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.
PinMarimac is from Nashville, and Donny grew up in Dallas, where the newlyweds live now. Come relive their dreamy High Hampton wedding! Image: Jill Schwarzkopf
“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!’”
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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.
PinA view of the ceremony lawn at High Hampton, the place where Marimac had always dreamed of tying the knot. Image: Jill Schwarzkopf
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.”
PinMarimac had long imagined being proposed to on this stone bench just behind her favorite tree. “I had assumed he knew this from my mom or his mom … but, he didn’t! He just knew, all on his own, that it was the perfect spot.” Marimac says. Image: Jill Schwarzkopf
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.”
PinThe bride’s grandmother’s best friend, Tena, designed the flowers, with input from nearly everyone in the family. Image: Jill Schwarzkopf
“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.”
PinWe’ll take this view over a flower arch any day. Image: Jill Schwarzkopf
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.”
PinA first look with Dad made him the happiest F.O.B. we’ve ever seen. (Just wait for the reception photos!) Image: Jill SchwarzkopfPinMarimac’s mom, Beth, grew up going to Cashiers and the entire family now visits regularly. Here is Beth and Tom McRae. Image: Jill Schwarzkopf
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PinWe adore a pick-your-own-bridesmaid-dress wedding. Image: Jill SchwarzkopfPinWith no early afternoon first look, the bride and groom had ample time to hang with their best friends. Image: Jill SchwarzkopfPinThe groom’s parents, Don and Ana Carty, were all smiles at the joyous occasion. Image: Jill Schwarzkopf
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.”
PinA bagpiper played “Country Roads” as the couple stepped away for a quiet moment. Image: Jill Schwarzkopf
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.
PinHigh Hampton’s classic touches added to the drama: striped awnings, oversized chaise loungers on the lawn, and giant hydrangea bushes. Image: Jill Schwarzkopf
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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.
PinA bark-textured dinner menu drew in the cozy, wooded feel of the dining room and echoed the stationery design. Image: Jill SchwarzkopfPinTena’s keen floral eye touched the cake, too! Image: Jill Schwarzkopf
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.”
Pin“The [first dance] beats were weird to dance to, but we got help from Vow to Dance in Dallas, which made it perfect,” says Marimac. Image: Jill SchwarzkopfPinMarimac’s dad ruled the dance floor in his custom F.O.B. hat that everyone took turns sporting throughout the night. He also clocked over 22,000 steps that day. Image: Jill Schwarzkopf
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.
PinIt rained for five straight days leading up to the wedding, but (aside from a slippery dancefloor) they lucked out on their wedding day, August 9, 2025. Image: Jill SchwarzkopfPinLate-night snacks fueled the dance floor until the very last note. Image: Jill Schwarzkopf
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.
PinThe second line indicated the party was most certainly NOT over. Image: Jill Schwarzkopf
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.”
PinThese two honeymooned on a small island in Fiji right after the wedding. Thank you for bringing us back to this weekend, Marimac and Donny! Image: Jill Schwarzkopf
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.”
Zoe is a StyleBlueprint freelance writer, Charlotte native, Washington & Lee graduate, and Nashville transplant since 2012. She teaches Pilates, helps manage recording artists, and likes to "research" Germantown's food scene.
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