Carolina Wedding Confessionals: Charlotte bride doesn’t let cancer diagnosis keep her from her big day
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Audrey and Nathan Handleton married in Lake Norman. Photo courtesy of Samme B. Photography
Newlyweds Audrey and Nathan Handleton were all set to marry in front of nearly 200 guests at a nearby vineyard in May 2024. But in February, Audrey received a leukemia diagnosis that changed everything.
Why it matters: The combination of ongoing treatments and mounting medical bills meant the couple's original wedding plans were no longer within reach.
Yes, but: Audrey already had her dress, and Nathan's family had booked their accommodations in Lake Norman since they were traveling from Cincinnati.
With permission from the VRBO owners to use their home as a makeshift venue, Audrey and Nathan decided to move forward with their original wedding date, but with a more intimate ceremony.
The bottom line: A couple's wedding day is about celebrating their love and commitment to each other. Whether it's a six-figure wedding in Asheville or a $10K wedding at Carrigan Farms, there are infinite ways to do that.
- Here's how Audrey and Nathan pulled off their big day.
The dress
Audrey's dress came from VOW'd in South End. The bridal store is known for its affordable dresses — Audrey says she spent around $950 on hers.
- She jokes her dress was more than double what was spent on the entire wedding.
Food
Instead of a caterer, Audrey's mom cooked the entire spread for under $300 with groceries from Costco.
- Audrey's main request was a customizable mashed potato bar — a dream she'd had since childhood, inspired by the DIY food bars featured on TLC's "Four Weddings."
- Her sister-in-law made their wedding cake — a simple white cake with fresh berries.
Venue
The home that Nathan's family rented for their stay served as the venue for both the wedding ceremony and reception.
- 15 guests witnessed the couple say their vows on the property's pier.
Go deeper: What 14 popular Charlotte wedding venues cost
Music
Instead of a DJ or band, the two made a Spotify playlist.
- "Angel" by Shaggy played as they walked back down the pier. "It was our exit song," Audrey says.
Decor
The couple used a mix of DIY and borrowed some decorations from her sister-in-law's wedding.
- Audrey estimates the total cost was about $15.
What she's saying: I asked Audrey for her advice to brides facing unexpected changes or looking to host a budget-friendly wedding.
- She says she went through a period of mourning for the time, effort, and money lost on their original plans. But after they got married, both of them realized that being married was the greatest part of it all.
- "A wedding is really not as important as we make it out to be."
What's Next: Audrey can't travel while undergoing treatment so going on a destination honeymoon is out of the question for at least the next year.
- While that's the eventual plan, she's hoping to throw a cancer-free cocktail party first.
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