Planning A Wedding, Fearrington, North Carolina

Meet The Special Events Team

	"Where to begin? The wedding and reception were a dream. From the moment we met with you last Thanksgiving until the end of the evening, we felt wonderful about the event - and knew that we were in the right hands! You're simply the best. Fearrington is truly a magical place. The grounds, food & flowers were all magnificent... PLEASE pass along my admiration and gratitude to the many, many staff on the front lines and behind the scenes who made it happen so beautifully." 2008 Fearrington Bride. When planning a wedding, rehearsal dinner or a special celebration, Fearrington's special events team will work with you to create an unforgettable special occasion. For detailed information on venues, event menus, flowers and cakes please call (919) 542-2121 or email us>> Gilda McDaniel - Special Events Manager From the initial contact through to the reception, Gilda will assist with coordinating all the details for your memorable day. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gilda has been at Fearrington for 18 years, first working in McIntyre's, then managing The Market Café (the predecessor to the Old Granary) before becoming our wedding planner over 8 years ago. Gilda is also the buyer for one of Fearrington's shops, Bluebirds & Hollyhocks, which specializes in handcrafted gifts and accessories for brides, ladies and children. Gilda's extensive community involvement includes her current role as President of the board of Chatham County Arts Council.
	Mary Stevens - Wedding Florist Fearrington wedding flowers and bridal bouquets are created by Floral Designer Mary Stevens and her talented associates. Mary has been creating stunning floral arrangements at Fearrington for over 5 years. A beautiful selection of Mary's arrangements is available at our flower and gift shop, Bluebirds & Hollyhocks, in the village center.
	Barbara Yeates - Special Events Associate Barbara attended the The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY where she earned an Associates Degree in Culinary Arts and Bachelors Degree in Hospitality and Restaurant Management. Barbara worked at the Front Desk and in Corporate Sales at The Fearrington House before joining Gilda in planning Special Events.
	Heather Yurkanin - Catering Manager Heather moved to North Carolina in 2006 after receiving a Bachelors Degree in Hotel, Resort, Tourism Management from Paul Smith’s College located in Upstate New York. Initially part of the Corporate Sales Team at Fearrington, Heather is now responsible for managing all catered functions at Fearrington.
	Travis Brooks - Catering Head Chef Travis joined the Fearrington team in 1995 and has been integral part of all the village restaurants during that time. He was promoted to Catering Head Chef in 2006 and is now responsible for the culinary operations for special events at Fearrington.
	Sean Fowler - Catering Sous Chef Sean, a North Carolina native, has a BA in History from Washington & Lee University and a degree in Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University. He joined the Fearrington team in 2005 after working at the Inn at Erlowest in upstate New York and the Alpenhof Lodge in Jackson, Wyoming.
	Laylah Rais-Dana - Cake Decorator Originally from Massachusetts, Laylah graduated from the New England Culinary Institute with a degree in baking and pastry arts. Before joining the Fearrington team in February 2008, Laylah worked at The Union League Club of Chicago, the Ritz Carlton and Joel Restaurant in Atlanta.
	Wedding Testimonials: "Gilda - Frazier and I would like to thank you and your staff for a beautiful wedding reception for Barbara and Kenn last Friday. Every aspect of the reception was truly beyond our dreams of the perfect night; from the lovely new West Terrace and beautiful gardens surrounding to the superb food and service and gracious service staff, nothing was left undone." - Mother of a Fearrington Bride, June 2008 "Gilda, I had to send you an email to thank you for all your hard work toward Luke and Emily's wedding. Not only did you have all the answers, you handled each and every one quickly, courteously, and efficiently. I am somewhat biased, but I thought it was the most beautiful wedding I've ever attended. I can not imagine how it could have gone more seamlessly, and you get all the credit for that. Garry and I will most definitely refer our friends whose children are planning weddings to consider the Fearrington." - Mother of a Fearrington Bride, June 2008 "I loved working with Gilda, and her calm confidence was an important part of our happy experience. She was always there to make it happen and to make it fun and easy for us. She exhibited grace under pressure, and she always made me feel that all would be beautiful and it was! Everything about the experience at Fearrington was beyond compare. The food was delicious....everyone on the staff worked hard to make our stay wonderful. Why would anyone ever want to leave! Thank you for everything!" - Wedding Planner, March 2008 "Dear Gilda, I cannot thank you enough for the superb job you did in orchestrating my daughter's wedding. Everything was flawless, thanks to you. Your capable leadership allowed me to relax and enjoy the process and Kristi's most special day. Thank you for that wonderful gift!" - Mother of a Fearrington Bride, August 2007 "Thank you so much for a beautiful, elegant and fun reception. The bird’s nest on the cake was even more charming than expected and the floral arrangements were fantastic! The attention to every fine detail was certainly noticed by our guests. I want to also thank you for being so easy to work with. My mother and I especially enjoyed working with you and your staff. We are so delighted with how everything turned out. Thank you again for a magnificent reception." - Fearrington Bride, June 2007 For further information, pricing or to arrange a personal tour of the grounds, wedding and reception venues, call (919) 542-2121 or click below to email us. Weddings Home Page>> (919) 542.2121 The Fearrington House \| 2000 Fearrington Village Center \| Pittsboro, NC 27312 Just minutes from Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, NC © 2008 by Fitch Creations, Inc