Charlottesville Wedding by Jason Keefer Photography

Welcome back SMP-ers! I’m hoping that today’s first picture perfect wedding will lift your Monday blues and get you excited about all of the wedding goodness up for grabs this week. We’re kicking things off with a wedding that managed to find the perfect balance between total elegance and total fun. And it all came down to the adorable personalities of the bride and groom. Photographed by the husband and wife duo at Jason Keefer Photography in Charlottesville, this wedding will make you smile from ear to ear. Click here to see even more pictures!

lots more not featured details right here!

Keri and John met while playing on the same flag football team that a mutual friend had organized.  After three months of Keri waiting for John to ask her out, he finally did after a Saturday night Halloween party.  That Monday morning, Keri walked into the start of a new school term where she would be a teaching assistant, and wouldn’t you know, John was sitting in her class as a new student!!

They both live and work in Baltimore, MD, John a nephrologist and Keri an epidemiologist.  They are both extremely intelligent and have a huge affinity for knowledge, particularly history,  so having their destination wedding at James Monroe’s Ash Lawn-Highland was a perfect fit!  Keri has been a bridesmaid 8 times, so she had a pretty clear vision of what her day would entail.  She adapted several ideas and styles and mixed them into a flavor of her own… a little bit of classic southern elegance and charm, a little whimsy, DIY and splashes of color. Keri’s clean and simple bouquet of white roses and white calla lilies were a perfect example of southern elegance and grace.  The colorful lanterns hanging in the reception area were hung up by John and Keri and their families on the morning of the rehearsal (check out the gallery to see the space).  The stationery and place cards were from Paper Source, but Keri added her own DIY touch by adding little jewels by the guest’s names!  Keri and John utilized several of James Monroe’s lush and beautiful tucked away gardens for their first look, ceremony and lawn games.  They wanted their guests (who have traveled far and wide from places like Maryland, Florida and Iowa) to be able to relax and have fun before and after the ceremony, so lawn games such as bocce ball and horse shoes were provided along with our photobooth and poloroids!

Photography: Jason Keefer Photography / Hair & Makeup: Virginia Glenn of Reflections Salon / Gown & Shoes: Adele Wechsler and Nina heels purchased at Hitched Bridal Salon, Washington DC / Bridesmaids dresses: J Crew Bridal / Suit: West Main Bridal / Hotel: Omni Hotel / Event Coordinator: Liz Wiener (friend) / Music: DJ Ran Henry and Charlottesville String Quartet / Catering: 20 South / Floral creations: Amy Webb of Blue Ridge Floral Design / Cake: Kathy Watkins of Favorite Cakes / Officiant: Dr. Graham Redgrave (friend) / Stationery: Paper Source (and many DIY aspects!) / Ideas + Design: Kerry Amato, Unexpected Delights