Christina Collins and Brian Gardner
Married
Oct 1, 2025
Lake Lure ,
North Carolina
Photo Credit
Meghan Rose Photography
Style Guide
Color Palette
Style
Season
Fall
The Proposal
Brian and Christina’s love story began in the coastal city of Wilmington, where both happened to be living only a short distance from one another, yet their paths had never crossed. Brian, a former Army soldier, had recently retired from military service and relocated from Italy to North Carolina, settling near his native state of Virginia. Christina, a Georgia native, had spent much of her life living throughout North Carolina and had come to call the state home. Though they lived near each other, their lives finally intertwined when the couple met online.
Their first date took place in a quiet corner of a Starbucks café. A simple meeting over coffee quickly turned into hours of conversation. Christina and Brian were so involved in their conversation, that neither noticed the time passing until the baristas began preparing to close for the evening. That first date indicated the beginning of something unmistakably special; their connection was immediate, natural and truly genuine, as if two lives met at the exactly the right moment.
As the months passed, their relationship naturally grew stronger with every moment they shared together. Along the way, they found not only love, but a true friendship built on laughter, easy conversation, mutual support, and simply enjoying life side by side. One day, while spending time at Sunset Beach, they walked along the shoreline with the sound of the waves beside them and the Atlantic stretched out endlessly ahead. The day felt calm and effortless, the kind of moment neither of them wanted to end. Somewhere between their conversations, the ocean breeze, and the peacefulness of the beach, they realized they wanted a future together, one filled with love, partnership, and new adventures to share.
In Preparation
Christina and Brian’s wedding was originally scheduled to take place in 2024, but life presented an unexpected challenge. The devastating destruction caused by Hurricane Helene forced them to postpone their celebration. Though the storm disrupted their plans, it only strengthened their patience and commitment to one another. Rather than feeling discouraged, they chose to see the delay as simply another chapter in their story, one that reminded them that love is not about perfect timelines, but about standing together through the unexpected.
The Big Day
One year later, on October 1, 2025, their long-awaited celebration finally arrived. Surrounded by the vibrant colors of the fall season, crisp mountain air, and the tranquil beauty of a lakeside setting, Brian and Christina chose a private, intimate wedding alone in the mountains of North Carolina, while their loved ones watched virtually. The mountaintop ceremony reflected everything their relationship had come to represent , resilience, beauty, and the quiet strength of two people choosing each other through every season of life.
What had once been postponed by a storm became, a year later, a breathtaking moment of joy and gratitude. Beneath the autumn sky, with the lake shimmering nearby and the mountains standing tall around them, Brian and Christina promised forever to one another. Their story, beginning in a small coffee shop, deepened along the shores of Sunset Beach, and sealed atop a mountain a year later than planned, reminds everyone who hears it that love is not defined by perfect timing, but by enduring devotion.
The Retreat
Following their wedding, Christina and Brian spent their wedding night at Rumbling Bald Resort before continuing their honeymoon at the historic Andon-Reid Inn Bed and Breakfast. They stayed in the Library Suite, which provided a cozy and romantic setting for their first days as newlyweds. During their trip, they spent time exploring Bryson City and the surrounding Great Smoky Mountains, even taking a scenic train ride through the mountains, the perfect, peaceful ending to their wedding celebration.
Contributing Vendors
Photographer: Meghan Rose Photography | Venue: Rumbling Bald Resort | Wedding Cake: Ingles Bakery | Music/Bagpiper: Gordon Warburton | Flowers: Ling’s Moment | Gown: David’s Bridal | Veil:JJ’s House | Bridal Shoes: JJ’s House | Groom’s Attire: Traditional Scottish Kilt (Groom’s Own) |Hair Stylist: Southern Couture Salon & Bridal Bar | Engagement & Wedding Ring: Brilliant Earth | Honeymoon Accommodations: Rumbling Bald Resort, Andon-Reid Inn Bed and Breakfast | Invitations: Minted | Videographer: Whitlock Events
