Real Raleigh Wedding at the Cardinal Club- Rachel & Jon
Jon Michael Daly, Jr, spotted Rachel Elizabeth Harbert on her first day in the office at Wyndham Capital Mortgage in Charlotte, NC. He immediately thought the “new girl” was cute, but didn’t have the chance to meet her until an after-hours work gathering a few weeks later. Their first date was a road trip to a George Strait concert in Columbia, SC, and although the George got sick and the concert was cancelled, Rachel and Jon had a great time together in Columbia, and have been dating ever since (and they also got to see the rescheduled concert a month later!).
On December 24th, 2010, Jon’s parents had invited Rachel’s family over for Christmas Eve mass and dinner. After the families’ gift exchange, Jon stood up and said that he wanted to continue a tradition that began with his grandparents, who always gave each grandchild a Christmas tree ornament. Jon presented an ornament and personalized poem to each of his siblings, his parents, and Rachel’s parents. Finally he read his poem for Rachel, which touched on all of the special moments in their relationship. The ornament he then gave her had an image of Rhett Butler on his knees proposing to Scarlett O’Hara, as a tribute to Rachel’s favorite movie, Gone with the Wind. He dropped to one knee and proposed, and once Rachel could get through the shock and tears to say “Yes,” a CD began playing of all of their favorite love songs, and the families popped champagne to celebrate.
Rachel & Jon began planning their wedding for August 6, 2011. They chose Sacred Heart Cathedral in Raleigh for their ceremony, as it is a beautiful catholic church right near Rachel’s law school. They easily selected the Cardinal Club for the reception because of its fabulous view of downtown Raleigh, and its proximity to the Cathedral. Second Empire was an easy choice for their rehearsal dinner because of its beautiful southern, historic ambiance, wonderful food and downtown setting. She thought it was so beautiful that she even had bridal portraits taken there! Rachel felt that all of these venues fit into her “Southern, elegant, traditional Downtown Raleigh” wedding theme. Rachel noted, “I LOVED all of the pictures and features of southern wedding styles in Southern Bride & Groom. It was exactly what I wanted and was looking for.”
Jon and Rachel are both from large families and this was a huge part of their wedding. Jon’s cousins made the centerpieces for the reception, and Jon’s father’s cousin is a Catholic Priest who performed the marriage ceremony. Their photographer was a childhood friend of Jon’s. Another special touch and surprise for Rachel: the bride’s father sang the song “I loved her first” while the band played and during Rachel and Jon’s first dance. There was not a dry eye in the room.
Jon and Rachel currently live in Raleigh, NC. Jon is a Regional Supervisor and Director of HR for Daly Seven, Inc. (a hotel management and development company that is owned and operated by he and his family). Rachel is a law student as Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, Campbell University.
Wedding Location: Sacred Heart Cathedral
Minister: Father Timothy Daly (cousin of groom’s father)
Reception Location: Cardinal Club
Rehearsal Dinner & Bridal Portraits: Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern
Bridal Gown & Bridesmaid Dresses: Pricilla of Boston
Bridal Jewelry: Bailey’s Fine Jewelry
Photographer: Jen Yuson of Jen Yuson Photography
Florist: Dogwood Floral Designs
Cake: Sweet Memories Bakery
Ceremony Musicians: Cindy Fitzgerald
Reception Music: The Coconut Groove Band
Wedding Favors: Koozies “To have and to hold and to keep your drink cold”
Groomsmen Gifts: Embroidered Golf Shoe Bag
Bride’s Hair: Brittany Hall of High Point (friend)
Transportation: Olde South Trolley
On December 24th, 2010, Jon’s parents had invited Rachel’s family over for Christmas Eve mass and dinner. After the families’ gift exchange, Jon stood up and said that he wanted to continue a tradition that began with his grandparents, who always gave each grandchild a Christmas tree ornament. Jon presented an ornament and personalized poem to each of his siblings, his parents, and Rachel’s parents. Finally he read his poem for Rachel, which touched on all of the special moments in their relationship. The ornament he then gave her had an image of Rhett Butler on his knees proposing to Scarlett O’Hara, as a tribute to Rachel’s favorite movie, Gone with the Wind. He dropped to one knee and proposed, and once Rachel could get through the shock and tears to say “Yes,” a CD began playing of all of their favorite love songs, and the families popped champagne to celebrate.
Rachel & Jon began planning their wedding for August 6, 2011. They chose Sacred Heart Cathedral in Raleigh for their ceremony, as it is a beautiful catholic church right near Rachel’s law school. They easily selected the Cardinal Club for the reception because of its fabulous view of downtown Raleigh, and its proximity to the Cathedral. Second Empire was an easy choice for their rehearsal dinner because of its beautiful southern, historic ambiance, wonderful food and downtown setting. She thought it was so beautiful that she even had bridal portraits taken there! Rachel felt that all of these venues fit into her “Southern, elegant, traditional Downtown Raleigh” wedding theme. Rachel noted, “I LOVED all of the pictures and features of southern wedding styles in Southern Bride & Groom. It was exactly what I wanted and was looking for.”
Jon and Rachel are both from large families and this was a huge part of their wedding. Jon’s cousins made the centerpieces for the reception, and Jon’s father’s cousin is a Catholic Priest who performed the marriage ceremony. Their photographer was a childhood friend of Jon’s. Another special touch and surprise for Rachel: the bride’s father sang the song “I loved her first” while the band played and during Rachel and Jon’s first dance. There was not a dry eye in the room.
Jon and Rachel currently live in Raleigh, NC. Jon is a Regional Supervisor and Director of HR for Daly Seven, Inc. (a hotel management and development company that is owned and operated by he and his family). Rachel is a law student as Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, Campbell University.
Wedding Location: Sacred Heart Cathedral Minister: Father Timothy Daly (cousin of groom’s father)
Reception Location: Cardinal Club
Rehearsal Dinner & Bridal Portraits: Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern
Bridal Gown & Bridesmaid Dresses: Pricilla of Boston
Bridal Jewelry: Bailey’s Fine Jewelry
Photographer: Jen Yuson of Jen Yuson Photography
Florist: Dogwood Floral Designs
Cake: Sweet Memories Bakery
Ceremony Musicians: Cindy Fitzgerald
Reception Music: The Coconut Groove Band
Wedding Favors: Koozies “To have and to hold and to keep your drink cold”
Groomsmen Gifts: Embroidered Golf Shoe Bag
Bride’s Hair: Brittany Hall of High Point (friend)
Transportation: Olde South Trolley