Lively, Fun Wedding Reception at Union Hall 

Last fall Brandon & Kristie held their wedding reception at Union Hall in downtown Raleigh. Union Hall is the new name for the wedding and event space at Raleigh Union Station, the train station in Downtown Raleigh. It was the perfect wedding reception venue for Brandon & Kristie, as a train station is perfect for a fun, jet-setting couple. They have each traveled to dozens of countries and wove the travel theme all throughout their day! Before the reception, they even took their family and wedding party to Pullen Park to ride the train!

Wedding Portraits around Union Station

The wedding party arrived in the Great Raleigh Trolley ready to have a great time! We took a few wedding party portraits in the plaza before heading to the terrace for cocktail hour. Both of these locations are great for portraits, particularly as the sun begins to set. Since the plaza is a public space you can expect a few other people to be hanging around, but Union Hall’s terrace is part of your rental and will be private for just you and your guests.

While Brandon and Kristie’s guests got seated downstairs in the Grand Hall, we stayed up on the terrace for a few bride and groom portraits overlooking the skyline. Brandon and Kristie practiced their first dance, which also made for some sweet portraits.

One thing I need to mention about Brandon and Kristie is their infectious laughter. They are probably the most joyful couple I have ever met! They laughed their entire way through the wedding day, and you can see it in so many of their photos!

The Reception

After finishing up portraits around the venue, it was time to dine and party! Brandon and Kristie made a grand entrance running through the crowd with the iconic “Raleigh” sign illuminated behind them. Let me tell you, they had plenty of guests to run through! Union Hall is large, and can hold over 300 guests for a seated dinner. After a delicious plated dinner by Posh Nosh and a few toasts, Brandon and Kristie cut their pies, rather than cake. 

Emerald Empire Band provided live entertainment and kept the dance floor going all night! As a musician himself, Brandon has a deep appreciation for music and made the band a priority! I can say from experience, that if you want to MAKE SURE that your dance floor is lively, a live band is the way to go. 

It was such a joy to photograph Brandon and Kristie’s wedding day at Union Hall! These two are one-of-a-kind, and their wedding was as unique as they are! At the end of the post you’ll see a few more moments from their entire wedding day, including their wedding ceremony at Our Lady of Lourdes and their fun at Pullen Park. Make sure to keep scrolling for the full list of vendors! Everyone did a fabulous job pulling this day off!

The Vendor Team

Photography: Megan Nicole Photography (me)

Getting Ready: Raleigh Marriott City Center

Ceremony: Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church

Reception Venue: Union Hall at Raleigh Union Station

Coordinator: C&D Events

Florist: Watered Garden Florist

Band: Emerald Empire Band

Catering: Posh Nosh Raleigh

Videography: Jon Warlick Media

Live Painting: Jeleata Nicole

Transportation: The Great Raleigh Trolley