Wed Society, a leading wedding planning and vendor curation franchise, is celebrating its 20-year milestone with a new phase of strategic growth led by Amy Marshall, owner of Wed Society Raleigh. As the brand commemorates two decades of industry influence, the Raleigh market has reached a defining moment: becoming the first Wed Society market to acquire a second market, with a third currently in negotiation.
Founded in 2007 and formerly known as Brides of Oklahoma, Wed Society has grown into a nationally recognized wedding media and vendor network with more than 30 markets across the United States. The brand's rapid expansion has been widely noted across business and entrepreneurial publications, driven by a distinct approach that prioritizes local communities over national directories.
Under Marshall's leadership, Wed Society of the Greater Raleigh Area has emerged as a flagship example of that growth model. Raleigh serves as the organization's foundational market in North Carolina. A Charleston-Hilton Head, South Carolina market is scheduled to launch in the spring of 2026, and negotiations are underway for a Western Carolina market planned for January 2028. Once finalized, the portfolio will uniquely represent urban, coastal, and mountain wedding destinations across the Carolinas.
"We were the first market to expand into a second, and now we're building toward a third," says Marshall. "That speaks not only to the strength of the brand, but to the depth of the community we've built in Raleigh. Growth only works when it's intentional."
At the core of Wed Society's success is its hyper-local model. Unlike national platforms that aggregate vendors across regions, Wed Society curates each market independently, featuring only top-tier local professionals. From planners and venues to florists and photographers, every vendor is vetted through in-market research and personal relationships. In the Raleigh market alone, the platform features a carefully capped roster, including an exclusive set of photographers, ensuring quality over quantity.
"When people have too many options, they don't make a choice," Marshall says. "We've already done the research. Couples come to us knowing that every vendor they see is someone we trust and stand behind."
That research-driven approach is a key differentiator, as Wed Society conducts annual third-party market research in each region, compiling detailed reports that analyze industry trends, consumer behavior, and economic factors. These insights are shared with vendors and couples alike, helping reduce the hundreds of hours couples typically spend researching wedding services.
In just under a year, Wed Society Raleigh has surpassed 100 local vendor members, reinforcing its position as a community-first platform. That community is not only professional but personal. Marshall and her partner, Frank, are preparing for their own wedding in May, using exclusively Wed Society vendors, an experience that mirrors the journey of the couples they serve. "We're living this alongside our members and our couples," Marshall says. "We're in the space every day, building trust, building relationships, and creating something that truly supports local businesses."
As Wed Society approaches two decades in business, the brand's expansion across the Carolinas signals a continued commitment to intentional scale, local excellence, and meaningful connection in an increasingly crowded wedding industry.
