaged, there was no question—Haw River Ballroom was at the top of our list. Given our passion for live music and nature, it felt like the perfect place to celebrate our love. A tour with Karina, the venue’s wedding coordinator, only confirmed our instincts. From that moment on, we didn’t consider a single other venue—we knew this was the one.
Throughout the planning process and on our wedding day, the Haw River Ballroom staff felt more like family than vendors. Their warmth and hospitality extended beyond us, creating a truly special experience for our guests. It was the perfect way to welcome our loved ones to our home in North Carolina and make them feel just as connected to this place as we do.”
Every expression and detail of Deanna and John’s Haw River Ballroom wedding was beautifully captured by Sarah Martin, a partner at Fancy This Photography.
Haw River Ballroom Wedding Ceremony
The Haw River Ballroom wedding ceremony was the heart of the whole week. Officiated by Rev. Ben Johnston-Krase alongside John’s father, Rev. Gerald Donnelly, it was filled with personal touches that made it deeply meaningful. John was especially thrilled to have a string quartet from Corda Entertainment perform during the ceremony and cocktail hour, setting the perfect vibe.
Deanna White and John Donnelly celebrated their vibrant and heartfelt Haw River Ballroom wedding in Saxapahaw NC, on May 4, 2024.
Rockin’ Haw River Ballroom Wedding Reception
At the Haw River Ballroom wedding reception, guests had a blast sneaking outside to the custom photo booth. Deanna and John set the entertainment up in front of their Scamp camper, thanks to ZimZoom Photo Booth.
But hands down, the highlight of the night was the live band! Live music was a top priority for us, and Another Level Band, booked through Sam Hill Entertainment, absolutely understood the assignment. Not only did they keep the energy high all night, but Deanna and John even got to jump on stage and perform alongside them—a moment their guests went crazy for!
John also surprised everyone with a confetti cannon explosion during one of the band’s performances, secretly planning it ahead of time with Karina at the Haw River Ballroom to make it happen.
Haw River Ballroom wedding in Saxapahaw NC by Sarah Martin of Fancy This Photography.
“What sets Nikki and Sarah apart is their thoughtful approach and attention to detail.” - Deanna Donnelly
During cocktail hour, one of the couple’s favorite details was the drink-filled canoe displayed on the second-tier balcony
Haw River Ballroom wedding reception, photo by Sarah Martin of Fancy This Photography.
“Fancy This Photography has truly earned us as lifelong clients—we’ve trusted them with our proposal, wedding, and birthday party, and we’ll continue to rely on them for future milestones.” - Deanna Donnelly
Haw River Ballroom Wedding in Saxapahaw NC Bride and Groom photo by Sarah Martin of Fancy This Photography
Last Dance - Haw River Ballroom Wedding
Before their sparkler send-off to a waiting limo from A Formal Affair LLC, Deanna and John took a moment to share a private last dance in the empty venue—alone.
“After such an incredible night, having one final, quiet moment together in the ballroom was the perfect way to end it all. It was truly the best weekend of our lives!”
Photography // Sarah Martin of Fancy This Photography
Videography // HoneyDew Films
Planner // Chelsy Ferguson of The Gathering Co.
Venue // Haw River Ballroom
Rehearsal Dinner, Welcome Party, Getting Ready // 21c Museum Hotel Durham
Flowers // Kelly Morrison with Color Fields Flowers
Hair & Makeup // Reign Beauty NC
Dress // Gavin Christianson Bridal
Formalwear // The Black Tux
Caterer // Saxapahaw General Store Catering
Dessert // Kristina Altuve with Mamacita’s Bakery NC
Ceremony & Cocktail Hour Music // Corda Entertainment
Reception Music // Another Level Band with Sam Hill Entertainment
Photo Booth // ZimZoom Photo Booth
Transportation // A Formal Affair Limo and Carolina Livery
Party Rentals // American Party Rentals
Party Rentals // Haw River Canoe Kayak