It all started in Durham. After swiping right and some delicious Mexican food, life brought Tyler and Jonathan together. Little did they know that years later, they would be hosting their wedding back where it all began. Nestled among bustling infrastructure hides a lush oasis perfect for an intimate occasion. Tyler and Jonathan chose Durham Museum of Life and Science to begin the rest of their lives together. 

Tyler Erickson grew up in Maryland, then attended Virginia Tech for undergrad. For her master’s in biostatistics, she came to North Carolina attending Duke University. Jon on the other hand, is a North Carolina native, heading to Appalachian State University for his degree in Computer Science. In February 2021, on a seemingly unsuspicious hike at Brumley Nature preserve, Jon stopped to tie his shoe. Much to Tyler’s surprise, it was not the only knot he was looking to tie. After a bit of shock, Tyler said yes and the journey to their big day began.

Knowing they wanted a ceremony in Durham, they began looking around. After a date with their future officiant and bridesmaid to the museum, they went back for a tour.

“We toured and immediately fell in love. The setting of the butterfly house was so striking, and this amazingly beautiful place is right in city limits. It looks like a tropical island and is an absolute gem of Durham!” Tyler and Jon explain. “They also offered a micro wedding package which was amazing. We wanted to have a more intimate ceremony with our closest friends and family. They also coordinated the food, cake and ceremony flowers which was an added bonus to help reduce planning stress. It was a perfect fit!”

The date was set and on a warm, drizzly day in July, Tyler and Jon’s vision came to life. For the girls, the day began at bridesmaid Angel’s home. Tyler was surrounded by love and support from her mother, grandmother, and bridesmaids. This time was made more special by small details like food prepared by Angel for the wedding party. This included Tyler’s favorite blueberry muffins that reminded her of how much love her best friend had for her. They even sent some goodies to Jon, who snacked on them in between getting ready and playing video games with his groomsmen and groomswoman. Once makeup and hair was done by Pinup Studio NC, Tyler’s mother helped her into her dress, Jon’s groomsmen helped him with last minute details, and the couple were ready to walk down the aisle. 

More small but special details were sprinkled throughout the day, even down to the recessional music.

“As we walked away as a married couple from the ceremony, we played CAKE’s “Love You Madly.” This was a small special detail because we planned our honeymoon to the pacific northwest specifically to attend a CAKE Concert!” 

Other touches included a wedding dish from a friend, Shannon, was Tyler and Jon’s first engagement present. With their initials engraved in gold, it now holds Tyler's ring for when she bakes. Jon and his groomsmen wore socks with prints of notable Durham sites including the Lucky Strike water tower, Major Bull, and the Durham Flag. Souvenirs included chocolate boxes from Escazu Chocolates and scratch off tickets, making the gifts usable yet fun. A beautiful Butterfly Wishes and Memories table was included to honor those who were there in spirit, including Tyler’s grandmother who passed away only a month before their wedding. All of these details and more made the day one to remember for Tyler and Jon, as well as their guests. 

“For our style, we really wanted to just showcase the venue. We kept everything very simple because our venue was so luscious. Our décor had accents of butterflies because we got married at the gardens! For our centerpieces, we wanted to bring nature into the tent with us so we used live succulents, plants and herbs to keep the feeling of nature inside,” the couple explained. 

Misty skies and misty eyes greeted the couple as they made their way down the aisle. With the Butterfly House as their background, the couple said “I do” in surrounded by their closest circle of friends and family. Overcast made for soft, even lighting- perfect for Fancy This’s Sarah to perfectly capture the newlyweds. Navy blue suits from Bernard’s Formal Wear and peacock dresses and ties provided great contrast against the lush greenery of the Museum grounds. After walking down the aisle, guests met the couple inside the Butterfly House.

As the night went on, Fancy This captured whimsical moments among the couple and guests. Live plants made for lovely backdrops as photographer Sarah and second shooter Amanda shot little moments everywhere, sometimes going completely unnoticed.

“We absolutely adored working with the team! We did the engagement shoot with Sarah and we felt super comfortable working with her. On our wedding day, it was a dream experience! Sarah and Amanda gave gentle instructions but overall disappeared into the background. Neither of us remember where they were during much of the day or even the ceremony, but our photos are the most beautiful photos we could ask for.”

The feeling was mutual. Sarah shares, “The day was full of laughter and relaxation. Even through the misty, rainy weather, Tyler, Jon, and their entire wedding party remained in positive spirits throughout the evening. They were nothing more than enjoyable to photograph!” For unexpected weather, Sarah encourages having a plan. For her this includes bringing clear umbrellas and scouting out indoor locations for portraits. She also says to embrace it! After all, rain on your wedding day is auspicious.

Take it from Tyler and Jon: your special day doesn’t have to involve a huge party or sunshine to make it special. The day is yours to create. We asked the couple what moments stand out when they think about their wedding. Their answer? “Leaving the venue surrounded by our friends, family, and butterflies.”

A special thanks to all vendors who made Tyler and Jon’s day so special.

Photography: Fancy This Photography 

Venue: Durham Museum of Life and Science

Jewelry: Sparrowood Jewelers

Flowers: Tre Bella

Food: Southern Harvest Hospitality Group

Cake: Guglhupf Bakery 

Hair and Makeup: Pinup Studio NC

Transportation: Bare Minimum Limousine Service 

Chocolate favors: Escazu Chocolates 

Tux and Suits: Bernard’s Formal Wear

Wedding Dress: Gavin Christianson Bridal 

Tailor: Krystyna’s Tailor Shop