Ashley Howerton & Bailey Hammond
An Artist's Dream
Married
May 20, 2023
Indian Beach ,
North Carolina
Photo Credit
Danielle Flake Photography
Style Guide
Color Palette
Style
Formal, Whimsical
Season
Spring
The Proposal
Before their engagement in 2022, Ashley and Bailey had previously dated for eight years. Then, after Ashley spent a terrifying sixteen-day stay in the hospital, Bailey knew he did not want to lose any more precious time with his beloved Ashley. He planned a romantic trip to one of their favorite cities, Charleston, North Carolina, and arranged for both of their families to surprise Ashley after the proposal in White Point Garden.
In Preparation
When Ashley began the process of planning her dream wedding, she wanted to honor her dearly departed father. One of the last things he told Ashley was to always enjoy moments in life, and encouraged her to pursue her love for art. For wedding favors, Ashley hand-painted lovely watercolor sketches of every guest. While painting them, she felt as if these presents were a gift from her dad. Ashley gifted Bailey a bottle of Bourbon, hand-painted with the image of him and his friends and the lyrics to his favorite song. Bailey wrote personalized poems for each guest. The touching poetry was inside a beautiful wax seal envelope, which bore each guest’s name in stunning gold calligraphy. The couple’s vision was brought to life with the help of their amazing wedding planner, Jerrye Gordon.
The Big Day
Ashley Howerton and Bailey Hammond were married on May 20th, 2023, in Indian Beach, North Carolina at Merrell Estate and Gardens. In an intimate ceremony, the newlywed couple celebrated their love with their closest friends and family. The runway-style seating allowed each guest to be present in the moment as they had a view of the couple and other attendees. As Ashley and Bailey exchanged vows, artist Chandler Thornton painted the special moment. The reception was full of thoughtful details, including handwritten poems, hand-painted portraits, and a phone that guests could leave voicemails of well wishes on. During the reception, Ashley’s cousin Phillip performed an original poem he had written about the couple’s big day. The night was an unforgettable celebration of love, full of fun dancing and pictures on the beach. Ashley and Bailey made their grand exit at the end of the night, complete with confetti cannons and a trolley ride. The newlyweds agreed that the day was absolutely perfect.
The Retreat
After the whirlwind of wedding preparations, Ashley and Bailey longed for a stress-free escape to make new memories together. Choosing to revisit Emerald Isle on May 20, where it all began, felt like the perfect choice, with no wedding worries or rushed schedules—just them, the beach, and the waves. They could not think of a better way to mark their first anniversary than at the place they exchanged vows. The newlyweds are planning a trip to Dubai in late 2024, adding to their excitement for future adventures together.
Featured Wedding Vendors
Caterer
Ceremony Venue
Event Planner
Photographer
Contributing Vendors
Acrylic Butterflies
Band
Bride Rings
Cake
Calligrapher for Invite Boxes
Calligrapher for Place Cards
DJ
Florist
Groom Ring
Guest Favor Artwork
Ashley Howerton (Bride)
Hair Accessories
Invite Suite
Envelope: Onvalop | Invite: Paper Pine Co | Paper: Margaux Paperie
Linens
Live Painter
Memorial Linen for Bride’s Fathers Chair
Painter for Bourbon Bottle and Tamborine
Phone Guestbook
Poems for Each Guest
Bailey Hammond
