21c Museum Hotel Durham Wedding
Rebecca Lehrman and Bradford Dubik’s 21c Museum Hotel Durham wedding was a beautiful fever dream. Fancy This Photography was honored to capture all of their wedding festivities – from first looks to first dances – on April 23, 2022. Heather Bonawitz Kids of Paisley and Pearl Events planned Becca and Brad’s downtown Durham wedding. Paisley and Pearl Events is a Durham-based wedding planning company that helps couples produce stress-free events. Fancy This Photography loves collaborating with local event professionals to give couples top-tier wedding experiences!
I recommend selecting a wedding venue that is relatively close to an airport, especially if guests must travel long distances to attend your wedding. Becca and Brad’s friends and family flew into Raleigh-Durham International Airport from near and far to celebrate their love. Located in the heart of downtown Durham, 21c Museum Hotel is a quick 20-minute drive away from RDU airport. Guests can conveniently stay the night at the hotel after the wedding, or at any of the quality hotels in downtown Durham.
Couples can host weddings for up to 250 guests in the Main Gallery at 21c Museum Hotel Durham.
Wedding Traditions Honored at 21c Museum Hotel Durham
Becca and Brad shared some of the sweetest wedding vows Fancy This Photography has ever witnessed. They committed themselves to one another beneath a colorful chuppah designed by Blossom and Bone Florals in Durham. A chuppah is a canopy beneath which Jewish marriage ceremonies are performed. Becca and Brad also stood upon a embroidered rushynk during their 21c Museum Hotel Durham wedding ceremony. The rushynk is a traditional Ukrainian wedding cloth that symbolizes purity, fertility, and hope for the couple's future.
The reception was equally as meaningful and heartfelt as the ceremony. Toasts shared at this 21c Museum Hotel Durham wedding reception are some of the best Fancy This Photography has ever heard. It is an honor to be a part of such special celebrations. Congratulations, Becca and Brad!
Keep scrolling for more gorgeous images and information about this unique downtown Durham wedding venue.
Downtown Durham WeddinG Style
Becca and her besties got ready in one of the luxury art deco rooms at 21c Museum Hotel Durham. ERMC Hair Stylist did the bridal party’s hair, and makeup was done by Artistry by Angela. I loved the unique mismatched green dresses worn by each bridesmaid. Becca’s wedding dress was contemporary and stunning with clean lines and a square neckline. Brad looked dapper in a gray suit and blue tie. His groomsmen donned dark green suits and handsome hats.
Fancy This Photography had a blast photographing the entire wedding party around downtown Durham. That’s the beauty of getting married at 21c Museum Hotel Durham! It’s close to awesome downtown Durham landmarks and makes wedding portraits more fun. Becca and Brad shared their first look in front of a colorful mural of Frida Kahlo titled I Am My Own Muse by Cecilia Lueza (2019). And of course, we had to stop at CCB plaza for portraits with the city’s mascot statue, Major the bronze bull. Lastly, we made our way to the top of a nearby parking garage for group and individual portraits in front of an iconic Durham skyline.
Becca and Brad shared their first look in front of a colorful mural of Frida Kahlo titled I Am My Own Muse by Cecilia Lueza (2019).
Wedding photos in front of this iconic Downtown Durham skyline are essential.
Planning a 21c Museum Hotel Durham Wedding
Locals and tourists alike love visiting 21c Museum Hotel Durham for its fine dining, art and culture, events and one-of-a-kind overnight stays. Fancy This Photography’s team often explores 21c’s exhibits just for fun! This is honestly one of the best wedding venues in Durham. First, let’s talk about the hotel’s style and event spaces.
21c Museum Hotel Durham has a variety of event spaces that feature modern amenities without compromising the building’s art deco style. The museum hotel lives and breathes in the bones of the historic Hill Building aka CCB Building, built in 1937. Durham Bank & Trust Company—as well as its successor, the Central Carolina Bank— operated from this 17-story building on Corcoran Street for several decades.
Most ceremonies and receptions at 21c Museum Hotel Durham take place in its Main Gallery. This was true of Becca and Brad’s wedding! After their ceremony, guests enjoyed cocktail hour in an art exhibit while the Main Gallery was flipped into a reception space. The Main Gallery features wooden paneled walls and columns, tall ceilings and windows, and modern chandeliers. Couples can host weddings for up to 250 guests here.
The Main Gallery at 21c Museum Hotel Durham features wooden paneled walls and columns, tall ceilings and windows, and modern chandeliers.
Quick FAQs About 21c Museum Hotel Durham
Located in the heart of Downtown Durham - close to resstaurants, bars, entertainment
125 spacious guest rooms with large windows and custom furnishings
More than 10,500 square feet of exhibition space
Counting House restaurant bar and lounge
In-room dining and catering provided by Counting House
Spa, sauna, and steam room
24-hour fitness center
Business center
Laundry service
21c Museum Shop
24-hour valet service
Pet-friendly rooms
Designed by Deborah Berke Partners
Free Wi-Fi
Counting House at 21c Museum Hotel Durham
21c Museum Hotel Durham couples get access to their on-site restaurant, Counting House. This top-tier culinary team can prepare custom wedding menus that wow your guests. Fancy This Photography even snapped a few photos of Becca and Brad sitting in the Counting House’s cool restaurant bar and lounge.
21c Museum Hotel Durham Wedding Details
Becca and Brad said “I do” in the Main Gallery of 21c Museum Hotel Durham. Colorful florals designed by Durham-based Blossom and Bone Florals gave the space a warm and welcoming vibe. Becca’s bright bouquet popped brilliantly against her white wedding dress. The chuppah flowers were jaw-dropping. Look closely, each column in the event space was wrapped in flower arrangements that looked to be growing upward!
For cocktail hour, guests were invited to explore an art exhibit with drinks and appetizers. Meanwhile, the Main Gallery was transformed from ceremony to reception space. Ceremony chairs were replaced by round tables and the chuppah became a backdrop for the newlywed’s sweetheart table. I love that Becca and Brad did not shy away from color in their wedding decor. Each table centerpiece was so vibrant and photo worthy!
Becca and Brad danced the night away to music by DJ Play Play. The rushynk even made a guest-star appearance during some traditional Ukrainian wedding dances! Fancy This Photography is so thankful to have been a part of this special day. To learn more about how we can capture your wedding day, click here.
Photography // Fancy This Photography
Venue and Caterer // 21c Museum Hotel Durham
Planning // Paisley and Pearl Events
Florist // Blossom and Bone Florals
DJ // Play Play
Hair // ERMC Hairstylist
Makeup // Artistry by Angela
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