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Freedman & Hockaday BY CA LEB SIGM ON PHOTOGRAP HY BY W HI T N EY ATKIN S, HANKALI LY P H OTOGRAP H Y. SH OOT PROOF.COM
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ifelong Tar Heel Maria Hockaday and East Chapel Hill High School graduate Chase Freedman met online in 2018 and, in their own words, “fell hard and fast.” Their first date was at The Blend & co., a coffee shop in Burlington. Two and a half years later, Chase brought Maria back to the shop along with Maria’s family – who had set the stage there for him to propose. Chase says, “When Maria saw the writing on her coffee sleeve saying ‘Will you marry me?’ she immediately turned around to see me holding an open ring box and started screaming ‘yes!’” The ceremony and reception were held on Oct. 23, 2021, at Union Grove Farm. The event, planned by Amelia Irene Catering and Event Design, featured flower arrangements from Victoria Park Florist and drinks from Toast It Up!. Maria decorated a table in memory of her late father, David Hockaday, and wrapped strips of fabric from her mother’s wedding dress around her bouquet and her bridesmaids’ in honor of her mother, Loraine Hockaday. Maria says she never wanted to stop dancing in her wedding dress. “It made me feel so special, but I knew everyone could see that Chase was the real reason for my permanent smile.” Local members of the wedding party included best man Kyle Freedman, maid of honor Ashley Hockaday, bridesmaid Valerie Lansdale and groomsmen Adam Graham, Matthew Miller and Matthew Shangler. The couple lives in Carrboro and both work for UNC – Maria at the Ackland Art Museum and Chase with IT Services. They enjoy going to UNC productions and visiting the Carrboro Farmers Market. CHM 96
chapelhillmagazine.com
November 2022