Corri & Steve

Corri & Steve McQuaid became friends during college after mutual friends introduced them to each other. Throughout their years singing together in school, they remained close. Then, the magic unfolded after they both graduated. Corri & Steve began dating after graduation and realized that there might be more than friendship between them, and the rest was history!

Steve’s proposal could not have been more romantic. He proposed on the beach at Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks in North Carolina. This is where Corri’s parents had their honeymoon and where Corri’s family has taken a family trip every June for 28 years. Steve planned a romantic dinner on the beach with a sunset proposal, and arranged for Corri’s friends and family to hide in the dunes to take pictures. Once he popped the question, and Corri said yes, everyone joined the happy couple on the beach for champagne. “She was very surprised and Ocracoke is an even more special place to us now!”

Corri & Steve said their I Do’s on September 26, 2015 at The Skinner Estate, a gorgeous home belonging to Corri’s aunt and uncle. “The most special personal touch was being able to use my aunt and uncle’s home for the entire day! They let us customize the ceremony, reception, and rehearsal dinner to fit our style. It was always my dream to get married at their house and I’m so fortunate they let us! At the end of the day we really felt like our wedding day was a reflection of us, and that was the most wonderful thing.”

Corri & Steve wanted the wedding to be a combination of rustic and preppy. A lot of the decor was handmade by the couple themselves and their relatives, including the chalkboard calligraphy by Steve’s sister, the large chalkboard backdrop created by Steve, and beautiful floral designs by Corri’s grandmother. “We worked on a lot of the details and crafts together, which was a really meaningful experience.”

Corri & Steve wanted to keep the moment of Corri walking down the aisle extra special, so they did not have a first look, but they held hands around a corner and talked before the ceremony. They also exchanged gifts before the festivities began. Corri got Steve a watch and he got her a pair of beautiful blue earrings to wear down the aisle that matched her wedding shoes! Corri was also given a special gift from her mother and grandmother: the bonnet she wore home from the hospital that her grandmother made. Corri tied the bonnet around her bouquet, and one day, when she has a baby, the bonnet will be passed on!

From the bride:

“Our day was a whirlwind but thankfully we had wonderful friends and family come together to make sure it was perfect and that really let us enjoy it all. We watched the Carolina football game while getting ready (Go Heels!) and enjoyed spending time with our bridesmaids, groomsmen, and close family members. The ceremony was so magical and personal. Steve’s former a Capella group, the UNC Clef Hangers, performed during the ceremony and reception adding an extra element of surprise.”