About Turnage + Watts

Welcome to Turnage + Watts, where vintage meets contemporary in a timeless fusion of style and sentiment.

about

No.1

We serve couples who love classical romance in paper form. Couples who want to create a keepsake so classically beautiful it will be passed down for generations to come.

We believe happiness is in those little moments that remind you why you fell in love.

We believe in romance.

Art has been my passion since I won my first drawing contest at age 7. By age 12, I was studying at the Corcoran School of Art and Design and painting my heart out. (I wanted to be as good as my aunt who is an AMAZING artist!) That being said, every piece that leaves my shop is made with joy and pride.

I married my prom date...36 years later! (Yep, you read that right. And, I still fall for him EVERY DAY!)

I’ve worked with some of the best in the luxury events industry…Departures, Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, American Express Travel, and TIME Magazine. (And won a number of awards along the way.)

I love unsweetened tea, blue and white china, the elegant beauty of magnolia trees, the sweet smell of honeysuckle & jasmine perfume, animal rescue (many, many cats later) and dancing to old-school Hip-Hop music. (Give me some Will Smith and MC Hammer and I will light up that dance floor!)

Meet Cari

Believing in romance and destiny, brought me my Prince Charming.

We went to our high school prom together. Afterwards, he went into the Army and I went to on college. We did the long-distance dating thing for a year or so. Then, fate intervened. Like in the movie Sliding Doors with Gwyneth Paltrow, a missed phone call changed our journey together.

Fast forward many years later, a message popped up on my phone. It was from him! (What?!! Flashbacks of “An Officer and a Gentleman” came rushing back.) I heard his voice at the other end of the line and I melted all over again!

He asked if I’d like to go to dinner and catch up. After I stopped jumping up and down like my 12 yr old niece, I calmly replied back, “You know, I think I’d like that.”

36 years after our first date, we were married. And, I still fall for him EVERY DAY!

My love story

Do you feel the same way?

The first time they took your hand and the whole world just melted away. (That’s right! I know you know that feeling.) When you’re sick (and you look like h-e-double hockey sticks) and they think you’re the most beautiful thing in the world. (Oh, we’ve all been there sister.)

Turnage + Watts is named after my beautiful grandmothers, Pattie Mae Turnage and Sue Ella Watts, who always threw the best gatherings with their friends in Elon, North Carolina.

The most fulfilling aspect of my work is being a small part of making someone’s dream come true…creating that piece of art that they think is just perfect!

The story behind

our name

Every Semi-Custom suite in the collection is named after the wonderful people who enriched my life in Elon.

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I married my prom date...36 years later!
(Yep, you read that right. And, I still fall for him EVERY DAY!)

36

I’ve won 44 design awards in my career.
(I’ve worked with some of the best in the luxury events industry…Departures, Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, American Express Travel, and TIME Magazine.)

44

Things I Love

Don’t fret, I’ve got this wedding stationery thing down! I can help you with all the little details and finishing touches needed to create your beautiful heirloom treasure. Before we start collaborating though, let’s get acquainted.