An Italian Garden Inspired Old North State Club Wedding | Ayden and Colby
Ayden and Colby’s Old North State Club wedding felt personal from the very beginning. Not because of grand statements or elaborate moments, but because every choice was rooted in shared history, family connection, and the place that had already become their happy place long before wedding planning began.
Set along the lake at Old North State Club, their September celebration blended Italian garden inspiration with a relaxed, cocktail-style experience designed for togetherness. The day unfolded at an unhurried pace, allowing guests to mingle, families to connect for the first time, and meaningful moments to surface naturally.
Rather than chasing trends, Ayden and Colby focused on how they wanted their wedding to feel. Elevated, but comfortable. Thoughtfully designed, yet easy. A celebration that honored where they came from, the people they love most, and the life they are building together.
Why Old North State Club Was Always the Answer
Old North State Club was not just a beautiful property for Ayden and Colby. It was their happy place.
Colby grew up connected to the community. His parents and grandmother live in the neighborhood, and much of their relationship unfolded around the lake. Fishing, hunting, evenings outdoors, and quiet time together shaped their story long before wedding planning began.
Choosing Old North State Club meant choosing a place layered with real memory. The lake views. The familiar paths. The feeling of being surrounded by people and spaces that already held meaning.
For an Old North State Club wedding, that sense of belonging is something couples feel immediately.
A Design Story Rooted in Meaning
Ayden’s background as a graphic designer and content creator showed in every design choice. Their last name, “The Olives,” became the starting point. From there, the vision grew into an Italian garden concept layered with olive leaves, fruit, and soft pastel tones of pink, blue, and green.
The design felt refined without being stiff. Earthy but elevated. Floral-forward, with arrangements by Jones Well Flowers that anchored the entire day. Florals were not an accessory. They were a focal point.
Paired with thoughtful paper goods by Ayden’s own company, Olive Co. Design House, and curated furniture pieces, the overall look felt cohesive and deeply personal.
A Ceremony That Felt Grounded and Calm
Colby does not love being the center of attention, which shaped how the day unfolded. The ceremony was intimate and heartfelt, framed by lake views and surrounded by people who knew them well.
Rather than grand gestures, the focus stayed on presence. On standing together. On the meaning of the moment.
This tone carried through the rest of the day and allowed the celebration to feel relaxed from the very beginning.
A Cocktail-Style Reception Built for Connection
Ayden and Colby wanted their Old North State Club wedding to feel fancy but easy. Elegant, yet unforced.
They chose a cocktail-style reception with passed appetizers and stations, encouraging guests to move, mingle, and connect. No rigid seating. No pressure to stay in one place.
Food was deeply personal. The menu included local farm vegetables, familiar favorites, and butter chicken as a nod to Ayden’s recent trip to India with her mom and a meaningful relationship with her boss. Every choice reflected people and experiences that mattered to them.
Music by Five Seven Sound kept the energy high. Dancing came easily, even for Colby, who surprised everyone once the night got going.
The Details Guests Will Never Forget
Two moments defined the guest experience.
The first was a table of handwritten notes, one for every guest. During cocktail hour, friends and family paused to read words written just for them. It created quiet, emotional moments in the middle of the celebration, something rarely seen and deeply felt.
The second was the dance floor. Ayden designed custom scarves herself. Tambourines were DIYed. The result was joyful chaos in the best way. Color, movement, laughter, and a room full of people fully present.
These were not decorative details. They were experiential.
A Surprise That Spoke to Family
Family mattered deeply to Ayden and Colby. That love showed itself again during the parent dances, when Ayden surprised her mom with a special moment of her own.
It was unscripted. Emotional. Real.
These are the moments that define a wedding day long after the flowers are gone.
Ending the Night with Intention
As the evening came to a close, guests gathered once more. Rose and olive petals filled the air as Ayden and Colby made their exit, stepping into a vehicle and into the next season of their lives.
It was poetic and symbolic. It felt like the perfect ending to a day rooted in meaning.
An Old North State Club Wedding That Felt Like Home
Ayden and Colby did not plan their wedding around trends. They planned it around people.
Their Old North State Club wedding felt warm, layered, and deeply personal. It honored family history, celebrated shared interests, and made space for joy without forcing attention.
The day was elevated, yet relaxed.
And most of all, it felt like them.
Vendor Team
Venue and Catering: Old North State Club
Planner: Events by Summer Joy
Photography: Him & Her Photography
Florals: Joneswell Flowers
DJ: Five Seven Sound
Hair and Makeup: Updos Studio
Dress: Poffie Girls
Paper Design: Olive Co. Design House
