Kelly&James

Sunday, March 14, 2027

The Merrimon-Wynne House

Raleigh, North Carolina

March 14, 2027

Our Story

In May 2020, Kelly was living in Austin and, somewhere on Hinge, overlooking James. It took a cross-country road trip with her sister Mary and Minky to finally notice him.

James was also living in Austin at the time, working in oil and gas. While visiting his mom, a very special dog and a plate of frijoles provided the inspiration he needed to reach out.

They started talking and discovered they were both headed to Port A with friends for Memorial Day weekend, and made a loose plan to find each other on the beach — almost as loose as James' DIY beach tent: a tarp rigged to the back of his Chevy Colorado.

On the final day of their trips, Kelly heard her name — her full name — being uttered to various beachgoers nearby. 'Twas James and his friends, Sam and Sean, searching for her with only a mile marker and her name for reference.

They found each other.

More than six years, one additional cat, and probably 60 pounds (combined) later, they're still kickin' it — just a little farther east, at the Merrimon-Wynne House on March 14, 2027, with the people they love most.

Minky the cat, looking nervous
Minky
Billie the cat, loafed into a striped bun
Billie

Photos

Kelly and James
Kelly and James
Kelly and James
Kelly and James
Kelly and James
Minky and Billie
Minky & Billie, unavailable for comment

The Day

The Merrimon-Wynne House · 500 N. Blount Street, Raleigh, NC 27604
Ceremony & reception in one place — no shuttling around

Times are approximate and will be confirmed closer to the day.

Attire — garden formal
Think cocktail attire with a springtime lean — florals and color encouraged. March evenings run 40s–60s°F and part of the night may be outdoors, so bring a layer.

Travel & Stay

Fly into Raleigh-Durham International (RDU) — about 20 minutes from downtown. Ubers and Lyfts are easy; a rental car isn't necessary if you're staying downtown. Street parking is generally available near the venue in the evening, and rideshares can drop off right out front.

Hyatt House Raleigh Downtown

Seaboard Station · 5-min walk to venue

The closest option — right around the corner from the Merrimon-Wynne at Seaboard Station. Rooftop bar, and you can walk to the wedding.

Check rates →

Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown

Glenwood Ave · ~15-min walk / 5-min drive

Reliable and well-located on the edge of Glenwood South, with plenty of restaurants and bars in walking distance. Breakfast included.

Check rates →

Tempo by Hilton / Homewood Suites

Downtown · ~6-min drive

Two Hiltons sharing one modern building in the heart of downtown. Homewood's suites are a good fit for families or longer stays.

Check rates →

Guest House Raleigh

Historic district · ~7-min drive

A small, quiet bed-and-breakfast-style inn in a restored home — the charming option if hotels aren't your thing. Books up fast.

Check rates →

While You're Here

Making a weekend of it? A few of our favorite things in and around downtown Raleigh.

Museum of Natural Sciences

Downtown · Free

Four floors of dinosaurs, whales, and a live butterfly conservatory — and it costs nothing. A ten-minute walk from the venue.

NC Museum of Art

Blue Ridge Rd · Free admission

A genuinely great collection, plus a huge outdoor sculpture park with walking trails. Bring a coffee and wander.

Pullen Park

Near NC State

Home to one of the oldest operating carousels in the country, plus paddle boats and a little train. Especially good with kids in tow.

State Capitol & Moore Square

Downtown

Walk the 1840 Capitol grounds, then wander over to Moore Square and the surrounding blocks for food and people-watching.

Coffee & Brunch

Our picks

Morning Times on Hargett for coffee, Heirloom for Taiwanese-inspired brunch, and PRESS for crêpes and a pistachio latte worth the hype.

Glenwood South

Evenings

Raleigh's main strip of restaurants and bars, a short walk from most downtown hotels — the easy answer for Friday night.

The Bouquet Toss

A very serious training simulator. Press and hold to build power, release to toss. Land the bouquet in the catcher's hands. That's it. That's the game.

Caught: 0 Best: 0 Hold anywhere to charge…

Best streak wins nothing but glory. Your device remembers your record.

Registry

Your presence in Raleigh is honestly the best gift. If you'd like to give something anyway, we've put together a registry on Zola:

View Our Registry

RSVP

Kindly reply by February 1, 2027 — one response per household covers everyone.
It takes about a minute, and it genuinely helps us more than you know.

RSVP Here

Questions

Can I bring a plus-one?
We'd love to host everyone, but space is limited — your invitation will note exactly who's included. If it says "and guest," please do bring them!
Are kids welcome?
Adults only, please — the only babies in attendance will be Minky and Billie, and they're staying home too. We hope the advance notice helps with sitters, and that you enjoy the night off.
What should I wear?
Garden formal — cocktail attire with a springtime lean. Florals and color are encouraged. March evenings in Raleigh are usually in the 40s–60s°F, and parts of the evening may be outdoors, so a layer is a good idea.
Where do I park?
Street parking is generally available near the venue in the evening, and rideshares drop off right out front. We'll confirm any additional details here as the day gets closer.
When should I RSVP by?
Please reply by February 1, 2027 using the form on this site — it helps us enormously with the final count.
Something else?
Reach out — text either of us anytime, or ask whichever of our families you're closer to. We're happy to help.