Beautiful Wedding at Bay 7 Durham NC

Alison and Brian invited loved ones to their wedding at Bay 7 Durham NC on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. The late-winter weather was slightly brisk, but sunshine made for a gorgeous downtown Durham wedding day. Fancy This Photography’s Sarah Martin captured festivities on a Sony A7rIII camera with a 24-70 and 70-200mm lens.

Alison began the day by getting ready with close friends and family in The Durham Hotel. This boutique hotel is beloved by locals and out-of-town guests alike for its mid-century modern style, rooftop views and prime downtown location. Bay 7 wedding venue is just a 4-minute drive or 10-minute walk away from The Durham Hotel. Meanwhile, Brian prepared for the day with a couple of friends and a cute doggo at a cool house nearby.

When the bride and groom were ready, Sarah met them at American Tobacco Campus for their first look. Bay 7 is a warehouse wedding venue tucked into the fold of century-old brick and beams at American Tobacco District. Winding pathways, water features and art around every corner make this the perfect spot for a first look and wedding portraits.

Although other members of the Fancy This Photography team have documented Bay 7 weddings before, this was Sarah’s first time working in the urban-chic event space.

“I love the open space and that Bay 7 is right on the American Tobacco Campus,” says Sarah. “The balcony that looks through the twinkly lights to the open floor beneath is stunning.”

Bridal Portraits Pop at The Durham Hotel

Getting ready is one of the best parts of the entire wedding day. Period. Fancy This Photography loves to capture candid moments between the bride or groom and their closest crew members during these precious pre-wedding moments. From curling eyelashes to pouring the first mimosa of the morning, each of these little moments are memories in the making. Sarah expertly captured Alison and Brian’s getting ready rituals.

Rooms at The Durham Hotel photograph beautifully because they are filled with natural light and bold pops of color. How awesome is this blue denim bedspread? Alison and her friends looked comfortable and confident all cuddled up on top of that mid-century modern bed. Combine yellow velvet curtains, a blue sea of carpet and massive windows, and you’ve got yourself some poppin’ bridal portrait backdrops.

Getting Ready: The Groom Edition

The yellow motif in Alison’s getting ready photos was also present in Brian’s, this time taking the shape of a friend’s beanie and winter jacket. Sarah took handsome, getting ready portraits of the groom inside and outside of the house. However, Brian’s dog stole the show with a light blue harness that matched the groom’s tie.

First Look at American Tobacco Campus

Rather than see each other for the first time at their Bay 7 wedding ceremony, Alison and Brian chose to do a first look. They met each other in full wedding-day attire by a scenic staircase in American Tobacco Campus. Although Fancy This Photography’s Sarah loved all of the little moments throughout Alison and Brian’s wedding day, she says their first look took the cake.

“The first look is always the absolute sweetest moment and I love being able to give couples their space to interact with each other for the first time,” Sarah says.

You can see Alison and Brian’s anticipation melt away following the first look, replaced by an energy of overwhelming love and joy. Sarah captured the couple as they smiled at each other in awe. Incredible iron beams frame every shot and early-spring blossoms photobomb. As Alison and Brian stroll through the repurposed warehouse campus, Sarah and her camera follow.

The bride and groom fit perfectly together on a stepping stone suspended above the American Tobacco Campus stream. They even ran into some adoring family members on their way to the wedding at Bay 7 Durham NC.

Wedding Flowers by Bowerbird Flowers & Apothecary

Bowerbird Flowers & Apothecary created gorgeous, pastel floral arrangements for Alison and Brian’s wedding at Bay 7 Durham NC. Based in Chapel Hill and Durham, Bowerbird Flowers is one of the best wedding florists in the state. They have been published by Forbes, Our State magazine, Style Me Pretty, Green Wedding Shoes, WeddingWire and Heart of NC Weddings magazine, to name a few. We are lucky to have worked with this fabulous floral design team at several real weddings and styled shoots over the years. Bowerbird Flowers & Apothecary is moving to a brand new location at 3105 Shannon Rd in Durham’s UHill in July 2022.

Wedding at Bay 7 Durham NC

Alison and Brian hosted both their wedding ceremony and reception at Bay 7. Following the groom’s entrance to the ceremony, a group of approximately 10 flower children tiptoed down the aisle. Alison’s parents escorted her across a flower petal-strewn hardwood floor. Bowerbird Flowers & Apothecary assembled a circular arbor adorned by greenery and blossoms at the altar. 

At one point in their Bay 7 wedding ceremony, the bride and groom took turns bowing to both sets of parents. This Korean wedding tradition and act of respect is known as seong-hon-rye, a declaration of marriage. Marriage is viewed as the union of two families, rather than just two individuals, in traditional Korean culture.

Wedding at Bay 7 Durham NC

After Alison and Brian’s wedding ceremony, guests enjoyed a cocktail hour and reception catered by Angus Barn, Bay 7’s exclusive caterer. Angus Barn’s dinner menu prices start at $75 per person and can be served via stations, plated or cocktail style. Altogether, Bay 7 can accommodate anywhere from 70 to 400 guests. Couples who tie the knot at Bay 7 wedding venue receive access to a  full range of in-house amenities such as tables, chairs, linen, china, hi-fi audio visual equipment, staging and service. 

Alison and Brian’s loved ones danced the night away to DJ Harlem beneath a canopy of twinkle lights. Fancy This Photography’s Sarah says this wedding at Bay 7 Durham NC was a blast to watch and photograph. 

“These two have such energetic friends and family, which made their reception a total party!” 

Are you planning a warehouse wedding? Click here to gain inspiration from Bennett and Rawls’ winter wedding at The Cotton Room in Durham, NC.  

Photographer //  Fancy This Photography
Videographer // Oak Hill Media 
Getting Ready Venue // The Durham Hotel
First Look Venue // American Tobacco Campus
Venue // Bay 7 
Caterer // Angus Barn
Florist // Bowerbird Flowers & Apothecary
DJ // DJ Harlem
Photo Booth // ZimZoom Photo Booth