La Residence has always been a big part of Chapel Hill native Elliott Neal’s life; his parents, Moreton and Bill Neal, opened the restaurant together in 1976. It took on an even greater significance when he met the love of his life – then UNC student CC Glenn – while managing the eatery in 2006.
On Christmas morning of 2014, Elliott surprised CC’s entire family when he showed up on their doorstep in Charleston, S.C. CC’s mom snuck him inside, announced to the rest of the family that there was a surprise and covered CC’s eyes with her hands. When she finally allowed CC to look, there was Elliott on one knee with a ring in his hand, complete with a candy cane in his left breast pocket. CC was so amazed that she almost forgot to say, “Yes!”
The pair enjoys exploring the world together, and their love of food, travel, wine and culture influenced them to get married on the Amalfi Coast. Their dream became reality on Sept. 9, 2015, when they became husband and wife by the Tyrrhenian Sea. It was a dreary, overcast day, but just as they were exchanging vows, the blanket of clouds in the sky finally broke and the sun began to stream through. “There were audible ‘ooohhhs’ and ‘ahhhhs’ from our guests,” says CC. “It was as if the heavens were looking down on us and blessing our marriage from up above. Absolutely breathtaking.”
CC and Elliott reside in Chapel Hill and plan to celebrate their first anniversary with a trip to Italy.
