We LOVE love. It’s the foundation and intention of samkoma.

It is an honor to be by your side, not only on your wedding day, but throughout the planning process as well.

Love deserves to be celebrated, and so do you.

We are so excited to learn more about what you are envisioning for your wedding in The Carolinas.

Welcome to North Carolina

SAMKOMA is based in Wilmington, North Carolina and we have a decade of experience working throughout the state. Whether you are dreaming about the mountains, a city skyline, coastal charm or something in between — we would love to dream with you.

ASHEVILLE · CASHIERS · CHARLOTTE · FIGURE EIGHT ISLAND · HIGHLANDS · RALEIGH · WILMINGTON

PHOTOS BELOW BY SAMKOMA’S CO-FOUNDER, JUSTIN McGREGOR

WILMINGTON

THE PROPERTIES LISTED BELOW ARE SOME OF OUR FAVORITES IN THE WILMINGTON AREA, BUT WE ARE ALWAYS EXCITED TO WORK AT NEW LOCATIONS. MINI GALLERY BY SAMKOMA’S CO-FOUNDER, JUSTIN McGREGOR, AT BAKERY 105.

  • AIRLIE GARDENS - Airlie Gardens’ history dates back to the early 1700’s. Today there are 67 picturesque acres of gardens. Let us design a stunning garden ceremony and tented reception for you!

  • BAKERY 105 - This is a perfect option for up to 120 guests. There is a stunning outdoor courtyard for ceremony and cocktail hour and a beautiful industrial warehouse interior for dinner and dancing - located downtown on Front Street.

  • Brooklyn Arts Center - The Brooklyn Arts Center is located in an 1888 historic landmark church that has been meticulously reinvented. This property can fit up to 250 guests and is steps away from the downtown riverfront. Let’s create something beautiful here!

  • One of Wilmington’s most private properties. This property will feel like your home away from home. Surrounded be beautiful nature and stunning southern architectural details, there’s no better place to say “I Do!”

  • WRIGHTSVILLE MANOR - This is one of our favorite spots in Wilmington! No detail was left out in the designing of this property. A beautiful bridal suite, stunning private gardens for a ceremony, an expansive lawn with beautiful landscaping for cocktail hour, and a gorgeous interior for dinner and dancing. Located minutes away from the Wrightsville Beach bridge! Location Location Location!

FIGURE EIGHT ISLAND

THE GALLERY BELOW IS OF A CUSTOM BUILT TENT THAT SAMKOMA DESIGNED IN THE BACKYARD OF A PRIVATE RESIDENCE ON FIGURE EIGHT ISLAND. OUR TEAM IS FAMILIAR WITH THE LOGISTICS OF GETTING ON AND OFF THE ISLAND, WE HAVE A GREAT REPUTATION WITH THE YACHT CLUB, AND WE WOULD BE HONORED TO CONNECT WITH YOU ABOUT YOUR FIGURE EIGHT ISLAND WEDDING. THE FOLLOWING WEDDING WAS PHOTOGRAPHED BY MICAH COOK PHOTOGRAPHY.

Full service Planning & Event Design SERVICES

SAMKOMA offers Full Service Planning and Event Design services to 8 couples, per planner, each calendar year. We are passionate about working with couples that respect our work as visionaries and designers, and only take a limited number of weddings each year in an effort to give those couples the respect and attention they deserve throughout this exciting chapter in their lives. 

Connecting with our clients on an energetic level is of upmost importance to us. We believe good communication and being properly aligned with compatible personality types from the start, sets everyone up for a healthy, and productive working relationship.

Founders of SAMKOMA, Josiah Carr and Justin McGregor, take on 8 Full Service Clients each year as a team. Mariann Cameron, Lead Wedding & Event Planner with SAMKOMA also takes on 8 Full Service Clients each year. Mariann is the Lead Planner for her Clients and once she and her Clients are entering the design phase of their planning journey, Josiah & Justin also weigh in with creative insight and artistic perspective.


FULL SERVICE PLANNING & EVENT DESIGN // THE PROCESS

When you secure SAMKOMA for full service planning and event design services, you don’t just get one planner, you get a team. Founders of SAMKOMA Josiah and Justin work closely for all of their couples, and Mariann weighs in administratively. When Mariann is the primary planner, Josiah and Justin are weighing in creatively. We are one unified team and that means that you as the couple are fully supported throughout your planning process. After your inquiry has been received, our team will review your information, and then get you scheduled for an initial consultation with SAMKOMA. Following our consultation, the SAMKOMA team will send over a custom contract and quote based on our preliminary discussions.

Our Process is divided into 3 phases: Foundation, Design and Production.


Phase 1: Foundation

The foundation phase involves collecting information and learning more about you as a client, what you are envisioning, and when you are wanting to get married. 

The following services are covered in Phase 1:


 Phase 2: Design

The design phase of the planning process is where we get to see your wedding start to take shape! We take all of the information from our foundation phase, and carefully curate an overall event design that is entirely customized to your experience. Lisa Lova is SAMKOMA’s exclusive digital renderings designer. As we discuss each part of your wedding weekend, Lisa will provide sketches to ensure that we are all aligned and on the same page.

Once you have reviewed your full design, we will make revisions as needed. In an effort to be mindful of our suppliers’ time and energies, we kindly ask that all revisions be submitted in writing within 2 weeks of the design presentation. After revisions have been made, we require you to sign off on the design, approving it, so that we can continue sourcing all of the vendors needed to build your experience from the ground up. 

The following services are covered in Phase 2:


 Phase 3: Production

After securing all suppliers needed to execute your custom event design, we transition into the final phase of our planning process together.

Throughout Phase 3, we provide the following services:


Next Steps

Ready to begin dreaming about your wedding? Click the button below to get started, and to get additional information for FULL SERVICE PLANNING & Event Design WITH THE SAMKOMA Team.

SAMKOMA doesn’t have a set minimum overall budget requirement. We welcome all inquiries and depending on location, desired wedding date and guest count, we will make every effort to work within your projected budget. Please contact us to schedule an initial consultation about your wedding! We are ready to dream with you.

click here to contact us today!