Raynee & Jake’s Spring Wedding at MacGregor Downs
Raynee and Jake celebrated their wedding reception this past April at MacGregor Downs Country Club following their ceremony at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church. I absolutely loved getting to photograph these two, as they are such a kind, fun couple! Raynee and Jake first met a party back in college, and they carried that fun and joy all throughout their wedding day! One thing that made the day so special was that from beginning to end, Raynee and Jake prioritized their time with family and friends who had come to celebrate them.
Why Choose MacGregor Downs for Your Wedding
If you are looking for an elegant wedding venue that feels like secluded retreat in the Raleigh area, then you definitely want to check out MacGregor Downs Country Club. I remember the first time I drove to MacGregor Downs—it was a cloudy, cool day and I felt as though I had been transported to the mountains instead of Cary! With their rustic stone fireplace and rolling golf greens beside the lake, I instantly felt at peace.
Raynee and Jake held their wedding reception here at MacGregor Downs following their ceremony at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church. One reason they chose this venue (other than the beautiful setting) is the simplicity of planning. MacGregor Downs provides in-house catering and event coordination, checking off two of your primary vendors from the list! If you’re an engaged bride, I’m sure you’ve already begun to feel the weight of having to book all of your vendors. It’s no simple task! One way to make wedding planning easier is to hire a full-service planner, but if that’s not in your budget, then a venue with many in-house services is another great option!
A few other benefits of MacGregor Downs include its size (capacity of up to 250 guests), indoor and outdoor options, and proximity to the highway for easy guest arrival.
About Raynee & Jake’s Wedding
Wedding Details
Raynee & Jake’s wedding day was laid-back, fun, and classically elegant, all at the same time! They chose beautiful dusty rose-colored dresses for the bridesmaids, while keeping the groomsmen in classic black suits. Raynee wore a beautiful trumpet-style white gown with a beautiful lace-edged train. These classic colors work any time of year, and they always make a wedding feel elegant and elevated!
Getting Ready
The girls got ready at Raynee’s parents’ house with pajamas that perfectly matched their dresses! I Do Style provided hair and makeup. While the girls were getting ready, I popped in and out to photograph details. As a bride you take so much time choosing details, that I want to make sure they’re remembered through beautiful flat lays.
After the girls finished with hair and makeup, they drove to the church to get dressed. If you get hair and makeup done in a separate location from your ceremony, it’s often better to get dressed at the ceremony site so that the dresses don’t get wrinkled in the car. Plus it lessens the chance anyone will see you too soon walking around in your wedding gown!
The Ceremony
While their reception was held at MacGregor Downs, Raynee and Jake chose to honor their faith and hold their ceremony at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church. I think St. Mary Magdalene might be the prettiest church I’ve seen in the Raleigh area! The church staff was all wonderfully friendly, and the ceremony was beautiful start to finish.
Reception at MacGregor Downs
Following the ceremony, the wedding party rented a bus to drive them over to MacGregor Downs, which was about 20 minutes away. It was a beautifully warm, cloudy day, perfect for portraits beside the lake. We took wedding party photos and bride and groom portraits while guests enjoyed cocktail hour and finished up with enough time for Raynee and Jake to join in at the end.
The country club provided a delicious plated dinner for all the guests, filling them up for a night of dancing to follow! The staff did an amazing job keeping everything running smoothly from start to finish. It was an amazing end to a wonderful day celebrating the marriage of the new Mr. and Mrs. McCraw!
Similar Wedding Venues
If you like the look and feel of MacGregor Downs, but it is no longer available for your wedding, consider one of these options instead:
Vendor Team
I am so incredibly honored to have gotten to photograph Raynee and Jake’s wedding! What an honor it is any time a couple trusts me with capturing the details of their big day. I also have so say thank you to the amazing team of vendors who worked together to pull off the amazing event!
Photography: Yours truly, Megan Nicole Photography
Ceremony Venue: St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church
Reception Venue, Catering, and Event Coordination: MacGregor Downs Country Club
Hair and Makeup: I Do Style
Flowers: Farmers Market
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