Page 24 - Robeson Living Spring 2022

white — all named for the coat pat-
terns found on American Paints. These
exclusive wines are available for pur-
chase at Painted Pony.

The Carters hosted wine tasting events
pre-COVID and may again in the fu-
ture. Summer concerts are also on
Cheryl’s hope-to-make happen list,
but one event always on the calen-
dar is a promotion for which many
couples apply, but only one is cho-
sen. The event is the Wedding Portrait
Redo Giveaway won by one lucky
pair whose unfortunate circumstances
in the past left them without wedding
day professional photos. It could be
due to a wedding photographer not
fulfilling the contract, a mishap like
an installed camera memory card or
the couple themselves not having pic-
tures taken for various reasons. Either
way, the complimentary day includes
a wedding ceremony and photos. Ven-
dors volunteer the services to make
the redo happen at Painted Pony —
cake, flowers and all.

Business expansion
When the growing of muscadine
grapes proved successful, they didn’t
bat an eye at the idea of opening a
wedding venue. The idea popped up
after the Carters hosted a successful
wedding for a friend’s daughter in
2016. The whisper in her ear from the
bride’s father asking her if she ever
had considered opening a wedding
venue became the bug in the ear and all she needed to propel Painted Pony amenities
her into business in 2018.
While Cheryl is not a wedding director for her customers, she
“It was as if a little feather landed on my shoulder, and I sud- does the scheduling, managing, promoting, ordering and most
denly thought, yes, I should do that! I love stories, and wed- everything else. She helps the brides plan their ceremonies,
dings are real-life love stories,” Cheryl said. She calls the helping them make full use of the expansive facilities. While
brides she works with “her girls” and said she loves getting Cheryl hired a staff manager to facilitate the weddings the last
to know each of them and their families, noting that the rela- few years, mostly due to the pandemic, she is happy to be one
tionships built remind her of what she loved about teaching again “back in the saddle as manager,” she said, continuing the
— getting to know others on a personal level and becoming horse theme.
involved in their lives.
Speaking of horses, the steeds and other farm critters are often
“Lee and I get very involved in every wedding,” she shared. part of the wedding activities. From bridal portraits, candid or
“Each time, it is like one of our own children getting mar- selfies are taken with Pretty Girl, the resident Paint, Moon, a
ried.”
Tennessee Walker, or miniature horse Honey Bun, to the inclu-

Page 23 Page 24 Robeson Living ~ Spring 2022