A Wedding Day Surprise: Katie & Sam
Sam and Katie had known of each other growing up in Greensboro, but their paths didn’t truly cross until 2021, after college. Their first date was at a local favorite, a quiet spot perfect for conversation—and the start of something lasting. From that evening on, their story began to unfold.
Photos by Griffin Hart Davis Photography
The Surprise That Started it All
The proposal was as unexpected as it was meaningful. Originally planned for a bridge that held early memories of their relationship, fate had other plans: Katie came down with the flu just days before. But by January 31, 2025, she was feeling better, and Sam adjusted seamlessly. In the comfort of their first home together, he got down on one knee in the kitchen, proposing with his mother’s original wedding ring.
Moments later, a photographer arrived. Thinking she was headed to celebrate with family, Katie and Sam instead walked into a surprise engagement party—50 of their closest friends and loved ones waiting to cheer them on. “It was a beautiful, unforgettable day,” she recalls.
Exactly one year later, on January 31, 2026, they would say “I do”—choosing a date that perfectly marked the anniversary of their engagement.
A January wedding Vision
The couple envisioned a wedding that felt timeless: white florals, soft candlelight, neutral linens. Bridesmaids in black, groomsmen in classic tuxedos, and just a few subtle pops of color in the florals completed the elegant palette.
Getting Ready at Proximity Hotel
Sam and Katie both grew up in Greensboro, and with Proximity Hotel and Print Works Bistro as two of their favorite spots, choosing to get ready there felt perfectly natural. They reserved a room block for their guests and upgraded to a City Suite for the bridal party to prepare in, creating a relaxed, sunlit space right between the church and their reception venue where the day could begin beautifully.
Bridal Style
Katie found her gown on her 27th birthday and completed the look with a veil, hair clip, and earrings chosen the same day. She wore her mother’s pearl bracelet and wrapped her grandmother’s rosary around her bouquet.
One especially meaningful piece was an heirloom-style keepsake box gifted by her sister-in-law—a place to hold jewelry, perfume, invitation suite, and two engraved silver cups her mother had made for them. A box meant, someday, for future children.
A Winter White Surprise
As the day approached, the weather looked uncertain. The weekend before had brought ice, and forecasts threatened more. Katie and Sam began to feel anxious.
Midweek the forecast started to change with the last prediction being 4-5 inches of snow which replaced uneasiness with excitement. By wedding morning, what fell instead was soft, powdery, storybook snow—a gentle ten inches of winter white.
Out of 285 guests who RSVP’d yes, 240 made it through the snowstorm.
A Magical Morning at Proximity Hotel
Bridesmaids and special guests gathered together in the Proximity City Suite, sipping champagne as the morning unfolded, cozied up in the pajamas thoughtfully gifted by the bride.
Sam and his groomsmen gathered too—finishing earlier (as they often do) and enjoying a relaxed pre-ceremony drink at Print Works Bistro while bride and bridesmaids finished getting ready.
A moment forever frozen in time | The First Look
Katie and Sam planned a first look, choosing to see each other for the first time outdoors in the Proximity Bluebell Garden. In that moment, the world seemed to pause as snowflakes drifted gently around them.
Proximity Hotel Sets the stage for “I do”
Why the Ready or Knot Package Sets the Day Up for Success
Weddings move quickly, but the morning doesn’t have to.
A wedding day carries enough anticipation on its own. The Ready or Knot Package creates a calm, intentional beginning—offering early check-in, a spacious suite filled with natural light, and one central place for everyone to gather. Hair and makeup unfold without hurry. Dresses and tuxedos hang neatly in view. Photographs are captured in soft morning light instead of in a rush between locations.
By keeping the wedding party together and eliminating unnecessary transitions, the morning feels organized, relaxed, and joyful. It’s not simply about having a beautiful space—it’s about starting the day steady, present, and ready for everything that follows.
Katie chose to upgrade her Ready or Knot Package to the Proximity City Suite to fulfill her wedding weekend vision. This allowed of a calm and relaxing evening with her maid of honor the night before, to get ready with her large bridal party the day of—in a comfortable, spacious, well lit living area, and a quiet place to retreat to on her wedding night.
For more information about planning your wedding or event in Greensboro, North Carolina, please email our wedding and event specialists or give us a call at Proximity Hotel: 336-478-9111 or O.Henry Hotel: 336-478-9112.
MAGIC MAKERS
- Getting Ready & Room Block Venue: Proximity Hotel | @proximityhotel
- Planner: Events by Summer Joy | @eventsbysummerjoy
- Photography: Griffin Hart Davis | @griffindavisweddings
- Florist/designers: @jennysprojects @joneswellflowers @therootedmagnolia
- Videographer: The Family Films | @thefamilyfilms
- Hair & Makeup: Blissful Muse Company | @blissfulmuse.co
- Wedding Dress: Ladies of Lineage | @ladiesoflineage