Cary couple married in WRAL Azalea Gardens in 1976 returns for 50th wedding anniversary

Dan and Susan Ellis married in the WRAL Azalea Gardens on June 12, 1976. Nearly 50 years later, they returned to the same spot to tell their story. 

Both are North Carolina natives. Susan was born in Raleigh, Dan's family moved to the Triangle from the Charlotte area when he was in fifth grade.

"I've been here my whole life," Susan said. "When we got married, we lived in Garner for a couple years, and then we moved to Cary. We've been here ever since."

Dan met Susan at Leroy Martin Junior High School in Raleigh, which is now Martin Magnet Middle School. Later, they both attended Broughton High School. 

The couple started dating in ninth grade, two weeks after they met. They had friends in common, and Dan lived around the corner from one of Susan's friends.

"He had told her that he wanted to meet me," Susan said.

Their first date was Battle of the Bands at Dorton Arena, which some fairgoers called the livestock pavilion or "Cow Palace" at that time.

"I think I still have the tickets," Susan said.

Dan remembers asking Susan to go on that date.

"Between the cafeteria and the gymnasium was a big vestibule, and I finally got the nerve and approached her in the hallway, and we talked," he said. 

The high school sweethearts grew closer throughout the years.

"We had been dating for years," Dan said. "We were the terrible people that would get on the phone and talk all evening ... we used to just talk for hours and hours."

Getting engaged was a natural next step. They picked out the engagement ring together.

"I knew it was coming," Susan said. "He gave it to me on my birthday."

Together with a friend, Susan designed and made her wedding gown. The process took at least six months. 

"My roommate and I, both of us had our sewing machine set up in the little house we were renting, and so we sewed half the night lots of times," Susan recalled.

Dan and Susan married in the WRAL Azalea Gardens surrounded by their loved ones. 

A wedding in the gardens has always been affordable compared to other venues, but in 1976, it was free.

"It was pretty," Susan said. "It's more beautiful now, but it was pretty then too. We had very little money to get started on, and a garden wedding was perfect."

Her wedding gown was baby blue, "which was kind of scandalous at the time," Susan laughed.

Their advice to couples?

"Patience and humor. Humor works really well," Susan said. "Try not to be too serious about everything, and be as forgiving as possible. I think too many people these days just give up too quickly."

"It's not a destination, it's a journey," Dan added.

Dan and Susan have two children who are now in their 40s and a teenage grandson. They have lived in their Cary home for nearly 50 years. 

"We're just regular old people," Dan laughed. 

The two stay active in their retirement as is evident by their latest adventure.

Since their honeymoon was in the North Carolina mountains, Dan and Susan are planning an anniversary trip with their newest child -- a 100-pound dog. They will stay in a little A-frame cabin off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Little Switzerland, which is about an hour northeast of Asheville. 

Happy anniversary, Dan and Susan!