BRENDAN + MARIEL | WEDDING

2025-09-22_0001

Classic Country Club Wedding / It's a Beautiful Day at Pinehurst

     Brendan and Mariel’s love story began in March 2022 when they met for a simple morning coffee — and were pretty much inseparable from that moment on! Though they grew up just two hours apart in Ohio, they quickly discovered they had mutual friends. Such a small world!

I had the joy of spending time with these two during their engagement session in Pinehurst, which made me even more excited for their big day. They chose to celebrate at one of their favorite places in the world — The Pinehurst Resort — and it could not have been more perfect.

I met Mariel at The Carolina Hotel, where she was surrounded by her favorite people. She greeted me with her signature, larger-than-life smile and a big hug. The getting-ready room was full of laughter, smiles, and so much anticipation for the day ahead. Meanwhile, Lewis caught up with the guys after they played a round of golf and were relaxing with baseball on TV — something my husband loved. He especially enjoyed hearing that most of the crew was from Ohio, his home state!  One of the most touching moments of the morning was when Brendan opened a heartfelt letter from Mariel. It was such a meaningful, emotional moment — one of those quiet, beautiful parts of a wedding day that gets ya in the feels (as Lewis would say).

When it was time for Mariel to step into her gown, she shared a special first look with her dad. These moments always tug at my heart, but watching her father pull her in for a tight hug was extra emotional. Afterward, Mariel had fun taking photos with her best friends, while her dad adorably grabbed his cell phone to do some “second shooting” of his own.  Just as we noticed a few dark clouds rolling in, we reassured Mariel it wouldn’t rain — and thankfully, the showers stayed just south of us! By the time we reached Pinehurst No. 2 for the ceremony, the sun was shining brightly as Brendan and Mariel exchanged vows. Mariel’s brother-in-law officiated the ceremony, making it even more personal and special. At one point, he was visibly overcome with joy and emotion — such a beautiful moment to witness.

The reception that followed was full of laughter, tears, and so much love. Brendan and Mariel ran into their reception through a sea of cheering guests before sharing their first dance as husband and wife. Mariel’s dance with her dad was so sweet, and Brendan invited his sister onto the dance floor for a beautiful moment, soon joined by their father.  From start to finish, this day was a true celebration — the kind where the dance floor stays full all night and every guest leaves with a smile on their face. Brendan and Mariel’s Pinehurst Resort wedding was full of joy, sunshine, and the sweetest moments with family and friends.