Iris & Eddie
July 6, 2024
5:30 PM
Arrive between 4:30-5
241 Pheasant Creek Road Casar, NC 28020
The Padgett and Vedolla families are excited to share that the celebration of marriage for Iris and Eddie has been rescheduled!
Health issues are stable and moving in a good direction. :) That alone is worth celebrating.
For a magical weekend, the woodsy property and log cabin house will be transformed into an enchanted scene to bring together our circles and communities.
Please explore the website to learn more about us, the venue, travel, lodging, camping, the area, festive attire, and activities.
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PLEASE KINDLY RSVP or RE-RSVP
YES OR NO BY JUNE 15!
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The Area
Chez Padgett is located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in the South Mountain range. Originally inhabited by the Cherokee tribe, the region is now a largely undeveloped area home to many rare and endangered plant species. We are close to many destinations including the Linville Gorge, Linville Falls, the South Mountain State Park and High Shoals Falls, Mount Mitchell (the highest point east of the Mississippi River), Lake James, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Chimney Rock, Asheville, and Charlotte. Whether you prefer adventuring in nature or urban areas, Western North Carolina has it all: great microbreweries, art, abundant live music opps, hiking, climbing, rafting, tubing.
The Venue
Steve and Judy's home is on sixty acres of forest surrounded by state park and game lands wilderness. The main house - Iris' childhood home - was constructed by Iris' father Steve (with help from many friends over the years) from two restored log cabins. The first cabin was likely originally built in the 1760s in the oldest community of Rutherford County, NC. The second cabin dates to the 1840s. The property also features streams and a creek, a bog, regular wildlife sightings, Rhododendron groves, rock outcroppings, trails, two more restored log cabins, a pool, and an outdoor shower.
The Vibe
Forest of lights, fairy rings, fire flies, magic, enchantment, whimsical, glow-in-the-dark, Eywa, Lothlórien, romantic, dreamy... with a little down home rustic Appalachian.
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We're going a little unusual regarding attire for the wedding evening. We suggest: fantasy, Renaissance, royalty, steampunk, carnival, fae, Boho. If that really isn't your thing, then go with festive cocktail attire! More about costuming in the Q&A. (Please keep in mind - it will be muggy, the ground will be uneven, and there will be some walking involved.)
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More to come on the schedule, but activities pre-, during, and post-wedding may include hiking (and night hiking on illuminated trails), disc golfing, a fire pit, yard games, dancing, a pool party, and fun things for your kids to do.
Our Story
If you know Eddie, you won't be surprised to hear that Iris and Eddie met in a dance class...
Tango, to be precise. And Eddie was teaching it. After attending more of his classes (salsa, swing), Iris used hiring Eddie as a DJ for a fundraiser as an excuse to hang out with him outside of class. She gave him a choice in her text: "Should we meet over coffee or margaritas?" (Read: "Would you like to have a business meeting or a date?") He chose margaritas, of course.
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Over the past six years, Iris and Eddie have built a rock-solid foundation through travel adventures, contributing to raising children (and cats) together, love, dancing, humor, and loyalty. But equally as important, this relationship is also built from identity shifts, ego softening, negotiation, cultural differences, periods of significant challenge, outside help, time apart, and a ton of self-care and deep inner work on both their parts.
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They each love the person they have become due to each others' influences. They are grateful for each other for showing up with deep authenticity. They are grateful for the people in their lives for helping create the context and support for love to happen.
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In case you don't know either Iris or Eddie very well...
Eddie Vedolla is a Ukiah, CA native. He has three wonderful children - Julius (17), Torreya (15), and Azariah (13). Eddie's other first love is dancing, and he has taught, performed, and competed in social dancing for many years. He also DJ's weddings and parties and teaches middle school Robotics. Eddie is a member of the Yurok Indian Tribe and comes from a lineage of medicine people. The Yurok people are largely located along the Klamath River in Northern California, and they are known for basketweaving, Salmon fishing, storytelling, singing and dancing, canoe making, Condor reintroduction, and environmental advocacy and restoration. Eddie graduated from Southern Oregon University where he studied Communications.
Iris Padgett is originally from North Carolina and relocated to California for her Master's degree in transpersonal psychology nearly ten years ago. She has a private psychotherapy practice and also works as a counselor for middle school special education students. Iris has also taught yoga and meditation for many years. Before moving to California, Iris lived in the Triangle Area of NC where she graduated from and worked for UNC-Chapel Hill.
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Iris and Eddie share a love for the movement arts, travel, quality coffee, the natural world, being in bodies of water, obsessing over peculiar details, their cats, shoe shopping, unnecessary luxury, and fantasizing about real estate.
Getting There
By Car
1.25 hours from Asheville
1.25 hours from Charlotte
2.75 hours from Chapel Hill
By Flight
We recommend flying into
Charlotte International Airport
Where to Stay
Since we will be staying at the venue (along with our children and our other immediate family members), and our guests are coming from many directions, we have opted not to reserve a block of rooms. We can, however, make some recommendations.
For some, it may make sense and be fun to camp onsite with us (if you're driving, if you like sleeping in a tent, if you want to be on-site for a couple days to spend quality time with us, or if you want to party without worrying about driving under the influence). We have tons of beautiful property and spots to put tents by the creek. The house itself also has lounging areas for daytime use, and we will have extra restroom facilities and an outdoor shower as well.
For others, there are a few options. AirBnb is the option we most highly recommend for proximity to the venue. A close second is Jellystone Park in Golden Valley (Iris' former girl scout camp - a 15 minute drive to the venue with camping, glamping, group lodging, and cabins), although it tends to be on the pricier side and may book quickly.
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If you're more of a hotel person, you'll find that there are places to stay about 30 minutes away in each direction from the venue. We trust that you can find a place that suits you and your travel plans and companions better than we could. :)
