What’s a couple to do when they want an intimate backyard wedding and 300 guests? This sweet Bride and Groom decided to take the party to a bigger backyard—the one at Willow Spring Farm, an antebellum estate in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Take a look at the gallery for all the little touches that kept this wedding intimate and personal.
From Michael and Carina Photography… Aaron and Bethany’s wedding at Willow Spring Farm in the Shenandoah Valley, just west of Charlottesville, VA, was simply perfect. Just a few minutes away from where we met them for their engagement session, he didn’t know what to say when he saw her for the first time. He held her hands, admired his bride in her wedding dress, and then he embraced her under the shade of an old tree. Their ceremony was a celebration not only of their love for one another, but their profound devotion & love of God. Afterwards, we walked through the fields under the setting sun, and joined them for an evening of laughter and celebration long into the night.
From the Bride… I’d always dreamed of a sweet and intimate backyard wedding, which is a little tough to do when you’re inviting almost 300 guests. When we stumbled on the back patio of Willow Spring Farm I knew we could make our dream come true (we just had to keep our fingers crossed for blue skies). We wanted our wedding to feel like us—fun, romantic, and very personal!
From start to finish, our wedding day was absolutely perfect. We couldn’t have asked for more beautiful weather and it was amazing to watch everything we’d been planning come to life. We put our heart and soul into designing our invitations, programs, favors (sweet little sachets of lavender), and florals. I loved every moment of handpicking each flower and piecing together my beautiful bouquet. My mom made my cute little bird cage veil and I wrapped my bouquet with a swatch of lace from her wedding dress (worn first by her mom, my grandmother). I wore my grandmother’s vintage wedding rings and one of my friends made the most beautiful cakes for us (my mom handmade the little birdie toppers). They say it take a village to raise a child- well it took a village to pull off our beautiful day, and we wouldn’t have had it any other way. Friends and family pitched in left and right making the space and feelings more beautiful than we ever could have dreamed.
We let the beauty of our venue (a gorgeous pre-civil war era home) speak for itself and got married on the front steps while our loved ones filled the front yard. Our friends and family read scripture and poems and played beautiful melodies while we exchanged our vows. Our day was anchored in Jesus and the purpose of our wedding was to bring Him glory and honor. We ended our ceremony with everyone (wedding party and guests alike) holding hands- united. That was important to us- that our wedding feel like a back yard party reuniting old and new friends, family, and strangers. All of us enjoying life and celebrating this beautiful day under the blue skies and twinkling lights. We’ve never felt more loved and encouraged and must say it was the perfect start to forever.
Photography: Michael And Carina Photography | Event Planning: Angie Pearson | Floral Design: Bride | Wedding Dress: David's Bridal | Cake: Family Friend | Wedding Shoes: Toms | Jewelry: Francesca's | Bridesmaids' Dresses: RenzRags | Catering: Hale Koa phineas Estate | Hair And Makeup: Lyndsey Bates | Groomsmen Ties: Clip A Bow Tie | Men's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Officiant: Essen Daley | Venue: Willow Spring Farm | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab | Paper Goods: White House Custom Color