Whitaker & Atlantic Wedding in Raleigh, NC

Chenoa Hill and Ricky Saltzer hosted one of the most epic events that Whitaker & Atlantic wedding venue has ever seen on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. This totally rad wedding was bright, bold, beautiful and filled with personal touches and traditions. From the yellow and blue color palette to the neon signage, Chenoa and Ricky decorated Whitaker & Atlantic’s industrial interior with rockin’ retro glamor. 

If you live in or around Raleigh, you might not know about Whitaker & Atlantic (yet). Located within Dock 1053, near Five Points, Whitaker & Atlantic is sandwiched between a brewery, bar and other cool businesses. This 3,500 square foot warehouse event space features high ceilings, concrete floors, modern light fixtures and a beautiful wooden bar. Inside, Whitaker & Atlantic can seat up to 150 or 300 standing. 

Indoor-Outdoor Event Space, Minutes Away From Downtown

When you visit Whitaker & Atlantic wedding venue, you’ll first walk across an enormous outdoor patio before entering the space. This covered, open-air patio is perfect for cocktail hour or even an intimate al fresco reception. Three glass garage doors open to connect the patio with the indoor space. Y’all, t’s a whole vibe!

Whitaker & Atlantic opened in 2017 and is also home to PoshNosh Catering company. Couples who get married at Whitaker & Atlantic wedding venue don’t have to use PoshNosh Catering. That said, if you do book PoshNosh, you’ll get a 10% discount on the event space rental fee. Which is definitely worth it, considering PoshNosh is delicious.

We still can’t get over Chenoa and Ricky’s personal style and interpretation of the space at Whitaker & Atlantic! There’s so much excitement to be shown in their wedding gallery. Keep scrolling to witness their wedding planned by Jennifer V. Events.

Getting Ready at Whitaker & Atlantic Wedding Venue

As if Whitaker & Atlantic wedding venue could be any cooler, it also has a getting ready suite located at the top of a little staircase covered in eclectic bird wallpaper. Let your wedding party store their personal stuff here, or escape to this room for a quiet moment alone with your spouse amidst wedding chaos.

The suite is filled with vintage furniture and warehouse windows. It’s the perfect spot for bridal portraits - whether you sit pretty on a hot pink, suede settee or look lovingly out industrial-chic windows. Chenoa got her wedding hair and makeup done in the getting ready suite. We love the boho, fishtail braid she chose and the soft curls that framed her face. White flowers, pearls and a pair of statement wedding earrings put the finishing touches on Chenoa’s bridal look. Instead of a traditional veil, Chenoa selected a cool cape that connected to her wedding dress straps and doubled as a sheer train.  

We had fun photographing Chenoa’s bedazzled denim jackets, electric blue shoes and bright bridal bouquet in Whitaker & Atlantic’s getting ready suite. The yellow bouquet popped beautifully against Chenoa’s white wedding dress. Keep scrolling to see more colorful wedding flowers by Raleigh-based florist Bloom Works.

Fabulous Flowers by Bloom Works - Whitaker & Atlantic Wedding

Raleigh-based florist, Bloom Works, brought loads of creativity and color to Chenoa and Ricky’s Whitaker & Atlantic wedding ceremony. Bloom Works built a dynamic floral arch for the ceremony altar in addition to the bridal bouquet and boutonnieres. The arch grows out of two gold vessels at the base and is composed of greenery and white, yellow and blue blossoms. Later, the bride and groom repurposed this floral arch as decor for the head table.

Chenoa’s father escorted her down the bird wallpaper staircase and an aisle of carefully laid bohemian rugs. She met Ricky at the altar, and together they shared vows before friends and family. Bright yellow and blue wedding flowers and decor complemented the dark blue, velvet curtain that separated the ceremony from the reception space.

Old Traditions With a Modern Twist

A few things made Chenoa and Ricky’s Whitaker & Atlantic wedding ceremony especially unique. First, they had small wedding parties. The bride and groom both chose just one friend to stand beside them at the altar. We love when couples do this! Sometimes, one or two close friends is less distracting and more sentimental than inviting 20-plus friends to join you on the wedding ceremony stage. Either way, our team at Fancy This Photography supports you.

Second, Chenoa and Ricky offered their guests a pre-wedding ceremony shot! For many, drinking alcohol plays a major role in family or wedding traditions. Keep scrolling to witness more of Chenoa and Ricky’s family traditions showcased through wedding drinks, dessert and decor.

Neon Wedding Signage by Glas

It’s no secret that neon wedding signs have taken the event industry by storm. These trendy signs are colorful, cute and add a modern twist to traditional wedding signage. Plus, they make for a perfect photo backdrop! Popular neon wedding signs have sayings like “dearly beloved” or “‘till death do us part,” but we also love personalized signs that include the couple’s name(s).

Lucky for Chenoa & Ricky, Whitaker & Atlantic is literally just steps away from Glas - a Raleigh-based art and collaborative workshop that specializes in custom neon signage and restoration. Afraid to break your bank account by purchasing a cool, custom neon sign for your wedding? Don’t worry, you can rent neon wedding signs from Glas.

Rockin’ Reception at Whitaker & Atlantic Wedding Venue

One of the best things about Whitaker & Atlantic wedding venue is that it truly is a blank canvas. We have seen this warehouse venue adorned with turquoise and coral, blush and mauve and now electric blue and yellow. Every Whitaker & Atlantic event is different, and yet, every event here has that same cool, chic ambiance.

For the reception, Chenoa and Ricky invited guests to circular tables covered in white lace linens set with white, wooden chairs. Blue napkins and yellow centerpieces popped against each white table. Gold candle votives set gold centerpiece vessels and gold flatware aglow.

Catering Works, Bloom Works’ sister company, served Chenoa and Ricky’s guests a delicious wedding feast. Check out the ornate German beer steins scattered across tabletops as decor. Each stein is carved with beautiful scenes of German life and culture. In between sips of beer and bites of pretzel, guests danced the night away to live music played by a polka band as well as DJ Stylus S.E.

If you’d like to see more Whitaker & Atlantic wedding inspiration, click here to see a gorgeous styled shoot we photographed for local magazine Heart of NC Weddings.

Photographer //  Fancy This Photography
Venue // Whitaker & Atlantic
Planner // Jennifer V. Events
DJ // Stylus S.E.
Rentals // CE Rental
Caterer // Catering Works
Florals // Bloom Works 
Rentals // Petal & Oak 
Dessert // lucettegrace
Neon Signage // Glas

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!

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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