Richmond Wedding by Katie Stoops Photography

Every day is our favorite day here on SMP, but we have a VERY special place in our hearts for Wedding Wednesday.  It’s the day of the week that we get to dive into eight (!) gorgeous weddings with each of you… and all are filled to the brim with pretty, pretty inspiration and some of the most heart-warming moments you will ever see.  So, prepare yourselves for an ENTIRE day of lovely, SMPers.  It’s going to be awesome.

If ever there was a wedding to completely charm our Wedding Wednesday lovin’ hearts, this, my friends, is IT.  Set against a breathtaking backdrop of stunning sycamore trees and boasting sweet black and white hues, beyond fanciful bouquets by Flower Girls and a spectacular pair of ruffly shoes, this darling soiree is all about the ROMANCE.  And, really, who doesn’t need a little L.O.V.E. to jump start the morning?  Thankfully, Katie Stoops Photography captured every last stunning moment… and the gallery is brimming with all of the sweetness you need.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… We wanted our wedding to feel intimate and personal, as if our friends and family had gathered in our own backyard garden to celebrate our union. However, we live in a second-floor apartment without so much as a terrace, so we turned to the historic Mankin Mansion to help us create our cozy garden vision. We were married on a beautiful October day under the mansion’s 100-year-old sycamore tree. Our ceremony was short and sweet and made special by a reading from my aunt and uncle, who were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary.

Our flowers were carefully selected and intended to highlight the natural world around us. My bridal bouquet was hand-tied and loosely mounded with the just-picked feel of Queen Anne’s lace, hydrangea, garden roses, seeded eucalyptus, lisianthus and feathers. Paul’s boutonniere was a garden spray rose with green hypericum berries and a feather to tie in with my bouquet. We filled the reception tent with softly-lit candles, topiaries, bird cages and vintage family photos.

Incorporating family tradition and heritage was important to us, so we served my mother’s famous sangria as our signature drink during cocktail hour and mixed salsa music in with our favorite dance songs to honor Paul’s Spanish heritage. The dance floor was packed all night, and it made our day to see our loved ones laughing, dancing together, and celebrating this incredible moment with us. Afterward, we enjoyed a beautiful honeymoon Barcelona, Spain.

Wedding Photography: Katie Stoops Photography / Wedding Venue: Historic Mankin Mansion in Richmond, Virginia / Floral Design: Flower Girls / Wedding Dress: Blue by Enzoani / Bride’s Shoes: Calvin Klein / Bride’s Earrings: Nadri via Nordstrom / Garter: Passed down from the Bride’s Mother / Clutch: Passed down from Bride’s Grandmother / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Forever Yours / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Caparros / Hair: Welsy Mourino of Look Boutique Salon / Makeup: Summer McCarley of Mint Collective / Groom’s + Groomsmen’s Tuxedo: Calvin Klein via Men’s Wearhouse / Wedding Cake: Cakes by Graham / Catering: Champagne Taste / Custom Chocolate Bar Favors: For the Love of Chocolate / Bird Cage Thank You Card + Chocolate Bar Label Design: Jacqueline Weppner of Merci New York / Wedding Invitations + Programs: Tag & Co. Stationery