Haiku I Do

Wedding Day

Wedding

Reception

Vendors

Catering: <a href="https://67biltmore.com/" target="_blank">67 Biltmore</a>

Photography: <a href="https://www.danielaguerrerophotography.com/" target="_blank">Daniela Guerrero Photography</a>Music: <a href="https://sites.google.com/view/blackmountainbeats/home?authuser=0" target="_blank">Black Mountain Beats</a>

Our Story

Our Wedding

Details

How We Met

The short answer: we were roommates. 

The longer answer: we met on the very first day of college orientation. Lilly insists to this day that Kinsey interrupted her conversation with another young woman; Kinsey insists to this day that there was a lull in conversation by the time she spoke up. Kinsey complimented Lilly's shirt and received a terse reply. Then, as any reasonable human would do, she assumed that Lilly hated her and avoided her for the rest of the day.&nbsp;







Alas, social anxiety would not go quietly into that good night, because the next morning we found out that we were both set to attend the same Honors meeting. The room in which it was held&nbsp;had a tall ceiling with aged wood panels for walls, with warping bookcases set into the east side&nbsp;and armchairs scattered about. A fireplace sat cold in the corner.&nbsp;







Kinsey, ever a writer, thought to herself about how this room was at odds with the rest of the building, almost as if somebody had plucked it right from the setting of an old-timey murder mystery.







Lilly, ever a writer, murmured aloud as soon as she crossed the threshold, "This looks like a great place for a locked-door murder mystery."&nbsp;







Like functional adults, we spent the entire meeting plotting out a murder mystery novel instead of listening to the very important information about the program, chatting as if we were old friends. We belted out Disney songs together on the quad, tried to impress each other with talking about musicals and writing in runes, and then&mdash;not really knowing anybody else&mdash;Kinsey asked Lilly to be her roommate, because maybe a familiar face&nbsp;would make the first day of college&nbsp;a bit more bearable.







We got a bit more than we bargained for!

Who Proposed?

Both of us, actually!&nbsp;

Lilly proposed first, during winter while the snow was still fresh on the ground. It didn't come as a surprise&mdash;we had discussed engagement and marriage before at great length&mdash;but that didn't make it any less magical. She took Kinsey to the Botanical Gardens, where we&nbsp;spent so much time during their college years, walking past our old dorm hall and along the paths&nbsp;we loved to take during the first couple years of our relationship. She&nbsp;dropped to her knee under the arching branches of a pine tree, where we had once taken photos of each other and fallen in love through the camera lens, and Kinsey said yes.







Kinsey proposed second, during March and&nbsp;a bit on a whim. When our dear friends threw a 20's-themed birthday party at their apartment, she knew it was the perfect moment&nbsp;(because we all know how much Lilly adores the early 1900's!). Under the guise of grabbing a game for the group, and with the blessing of the birthday person&mdash;thank you, Shannon!&mdash;she ran back to the apartment, grabbed her ring, and ran back in to propose. There had been a different plan to propose, but in the moment she knew it was the right time. And judging from the tears and laughter, it was.







Plus, we were already engaged, so what did we have to lose?

Our Story 1

Photos

Registry

Kinsey's awesome&nbsp;cousin,&nbsp;basically a&nbsp;younger brother; sports aficionado and killer Catch Phrase team member.

Andrew McLean

Lilly's best friend and found sister since first grade; genius neurobiologist and Hamilton enthusiast.

Jenny Choy

Kinsey's close friend from college; a dedicated novelist, teacher, and enviably-talented (and patient!)&nbsp;Dungeon Master.

Layne Pierce

Lilly's other best friend and found sister; brilliant mechanical and chemical engineer and indie film aficionado.

Hannah Hemminger

Kinsey's close friend from college; a magnificent artist,&nbsp;ecologist, and tabletop RPG&nbsp;fan&nbsp;(and probably a part-time druid).

Shannon Bodeau

Lilly's amazing cousin who's always been like a big sister; world's-most-patient occupational therapist and margarita connoisseur.

Erin Quicker

Wedding Party

Q + A

You can't go a mile without tripping over a hotel in Asheville! That being said, here are some suggestions in convenient—or cool—locations around the city, with their distances from our venue, downtown, and the airport included for reference. If you're looking for a different sort of stay, there are Airbnb and VRBO options all over Asheville as well.

venue name

Located in Biltmore Village, a few minutes' walk from the Biltmore Estate entrance. Features an on-site TGI Friday's restaurant as well as shuttle service to downtown Asheville.Distance to Venue: 3 min.Distance to Downtown: 11 min.Distance to Airport: 20 min.

DoubleTree by Hilton

Located near Biltmore Village and I-40, close to the venue. Mainly higher-end suites ranging from studio to 3-bedroom.Distance to Venue: 5 min.Distance to Downtown: 9 min.Distance to Airport: 23 min.

The Residences at Biltmore

Right near the Asheville Regional Airport and a shopping center with large chains such as Target and World Market. An airport shuttle is available.Distance to Venue: 20 min.Distance to Downtown: 21 min.Distance to Airport: 6 min.

Courtyard by Marriott Asheville Airport

Two exits down from Asheville Regional Airport. Right next to the outlet mall off I-26, and a short drive to the North Carolina Arboretum.Distance to Venue: 13 min. Distance to Downtown: 13 min.Distance to Airport: 14 min.

Comfort Suites Outlet Center

An upscale hotel located in the heart of downtown Asheville. Lots of local restaurants and shops nearby, with a rooftop bar and parking garage.Distance to Venue: 10 min.Distance to Downtown: 0 min.Distance to Airport: 23 min.

AC Hotel by Marriott Asheville Downtown

Located in downtown Asheville. A higher-end downtown experience close to many local restaurants and shops, including an outdoor pool and bar with balcony.Distance to Venue: 8 min. Distance to Downtown: 0 min.Distance to Airport: 24 min.

Aloft Asheville Downtown

A luxury historic golf resort and spa in North Asheville, with multiple restaurants and bars on the property. For those who want to turn their trip into a fancy vacation.Distance to Venue: 16 min. Distance to Downtown: 12 min. Distance to Airport: 27 min.

The Omni Grove Park Inn

A luxury boutique hotel smack dab in the middle of Biltmore Village. Includes room service, a spa, and an art gallery.Distance to Venue: 3 min.Distance to Downtown: 10 min.Distance to Airport: 21 min.

Grand Bohemian Hotel Asheville, Autograph Collection

Travel

Pass the Time

Why not make a vacation out of your wedding trip? From the old elegance of the Biltmore Estate to the modern quirks of downtown life, there's something in Asheville for everyone, and we love to share our favorites!&nbsp;

Hyperlinked below, find our&nbsp;recommended&nbsp;restaurants, bars, and things to do,&nbsp;but if you wanted to explore there's something around every corner downtown.Due to COVID-19, some of the&nbsp;restaurants may be closed or only taking delivery/takeout orders. Don't be deterred; if you're interested in supporting local restaurants, we would definitely recommend trying them regardless. They're all worth it!

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://www.biltmore.com/" target="_blank">Biltmore Estate</a>: Explore Asheville’s largest estate, nestled within 8,000 acres of gorgeous mountain scenery. Take a tour, enjoy live music, or even see demonstrations by traditional craftsmen. Plus, the shops and eateries of Biltmore Village are right next door!

 

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://www.blueridgeparkway.org/" target="_blank">Blue Ridge Parkway</a>: Take a drive along the Pisgah Region of the Blue Ridge Parkway to one of many scenic overlooks, perfect for picnics and photo shoots. Hiking trails abound here; our favorites are Graveyard Fields (two waterfalls and a little swimming hole!) and Craggy Gardens (a short hike with a beautiful mountaintop view, near Douglas Falls) both a little less than an hour’s drive from downtown Asheville.











·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://zentubing.com/" target="_blank">Zen Tubing</a>: The calm French Broad River is perfect for a relaxing tubing session&mdash;basically a natural Lazy River. Drift along the current without a care in the world (and take a dip in the river to cool down) with shuttles between the start and end locations provided. And yes, you’re allowed to bring alcohol (but no glass) as well as snacks and drinks for the ride!

 











·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://www.ncarboretum.org/" target="_blank">North Carolina Arboretum</a>: This beautiful public garden is located right next to the Blue Ridge Parkway. With gorgeous arbors, diverse plant life, and hiking trails leading into and through the Bent Creek Experimental Forest, it’s a cool way to see the colors of natural Asheville. The only catch is a parking fee.

 











·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://wildwnc.org/" target="_blank">WNC Nature Center</a>: It’s our own little zoo and conservatory right here in Asheville! With black bears, otters, wolves, red pandas, and more, it’s a great way to spend an hour or two outdoors (with lots of shade, of course), and it supports local conservation efforts. It is currently closed due to COVID-19, but hopes to reopen in&nbsp;August, so stay tuned!











·&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://breakoutgames.com/" target="_blank">Breakout</a>:&nbsp;Add a bit of your thrill to your trip with these escape rooms, located in the heart of downtown Asheville. Get locked into a creepy mansion, pull off an art heist, escape a hostage situation, and more! (We’ve beaten the Mystery Mansion and Museum Heist rooms; want to challenge us?)

 











·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://ashevillepinball.com/" target="_blank">Asheville Pinball Museum</a>: This is an awesomely retro way to spend your afternoon. For a flat admission fee, you can play an unlimited amount of over 80 pinball and classic video games (ranging from vintage consoles to old arcade cabinets) without any extra charge. They do have a maximum occupancy of 80, which fills up very quickly, so if you’d like to avoid the waiting list we suggest to be in line a bit before it opens.&nbsp;It is currently closed due to COVID-19, but hopes to reopen in&nbsp;August, so stay tuned!

Grab a Bite to Eat

· <a href="https://www.frenchbroadchocolates.com/pages/visit-our-locations" target="_blank">French Broad Chocolate Lounge</a>:&nbsp;A chocolate-focused dessert restaurant with baked goods, from-scratch ice cream, and hot drinks. You can’t go wrong with anything here!

· <a href="http://www.redgingerasheville.com/" target="_blank">Red Ginger Dimsum and Tapas</a>:&nbsp;Elegant and delicious Chinese food with local ingredients and an open kitchen. We recommend their fancy salmon rolls and their steamed barbecued pork buns.

· <a href="https://www.jackofthewood.com/" target="_blank">Jack of the Wood</a>:&nbsp;A cozy Irish pub and traditional music venue, featuring a rotating selection of draft beer. Try their shepherd’s pie or fish and chips!

· <a href="https://www.ashevillebrewing.com/location/675-merrimon-avenue/" target="_blank">Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co</a>:&nbsp;A casual and fun restaurant with a menu chock-full of diverse movie-themed fare. We recommend their North Asheville location, which has a regular restaurant, a game room with retro arcade cabinets, and a dine-in move theater where you can catch $3.00 movies while you eat!

· <a href="http://thehopicecreamcafe.com/" target="_blank">The Hop</a>:&nbsp;A local favorite if you’re in the mood for homemade ice cream (dairy or vegan), coffee drinks, or sorbet. We recommend a heaping scoop of any one of their rotating flavors, or you can make any of them into a milkshake.

· <a href="https://www.ashevillebouchon.com/" target="_blank">Bouchon</a>:&nbsp;Absolutely worth the price if you’re in the mood for French comfort food with North Carolinian flavors. We’ve never had boeuf bourguignon or cheese boards like the ones that Bouchon offers!

· <a href="https://www.ganshangroup.com/location/gan-shan-station/" target="_blank">Gan Shan Station</a>:&nbsp;Delicious Asian cuisine (Thai, Vietnamese, Laotian, Chinese, Japanese, and Singaporean) served with a Western take. We love their pork ramen and their seasonal ice creams!

· <a href="https://luellasbbq.com/" target="_blank">Luella’s Bar-B-Que</a>:&nbsp;A well-known local BBQ restaurant. Their sweet potato chips taste great dipped in ranch, and no matter the meat you get you’ve got to try their Sweet Pisgah sauce!

· <a href="https://a-la-mode-macaron.business.site/" target="_blank">A La Mode Macaron</a>:&nbsp;A cute little bakery with from-scratch macarons and macaron ice cream sandwiches to die for. Their flavors rotate daily, but you really can’t go wrong with any of them; just don’t wait until right before they close, because they’ll be sold out for sure.

Need a Drink?

Until North Carolina enters Phase 3 of reopening, all bars will remain closed to the public; however, on the off chance that we enter this phase by the time of the wedding, these are some good bets!

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://www.wickedweedbrewing.com/location/brewpub/" target="_blank">Wicked Weed Brewpub</a>: The original home of Wicked Weed Brewing, featuring a full restaurant and beer bar in downtown Asheville.

 

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://monkpub.com/downtown-asheville/" target="_blank">Thirsty Monk</a>: Two floors with two bars, offering Belgian, imported, and rare beers, along with Food Flights and Hand Pies.

 

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://www.noblecider.com/" target="_blank">Noble</a>: Local-made hard cider and mead, with multiple locations ranging from taproom to bistro&mdash;plus a production facility offering tours.

 

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://www.gingersrevenge.com/" target="_blank">Ginger’s Revenge</a>: Classic and seasonal ginger beer flavors served in a converted warehouse with an art-nouveau vibe.

 

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://m.facebook.com/ZillicoahBeer/" target="_blank">Zillicoah Beer Company</a>: A rotating menu of craft beers and bottled ciders located in a converted warehouse on Riverside Drive.

Kinsey and Lilly