Whitaker & Atlantic Raleigh NC Wedding Venue Inspiration
On June 23, 2021, Fancy This Photography joined local creatives for a legendary styled shoot at Whitaker & Atlantic Raleigh NC wedding venue. Whitaker & Atlantic is tucked within Dock 1053, just steps away from Raleigh’s Five Points and Mordecai neighborhoods. Venue Owner, Chef and Restaurateur Coleen Speaks saw potential in this warehouse district and opened Whitaker & Atlantic in fall 2017. Coleen also opened Hummingbird, a cafe and cocktail bar next door to Whitaker & Atlantic, and PoshNosh Catering.
Heart of NC Weddings hosted this styled shoot at Whitaker & Atlantic as a way to create content and celebrate clients. Before guests arrived, Heart of NC Weddings Editorial Shoot Director Becca Taylor organized and led our team of vendors and models. Becca has a beautiful eye and keen sense of detail for wedding design. Since she led this styled shoot, I knew it would be a beauty. Together, we created stylish, modern and chic content for the magazine and its readers.
Heart of NC Weddings hosted this styled shoot/cocktail party at Whitaker & Atlantic on June 23, 2021.
Retractable garage doors at Whitaker & Atlantic can be opened to connect indoor space with the adjoining porch.
Welcome to Whitaker & Atlantic Raleigh NC Wedding Venue
This was my first time photographing Whitaker & Atlantic and I enjoyed it. The 3,500-square-foot space can be decorated in many different ways. We utilized the indoor area and adjoining three-season porch in this styled shoot. Plus, Whitaker & Atlantic’s location is in a cool part of Raleigh - it's right beside Glas, a neon design studio, sign shop, art gallery and teaching facility!
Whitaker & Atlantic is capable of hosting 150 seated guests or 300 people standing. Another unique feature of this event space is the retractable glass garage doors that can be opened to create an alfresco ambiance. My favorite part of Whitaker & Atlantic wedding venue has to be the eclectic bird wallpaper on the wall behind the bar and staircase. Keep scrolling to see what I’m talking about.
Taylored Script Design Co. - Whitaker & Atlantic Styled Shoot
Raleigh-based stationer Taylor Siler of Taylored Script Design Co. added incredible paper elements to this styled shoot. Starting with a mid-century modern welcome sign, she set the tone for the event’s contemporary color palette and style. These Whitaker & Atlantic wedding invites include round and straight edges as well as desert colors combined with summer shades. Pretty patterned envelope liners and tassels add playfulness and texture to the wedding invitation suite.
Last, but not least, I want to appreciate the banner that Taylor made for this Whitaker & Atlantic event. The banner features lyrics from Taylor Swift's “Invisible String” in calligraphy and elegantly drapes off of reception tables. Later, you’ll see this whimsical wedding banner repurposed as DJ booth decor. Additional note-worthy paper by Taylor included the Whitaker & Atlantic wedding bar sign and dinner menus.
This banner by Taylored Script Design Co. features lyrics from Taylor Swift's “Invisible String” in calligraphy.
Trestle chairs provided by Raleigh-based party supplier CE Rental add rustic romance to each table.
Old-World Garden Flowers & Decor - Whitaker & Atlantic Styled Shoot
What couples love most about warehouse wedding venues - exposed bricks, concrete floors, iron beams - create a blank canvas for wedding decor possibilities. Justine De Angelo, Owner and Florist of Sweet Love Blossoms in Raleigh, softened Whitaker & Atlantic’s sharp edges with spring blossoms. Yellow, cream and rust-colored roses, fresh greenery and twisted branches were her paints. Stems and vases held the final painting together - a bespoke floral event design with texture, movement and ombre color.
Justine has a beautiful mind. It was her idea to give each floral installation an ombre color design. This Whitaker & Atlantic styled shoot was elevated because of her artistry. Sweet Love Blossoms’ florals and tuscany dawn blue linens softened the venue’s industrial interior. Cocktail tables covered in rust-colored suede and tables set with green-velvet napkins added jewel tones to the otherwise eggshell color palette. Overall, flatware, linens and chairs from Raleigh-based party supplier CE Rental added a luxury finish to the styled shoot.
Modern Wedding Beauty and Fashion - Whitaker & Atlantic Styled Shoot
Model and Heart of NC Weddings employee, Hannah Lee, got her makeup and hair done at Pinup Studio in Raleigh. A smokey eye with nude lipstick and a boho updo paired effortlessly with two different wedding dresses from Vow’d Weddings. Raleigh’s newest bridal salon is located in North Hills and is a wedding wonderland filled with Instagram-worthy corners. Both of Hannah’s wedding dresses were stunning, but I especially loved the second dress. The second dress had vintage style with a high neckline, capped sleeves and sparkling embellishments. Hannah’s first dress had more of a classic ballgown shape with a deep plunging V-neckline and lots of romantic tulle.
Brandon wore two tuxedos from Bernard’s Formalwear in Durham. The first tux, and my favorite of the two, was a creamy white with black satin lapels and bow tie. The second tux and bow tie looked timeless in black. Together, the couple looked dazzling. Hannah and Brandon were fabulous to photograph in front of the camera. They both have great style and energy. I was able to create soft, gorgeous wedding imagery thanks to the love they share. Fun fact: Hannah and Brandon got engaged in real life two months after this styled shoot took place! Love was in the air.
Wedding Entertainment by ZimZoom Photo Booth
I had a blast photographing Hannah and Brandon with ZimZoom Photo Booth. ZimZoom set up an emerald green backdrop in one corner of Whitaker & Atlantic’s main indoor event space. Guests posed with cheeky props and took home crystal-clear keepsake photo souvenirs.
I think a photo booth is a great way to give guests an activity and a wedding favor. It's a gift that keeps giving because guests receive prints! Out of all wedding and event photo booths in the Triangle, ZimZoom Photo Booth is my all-time favorite. I mean that because of their excellent customer service, joyful attitude and the high-quality of booth lighting and photo prints.
ZimZoom Photo Booth is open air and offers high-quality photo prints (perfect wedding favors).
Couples who book ZimZoom Photo Booth get to choose the backdrop, props and print design that their guests interact with at the event.
Raleigh NC Wedding DJ Stylus S.E.
Another amazing element of this styled shoot at Whitaker & Atlantic was the entertainment! Stylus S.E DJ, Spencer McAvoy, placed a booth in front of the floral altar after ceremony photos. We then repurposed the banner by Taylored Script Design Co. as DJ booth decor. Spencer kept guests swaying smoothly from side to side and spun a fun playlist for a laid-back cocktail hour.
Cocktail Hour at Whitaker & Atlantic Raleigh NC Wedding Venue
Whitaker & Atlantic carries all the required ABC permits for a full-service bar. But, at the time I photographed this styled shoot I was pregnant, so I did not try any alcoholic beverages. However, the appetizers by PoshNosh Catering and desserts by Sugar Euphoria were very appetizing! Whitaker & Atlantic gives couples the option to choose a caterer from their preferred list or to use their in-house team, PoshNosh Catering. Fun fact: Whitaker & Atlantic offers a 10% discount on the event space rental fee if you hire PoshNosh Catering.
Bridal Portraits in Whitaker & Atlantic’s Getting Ready Suite
Above the indoor event space at Whitaker & Atlantic and up an eclectic staircase, awaits a gorgeous getting ready suite. The suite overlooks Dock 1053 and is filled with natural light, gilded mirrors and bright sets of fabulous furniture. I adore the images of Hannah standing near the getting ready suite’s warehouse windows. Honestly, this was a last-minute area of Whitaker & Atlantic that I wanted to photograph and Hannah blew it out of the water. The way the light envelopes her and blankets the embellishments on her dress, make for a stunning series of images. It's soft, modern and a tad editorial – which I am here for!
Hungry for more wedding inspiration? Click here to see a styled shoot at downtown Raleigh’s newest rooftop wedding venue, The Willard.
Meet the Vendors Behind This Heart of NC Weddings Styled Shoot
Photographer // Fancy This Photography
Venue // Whitaker & Atlantic
Styled Shoot Host // Heart of NC Weddings
Formalwear // Bernard's Formalwear
Wedding Dresses // Vow'd Weddings
Invites & Signage // Taylored Script Design Co.
Florals // Sweet Love Blossoms
Party Rentals // CE Rental
Hair & Makeup // Pinup Studio
DJ // Stylus S.E.
Photo Booth // ZimZoom Photo Booth
Caterer // PoshNosh Catering
This engagement at Duke Gardens Durham NC was skillfully captured by our Fancy This Photography partner Amanda Law.