Outside Mike and Beth Whitehead's Home

Wedding Day

Wedding

Reception

Whitehead Manor Conference Center

Sunday Breakfast Drop-in! 10:30am - 12:30pm

Our Wedding

During Christmas week of 2015, I was with family in Highlands, North Carolina. We were having a lovely vacation staying in a cozy cabin type house and cooking most of the time, but we decided to go out just one night on December 23rd. I had recently moved back to New York City and living with my "bridesmaid" and his husband subletting their second bedroom. I was the happiest I had been in I don't know how long, as well as at peace. I was teaching at AMDA and living in New York on my own terms. I was single and feeling good, as I was about to travel to Seattle for 10 weeks to direct highschool students in a professional production of "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying." After a bunch of research on what the "right" restaurant would be for us that evening we chose Meritage, off the main path of downtown in a sweet little home. And, get this, Craig happened to be my waiter! For those of you who know me, NO, I wasn't flirting, nor even fantasizing that I could be meeting my future husband in this moment. LOL! He was funny, with a dry sense of humor. I asked him if he was a comedian or an actor and he laughed, "no." We asked him questions and got to know him a little bit. He was from Sag Harbor (part of the Hamptons, but family is a part of the locals and history of the town) and had traveled back and forth from Florida to New York since his parents divorced at the age of three. He told us how much he had a great family who all got along and in fact, his dad was down south at that moment for the holidays, spending time with his mom and stepdad, Elaine and Michael, who practically raised he and his brother, Don. (His dad's name turns out to be Don, as well as my dad's name is Don). He had been living in the mountains for twenty years and I was blown away. "You seem about my age? What do you do living in the mountains?" He looked at me like he had never been asked that question before and thought about it and then said..."Um.... just loving life." Well, that was a sweet and simple answer. Hmmm... We closed down the restaurant, ate the best food by the chef, Michael Alton (who will be doing our food for the ceremony, as they are close friends). We liked Craig so much that we asked him to get in a selfie with us. He took pictures of us as it was a lovely night all together. Mike asked he and the other two waiters to come across the street when they finished to listen to blue grass music over at the local "Bull Frog". We said goodbye and that was that. We go across the street in this small ritzy town in Highlands to the "UGLY DOG" and Craig and his workmates shortly followed.(Our wedding bands have engraved "see you at the bull frog" on them as we laugh never getting that name right when we tell the story). We have video of the music and photos of this night at the bar. After we bought drinks for the group. I said, "Come sit down and talk with me." We end up in a corner away from the music and just chatted it up. He made me laugh all the time and he was so interesting. He had no idea I was an actress. I told him I was a dance teacher, which was true. I had stopped performing for almost two years at that point. I asked him if he had a dog and he said, "Yes, I have a pit bull." I said, "Ohhhhhhh" (with a sour look on my face) and he responded, "What, oh, are we breaking up now?" I belly laughed and that's when I knew we were flirting and that I wanted to know more about this guy. I was more comfortable with him than I have been with anyone in my life. He was getting to know me for me and nothing else. He wasn't on Facebook or instagram, nor big on technology. He was a breath of fresh air. We closed the bar down. We exchange numbers. I text him for coffee the next day on Christmas Eve and he texted, "I don't drink coffee, but I will drink coffee with you. I like tea." I laughed and said, "I don't drink coffee, either, just a formality and that I loved tea, also." We met up in the town and the cute, local coffee shop was closed for the holiday. He took me to a popular oversee in the mountains, but it was all foggy. We stood up there and hugged then both agreed we wanted to spend more time together. We knew something special was happening, but not quite sure what, as he lived there and I was in New York and just two crazy different lifestyles. I had a flight the day after Christmas and had plans to drive back one of the cars to Charlotte, stay the night and fly out on the 26th. I asked him if he didn't have plans would he want to drive with me to Charlotte and he said, "Um, let me think about that. Yes." So, just like that he picks me up on Christmas day around 2pm with all my luggage for ten weeks (it was a lot) and we drove about four hours together. We ended up talking to his mom, dad, my dad, my brother on blue tooth speaker letting them all know what we were doing and who we were with in case he turned out to be a crazy person. He had never been engaged, married or had children and was 42. During that car ride, I had an instinct to spend as much time as I could with him. I asked what did he think about my changing my flight to Sunday, the 27th and we spend the weekend together in Charlotte. He agreed and said right away I will go half with you on the cost. We enjoy a lovely weekend together where even in the deli ordering sandwiches the workers thought we were married and called us JAY-Z and Beyonce. LOL! Sunday night, he took me to the airport. I hugged him and told him, "I love you." I pulled away in shock as was he and then he said, "That's okay, I have love for you, too." I said that we should just take it easy and see how things go with long distance and all. He was special and didn't really know where to go from there. However, I got to Seattle and the texts, photos and skyping was on! On Dec. 29th we got two plane tickets for him to come out and visit for a week within a couple weeks and then to be with me at the end and assist me on my road trip to NYC with my car and furnishings I had in storage from living there the past year. Shortly after that, we decided very easily that we were moving in with each other and looking for a place of our own in the big Apple. March 23, our three month anniversary we moved into our new place together on the upper westside, two weeks later he got a job working at a fancy steakhouse in times square, a month after that I booked CHICAGO on Broadway and the theatre is four blocks from his work and six months later he proposed in front of his parents and my family after a dinner where they all first met at the house where we are getting married at on 9/21/17. We really were supposed to meet. Too many factors had to happen for us to not. We both feel so lucky and can't wait to celebrate with all of those we love and care for. He is a caring, thoughtful, genuine, proactive and funny man who adores his family and friends. I feel the same about my friends and family, too. We feel we are marrying our best friend and are so excited to walk through life together. This will be a big party. Let's have a fun love fest on 9/23!

HOW WE MET!

Our Story

Details

Wedding Party

Photos

Registry

Q + A

UBER and LYFT work great! NO NEED TO RENT A CAR! 

We have blocked off rooms, mention the Disbrow/Wedding and there is a discount. $135/room and $160/suite

Hampton Inn & Suites Charlotte/South Park at Phillips Place

South End, Noda, Plaza Midwood, Uptown and Elizabeth are great areas to look for. *Closer to us are Cotswold, South Park and Matthews.

AIR BNB areas to look for...

With a stay at Charlotte Marriott City Center, you'll be centrally located in Charlotte, steps from Bank of America Corporate Center and Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.  This hotel is within close proximity of EpiCentre and Discovery Place.Rooms Make yourself at home in one of the 446 air-conditioned rooms featuring LED televisions. Cable programming provides entertainment, and wired and wireless Internet access is available for a surcharge. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include phones, as well as complimentary weekday newspapers and coffee/tea makers.Amenities Take advantage of recreation opportunities such as a fitness center, or other amenities including complimentary wireless Internet access and wedding services.Dining Satisfy your appetite at the hotel's restaurant, which serves lunch and dinner. Dining is also available at a coffee shop/café, and room service (during limited hours) is provided. Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at a bar/lounge.Business, Other Amenities Featured amenities include express check-in, complimentary newspapers in the lobby, and dry cleaning/laundry services. This hotel has 12 meeting rooms available for events.

Charlotte Marriott City Center

With a stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte, you'll be centrally located in Charlotte, steps from EpiCentre and Bank of America Corporate Center.  This 5-star hotel is within close proximity of Spectrum Center and Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.Rooms Make yourself at home in one of the 146 air-conditioned rooms featuring iPod docking stations and flat-screen televisions. Your pillowtop bed comes with down comforters and Frette Italian sheets. Cable programming and DVD players are provided for your entertainment, with wired and wireless Internet access available for a surcharge. Bathrooms have complimentary toiletries and hair dryers.Amenities Pamper yourself with a visit to the spa, which offers massages, body treatments, and facials. If you're looking for recreational opportunities, you'll find a 24-hour health club, an indoor pool, and a spa tub. This hotel also features wireless Internet access (surcharge), concierge services, and gift shops/newsstands.Dining Enjoy a meal at one of the hotel's dining establishments, which include 3 restaurants and a coffee shop/café. From your room, you can also access 24-hour room service. Relax with a refreshing drink from a poolside bar or one of the 3 bars/lounges.Business, Other Amenities Featured amenities include wired Internet access (surcharge), a 24-hour business center, and limo/town car service. Planning an event in Charlotte? This hotel has 12,000 square feet (1115 square meters) of space consisting of conference space and a meeting room.

The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte

With a stay at Aloft Charlotte Uptown at the EpiCentre, you'll be centrally located in Charlotte, steps from EpiCentre and Bank of America Corporate Center.  This hotel is within close proximity of Spectrum Center and Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.Rooms Make yourself at home in one of the 176 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wired and wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming provides entertainment. Private bathrooms with showers feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include safes and desks, and housekeeping is provided daily.Amenities Be sure to enjoy recreational amenities, including a nightclub, an indoor pool, and a fitness center. Additional amenities at this hotel include complimentary wireless Internet access, wedding services, and a television in a common area.Dining Satisfy your appetite at a coffee shop/café serving guests of Aloft Charlotte Uptown at the EpiCentre. Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at a bar/lounge.Business, Other Amenities Featured amenities include complimentary wired Internet access, a business center, and limo/town car service. Planning an event in Charlotte? This hotel has 2500 square feet (232 square meters) of space consisting of conference space and meeting rooms. Self parking (subject to charges) is available onsite.

Aloft Charlotte Uptown at the EpiCentre

With a stay at Omni Charlotte Hotel, you'll be centrally located in Charlotte, steps from EpiCentre and Bank of America Corporate Center.  This 4-star hotel is within close proximity of Blumenthal Performing Arts Center and Spectrum Center.Rooms Make yourself at home in one of the 374 air-conditioned rooms featuring MP3 docking stations and minibars. 37-inch LCD televisions with digital programming provide entertainment, while wireless Internet access (surcharge) keeps you connected. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature rainfall showerheads and complimentary toiletries. Conveniences include phones, as well as laptop-compatible safes and desks.Amenities Take advantage of recreation opportunities such as a fitness center, or other amenities including wireless Internet access (surcharge) and concierge services. Additional amenities at this hotel include shopping on site, wedding services, and a television in a common area.Dining Grab a bite to eat at the hotel's restaurant, which features a bar, or stay in and take advantage of 24-hour room service. Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at a bar/lounge. Breakfast is available for a fee.Business, Other Amenities Featured amenities include a 24-hour business center, limo/town car service, and dry cleaning/laundry services. Planning an event in Charlotte? This hotel has 16000 square feet (1486 square meters) of space consisting of conference space and meeting rooms.

Omni Charlotte Hotel

Travel

Freedom Park in Charlotte

Golf &amp; Spa, Luxury Hotel - another option!

The Ballantyne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Charlotte (Golf and Spa)

OUTDOOR fun for the family, white water rafting, kayaking, paddle boarding, zip line! Highly recommend!!!!!

Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC, United States

List of GOLF COURSES in Charlotte!

A wonder for ALL AGES, the SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord Aquarium is home to more than 5,000 sea creatures. Explore more than 20 displays including touch pools, a 180-degree walk-through tunnel, and an ocean exhibit where a blacktip reef shark swims alongside graceful rays and sea horses.

SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord Aquarium (A little outside of Charlotte)

Charlotte Symphony Orchestra is here that weekend

Blumenthal Performing Arts in Charlotte

CAROLINA PANTHERS NFL TEAM 

HANDS ON MUSEUM FOR KIDS AND ADULTS! Check it out

Discovery Place Science, downtown Charlotte!

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

NoDa Brewing Company

The USDA organic farm harvests strawberries in the spring and pumpkins in the fall. They also have a rustic outdoor kitchen cranking out pizzas cooked in a 900-degree wood-fired oven. The fall season opens September 23.

Eat pizza and pick pumpkins at Wise Acres Organic Farm!

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CHARLOTTE THAT WEEKEND?!

Charlotte on the CHEAP! 

Two hour drive from Charlotte, artsy town WHERE WE WILL BE MOVING TO IN ...November!

Artsy Mountain Town - Asheville, NC, United States (Two hours west of Charlotte)

Spa at Omni Grove Park Inn  - Country Club in Asheville, NC

Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville, NC

Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC

Golf Course & Spa, Pinehurst Resort! East of Charlotte 2 hours away!

Historic Downtown Belmont, NC

DOWNTOWN MATTHEWS, NC

Carowinds transforms from "theme park" to "scream park" for its annual SCarowinds Halloween attraction. The event features 500+ monsters, ghosts and goblins roaming the grounds and 16 haunted attractions and shows. Not feeling it? Buy a "No Boo" necklace for $12 and the monsters won't approach you. (Check out The Great Pumpkin Fest below for fright-free, kid-friendly fall Carowinds entertainment.) Fridays and Saturdays starting 9/15; Fri-Sun starting 10/6-29

SCAROWINDS

The classic Charlotte arts festival features 150+ artisans selling everything from paintings and photography to sculptures, jewelry, woodworkings and glass.<a href="http://festivalinthepark.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Festival in the Park</a> | September 22-24 | Freedom Park | Free to enter

 Buy art at the 53rd annual Festival in the Park

The closest orchard to Charlotte is less than an hour outside the city. Although they're expecting another very short picking season, they've got a hard cider bar and farm stand that make it worth a visit even without the apple experience. Get a hard cider flight and fresh fried apple cider doughnuts.<a href="http://windyhillorchard.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Windy Hill Orchard &amp; Cider Mill</a> |

Chryssie & Craig

Chryssie & Craig

Details coming soon!