Industrial Chic Wedding Venue with a Snacky Reception | Cassandra + Ryan
Cassandra and Ryan share many passions, including a love of food that makes Durham, North Carolina a convenient place to call home. Their intimate, relaxed wedding and reception at Durham’s The Cookery definitely catered to their love for food and for Durham, as the venue itself has a rich history in both areas! Through their wedding celebrations they could share both these passions with their friends and family.
Cassandra and Ryan’s ceremony was held in The Cookery's Courtyard, located between The Cookery’s original Front Room and their new Ballroom expansion. They kept it short & sweet so they could get to the good part- socializing (and eating!) with their guests! But they were still able to work some unique and personal details into the ceremony; bridesmaids walked down the aisle holding flower-filled lanterns rather than bouquets, and Ryan’s sister officiated the heartfelt (& humorous) ceremony.
After the ceremony, guests flowed back into the Front Room for cocktail hour, where they enjoyed The Cookery’s historical ambiance while sipping on a few signature cocktails. The Cookery’s bar is pretty unique, beautifully constructed using re-purposed bits of wood and metal from around Durham (railroad tracks, water tower casing, you just have to go see this bar). These little details are part of what makes this venue so special, and when you stop by for a tour they are happy to share each item’s history with you! For weddings, The Cookery provides the alcohol and staffing, so all you have to do is select your bar package. They make it even easier by providing your glassware, tables, and chairs, so all couples need to rent is a dance floor, linens, and tableware!
With no formal seating plan nor traditional dinner-time, Cassandra & Ryan's guests filtered between the Front Room, the Courtyard, and the Mezzanine all evening for a relaxed, fun, and snacky wedding! The Front Room sported a table of dumplings and pork buns, which later became a coffee and donut station. The Courtyard was transformed for dinner, with a Congee bar featuring a plethora of porridges and pickled toppings from Chirba Chirba. Long tables were dressed in elegant neutral linens with greenery and candles running down the center, and candles filled the many ledges of the Front Room and Mezzanine. After an evening of dancing (and lots of snacking), guests took their Lego snap bracelets and followed the couple downtown for an after party.
The Wedding Team
Venue: The Cookery
Photographer: Sullivan & Sullivan
Coordinator: Emily Katherine Events
Caterer: Sympathy for the Deli & Chirba Chirba
Dessert: Monuts
DJ: Willie Ennis
Florist: Tre Bella
Hair & Makeup: Poppy Salon
Rentals: American Party Rentals
Dress: Maggi Bridal
Rings: Ultimate Jewelry