Meet The Team

Meet The Team
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Brides write us regularly to tell us how they valued working with our wedding planners and staff and how their competent yet unobtrusive efforts allowed them to relax and enjoy their special day. Fearrington has one of the most experienced wedding teams in the business. Many started out in our catering and kitchens, so they know how all the parts come together to make your wedding special, and they bring an  extraordinary knowledge, confidence and commitment to what they do.  Why trust your special day with anyone else?

Testimonials

  • "Cheryl, I just wanted to thank you for your amazing work on our wedding. Everyone at Fearrington... More >

    - Fearrington Bride, October 2012

    “Cheryl, I just wanted to thank you for your amazing work on our wedding. Everyone at Fearrington has been outstanding but you seemed to magically be everywhere doing everything. We can’t tell you how much it means to us. We loved it! Take care and we hope to be back soon.”

    - Fearrington Bride, October 2012

  • Hi Gilda,   I just wanted to let you know how amazing I think you are- you made my wedding... More >

    - Bride, April 2013

    Hi Gilda,

      I just wanted to let you know how amazing I think you are- you made my wedding absolutely spectacular and I can’t thank you enough.  EVERY guest commented on how fantastic you were and my friends that are getting married later this year (not at Fearrington) were so jealous :)  My parents, who had never visited Fearrington before, were very impressed with you, the staff, Mary, Krystal, Jill, John- everyone who helped set up, hold the umbrellas, etc…it was such a team effort and we could tell that everyone who works at Fearrington must really enjoy it.  Many people even said it was the most beautiful wedding they had ever been to.

      Even with the rain (which actually turned out to make the wedding more unique and fun!), it was the best day of my life- and a day Scott and I and our friends and families will never forget.  Thank you so much for all your hard work- you have one very happy bride!

    Love and gratitude to you!

    - Bride, April 2013

  • Gilda, Jill, Mary, and the entire Fearrington Team - Thank you all so much for everything you did... More >

    - Bride and Groom, March 2013

    Gilda, Jill, Mary, and the entire Fearrington Team – Thank you all so much for everything you did to make our wedding day absolutely gorgeous! Your talents are greatly appreciated and it all would not have been the same without your creativity, hospitality, and professionalism. Much gratitude!

    - Bride and Groom, March 2013

  • Hi Gilda! Thank you again for a lovely event and such a flexible approach! [Groom] and I will be... More >

    - Bride, January 2013

    Hi Gilda! Thank you again for a lovely event and such a flexible approach! [Groom] and I will be sure to be out there again for dinner soon after everything settles in. Please pass along my sincere thanks to both Chef and Jill for their phenomenal work and generosity. It was a pleasure to have Max at the dinner as well. Thank you again for the wedding of a lifetime!”

    - Bride, January 2013

  • "We are all back home and are basking in the wonderful memories of this past weekend. You were... More >

    - Mother of a Fearrington Bride, December 2012

    “We are all back home and are basking in the wonderful memories of this past weekend. You were beyond fabulous. Every detail was attended to and every request was immediately addressed. Our guests were treated like kings and queens. Needless to say, we were very happy. My daughter’s wedding reception was perfect. Thank you.”

    - Mother of a Fearrington Bride, December 2012

  • "Cheryl Ann, I wanted to send you a short note to thank you for all your hard work, especially on... More >

    - Father of a Fearrington Bride, October 2012

    “Cheryl Ann, I wanted to send you a short note to thank you for all your hard work, especially on the wedding day, to make Emily’s wedding a storybook event. The food, flowers, lighting, decorations, music, and ceremony were all spectacular and you deserve the credit for having everything go so smoothly. What can I say? We love you and think you are great! Fearrington is the perfect venue for a wedding!”

    - Father of a Fearrington Bride, October 2012

  • "Hi Gilda! We have been just sitting back receiving wonderful gobs of praise for being so smart and... More >

    - Mother of a Fearrington Groom, June 2012

    “Hi Gilda! We have been just sitting back receiving wonderful gobs of praise for being so smart and clever as to have chosen Fearrington for the festivities! Totally knocked everybody’s socks off. So thanks AGAIN!!! You are fantastic, amazing…it wouldn’t have happened without your expertise. And Mary and Jill ditto. Rory and Annie are already planning to spend their first anniversary at the Inn, and Mark and I plan to have dinner there in the fall when we head up to Chapel Hill for football! I wish you all the best!”

    - Mother of a Fearrington Groom, June 2012

  • "Gilda -- Where do I even begin...it's hard to explain how thankful I am for you making one of the... More >

    - Fearrington Bride, January 2013

    “Gilda — Where do I even begin…it’s hard to explain how thankful I am for you making one of the best days of my life perfect. I think about my wedding everyday and feel so happy, it was better than I ever imagined. But beyond my wedding being so well designed and managed through and through, I’m most thankful that I had the opportunity to work with you and such an amazing team. Thank you for being my rock and for trusting me, guiding me, and supporting my husband and I through this process. We loved every minute and will certainly be back to visit!

    - Fearrington Bride, January 2013

  • "The delicious food was a huge hit with all our guests, and the flowers were gorgeous. The wedding... More >

    - Mother of a Fearrington Bride (twice over), April 2012

    “The delicious food was a huge hit with all our guests, and the flowers were gorgeous. The wedding cake was perfect, beautiful, and delicious. The Barn is certainly a wonderful place for the cocktail party and reception with dinner. None of us will ever forget the garden wedding, and how well everything went – thank you for directing all of us. The Inn courtyard, the patio, and also the field made incredible backdrops for our photos. Also, thank you for holding off the rain until the reception!!”

    - Mother of a Fearrington Bride (twice over), April 2012

  • "Hi Gilda! Thank you so much for such an amazing experience!!!!! Ryan and I relaxed, enjoyed... More >

    - Fearrington Bride, December 2012

    “Hi Gilda! Thank you so much for such an amazing experience!!!!! Ryan and I relaxed, enjoyed ourselves, and truly had a SPECTACULAR wedding at Fearrington! I cannot thank you enough for your hard work, professionalism, creativity, management, and communications! You are CHERISHED! You , Mary and the Fearrington team, went above and beyond to create such a perfect, romantic elopement for Ryan and me! We cannot thank you enough!”

    - Fearrington Bride, December 2012

  • Mary - I miss you just thinking about how wonderful planning  our wedding with you was. I can't... More >

    - Vicki, September 2012 bride

    Mary – I miss you just thinking about how wonderful planning  our wedding with you was. I can’t put into words how lucky Ben and I feel. We are so thankful for you. And not just your talents, but your amazing personality. You and Gilda worked so hard on our wedding and prepping for worst-case scenarios day-of. Thank you, thank you for everything. It was literally the best day of our lives – mostly because of the flowers. We hope to come visit soon and hopefully more permanently in the future. We know this is just a little thank-you, but want to tell you one more time how grateful we are!

    - Vicki, September 2012 bride

  • Dear Cheryl, Thank you for all of your help to make our bridal shower so lovely. Everyone had fun... More >

    - Future Bride, March 2013

    Dear Cheryl,
    Thank you for all of your help to make our bridal shower so lovely. Everyone had fun and the food was yummy. Lisa and Alyce took very good care of us. Their service was wonderful! Lisa knew just what to ask to make things go off without a hitch. She even thought to ask what sort of music we wanted. I would not have known to ask! Please tell both Lisa and Alyce thank you for me.
    Also, the flowers were absolutely beyond perfect! Please tell Mary thank you. There were lots of compliments for the arrangements. Mary’s selection of flowers was exactly what I had hoped for.
    Cheryl, thank you for pulling it all together and working out all of the details with us! You also were the best!

    - Future Bride, March 2013

Meet the Team

Gilda McDaniel, Special Events Manager

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gilda has been at Fearrington for over 18 years, first working in McIntyre’s Books, then managing The Market Café (the predecessor to The Fearrington Granary) before becoming our wedding planner over 10 years ago. Gilda’s community involvement includes her former role as president of the board of Chatham County Arts Council.

Cheryl Anne Kast, Weddings, Special Events & Catering

Originally from South Africa, Cheryl graduated in 2003 from the Institute of Culinary Art at Spier in Stellenbosch. She worked in the kitchens of the renowned Conran Restaurant Group in the UK for 2 years before coming to The Fearrington House Restaurant in 2006. After gaining valuable experience in The Fearrington House kitchens, Cheryl joined Weddings & Special Events in 2009.

Mary Stevens, Floral Designer

Originally from the Philadelphia area, Mary grew up in a large family of avid gardeners, which started her interest of all things natural at an early age. She has been creating floral displays exclusively for Fearrington weddings since 2001. Mary and her team of talented artists work with each bridal couple to create a one of a kind experience for each celebration.

Heather Walters, Special Events Coordinator

Heather moved to North Carolina in 2006 after receiving a Bachelors Degree in Hotel, Resort, Tourism Management from Paul Smith’s College in upstate New York. After working on the corporate sales and catering teams at Fearrington for years, Heather took over management of the spa in 2011 and now works with special events.

Michelle Huckleberry, Chocolatiere and Cake Designer

Originally from San Antonio TX, Michelle started her work at Myles Baker Street in 2009. Working under Pastry Chef Meredith Myles, she was introduced to exquisite European pastries. Her accolades include graduation from the Culinary Institute of America and specialized training at the Waldorf and Astoria in Boca Raton, Florida. Post graduation, she has joined the Fearrington House team and currently designs specialty cakes for weddings and special events.

Carlos Moreno, Catering Manager

Carlos began his career in hospitality in his native Puerto Rico at fellow Relais & Chateaux property, The Horned Dorset Primavera. He moved stateside in 2005 and spent two years at The Inn at Little Washington and The Lake Placid Lodge. He joined The Fearrington House Restaurant in 2007, where he worked as a waiter. Carlos was promoted to Catering Manager in 2011.

Colin Bedford, Executive Chef

In his four years as Executive Chef at Fearringon House, Chef Colin Bedford has shaped all aspects of culinary offerings: among them, grand-scale wedding receptions; cookbook author lunches and evening events with traveling chef/authors; casual fare at The Fearrington Granary and our beer garden, Roost; individual room service; and most notably, at The Fearrington House, one of the most venerable farm-to-fork restaurants in the South. Colin was awarded the culinary world’s top prize, Grand Chef, by Relais & Chateaux in 2012. Read more about Colin here!

Maximilian Kast, Wine Director

Max joined The Fearrington House in 2007 as Sommelier, and within a year was promoted to Wine Director with responsibilities for the beverage program for the entire property. He organizes and hosts Fearrington House’s popular wine dinner series. And he also teaches popular and inexpensive wine and beer classes at The Fearrington Granary Restaurant. Read more about Max here!

Tom Whitaker, Executive Sous Chef

Hailing from Hexham in the Northeast of England, Tom began his culinary education at Queen Elizabeth High School. After working in some of the top restaurants in the region, Tom moved to the United States in 2006 and began working at The Fearrington House. Having had the opportunity to work with highly skilled chefs for several years, Tom became Sous Chef in 2009 and has since been promoted to Executive Sous Chef.

Thomas Card, Sous Chef

Originally from central New York, Thomas trained in some of the region’s best fine dining establishments until 2005. He then relocated to Emerald Isle, NC to refine his culinary skills with fresh sea food and local produce. Thomas moved to Raleigh to join the opening team of the Umstead Hotel and Spa. After four years there, Thomas left to join The Fearrington House culinary team as a Sous Chef in 2011.