
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 the carolinas
SAMKOMA is based in Wilmington, North Carolina and we have experience working throughout North and South Carolina. Whether you are dreaming about the mountains, a city skyline, coastal charm, the low country or something in between — we would love to dream with you.
WILMINGTON · CHARLESTON · THE BILTMORE ESTATE · SURROUNDING AREAS
Full service Planning & Event Design
with event designers Josiah Carr and Justin McGregor
SAMKOMA offers Full Service Planning and Event Design services to 8 couples each calendar year with Josiah as the primary point of contact, and Justin and Josiah both weighing in creatively throughout the process.
We are passionate about working with couples that respect our work as visionaries and designers, and only take on 8 couples annually 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.
Outside of weddings, SAMKOMA offers planning and design services for social events, birthdays, corporate events and retreats, and any other occasion that our clients wish to celebrate! We would love the opportunity to connect and create something beautiful for you.
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 of three. The scope of work for your wedding is divided amongst our core team: Event Designer and Planner team: Josiah Carr & Justin McGregor and Logistics Coordinator: Brandy Dyer. After your inquiry has been received, our team will review your information, and then get you scheduled for an initial consultation with SAMKOMA. We offer both virtual, and in-person consultations depending on our work and travel schedule. Following our consultation, the SAMKOMA team will send over a custom contract and quote based on our preliminary discussions. After your contract has been signed, and your deposit is paid, the fun begins!
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 JosiaH, JUSTIN & 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.
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 PHOTOGRAPHY AT BAKERY 105.
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There is nowhere quite like Figure 8. The ceremony lawn here is stunning and the options are endless in terms of tent design for your reception! Let’s get started!
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One of Wilmington’s newest and 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!”
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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!
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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!
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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.
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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!
CHARLESTON
THE PROPERTIES LISTED BELOW ARE SOME OF OUR FAVORITES IN THE CHARLESTON AREA, BUT WE ARE ALWAYS EXCITED TO WORK AT NEW LOCATIONS. MINI GALLERY BY ABBY JIU & LISA ZIESING PHOTOGRAPHY.
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THE DUNLIN - This beautiful property is Auberge Resort Collection’s low country escape and newest property.
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MIDDLETON PLACE - This is one of most picturesque properties in the Charleston area. A National Historic Landmark, Middleton Place is an unforgettable setting for one-of-a-kind weddings. Its sweeping views of the Ashley River, iconic House Museum, moss-draped, centuries-old oak trees, meticulously manicured gardens bursting with color and sculpted terraces, an array of unique indoor and outdoor spaces for both the ceremony and reception, plus a 55-room Inn make Middleton Place one of Charleston’s most treasured wedding venues.






THE BILTMORE ESTATE
The Biltmore Estate is a historic house museum in Asheville, North Carolina. Biltmore House, the main residence, is a Châteauesque-style mansion built for George Washington Vanderbilt II between 1889 and 1895 and is the largest privately owned house in the United States. Still owned by George Vanderbilt's descendants, it remains one of the most prominent examples of Gilded Age mansions. There are multiple venues to choose from on the expansive property and fortunately, our team has lots of experience working here. Catering and bar services are offered in house and there are lots of inclusions with each location on site. Considering a Biltmore Wedding? We would be honored to connect.
THE BELOW WEDDING WAS DESIGNED BY SAMKOMA & PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOSE VILLA
READ ABOUT AARON CARPENTER AND CONNAR FRANKLIN’S WEDDING AT THE BILTMORE ESTATE ON OVER THE MOON

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 JosiaH, JUSTIN & 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.