Mackenzie & Stephen’s Romantic, Fun All Saints Chapel Wedding

Mackenzie and Stephen said “I do” at All Saints Chapel on a beautiful sunny Friday this past December. Everything about their day turned out wonderfully, from the flowers to the Two Roosters ice cream. (A huge shoutout belongs to a wonderful vendor team – more on that below!) But you know what was the most surprising part of it all? The entire wedding was planned in less than three months! Mackenzie and Stephen got engaged back in the summer, but didn’t immediately start planning. After a few months, they decided they were ready to go ahead and tie the knot! I’m so impressed with Mackenzie and her planner, Chelsy of The Gathering Co. Read on to learn how the day unfolded.

Getting Ready at the Glass Box: A Perfect Start

Mackenzie and her mother got dressed at The Glass Box, which just may be my favorite place to get ready in all of Raleigh! The Glass Box is a beautiful fifth-floor downtown suite with glass windows on three sides. Typically it is used by brides at The Stockroom at 230 on the weekends, but as this wedding was on a Friday, and All Saints Chapel is owned by the same company, Mackenzie was able to add it on to her venue rental. 

What I love most about the Glass Box is the natural light. It is the perfect setting for bright photos and gives you that fun downtown-Raleigh feeling! When I arrived Mackenzie’s friends from her college lacrosse days had begun an impromptu toast session. I’m so glad to have arrived in time to catch it! Her old teammates were just stopping by to say hi, and Mackenzie didn’t have a wedding party, so after they left it was just Mackenzie and her mom in the suite. 

Mackenzie looked absolutely lovely! Her hair was done by Sarah of The Pretty Barrette, and makeup by Kasey of K Bowers Beauty. They both did a phenomenal job! After getting in her dress, it was time for the first look. Her fiance Stephen requested privacy for their first look, and I was happy to respect his wishes. I gave them a moment on the balcony, then joined them to begin portraits.

Rooftop Portraits: Tucked Away from the Crowds

Downtown Raleigh has so many wonderful places to take portraits. One of my favorite spots is on top of a parking deck. Tucked away from the crowded street below, but well above where anyone has parked, couples have some privacy from onlookers. While it is wonderful to be surrounded by so many close friends and relatives on a wedding day, it’s nice to have a few moments alone for portraits (well, nearly alone, because I’m there too, lol).

Stephen is not known for enjoying pictures, but I’m proud to say that he felt comfortable and found it easy to smile! This is often the case with grooms that I work with – they’re not a big fan of photos, but they’re so excited on their wedding day that it’s easy to open up! I also see it as my job to make them feel comfortable. Both Mackenzie and Stephen looked wonderful in their portraits, and I had such a great time with them!

Beautiful bouquet by The Skinny Vase

An All Saints Chapel Wedding

After finishing up portraits we made our way to All Saints Chapel. We took a few pictures outside with the remaining light then headed in for the ceremony. One thing to keep in mind for winter weddings is the early sunset. In December the sun sets around 5:00 pm, meaning any daytime pictures you want outside must be done before then. Typically this means you will need to do portraits before the ceremony, which also means you’ll need to do a first look (unless you choose to have your ceremony by 3:00 pm). Night portraits with flash are always an option, but many people prefer the daytime look. 

As the sun fell, the wedding ceremony began. It was absolutely beautiful inside, decorated with floating candles and holiday greenery. The family opted for no flash in their traditional Anglican service. (While All Saints Chapel was originally constructed for The Church of the Good Shepherd, an Episcopal parish, the wedding venue welcomes all denominations and affiliations). After everyone shared communion, it was time to celebrate! The guests headed to cocktail hour while we finished up a few more pictures inside.

The flower girls needed some help getting down the aisle!

Two Roosters, Chick-fil-A, and a Wild Dance Floor

Mackenzie and Stephen certainly treated their guests well during the reception! Empire Eats provided a wonderful dinner. Fun fact: they chose kale Caesar salad over lettuce to match the dark evergreen décor! Talk about attention to detail! After dinner and toasts, the dance floor opened up led by Cody Daniel Music. Everyone was dancing so hard we could feel the 140-year-old floors bouncing beneath our feet! 

Guests ate well that night – they also got to enjoy Two Roosters ice cream, with a toppings bar, plus Chick-fil-A as a late night snack! You need to scroll down to check out a hilarious photo from the Two Roosters ice cream cart. Mackenzie and Stephen wanted a picture of them beside the cart, and instead of continuing to serve ice cream, the Two Roosters employee stood awkwardly to the side, thinking he was out of the photo. I almost didn’t give them this picture, but it was too funny to leave out! Everyone got a kick out of it, even the Two Rooster’s guy. (Side note, I did provide a version of the photo without him in it!)

The evening ended with a beautiful sparkler exit and Mackenzie and Stephen went on their way. I am so grateful to have been a part of this sweet, fun, and Christ-centered wedding day. The entire vendor team deserves a huge shout out for pulling it together in just a couple of months. You can find everyone’s information at the end of the post. 

If you’re looking for more venues in the Raleigh area, check out this blog post as well: 11 Amazing Wedding Venues near Raleigh, NC.

Too funny not to include! A version without Two Roosters guy was included in the final gallery as well.

Photography: Megan Nicole Photography | Wedding Coordination: The Gathering Co | Ceremony & Reception Venue: All Saints Chapel | Getting Ready Suite: The Glass Box | Floral: The Skinny Vase | Hair: The Pretty Barrette | Makeup: K Bowers Beauty | DJ: Cody Daniel Music | Catering: Empire Eats | Ice Cream: Two Roosters | After dinner snacks: Chick-fil-A