A Cozy High Hampton Wedding in Cashiers, NC
A cozy, rain-kissed weekend in Cashiers set the scene for Marimac and Donny’s heartfelt High Hampton wedding — complete with green-and-white florals, bagpipes, mountain views, and beloved donkeys Ed and Fred. Image: Jill Schwarzkopf
Marimac McRae and Donny Carty’s story began in a quintessentially college way: with dorm meetings, football games, and more beer than anyone knew what to do with. “We met at Dartmouth! We were actually freshman floormates and met at our first hall meeting,” Marimac explains.
“There’s an iconic story about how my dad and my godfather, Dan Stubbs, hosted an SEC-style tailgate,” says Marimac. “But it somewhat failed because I didn’t know enough people yet … but my dad and Dan had bought 120 beers. So, Donny actually held the door for them as they carted the extra beer back, and Dan famously told Donny to ‘hang out with a girl named Marimac McRae!’”
Donny listened, and the two began dating before the end of that semester. By the time they moved to Dallas, Donny’s hometown, they both had a story — and a shared circle of friends — that had grown alongside them.
When it came time to propose, Donny chose a place deeply ingrained in Marimac’s life. “We got engaged at the High Hampton over the Fourth of July there,” she says. “Donny proposed under this Weeping Beech tree — like a willow with bigger leaves — that I grew up climbing.”
The planning process was a family affair, with Asheville Event Co.’s Becca Knuth leading the way. “She was AMAZING,” says Marimac. “She says that my dad was the most communicative father-of-the-bride she has ever met.”
“We have been discussing the flowers at my wedding for over a decade,” she laughs. “My little brother Thomas had ideas, too. They were perfect. They added to the excitement and celebratory air, but didn’t distract from all the other stuff going on. We didn’t have a flower arch because the mountain was the arch. That was the point.”
Finding the dress became a story in itself. Years before she was even engaged, Marimac’s mother spotted a gown in the window of McClendon Bridals in rural Sylacauga, Alabama, and declared it “her dress.”
“It was the first dress I ever put on, and I had a Harry Potter wand moment,” says Marimac. Her dad was equally invested. “When it was ready, he came in to get it and requested permission to take the photo with the ‘I said yes to the dress’ sign. It’s iconic. He was the most excited father-of-the-bride in history.”
The August ceremony began at 4:30 p.m., with Father Rob officiating. He asked the couple to memorize their vows so they could look at each other, not him. “They’re not a bad thing to have memorized,” Marimac admits. She and Donny chose not to do a first look, saving the walk down the aisle as their big reveal.
Cocktail hour was filled with thoughtful details and a few surprises. “There were mini donkeys, which were a massive hit,” says Marimac. “Ed and Fred are icons of the High Hampton. They used to pull a wagon for kids every Wednesday during the summer.”
Guests sipped High Hampton gin and tonics garnished with lime and star anise, plus a menu of specialty cocktails (hello, espresso martinis). “We ended up drinking all the gin in Jackson County, but we probably shouldn’t mention that,” she jokes.
Dinner was seated and classic: a wedge salad followed by beef tenderloin, Sunburst Farm trout, or Springer Mountain chicken. For dessert, the couple couldn’t choose just one flavor, so they served both Southern chocolate cake and coconut cake by James Beard finalist and High Hampton’s very own pastry star, April Franqueza.
The reception began with a first dance to Zach Bryan’s “Someday.” The father-daughter dance was another highlight. “My dad has a unique kind of dance we have dubbed the ‘schwerve,’ which involves a particularly confident and eccentric type of boogie,” Marimac tells us. “We did not practice once. I think it came out perfect.”
Later in the evening, the dance floor got slippery thanks to a week of rain and plenty of spilled cocktails, but it didn’t slow anyone down. Guests from around the world — including London, Hawaii, Tokyo, and beyond — joined in the celebration.
The official exit may have been less photogenic than most, but it was no less memorable. A surprise second line, led by her bridesmaids and the band’s horn players, funneled everyone into the Tavern for the after-party. “My bridesmaids planned a surprise second line for me at my bachelorette,” says Marimac of the sweet full-circle moment.
Looking back, Marimac offers some advice for other couples: “When you have more events — Thursday night, Friday night, and Saturday night — you have more chances to talk to people, so during your reception, you can really relax. However, every event requires more planning, more logistics, and more effort.”
As for what’s changed since that weekend? “I feel different now that I’m married,” she reflects. “I think that comes from the ceremony and the vows, but also from the experience of having everyone who has known Donny and me come to the same place at the same time to celebrate us. I feel like all of them know me better after coming to this wedding.”
RESOURCES
Ceremony & Reception: High Hampton Event Lawn
Planner: Becca Knuth at Asheville Event Co
Photographer: Jill Schwarzkopf of Realities Photography
Videography: Abby Treece Payne, bride’s sister-in-law
Flowers: Tena Stevens of Joy Blooms
Stationery: Chez La Mariée
Hair: Zhenya at Salon Zhenya
Makeup: Paula at EiMakeup
Bride’s gown: McClendon Bridals
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Any green dress
Groom’s tux: Custom tuxedo with floral lining, cufflinks from his grandfather
Groomsmen attire: Any black tuxedo
Catering: High Hampton
Cakes: April Franqueza
Entertainment: Deans’ Duets (ceremony); A-Town A-List (reception)
Rentals: Professional Part Rentals + Voile & Veil
Glassware: High Hampton
Linens: BBJ La Tavola + Nuage
Transportation: Mountain Motor Coach
STYLEBLUEPRINT RESOURCES:
Planning a wedding? Check out StyleBlueprint’s two Wedding Resource Guides. (More to come!):
- StyleBlueprint Nashville’s Wedding Resource Guide
- StyleBlueprint Birmingham’s Wedding Resource Guide
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Zoe Yarborough
Zoe is a StyleBlueprint staff writer, Charlotte native, Washington & Lee graduate, and Nashville transplant of eleven years. She teaches Pilates, helps manage recording artists, and likes to "research" Germantown's food scene.