Virginia Wedding Ideas and Inspiration

A Charlottesville Love Story Colored by Blue Ridge Sunsets

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Navy, lighter blues and yellow[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

Having met each other at school in Charlottesville, Virginia, we got to enjoy the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of the Shenandoah National Park together. We also shared many incredible sunsets in our time together in Charlottesville. This helped inspire the range of blues and yellows that we used throughout the event.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]Coco is a runner and decided to run the St. Louis marathon – which is Willie’s hometown. He popped the question at the end of the race, much to her surprise.[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]We wanted the menu to keep guests going all night long. Guests were greeted with Aperol spritzes and Mount Ida sparkling wine to keep them cool pre-ceremony. After the ceremony a variety of bites were passed during cocktail hour paired with the couples signature cocktails a ranch water for the groom and a cider cocktail for our cider loving bride. A fun twist is you could add a kick to your ranch water by asking for it “Willie style”. Summer in Charlottesville was celebrated using local ingredients for a family style dinner. After dinner guests kept the dance floor full and we refueled them with ham biscuits (Charlottesville’s signature dish) and fried ravioli (a nod to the grooms St. Louis background).[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]The mountains were the most important part of view and showed up in everything from our save the dates, invitations, cake, to how we structured the ceremony florals. Leaving the flowers to lead guests eye towards the mountains with a lush ombre aisle and a gorgeous grounded arch.

Our day of paper celebrated talavera style designs with blue patterns and talavera tile table numbers.

In the reception tent layered whites, ivories, yellows and blues shown under the sailcloth tent. A gorgeous blue glass charger from BBJ added a fun pop to the tabletop.
As the sunset the tent ceiling of twinkle lights started to glow providing the perfect ambiance for dancing. [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Cakes by Rachel provided our cake and the white on white cake continued our mountain theme with the representation of the blue ridge mountains adorning the bottom tier.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]

Ceremony music was carefully selected by the bride using a mix of strings and recorded music. The recessional was exceptionally well timed with lyrics by Chance the rapper. Landslide- groom, grandparent and moms entry (live) Cowboy Take Me Away – the chicks – bridal party (live) Enchanted Taylor Swift- bridal party (live) Love you for a long time- Maggie Rogers -bride (recorded) Recessional- Holy start at 3:06 (recorded) Ohh La La – Faces (recorded) The band was incredible and kept the dance floor rocking all night long. The bride and groom shared their first dance a mashup the band learned. The groom and his mom danced to Proud Mary, it was such a fun and high energy mother son dance.

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[field title=”Special Detail #1″]We did a welcome party structured to have seated appetizers and toasts for an intimate group at Potters cider with stunning tablescapes by Tupelo florals. After that the rest of the guests joined for an incredible stationed welcome party with fun nods to the couples favorite things. We had a signature drink recreated from a trip they had recently taken in the tropics that included ginger beer and pineapple. The venue Potters cider was a nod to the bride’s love of cider. We also had a bluegrass band, as well as a tarot card reader and a magician to keep guests entertained. It was a fantastic event that allowed the bride and groom to soak in time with all of their guests before the big day. [/field]
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A Floral-Filled Celebration in Shades of Blush and Green at Stone Tower Winery

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Blush, pinks, ivory, creams and greenery.[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

The overall vision was soft, romantic elegance, with all the light shades of pinks and natural greens, with a focus on flowers.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]

Karys and Blaine had plans to stay at the Salamander Resort in Middleburg for the weekend to celebrate Blaine’s birthday. Karys knew they would get engaged at some point in the next year, but had no idea Blaine had asked her parents and picked out a ring (which he brought her mother and sister to see before proposing). They headed down to dinner early to grab drinks and went on a walk through the property where he ultimately proposed. Blaine had a photographer shooting the whole thing and had both of their families there to surprise Karys and celebrate at dinner afterwards. The biggest and best surprise of her life.

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Karys found her dress at The Bridal Room and is still absolutely obsessed with her dress. The experience alone was amazing, but her dress was everything she wanted for her wedding day.

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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]The bridesmaids’ dresses were from Azazie, which Karys selected based on color and the overall style she thought would be perfect for the look and vibe of the wedding.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]

The Black Tux! Easy to use, and all the guys looked great. Both the groom and the groomsmen wore black tuxes, which boasted the classic, elegant look.

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It was a hot summer day, so what better way to greet guests than with cucumber mint-infused water and sun-kissed peach iced tea? Clothespin Short Rib Taco, Southern Fried Chicken and Waffle Cone, Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut Slider, & Macaroni and Cheese Croquettes were passed to guests during cocktail hour, and a charcuterie display was provided to complement the winery scene. Karys and Blaine also had two signature cocktails- a pear lavender lemonade for the bride and a transfusion for the groom. A plated dinner, starting with a peach and arugula salad and a choice of salmon or beef tenderloin. A late-night snack of Truffle Pommes Frites Cone and Cheeseburger Sliders finished off the night.

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

Florals played a huge, if not the biggest, role during wedding planning. Flowers were the most important factor for Karys. Sophie Felts delivered on the design, complete with a seven-foot arch, elevated and low compote arrangements, garlands, and tons of candlelight to create an elegant and warm ambiance throughout the evening. The design complemented the colors, with the accent color of gold added in small touches like flatware, gold-rimmed chargers, glassware, and geometric candle holders. Pink was also used to ground the design in the napkin selection, and dinner plates, along with an ivory and gold shimmer linen to create dimension, pattern, and texture play.

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]

Cake was also very important to Karys, as she has quite a sweet tooth. A 3 tier buttercream frosted cake

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]

Blaine and Karys wrote personal vows that were read to be captured as part of their wedding video only, giving them a moment to themselves before the ceremony without friends or family around to hear. This was particularly important so they could always hear each other’s voices repeating the commitments they made to each other on their wedding day. Their wedding video is something they will cherish forever.

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While they did their vows privately, Karys and Blaine also exchanged wedding day gifts before their first look, which resulted in another surprise! They had kept their gift ideas from each other a complete secret, but on their wedding day, they had given each other the same gift, matching watches.

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A Whimsical Wedding at Gallison Hall With Butterfly Details and European Countryside Charm

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]White, light blue, and blush
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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

Mattie and Jack envisioned a dreamy, European-garden-inspired wedding day in the countryside of Charlottesville, Virginia. When touring venues, one thing that was top of the list was a venue with a wow-factor. Something as unique and special as these two high school sweethearts. It could have been a stunning manor house, breathtaking views of the foothills, or unique architectural details. When they visited Gallison Hall, it captured all three. A tree-lined drive welcomes you into the grand Georgian-style estate, making guests feel like they have just entered another world from their short trip from downtown Charlottesville. Mattie and Jack’s wedding embodied a whimsical garden party aesthetic, perfectly suited for their late June celebration. Their bright color palette of white, ivory, light blues, blush, peach, apricot, and pink came to life through lush, artful arrangements and thoughtful little odes to Mattie’s love of butterflies scattered through the design.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]

Mattie and Jack met in high school and have been together since 2014. At the start of 2022, Jack decided this was the year he would pop the question. He planned a trip to Montauk, NY, around the holiday. When they landed in NY, the weather was terrible – it was rainy and foggy the entire drive from the airport to the Hamptons. Much to his relief, they woke up to a beautiful, sunny day the next morning. That day, they went out to Camp Hero State Park and, with the Montauk Point Lighthouse in the background, Jack delivered a thoughtful and poignant speech about their time together and asked Mattie to marry him with a professional photographer capturing each moment. The night ended at Stephen Talkhouse, a live music club in an old house in Amagansett, with Mattie and Jack dancing the night away. There was not a single other person on the dance floor – given that the Hamptons is not typically a winter destination, there were probably only 10 or 15 other people there to begin with – but that did not stop them.

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Mattie wore an Ines Di Santo dress she purchased from Carine’s Bridal Atelier in Washington, D.C. The dress was a strapless sweetheart lace ball gown.

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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]Mattie’s bridesmaids embraced the mismatched dresses trend and selected dresses in varying shades and patterns of light blue from Reformation, Show Me Your Mumu, Anthropologie, Showpo, and Nordstrom.[/field]
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Mattie and Jack had special His & Hers signature cocktails, a classic old-fashioned, and a muddled-berry summer spritz cocktail decorated with butterfly drink stirrers.

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

Mattie and Jack’s wedding florals perfectly embodied the garden party vibe with colorful, lush arrangements. The floral designs featured peonies, garden roses, ranunculus, delphinium, local lisianthus, local foxglove, and local tiger lilies. For the ceremony, floral vases overflowed perched atop columns to beautifully frame their intimate courtyard setting. These pieces were later repurposed to accent the bar at their reception. To welcome guests, the tent entrance was adorned with airy elaeagnus vines and delicate paper butterflies, setting a whimsical yet elegant tone. Inside, tables featured a dynamic mix of lush, tall centerpieces and playful bud vases, accented by peach candles that complemented the florals effortlessly. The result was a stunningly fresh, romantic, and refined atmosphere—an unforgettable setting for Mattie and Jack’s celebration.

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]

Instead of a typical cake cutting after dinner, Mattie and Jack opted to cut the cake in front of Gallison’s Hall fireplace mantle at the end of cocktail hour to kick off the reception festivities.

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]

The ceremony took place in a sunken garden with historic details in the gate and statues. The garden party feel continued with parasols for each guest, incorporating overflowing urns of blush, pink, blue, and peach tones, and a string trio to set the mood. A close friend officiated the wedding, adding a personal touch.

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An airy eleagnus vine arch wrapped around the entrance to the reception tent and throughout it were colorful paper butterflies of various sizes tying back to Mattie’s love of butterflies that was seen in the invitations, seating chart, and drink stirrers.

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Mattie’s dad always knew he wanted a vintage Corvette, so he had purchased one a few years back, and it sat at the shop for over a year. Once Mattie and Jack brought up the idea of using it for getaway car photos, he was determined to make it happen for them and got it turned around quickly – he even drove the Corvette the 2.5 hours down to Charlottesville in late June with only semi-functional AC so that we could use it. It made for a great addition to their sunset portraits as well!

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The seating chart was a toile butterfly design with calligraphy name cards.

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Think “Bridgerton” Meets “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at The Clifton

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Wildflower colors – pinks, blues, yellows, greens, neutrals[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

Our vision was a black-tie garden party. Think “Bridgerton” meets “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. I wanted the florals to feel like wildflowers to complement the sprawling green landscape of The Clifton and the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Everything felt natural and organic, yet upscale and refined.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]

Pat and I met when we were both living in Washington, DC. I was out at a house party with my friends in a high-rise apartment building, and one friend suggested we head up to the roof to check out the view of the National Mall. Pat and his friends were at a different party in the same building and had the same idea. As my friends and I were taking a selfie with the Washington Monument behind us, Pat and his friends walked by and offered to take the photo for us. Pat and I started chatting, and he asked for my number. I agreed to a date with him the next day and had no intention of it going anywhere, I just thought it would be a good story! Four years, two moves, and one dog later, Pat proposed to me in our favorite spot in the park across the street from our apartment in Cambridge, MA. It was a Tuesday evening after work, so I was taken by surprise!

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I wore a simple and sleek Alexandra Grecco gown with its Floral Cap Sleeves and train sewn on. I fell in love with this look when I first saw it in their collection, and when I had my appointment at Ceremony in Boston, it was the first dress I tried on. I knew it was the one immediately. During our reception, I changed into the V. Chapman Betina mini dres, which was fun to wear and even more fun to dance in. I highly recommend changing into a party dress for your reception – you have no idea how much jumping and running around you’ll do all night long!

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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]

I wanted my eight bridesmaids to feel beautiful and comfortable in dresses that resonated with them, so I offered some guidelines but let them pick their looks. It also gave them more flexibility with the price points they each felt comfortable with. I asked them to look for pink, green, or blue gowns in a variety of textures, patterns, and cuts to create more visual interest at our ceremony and in photos. They came together beautifully! The final looks were from Mac Duggal, Selkie, V. Chapman, Agua by Agua Bendita, Show Me Your Mumu, Maje, Birdy Grey, and Francesca’s.

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[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Pat bought his tuxedo at a local suiting shop. The groomsmen all either wore tuxes they already owned or rented from The Black Tux. [/field]
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The Clifton provided the catering for the wedding and did a fantastic job. Our signature drink during cocktail hour was a Paloma because that is the cocktail we most commonly serve up to our friends when we have them over (our friends call them “Patlomas”). Our guests enjoyed drinking these with the custom stirrers we had made of me and Pat’s faces from when we were little kids, as well as our dog, Milly. Dinner was served family-style which was a big hit among our guests.

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

Lynn from Wild Fleurette’s floral designs was simply jaw-dropping. She completely nailed my wildflower vision. I loved the natural yet vibrant look of the blooms along the ceremony aisle, and the simple, grounded floral altar. My colorful bridal bouquet and the bridesmaids’ simple white bouquets complemented the look and feel of the gowns and venue beautifully. But the real showstopper was the head table at the reception. I knew I wanted rattan lighting above the tables and stage, and Lynn wove bouncy fresh greenery all through the lanterns. It felt like we were dancing in an enchanted garden all night long. She knocked it out of the park and was a joy to work with.

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]

My mom and I developed a friendship with the team at Bake From Scratch magazine (better known as The Bake Feed on Instagram) over the last few years through their many wonderful and immersive baking retreats around the world. Shortly after getting engaged, my mom and I were at a weekend retreat at their headquarters in Birmingham, AL, and their delightful and talented team was peppering me with questions about wedding planning. When asked who was doing our cake, I replied honestly that I hadn’t thought about it yet. They exclaimed, “We’ll do it!” I thought they were joking! They’d never featured a wedding cake in their magazine before. But after many months of back and forth and several test cakes that we devoured, the team packed up and drove to Charlottesville from Birmingham and baked the most exquisite cake we’d ever seen. They baked it in the tiny farmhouse kitchen on The Clifton’s property, where all the groomsmen were staying – god bless them. They incorporated florals from Wild Fleurette and our monogram from our stationer, Jolly Edition, into the design. I asked for a vintage-style wedding cake, with buttercream frosting and strawberries and cream filling, and they exceeded all expectations. Not only was it gorgeous, but it was delicious!

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]

Our ceremony felt so special, in part because we got married on my parents’ 33rd wedding anniversary, so there were already good vibes. We had a string quartet – Melodious Strings – play instrumental music during the procession. The wedding party walked down the aisle to “Dancing in the Moonlight” and then “XO”. I walked down the aisle to “Invisible String” by Taylor Swift. Our good friend officiated the ceremony and did an incredible job. A groomsman and a bridesmaid read two poems by Whitney Hanson. Additionally, we had reached out to all the married guests before the wedding to ask them for their best marriage advice for us. We assembled all this advice into a ceremony reading read by my aunt and another groomsman. It was a perfect mix of tender, sweet, and funny wisdom, and it let our guests feel like they played a part in our big day. We finished by reading handwritten vows to each other, then recessed to “Love You for a Long Time” by Maggie Rogers, one of our favorite songs.

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I used to be on a competitive dance team when I was growing up, and my studio also offered father-daughter dance classes, which my dad gamely signed up for with me. We did these for five years, and those classes with him are some of my favorite childhood memories. We have all the dance recital recordings on VHS tapes, and years ago, long before I was ever engaged, I used to tell my dad, “Someday when I get married, we’re doing one of these dances again!” He waved me off at the time, but once I got engaged, I didn’t let him forget! We decided to relearn the first dance we ever performed together when I was 7 years old. It was to “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” from Footloose. We practiced together almost weekly for months before the wedding until we both had it down again. I also had the idea to rent a giant projection screen to play the original VHS video alongside us as we danced. To take further advantage of this, I cut together a montage of clips of my dad and me through the years set to “Best Parts of Me” by Will Dempsey while my dad and I did a traditional father-daughter slow dance. Then this cut to our dance video, and the music picked up. The goal was to have the whole room in tears, and then the whole room on their feet cheering for my dad – and we succeeded! You may have seen this video online, as our amazing content creator, Plan With Laur, posted it on social media this summer, and it went viral. We even got interviewed by People Magazine and Inside Edition about our dance. It was so much fun, and I was over the moon to see the outpouring of love and support for my dad. Here is the link to the video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8FKUNQx_94/

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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]Our reception tent was right next to The Clifton’s beautiful swimming pool, so Pat and I knew we wanted to take advantage of this. For our exit, we had all our guests line up around the pool with sparklers, and then Pat and I did a running jump into the pool to end the night. It was definitely one of the highlights of the night, and the perfect, most memorable way to end it! (Not to mention it felt great to take a dip after dancing up a storm all night!)[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]

One of my family’s favorite traditions is to pop Christmas crackers during the holidays. I found some beautiful spring-themed crackers that just happened to be in our wedding colors and I knew they’d be the perfect detail to add to our reception. We handed these out along with our wedding cake and it was so much fun to see everyone on the dance floor wearing the paper crowns that came inside them. Who doesn’t love a dance floor accessory?!

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A Floral Infused Wedding at Pippin Hill Farm Complete With a Romantic Rainfall

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]soft floral pastels (blue/green/pinks)[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

When we were selecting our venue, we knew we wanted to choose a destination that was meaningful to us and our story, and a place that had natural beauty and romantic charm. Charlottesville, Virginia had become a favorite weekend getaway destination for us when we were dating, so when we first discovered Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards, we loved the inherent beauty of its Blue Ridge Mountain backdrop, picturesque vineyards, and the combination of rustic charm, modern elegance, and garden-to-table cuisine. In terms of inspiration for design and decor, I knew I wanted to play off the venue’s elevated farmhouse decor and natural charm and have our ceremony outside so we could enjoy the views. I also envisioned a lush yet airy “garden-party chic” vibe with whimsical pops of florals and pastel colors sprinkled throughout the design vision.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]

Mike and I met in September of 2020 – a pandemic love story! We were set up by mutual friends and finally met when I moved back to Maryland after living in NYC for nine years. Having both grown up in the Maryland/DC area, we had tons of mutual connections and had been to so many of the same places, but somehow had never met before. Despite meeting in the middle of COVID and navigating a comedic list of pandemic dating adventures, we hit it off on our first dates and the rest is history. While we never expected a pandemic would bring us together, we found each other at the perfect time (I like to think it’s the ‘invisible string theory’ in action😉, as Taylor Swift fans might agree). Mike proposed on July 4th, 2023 while the two of us were vacationing at The Inn at Perry Cabin, in St. Michael’s, Maryland. Somehow, Mike manifested a rainbow to appear over our happy hour just before he proposed, and we were able to enjoy our engagement together at one of our favorite places before celebrating with our family and friends shortly thereafter. Ten months later, we got married on May 4, 2024, at Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards, in Charlottesville, Virginia.

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– wedding gowns: ..plural! As I was dress shopping, I ended up loving two very different looks (one more romantic/airy/, and the other a bit more sleek) so ultimately I decided to build in a quick outfit change to our timeline so that I could wear both! The first dress I found at @anthropologieweddings and worked with my incredible local seamstress (Anytime Alterations in Kensington, MD) to customize this a bit more and bring my vision to life. My second dress was a beautifully designed gown by @katherintash, thanks to @carinesbridal. Note: for both looks, I ended up wearing my grandmother’s earrings, which ended up being my “something borrowed”.

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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]

I knew that I wanted my bridesmaids’ dresses to play off of our “garden-party” design vibe, and I loved the idea of having everyone wear a coordinated mix of soft, pastel-colored floral dresses that they could enjoy for years to come. I envisioned petite floral bridesmaid bouquets to complement the styled mix of green, pink, and blue floral pastel dresses, that would also tie back to my bridal bouquet and the décor accents sprinkled throughout the day.

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We loved the idea of having the groomsmen wear navy blue suits with coordinating light blue ties.

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Another perk of having Pippin Hill as our venue was the fact that the vineyard, garden, farm, and kitchen were all interwoven into the menu. Looking back, our “tasting” experience a few months before the wedding was definitely a highlight of the wedding planning process—the venue made it such a fun and special experience for us, and it was such a treat getting to enjoy the different local wines, cocktail options, and menu selections ahead of time with our parents two months out from the big day. Our Signature drinks included the “Marry Me Mule” and “Mrs. Marg” (a nod to our favorites), and the cocktail hour passed canapes and our seated dinner was delicious. Our only regret is not getting to enjoy the late-night snacks (freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and sliders) we had selected–only because we didn’t want to leave the dance floor.

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

Through beautifully crafted floral arrangements (e.g., garden roses, sweet pea, ranunculus, hellebore, Lilly of the Valley, peonies, and other local/seasonal blooms), a garden-style ceremony meadow, greenery-covered chandeliers, and complementary decor touches (e.g., pairings of classic crystal and cut glass elements paired with ceramic compotes, bud vases, and candlelight accents), our incredible florist Tupelo Floral Company and vendor team helped bring our vision to life. My bridal bouquet was also a personal favorite thanks to Shelby (@tupelo)—a lush yet airy garden-style arrangement comprised of the happiest mix of peony, sweet pea, lily of the valley, garden roses, ranunculus, and subtle greenery accents. Our fantastic photographer @Audrawrisley’ captured all of these details against during our impromptu bridesmaids’ garden party photo shoot in the greenhouse—a beautiful backdrop that, although we didn’t originally intend to use, became the most charming rain plan alternative to being outside.

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]

We knew that we wanted a more petite wedding cake for cutting and discovered @cakebloom, the most perfect local bakery in Charlottesville, who made us a beautiful “garden party” celebration cake (think: fresh pressed florals against buttercream frosting over delicious floral confetti and rainbow carrot cakes).

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]

Having grown up in a family of musicians, music was an important part of my vision for our wedding day and our amazing vendor team (@thebloomtrio @tapeent) helped bring this to life beautifully. We partnered with The Bloom Trio to add a beautiful musical strings element to our outdoor wedding ceremony and cocktail hour. We worked with Sam Hill Entertainment to help us find our wedding band, T.A.P.E. “The After Party Experience”, an amazing DJ + band combination that truly was an experience that did not disappoint—super engaging, tons of energy, and a nonstop set list that kept people (bride and groom included!) on the dance floor all night (understood the assignment!). They knocked it out of the park when they surprised me at the end of the night by bringing my dad (a drummer!) up on stage for a guest appearance to perform–my dad crushed it, and it was such a special moment that I’ll never forget!

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[field title=”Special Detail #1″]

Getting ready: – Bridal beauty/HMU: I couldn’t have asked for a better hair and makeup duo than @hairbyjean and @predamebeauty, and I’m so grateful that they were able to make the trip to Charlottesville to help me get ready. Having worked in the beauty industry in NYC for much of my career, I had the opportunity to work with Stefanie Syat (founder of @predamebeauty) for 5+ years and knew for years that I wanted her to do my makeup on my wedding day. Similarly, I met @hairbyjean back in 2018 and she has been cutting/styling my hair ever since I moved back to the Washington, D.C. area. Both women are incredibly talented, and calming, and I can’t recommend them enough to other brides!

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[field title=”Special Detail #3″][/field]
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Photography

Audra Wrisley Photography

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Newlyweds Celebrate With Sunset Helicopter Exit at Cedar Point Club

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]A romantic and bold mix of color: bright greens, blues, pinks, and purples.[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]Originally inspired by a Bridgerton-esque garden party, Elizabeth and Sincerely Jane Events chose “Colorfully Coastal” to describe their design. They loved the vibrant use of color, with a subtle nod to classic style and the beauty of the coastline. [/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]Elizabeth and Ben knew each other in high school but went their separate ways after graduating. They reconnected again in early 2024, knew they were meant for each other, and were married by October![/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Elizabeth wore a beautiful diamond Mikado A-line gown by Jasmine Couture (Cassandra). This one-shoulder asymmetrical dress had stunning accents, including a bow at the shoulder and classic, elegant buttons down the back. [/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]The Bridesmaid’s dresses by Dessy Collection in Blush pink added the perfect frill to this coastal chic wedding. The sleek satin twill maxi dress had unique double bow details and a stunning asymmetrical skirt. It added the perfect touch of feminity without overwhelming the whole design.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Ben wore his Army uniform for the ceremony and switched into a fitted blue suit for the reception. The groomsmen wore a mixture of military uniforms and dark brown suits with green accents.[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]The reception featured an elegant menu with locally inspired dishes, accompanied by signature cocktails- espresso Martini for him and pink Margarita for her- that added a personal and refreshing twist. Unique cocktail napkins printed with notes the couple shared with each other while dating were a personal touch. [/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Bright, colorful, elegant florals defined the aesthetic of the day. The ceremony space was decorated with a stunning floral meadow and welcome sign. The bride crafted the welcome sign herself, adding a personal (and very artistic!) touch. Greens, pinks, and blues adorned the reception space alongside the venue’s bright abstract paintings. Green and white toile napkins and monochromatic green glassware harmonized the decor. From Kei (the Florist): “A timeless wedding can be bold, colorful, and inspiring and that’s what we had in mind when creating the floral design for Liz and Ben’s big day. We wanted the best and brightest blooms that complemented the rich aesthetic of their beautiful venue.”[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The couple opted for a vintage style, 3-tiered wedding cake, topped with some elegant fresh florals. To keep with tradition, the couple used Ben’s saber to the cut the cake before feeding each other a delicious slice. [/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]The couple walked down the aisle to live music performed by 757 Strings. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]The ceremony was important to Ben and Elizabeth. They opted not to have a first look and instead had Ben turn away from the aisle until Elizabeth was ready to walk toward him. He could hardly contain his tears as he saw his bride walking toward him![/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]The couple celebrated their wedding by making a grand exit by helicopter. As the sun began to set, they waved goodbye to their family and friends and soared off into the sunset. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″][/field]
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BBJ La Tavola

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Evergreen Style and the Bride’s Love of Christmas Influenced the Final Look of Their Wedding Day

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Evergreen, champagne & cream[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]Because their wedding was in December, Natalie & Brad wanted to find a way to embrace the holidays that didn’t feel too literal, Christmas-y or tacky. They chose to incorporate subtle winter elegance, with evergreen touches, cozy details & fun nods to Christmas.[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]The the words of the bride, “Brad and I were on a ski trip to Vail, CO when we got engaged. It was a beautiful sunny day and we were having a great time on the slopes. As we were riding the chair lift up the mountain, we looked at the map to see what slope we wanted to ski. We saw there was a slope called “Christmas”, so of course we chose that one since I especially love Christmas. About half way down the run, Brad asked me to stop and take a picture. Before I knew it he was down on one knee asking me to marry him. Ten months later, we were getting married at Christmas!”[/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]The bride, Natalie, wore a Watters wedding gown with gorgeous floral appliqué detailing. It fit her stylish, joyful personality perfectly.[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]The bridesmaids were in evergreen hues that complimented the season and bride so beautifully. The dresses also have a lot of texture and flow, and in a lot of ways, felt like a part of the evergreen decor.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”][/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]The wedding featured a “Poinsettia” champagne cocktail and “An Old-Fashioned Christmas” – fun holiday take on an old-fashioned.

In addition to their wedding cake, part of their dessert was a cookie table with homemade cookies from their friends and family.[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]The florals and decor were subtly Christmas & wintery. They included lots of evergreen and cream and had decorated pine trees and wreaths tastefully placed throughout the venue.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The wedding cake was simple & creamy in style, reminiscent of snow, with a bow to give it extra charm.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]During the reception, the couple passed a South African cream liqueur during the reception, honoring Brad’s South African heritage. The bride and groom gave a toast with it to open up festivities.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]Small but special added details made this wedding unique to the couple. For cocktail hour, they had custom napkins, drink stirrers, and santa hat cocktail toppers.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″][/field]
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La Vie En Rose

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Spring Garden Wedding Inspiration at the Clifton Inn With Pops of Peach

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”The Inspiration”]For this shoot we wanted to fuse a classic wedding day look with bright spring tones. Keeping in mind couples who love a classic wedding Elle Loren Co. created a romantic, timeless design that mixed nude and ivory tones with reds, peach and burnt oranges for color. The tone was set first with an elegant wedding invitation suite with a romantic design, soft, pastel palette and painted details. The ceremony itself was more classic with softer floral tones, but opted for an elevated dais rather than a traditional arch to modernize the setup. The shoot ended with a timeless reception on the Clifton’s front lawn, but threw in the popular, modern trend of swapping a cake cutting for a champagne tower! [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Blush pink, ivory, peach, red, burnt orange, yellows, nudes and metallic accents of gold and brass
[/field]
[field title=”The Venue”]The photoshoot took place at The Clifton Inn, a boutique hotel and restaurant in Charlottesville, Virginia. The inn’s historic charm and beautiful gardens make it a popular wedding venue in Virginia’s wine country. The ceremony took place in the lush secret garden with weeping willows adding to the atmosphere as the couple tied the knot on an elevated round dais. After portraits around the inn’s grounds the reception was held on the front lawn with the manor house serving as the backdrop.

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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]For the photoshoot the bride wore a Watters dress from Brocade Bridal. To balance out the romantic, dreamy aspects of the rest of the design we selected a more modern, minimalist off-the-shoulder gown with long sleeves and a sleek silhouette.
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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]While we wanted to keep the design for this shoot very timeless, it was important to us to not shy away from color, especially when it came to the florals. Keeping it classic the majority of the arrangements were roses, and ranunculus, but bolder burnt orange daisies and other small pops of color kept the design fresh and more modern feeling.

A mix of glass and brass elements combined for the tablescape adding plenty of texture. The same painted detail that had set the tone on the invitation was repeated again on the menus placed at each seat.[/field]
[field title=”Favorite Design Element”][/field]
[field title=”Tips To Pull Off The Look”][/field]
[field title=”DIY Moments”][/field]
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Rolling Hills and Nostalgic Fall Hues at Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]The couple were inspired by classic fall colors but wanted to add pops of color from
flowers that were grown locally. They chose various shades of green with an accent of
gold and added pops of color with caramels, maroons, and antique pinks as suggested by their floral design team, Tourterelle.[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

They fell in love with Italian Garden Villa themed weddings and wanted to bring that same vibe to their special day. They were inspired by their venue, Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards, because of its natural stunning views of rolling hills and acres of vineyards. Their wedding planner, Kelsey Mayo-Ros from Donovan-Groves Events, knew the grounds well and assisted the couple in making their vision come to life. They added to the theme by including little details throughout the day like printing guests names on wine bottles to use as their seating chart. The Bride and Groom are so thankful for Jessica Lapp Photography and Lexa Visuals for capturing their special day and they will have those memories to share for years to come.

[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]Steve suggested they take a vacation in July 2021. They chose to go to Atlantis, Bahamas
for some fun, sun, and relaxation! Since Steve never does anything on a small scale, he
planned for his brother-in-law to fly down to take pictures of the proposal, which was
supposed to be a surprise. Steve has never been able to keep a secret from Paula, so, in
his excitement, he told her in advance that he would be proposing on vacation. It was still
a shock to her when he got down on one knee in front of the Atlantis aquarium and said
those beautiful words: “You are the only fish in my sea. Will you marry me?” Of course,
the answer was “YES!!”[/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]The Bride-to-be and her mother showed up for her first-ever bridal appointment and
noticed there was an Anne Barge trunk show at the salon. They focused their attention
solely on her beautiful designs. Their initial vision of the wedding gown was something
fitted with long sleeves and touches of beaded lace. Although she tried on the style she
initially envisioned, the Bride-to-be kept looking at a beautiful ball gown she knew she
had to try. The gown was exactly what she thought she did not want: ball gown
silhouette, strapless, minimal beading. This Ann Barge Buckingham gown had gorgeous
soft gold metallic brushed jacquard flowers all throughout the dress. The soft floral
design must have been a sign because it matched the florals that are grown along the
walkway to their wedding venue. She was so obsessed with the gown that she ordered it that day! The designer even accommodated her special request to remove the pockets.
The process of finding the perfect gown was a lot easier than they thought it would be.[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]The Bride-to-be loved the ease and selection of Azazie when she was a bridesmaid for
several friends’ weddings so, when it came to her own wedding she knew she wanted to
use them. She was able to order sample colors and fabric to ensure she was getting the
exact look she wanted for her bridesmaids. All six bridesmaids were able to choose their own style of gown so they could feel comfortable and beautiful. By choosing the same
color and fabric, they coordinated flawlessly! Completing the bride’s vision of classic
looks for herself and her wedding party was Carolyn Thombs and her team who executed hair and make-up flawlessly throughout the entire weekend.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]The groom selected a traditional tuxedo style and color (black) for his groomsmen as he
wanted his guys to be dressed formally for the evening. He chose Jos. A. Bank to assist
with the perfect attire because many of his groomsmen live all over the east coast and it
allowed for a stress-free try on, pickup and drop off.[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]The groom especially wanted to be involved in the selections of the food & drink since
the couple are self-proclaimed foodies. Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards curated a special
menu. From the passed canapes to the seated three-course dinner, all food was centered
around the warmth of the fall season. One of their favorite canapes was the skirt steak &
kimchi taco with radish sprout and bulgogi sauce. Their 108 guests dined on filet mignon,
Chesapeake Bay crab cake, truffled potato puree and grilled broccolini. Pippin Hill’s chef
even accommodated the groom’s special request to use Cheez Whiz on the Philly
cheesesteak toasties for the late-night snack. Guests were treated to a luxury open bar and
toasted the newly married couple with champagne. To continue with the vineyard theme,
four of the couple’s favorite Pippin Hill wines were included in their evening. The Zero
White and Red Pump, were selected for their cocktail hour and the Viognier and Cabernet Franc, were selected for their dinner pairing.[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]The couple wanted to embrace the florals of the season but remain traditional with the
fall color palette while adding pops of color for a modern feel. They allowed local florist
Tourtourelle to choose flowers in shades of ivory, cream and green, with accents of
antique pinks and caramels. Terracotta urns were brought in and stocked with selected
florals to complete the couple's vision of the Italian Garden Villa. The bride especially
wanted a bouquet that was delicate and did not overwhelm her dress. To make her
bouquet even more special, she included her father’s West Point pin which was loaned to
her by her grandmother. This was a sentimental surprise to her father. In addition, her
bridesmaids carried simple baby’s breath bouquets wrapped in a satin ribbon. The bride
wanted the reception to feel romantic so, in addition to floral arrangements, glass cylinder hurricanes and rose pillar candles were spread throughout the reception area.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The couple knew they wanted cake for their wedding but were undecided on style. Most
importantly, they wanted it to taste delicious while accommodating the many flavors the
couple enjoys. They decided to showcase three different cakes for their wedding. One
vintage piped two-tiered cake with one tier being funfetti flavored and the other a
chocolate cake with peanut butter cup buttercream. Their baker/cake designer, Maliha
Creations, even nestled a small replica of their golden retriever dog, Benny, into the cake
so he could be part of their special day! Two additional cakes were simply decorated with flavors of carrot cake and lemon cake inside. Guests had the option to choose as many flavors as they wanted to try throughout the evening.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]The bride used leftover fabric from her wedding dress alterations, at Fariba’s Bridal
Alterations & Custom Design, to create a custom bow tie for the groom to wear on the wedding day. In addition, sewn into the skirt of her dress was fabric from her mother’s
wedding gown.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]The bride and groom became pawrents in January 2021 and knew they absolutely had to
include their golden retriever, Benny, in their special day. Benny was present during
pictures, was featured on the cocktail napkins for the evening, and had a figurine made of him that showed he was enjoying the cakes.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]The couple wanted a unique remembrance of their wedding day, so they contacted Fine
Artist Steph Moraca to create a live event painting. Guests were able to see the stunning
canvas painting come to life throughout the entire event. Her artistry became a part of the wedding guest experience.[/field]
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Jessica Lapp

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Lush Fall Virginia Wedding at the Market at Grelen

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]The wedding colors were a Dusty Rose and warm earth tones with pops of deep yellow, plum, olive, rusty orange and gold.

Dusty Rose” evoked a soft, muted pink hue reminiscent of antique roses, lending a vintage romantic feel to Ali & Jack’s wedding. The Muted fall colors in a range of earthy tones reflected the changing foliage of autumn and brought warmth to the large outdoor venue. The pops of golden yellow, plum and orange brought vibrancy and energy to the palette, adding a touch of brightness amidst the subdued tones of fall.[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]Ali and Jack envisioned a wedding that exuded elegance without feeling overly formal. With the guidance of Ali’s mother, Leslie Gregg, founder of The Market at Grelen, the couple embarked on their planning journey. Collaborating with renowned florist Mallory Joyce and planner Heather Clarke of the Hive was pivotal in translating their vision into reality. Together, they curated a stunning color palette designed to captivate guests and infuse the expansive venue with an intimate ambiance. Opting for locally sourced blooms and incorporating branches and greenery from the nursery added an extra layer of significance to the décor. Once the floral arrangements were finalized, attention turned to selecting tableware. Deep burnt orange napkins, fall colored vases and understated plates were chosen to complement rather than compete with the focal point—the flowers. Elevating the aesthetic, they upgraded to King Louis chairs and adorned the tables with lavish gold accents, including chargers, glasses, and flatware, adding a touch of glamor to the celebration.[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]Ali and Jack both went to The University of Michigan and met in a bar the very night of Ali’s graduation (classic!). They cemented their immediate bond by spending a 5th year in Ann Arbor before ending up in Boston, MA, where they currently reside. Ali’s childhood summers were spent amidst the serene beauty of McGregor Bay, nestled within the Georgian Bay at the northern edge of Lake Huron in Canada. This idyllic locale holds profound significance for her, and when she introduced it to Jack, his appreciation for its natural splendor meant the world to her. Understanding the profound importance of Ali’s summer retreat, Jack orchestrated a proposal that captured the essence of their shared love for the outdoors. He chose to propose to Ali on her beloved hiking trail, fondly referred to by her family as “the blueberry hike” due to the abundance of blueberry bushes along its path. In a heartfelt gesture, Jack collaborated with Ali’s parents to secretly hike the trail early one morning, concealing a bottle of
champagne and a love letter in the geo-cache at the summit. Later, as Ali and Jack ascended to the peak, she discovered the heartfelt letter and was swept off her feet as Jack proposed against the breathtaking backdrop of their cherished landscape.
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”] by Allison Webb (bought at Flair in Boston)

The Allison Webb wedding dress was a masterpiece of elegance and sophistication, adorned with delicate beading and a stunning tulle bow at the back. Much like the wedding decor, the dress was the perfect combination of sophistication, romantic charm and whimsy. A row of buttons cascades down the back, adding a timeless and classic detail to the design. With its intricate craftsmanship and ethereal beauty, this dress was captivating!
[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]Bridesmaid Dresses: Dusty Rose crepe and chiffon by Revelry. [/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Groomsman Attire: Black tie. The groom’s tuxedo was custom made in Boston and the groomsmen rented similar looking tuxedos from Jos. A Bank.
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Once again, aiming for an exquisite blend of sophistication and comfort, Serendipity Catering curated a delightful menu inspired by the rich flavors of fall. The signature drinks were: Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour, Moscow Mule & Apple Cranberry Spritz (non-alcoholic). The appetizers tantalized the taste buds with a variety of delectable options, including cocktail meatballs in bourbon BBQ sauce, petite crab cakes, Virginia ham biscuits, and tomato basil soup served in demitasse cups with grilled cheese triangles. Following a refreshing fall-inspired salad featuring winter squash and pomegranate seeds, guests were treated to a selection of main courses, including Tuscan Grilled Chicken, Grilled Flank Steak with a Parsley Garlic Chimichurri Vinaigrette, or Wild Mushroom Ravioli. [/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Ali and Jack envisioned their wedding flowers to embody a natural, abundant, and breathtaking aesthetic. Florist Mallory Joyce exceeded expectations, bringing their vision to life with organic designs that mimicked the natural growth of flowers in their surroundings. The focal point of the ceremony was the stunning floral arbor, which continued to dazzle guests behind the bride and groom at the head table. This rounded arch was adorned with lush foliage, intertwining vines, and an array of blooming flowers, creating a truly enchanting and vibrant display. [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The wedding cake, skillfully crafted by Maliha Creations, offered a trio of enticing flavors: Carrot Cake with Cardamom Frosting, Almond Cake with Cookie Butter Frosting, and Lemon Cake with Passion Fruit Curd. As a delightful late-night treat, soft pretzel bites with cheese sauce and chocolate brownie mousse shooters added the perfect finishing touch to an unforgettable culinary experience. [/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]The ceremony was held on the Berry Lawn overlooking Grelen Nursery, founded by Ali’s father, Dan Gregg, in 1990. The officiant, Randall Schlack, traveled from Michigan to join the wedding, representing a special connection to the
Schaffers’ hometown. Music played a significant role in the ceremony, with the ethereal melodies of the three-piece trio, Ninja Strings, setting the perfect ambiance. The ideal fall weather, soul-stirring music, and heartfelt personal vows that Ali and Jack exchanged made for a deeply moving experience for everyone present. Having just been married, Ali and Jack walked back down the aisle to Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” and that’s exactly how it felt: perfect! [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]Cocktail hour in The Market at Grelen’s enchanting moon garden! Encircled by vibrant foliage and illuminated by twinkling bistro lights, this setting was an idyllic kickoff to the celebration following the ceremony. The half-circle bar (rented from Paisley & Jade) blended in effortlessly as it encircled the majestic cherry tree at the center. The bar was personalized on either side with the “JA” monogram which was also featured on the invitation, program, and menu. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]The lush greenery inside the tent was truly stunning. Alongside the exquisite floral arrangements adorning the entrance, tables, and corners, the nursery embellished the space with towering trees flanking the bandstand. These additions created an enchanting ambiance, transporting guests to a picturesque autumn forest. And with the clear star-gazing tent overhead, the atmosphere was nothing short of magical. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Grelen has a rich history that spans over three decades. Founded by my husband, Dan Gregg, in 1990, Grelen Nursery started as a humble 5-acre test plot and has since blossomed into one of the largest rural businesses in Virginia. For more than 30 years, Dan poured his heart and soul into nurturing this land, and the result is a breathtaking 1000-acre tree nursery that stands as a testament to his dedication.
In 2013, I joined this beautiful journey and introduced The Market at Grelen, a European-style Garden Shop, Cafe, and Event/wedding Venue on the Grelen Nursery property. Little did we know that this venture would become a cherished part of our family’s story.
Our daughter, Ali, grew up hearing tales of Grelen around our dinner table. She learned about the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, the seasons that painted our landscape, and the countless hours of hard work that went into making Grelen what it is today. So, when the time came for Ali and her fiancé to choose a venue for their wedding, it was as if she was selecting a piece of her own history.
Although she had a huge selection of beautiful Central Virginia venues from which to choose, Ali couldn’t imagine saying “I do” anywhere else. She felt a deep connection to Grelen, which became even more profound when she and her fiance, Jack, temporarily moved from Boston during Covid to live in Boxwood Villa, one of our homes designed for Grelen wedding couples and guests. The two spent a lot of time exploring Grelen Nursery’s 6 miles of trails and grew to love this land as much as we do.
So it goes, in October of 2023, on a glorious fall weekend, Ali and Jack were married starting their own journey together surrounded by the same lush elegance, meticulous design, and breathtaking environment that has defined Grelen for decades. To put it mildly, her father and I couldn’t be more honored that they chose The Market at Grelen for their wedding. Ali & Jack’s wedding day was not only a celebration of the love that they share but a joyous culmination of the legacy we’ve built. It was truly a merging of two love stories—theirs and ours—that made their wedding day all the more special.
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BBJ La Tavola

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Seriously Chic Springtime Wedding In The Virginia Countryside

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

The wedding colors were blush, sage, and neutrals.

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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

Brigid and Brady’s dream was to get married at a winery in Charlottesville, the town where they first met. They loved the views of King Family Vineyard, and wanted a neutral color palette to enhance all the beauty of the venue instead of compete with it. They also leaned heavily into florals and pastel accent colors to celebrate Spring in the Virginia countryside. For their reception, they wanted a Bridgerton vibe — light bright garden-like florals, gold accents.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]

With the help of some of our closest friends, Brady convinced Brigid that they were attending a photography session with friends who had extra time with their wedding photographer. Little did she know that Brady arranged the whole thing with a proposal in mind! After some very convincing group shots, Taylor Swift started playing and Brigid looked up to see Brady on one knee!

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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]

After visiting many popular bridal boutiques, Brigid found her wedding gown in the same local bridal shop her mom found hers—Fantasy Bridal in Hamilton, NJ (now closed after 35 years in business). The designer was Casablanca Bridal.

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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]The bride selected a neutral misty sage for the bridesmaids dresses and encouraged each of her gals to select the type of dress (cut, neckline, etc) that made them feel most comfortable.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”][/field]
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The Local, one of Charlottesville’s well known catering teams, curated a beautiful menu for the couple and their guests.

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

We worked with a local favored florist, Hedge Fine Blooms, to bring the bride’s vision for lush and romantic garden florals to life!

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]

Why have one cake when you can have FIVE?! Because these lovers couldn’t decide on one flavor of cake for their guests to enjoy, they opted for five flavors from local Charlottesville cake baker extraordinaire, Cake Bloom. All cakes were showcased throughout reception and when it came time for the dessert course, guests could choose which flavor fit their fancy.

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]Guests enjoyed a live violin and cello duet, out on the lawn during cocktail hour.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]

Brigid and Brady’s families hadn’t met prior to wedding weekend, so the couple days leading up to their beautiful celebration at KFV were full of lots of laughs and getting-to-know you-fun and time spent together. From wine-tasting to rehearsal dinner and welcome party festivities, Brigid and Brady loved seeing their families gel together just as they knew they would.

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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]Brigid dried and pressed garden flowers leading up to her wedding day so all of her wedding day signage, including the framed table numbers at each table, was a true labor of love crafted by the the bride herself. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]During dancing, guests were welcome to head to the s’mores station outside, to enjoy a fire, sweet treat and conversation. Brady & Brigid took a few minutes away from the dance floor to roast marshmallows and mingle with their guests![/field]
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Jessica Lapp

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An Autumn Wedding at Dover Hall Inspired by Nineties Ralph Lauren Style

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]The color palette for the wedding day consisted of Olive, Slate Blue, and Burgundy. Complementary patterns and textures such as dark stained wood, chestnut brown leather, traditional plaid, and mixed metals rounded out this palette.
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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

The design inspiration for this wedding day focused on nineties Ralph Lauren fashion with British Hunt Club undertones.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]Aquiles and Victoria were engaged on July 29, 2021, on Topsail Island, North Carolina. After 8 years of dating, Aquiles was able to take his future wife by complete surprise as he turned a leisurely beach walk into a waterfront proposal surrounded by their closest friends and family. Even as it was happening, Victoria thought it was for someone else. As he began his romantic, heartfelt speech she realized what was happening. Through shock and lots of happy tears, Victoria said “Yes!”[/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Victoria’s wedding gown was a timeless Anne Barge design with a strapless folded neckline, pleated sides, and dramatic draped train. Her look was complemented with details such as elbow-length satin white gloves, lace pointed-toe flats from Bella Belle Shoes and a dramatic veil featuring a pearl and lace trim.[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]The bridesmaids wore floor-length gowns in cool tones of sea glass, slate blue, moss green, and sage from Birdy Grey. The junior bridesmaids wore toile dresses alongside the flower girls in their plaid and burgundy peacoats from Pepa London.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Aquiles’ custom black velvet tuxedo was designed by Hive & Colony and featured a classic double-breasted style with a notch lapel.[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Amidst the moody Ralph Lauren and hunt-club vibes, the couple aimed to create a culinary menu that paid homage to Aquiles’ El Salvadoran culture. As guests arrived at the ceremony, they were welcomed by a vibrant display of Agua Fresca drinks featuring a variety of Kiwi, Strawberry, and Watermelon flavors. The introduction to cocktail hour included a horchata display, adding a touch of Latin tradition.

The customization of drinks continued with their signature cocktails: a traditional Red Sangria and a Spicy Cucumber Jalapeño Margarita.

The culinary experience, curated by Dover Hall’s esteemed Executive Chef Leah Randolph, recently honored as Virginia’s Chef of the Year in 2023, featured crowd-pleasing Ceviche and Lamb Chops during cocktail hour and a delectable three-course dinner served by candlelight.

The plated dinner commenced with a seasonal Fig and Prosciutto salad, setting the stage for the main event: a duet of Red Wine Braised Short Rib and Airline Chicken Breast, perfectly suited for the chilly October day. To culminate the evening, guests indulged in housemade Pistachio and Mango gelato, providing a sweet and memorable conclusion to the celebration.[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]The floral design featured dramatic, large-scale installations accentuating areas such as the grand staircase, the stone fireplace mantle (standing 15′ high!), and the grand tunnel entrance to the Glass Hall. The bouquets featured lush florals with minimal greens with a color palette ranging from creamy beiges to pale burgundy and mauve blooms complimenting the soft greens and blues of the bridesmaid’s dresses.

Table lamps with soft warm lighting were placed down the length of the three 32-foot-long guest tables draped in velvet linens and plaid runners. The white lampshades glowed among the lush florals and candles set against the backdrop of a custom hunter-green bar staged to mimic the feel of an English Tudor library.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The wedding cake featured tiers of textural designs to offset the softness of the floral accents. The cake created a modern focal point against the vast traditional and classic setting of the venue and event design set[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]Guests were greeted by a string quartet as they made their way to their blanket-draped seats. The ceremony was performed in Spanish and English to cater to the culturally diverse makeup of Tori and Aquiles’ wedding guest list. They were legally married by an ordained officiant but the groom’s best friend led the ceremony with confidence and poise that matched the sophisticated setting of the day.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]The couple displayed family heirlooms among lush florals and candles as guests entered the two-story foyer at Dover Hall. A grandmother’s wedding veil, jewelry worn decades prior, and thoughtfully framed wedding portraits were just a few of the items displayed putting family and love at the center of this very important day.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]The invitations were designed as a curated experience for guests upon arrival at their home. The invitation card was placed in a box adorned with a custom fabric liner, velvet wrap, and a wood tag featuring the couple’s monogram. The box containing a booklet with brass brads and custom artwork was wrapped in slate blue paper and a plaid shipping label featuring a hand calligraphy design. The experience of receiving and opening this invitation set the tone for this memorable and uniquely designed wedding day.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]Victoria’s best friend and younger cousin Jessica was invited to take over the second half of the father-daughter dance. (note: see photos to understand the implications of this moment)[/field]
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BBJ La Tavola

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The Lighting & Sound Company

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Petit Bouquet

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Sweet Summer Strawberries Delighted Guests at This Tented Wedding at The Clifton Inn

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

The bride fell in love with the idea of a classic, neutral color palette that played out through an abundance of white florals accented with greenery and taupe floral embroidered BBJ Linens. Gold and grey colored accents were woven throughout the tabletop decor and bridesmaid dresses.

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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

“Hospitality – this was the key word and driving factor from the very beginning of wedding planning. Family and friends traveled from literally all over the world to celebrate Morgan and James’ union. In thanks, our goal was to create an entire wedding weekend itinerary for guests to enjoy while experiencing everything Morgan and James loved about the area! The Clifton was easily the perfect backdrop for this “Virginia garden party” themed celebration while providing the opportunity for family and friends to spend an extended weekend together. For many of the guests, this was their first experience in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains so we crafted an itinerary that included tours around the local Charlottesville vineyards, a fun Welcome Party at a local brewery (complete with food trucks and wood fired pizza!), and wrapped up the weekend with a polo themed post-wedding luncheon complete with craft cocktails and a “hat bar”.

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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]The bride’s chiffon dress was a v-neck style appliqued with floral embellishments also in white.[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]The intimate size bridal party wore differing styles of grey silk dresses.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]The groom and groomsmen were in traditional black tuxedos.[/field]
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The dining experience was such an important piece of this event. The bride is a sommelier and carefully selected wines to pair with each delectable course crafted by The Clifton‘s culinary team led by Michelin-starred executive chef Matthew Bousquet. The locally sourced dinner menu featured choices of trout, duck, and short ribs included ingredients sourced from the Chef’s own garden on the venue’s property!

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]We wanted to utilize seasonal, yet unexpected, elements into the table scapes to elevate our “garden party” vive. Incorporating seasonal fruit, in this case locally grown strawberries, added a pop of color (red; a small way to pay homage to this Memorial Day Weekend celebration) and visual interest into the table scapes.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]

The five tier white wedding cake by Maliha Creations was decorated with white flowers inspired by the bride’s dress. The couple’s pup playfully peeked out from the bottom tier!

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]

Led by the bride and groom, the guests were escorted from cocktail hour by their band in a New Orleans style “second line” over to the tented reception.

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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]The couple hosted a unique “guest book,” which was a rotary phone that guests could pick up and leave a heartfelt recorded message for the couple.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]A custom invitation suite featuring die cut detail card and Flowering dogwoods (the state flower), that we later carried into the day-of paper goods and decor, drove home the overall Virginia theme.[/field]
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Hunter Ryan Photo

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Perfecting the Enchanted Garden Aesthetic at Pippin Hill Farm

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Purple, blush pink, dusty blue, white[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]We wanted a really lush floral arch and an elegant yet whimsical aesthetic. Christian told the florist to think of this as Allison Wonderland’s wedding. We wanted fully green chandeliers dripping with wisteria.[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”][/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]The Bride wore a Monique Lhuillier dress with a beautiful floral pattern. She made 5 trips by train from DC to NYC to choose the dress and complete all fittings. She also wore a Monique Lhuillier veil with colorful florals embroidered throughout. She wanted a unique scent to remember her wedding day by and loved wearing Monique Lhuillier perfume.
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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]We gave the bridesmaids the color scheme and some inspiration and let each bridesmaid choose their own dress based on their preference.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”][/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Macerated strawberry paired with sparkling rose for an amuse bouche
First Course Heirloom tomato and burrata with chardonnay wine pairing
Second Course braised short rib[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Draping wisteria from the chandeliers, a lush floral arch and lined aisle for the ceremony [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Simple white cake wrapped in greenery[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]Both parents had readings during the ceremony[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]Bride purchased extra wedding dress material and sewed a tie for the groom. She surprised him with this on their wedding day. He was really surprised, thought it really sweet, and cried when he saw it. There were hints of this in the wedding invite unbeknownst to the groom and guests.
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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]They included their 7 year old dog, a Beagle-Dachshund named Citizen, as their flower girl and ring bearer. They had a custom white dress made for her because she has a long dachshund body and not other dresses quite fit. She high-fived the groom when she made it down the aisle and this was caught in a photo! We used a dog service to bring her to the venue, put her in her outfit, watch her until she went down the aisle, and took her home after some portraits with the couple.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]We chose to support women-owned small businesses by only hiring women-owned businesses for ALL wedding vendors (with the exception of the DJ).[/field]
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Brigitte Renee Photography

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A Style-Centered Keswick Vineyards Wedding That Wows

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

The wedding colors were greens, whites, creams, earth tones, and textured rattan with pops of golds.

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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

The bride, Kedron, has an impeccable taste and sense of fashion, so we collaborated to give her the wedding design of her dreams that matched her own style. Kedron’s and Aaron’s ceremony overlooked the vineyards and their altar space was flanked by a beautiful broken arch of white and green florals. Cocktails were enjoyed on the patio along with passed canapes, and as guests entered into the sailcloth tent for the reception, they were met with a beautiful design of neutral, earthy tones and textures, subtle pops of mixed metals, and a whimsical green floral print on linens with complimenting floral arrangements and tall tapered candles.

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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]

Kedron wore a beautiful down with an asymmetrical neckline from Lovely Bride Charleston. It fit her like a glove — in the most perfect way! After their ceremony, Kedron and Aaron poured champagne in their champagne tower surrounded by their wedding party, then Kedron popped on a pair of white-framed vintage sunglasses and strutted around the venue hand in hand with her groom sipping on signature cocktails – blood orange cosmos and black walnut old fashioneds – and hugging their loved ones.

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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]

Bridesmaids dresses were curated by the bride herself — she gave her ladies a palette of inspiration and encouraged them each to select dresses that fit the design and made them feel most comfortable. The colors ranged from deep forest green to light stage – and everything in between – and some were patterned while others were a single solid color. The majority of bridesmaids dresses were sourced from BHLDN.

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[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Aaron and his groomsmen wore classic black tuxedos for the special day. [/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]The newlyweds wedding reception featured an incredible spread of stations — Mediterranean station featuring an elaborate mezze spread of grilled pita, hummus, peppers, sambousek, and keftedes; a Southwest station featuring scrumptious tacos, mahi, cilantro lime rice, and cord salad; and a Summer Grill station with chicken, asparagus, and quinoa salad. [/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

Collaborating with Willow Branch Flowers And Design, the florals effortlessly complemented the design of the wedding. White orchids, lush creamy garden roses, ranunculus, cosmos, baby’s breath and greenery were all blended together to create gorgeous ceremony arrangements, delicate cocktail hour bud vases, and stunning reception tent detail.

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Kedron and Aaron cut into the most charming carrot cake created by Cake Bloom! After feeding each other bits of their cake, coffee and tea were made available to their guests as well as small bite sized assorted desserts such as mini key lime tarts, cheesecakes, and chocolate pot de cremes.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]The bride’s best friend’s father officiated Kedron and Aaron’s wedding ceremony. Having a loved one pronouncing newlyweds married for the first time is such a special treat! [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″][/field]
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A Peachy Pink Swedish-American Disco in Coastal Virginia

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

From the beginning, the couple knew they wanted a white-to-beige base color palette bursting with touches of pink, peach, and orange. Virignia Beach-based florist The Wandering Petal was the main vendor assigned to really nail the color pops along with the bridal attendants’ mix of gowns.

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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

Mix together the band ABBA, an early summer garden, an Aperol Spritz, and a black tie dress code. What do you get? This wedding. Disco balls, colorful blooms, and a party atmosphere took front stage for this country club fête. The Sweden-based couple wanted to transform the groom’s hometown of Virginia Beach into a European-focused party town; we think we accomplished that with vim to spare.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”][/field]
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[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]A clean, a-line, square neck gown is an easy way to infuse modern tradition with classic silouhettes. It complimented the more wild, colorful nature of the bouquet as well as stood out among the array of patterned and textured bridesmaid dresses.[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]Matching bridesmaid dresses are a thing of the past; today’s bridesmaids are given instructions to select their own gowns given a set of parameters. This wedding was no different with gowns ranging from solid hot pinks to patterned tiered yellows. It all ended up being a great match to the floral recipes as well as an excellent pairing aside the men’s classic tuxedos.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”][/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]

One Swedish tradition that the couple wanted to bring to the United States was the longer, multi-course dinners that happen on wedding evenings. For this particular wedding, we worked with Princess Anne Country Club to create a stunning three course meal comprised of a crab Napoleon stack, filet mignon with pasta primavera, and passed cake slices with coffee. Between courses, guests were served wine and treated to different speeches and activities from the Swedish hosts, known as toastmasters.

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

For this wedding, we attempted and succeeded in doing something Princess Anne Country Club hadn’t seen previously: a tented wedding. All newlyweds-to-be elect to hold their reception in the club’s ballroom. However, we raised the bar and figured out how to hold their wedding in a tent on the grounds a couple of blocks from the Atlantic Ocean. With rentals from Curated Events, Astro Entertainment, Stage Right Lighting, and BBJ La Tavola, we executed their initial vision with precision from the tent entrance draping to the haning disco balls to the linen selection. The florals played the largest role in bringing color to complete our clear top tent goals.

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]

The wedding cake from Custom Cake Shoppe was a classic three-tier with a gluten free version off to the side. Blooms were added to accentuate the cake, and the cake slices were passed to each guest during the final course of the evening’s dinner.

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]

One highlight of the evening was the couple’s first dance following the final course of dinner and parent dances. In coordination with Amber Justine Events and the couple’s DJ, DJ Cuban of Zandi Entertainment, the groom surprised all guests by serenading the bride with the first verse of Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”. They switched to dancing with guests literally standing in their seats and cheerings. From there, all the guests joined the dance floor for the end of the song, kicking off the rest of the epic evening.

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[field title=”Special Detail #1″]One new-to-us element of the wedding was the introduction of Swedish toastmasters, which are pre-determined guests that act as hosts for the evening. The verdict? We loved it. The toastmasters took over all announcements from cocktail hour to the end of dinner service. From welcoming guests to explaining Swedish traditions to humorous little quips between courses (including a Michael Jackson dance-off session in a silver jumpsuit), they were the life of the party.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]

Disco balls took the literal center stage during this wedding. Guests entering the tent from cocktail hour were greeted with three escort mirror “walls” designed by creative The Native Lion. On the mirrors were suctioned mini disco balls and escort cards for guest to take and keep. Inside the clear top tent, we focused attention on the hanging elements such as rustic chandeliers and a cluster of greenery with disco balls over the dance floor. ABBA vibes were the goal, and the disco balls helped us to achieve it.

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[field title=”Special Detail #3″]

This five-hour wedding included copious dancing via Zandi Entertainment after dinner service was complete. European disco was the vibe, which meant maximizing party time and going until midnight with transportation to an after party to follow in the wee hours. And a party it was – light up viking helmets to honor the bride’s ancestry, silver kitten ears thrown into the crowd, a mix of Swedish and American favorites, and lighting effects to rival the best clubs in Europe. It was a party to end all parties!

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These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

BBJ La Tavola

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Petit Bouquet

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Virginia Floral Garden Wedding In Fun And Festive Sorbet Tones

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

The colors were yellow, peach, tangerine, creams, and dusty blue.

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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

From the bride… Our style is fairly traditional, elegant, refined but also fun, and colorful. We were inspired by the beautiful property and scenery of Clifton Inn and aimed to amplify the “garden feel” with our florals. I would describe our wedding as garden chic – elegant, timeless, overflowing with florals, and very welcoming. We added bistro lighting and crystal chandeliers to the tent for a touch of elegance and to compliment our crystal tablescape design. Our top priority for our wedding day was creating an environment for our guests to have fun and celebrate with us. While planning our wedding weekend, we kept our guests top of mind, as we wanted our guests’ experience to be unforgettable too. We wanted to set the tone for the remainder of the event at cocktail hour. Between our fun design elements of having our custom crest blown up on our cocktail hour bar, lounge seating, and having live jazz music, we were hoping our guests would let loose and start having fun before the kick-off of our reception.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]

Connor and I met through mutual friends at the University of South Carolina in 2015. While our paths had crossed many times during our years in undergrad, it wasn’t until our senior year that we finally connected. After a year of long-distance directly following our graduation, we both made the move to Washington D.C. to be closer together and continue our professional careers. In October 2020, Connor planned a trip to Charlottesville, Virginia for us to visit some friends and enjoy the wineries. Connor proposed while at King Family Vineyard with the Blue Ridge mountains peeking through the clouds behind us, which was equally surprising & romantic. After getting engaged in Charlottesville, we knew we wanted our wedding there. The same night we got engaged, Connor and I googled “wedding venues in Charlottesville” and immediately fell in love with Clifton Inn. The beautiful grounds and views of the Blue Ridge mountains were a perfect backdrop for our ceremony. We loved that we were able to have our immediate family and closest friends stay on the property for the duration of our wedding weekend. With many of our friends and family residing in different states, it was so special to have everyone together in one place and truly made the weekend feel like it was more than just one day and a mini-vacation for all of us.

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While dress shopping, I was very torn between getting a fitted or an A-Line dress. I really loved both styles but was having a hard time finding a dress that really felt like “me”. Once I put this dress on, I knew it was the one! I had never seen a wedding dress like this before with the fitted silhouette but also having an overlay that made the dress more A-Line (best of both worlds for me)! I loved the delicate chiffon lace and the cap sleeves. The dress was romantic, matched our garden party aesthetic, and was unique with the almond undertones and the long train overlay skirt.

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The bridesmaids wore soft, French blue Jenny Yoo chiffon dresses from Bella Bridesmaids. The styles were mismatched within the same blue shade, creating a beautiful and romantic mix and setting the backdrop for fun sorbet tones of the florals.

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Connor and the groomsmen wore classic black tuxedos, which were a sharp and perfect contrast to the French blue bridesmaid dresses and the punchy sorbet palette carried by the florals.

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We selected our catering menu based on what we could source locally and fresh to the season. We served a selection of meats and cheeses and passed hors d’oeuvres during cocktail hour (Ratatouille Crostini, Maryland Crabcakes, Country Ham and Pimiento Cheese Biscuits, Duck Confit Spring Rolls, Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus). For our plated dinner, we had a spring salad complete with goat cheese, fresh fruit, and candied pecans. Our main courses were Roasted Chicken Breast, Braised Short Ribs, and a Spiced Lentil Cake. Our specialty cocktail was a Clifton classic cocktail – The 1799. This was made from cucumber vodka, elderflower liquor, pineapple, and lime, and it was a perfectly refreshing and summery drink!

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Our ceremony florals were the first impression of our wedding day, so we really wanted to wow our guests with our floral-lined aisle and floral arch. Our florist, Mallory Joyce, TRULY encapsulated our vision of a garden party with her playful arrangements and gorgeous flower pairings. We chose bright yellows, peach, tangerine, creams, and pinks for our florals to compliment the blue linens and bridesmaid dresses. We love color and wanted to take risks with colors that aren’t typically seen paired together for a wedding to be a bit unique but still classic.

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Our cake was a Lemon Chiffon Cake filled with Triple Cream and Raspberry Curd, iced with Chambord Buttercream, and decorated with buttercream flowers that complimented our color palette. We also had a coffee bar and Mini Fruit Tart & Mini Tarte Tatins to keep us dancing into the evening!

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]

One of our favorite memories from our wedding weekend is our first look and exchanging of our private vows. We wanted to have a private moment amid a busy day to center ourselves and to be with each other prior to our guests’ arrival. We chose to exchange private vows during our first look so we could soak in what we were promising to each other and not be overwhelmed by emotion during our ceremony. To us, the first look allowed us to get jitters out of the way early on and truly spend our wedding day together rather than apart for most of the day.

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We chose to incorporate unique touches that would be fun for guests to enjoy, like having a trumpet player lead the way from cocktail hour to the reception and having a live painter to watch throughout the evening. We were excited to surprise our friends and family with a live painter. Wed On Canvas captured our wedding ceremony beautifully, which provided our guests entertainment throughout the evening and provided Connor and I a beautiful piece of art to hang in our home.

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We worked with The Welcoming District to design a crest that is reflective of our wedding day and personalities. We had our dog, Piper, included as well as florals that matched our floral design and colors. We used our crest for fun details like our cocktail hour bar, garden flag, matchboxes, and welcome bags. Our welcome bags included some of our favorite things, like local Virginia peanuts, custom sugar cookies, and white wine with details of the weekend events.

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[field title=”Special Detail #3″]From the bride: Connor and I took dance lessons for the month leading up to our wedding so we could feel a bit more comfortable for our first dance, even though we did forget some of the choreography! My dad also joined in the lessons for our father/daughter dance, which was a really entertaining experience for all of us.[/field]
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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Sidney Leigh Photography

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Petit Bouquet

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Fall Wedding Inspiration at Virginia House

You won’t believe your eyes when you see this Virginia wedding that looks like it was shot at an English manor. Janna Brown Design Co made the most beautiful of visions a reality and filled the day with flowers in rich autumnal tones. Every dreamy detail is elegantly captured in imagery by Jacqueline Aleace Photography, you’ll love every picture inside the full gallery.

From Jacqueline Aleace Photography… What started off as a dreary, drizzly day quickly cleared into beautiful blue skies for this shoot at the Virginia House. The result is simply spectacular.

It’s hard to believe you’re in Richmond, Virginia, and not in the Cotswolds when you have this beautiful English Manor as the backdrop for this elegant wedding inspiration.

Janna Brown Design Co’s lush bridal bouquet complimented the detailing on both of the bride’s Ines Di Santo gowns- while the rich warm tones of the roses played off the bride’s hair and the rich colors of the fall season.

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BBJ La Tavola

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A Timeless Virginia Wedding Celebrating Bold Autumn Colors

Celebrate the beauty of the autumn season with this simply inspired Virginia wedding. The celebration was artfully planned by White Birch Events, who thoughtfully crafted every dreamy detail of the day. The blooms designed by Mallory Joyce exquisitely tell the story of true love, with free-flowing arrangements in the festive tones of fall. Romantic and timeless imagery by Katie Trauffer Photography is a sight to behold, enjoy it all inside the full gallery.

From Katie Trauffer Photography… Classic details give a modern twist with a bold autumn-inspired reception design. On an idyllic Fall day at the historic Clifton Inn in Charlottesville, VA, timeless romance and bold seasonal color came together in an abundance of Autumn beauty. Thoughtfully planned by White Birch Events, this day was brought to life with florals by Mallory Joyce who expertly weaved together a locally sourced palette of impactful Autumnal colors. Katie Trauffer Photography thoughtfully captured every sublime detail in a full gallery alive with the colors of Fall! Florist Mallory Joyce says “Celia loved classic, white flowers but she also was drawn to the bright and varied tones of early autumn. We decided to marry the two visions by keeping her ceremony and personal flowers all neutral tones and then pumping up the color for the reception.”

For their invitation suite, the couple chose to incorporate a stunning custom portrait of their venue by artist Line In the Sam. They worked with local stationer Carly Reed Designs to choose a neutral color palette with an earthy green envelope. Choosing their venue was a natural fit, it was the first venue they toured and the couple explains that with “the historical significance of The Clifton and after we tried the food, it was a no-brainer. We booked their next available date.”

For the bride, colorful flowers have always been a way to spread joy thanks to her father who is “famous for his dahlia gardens.” She explains “Instead of bringing a bottle of wine to a dinner party, my dad will bring a huge, beautiful bouquet of fresh-picked dahlias from his garden – in his signature vase – a recycled tennis ball can. The flowers are always vibrant colors, a mix of dahlias and any other local blooms or greenery he has at the time.”

Embracing this joyful inspiration, florist Mallory Joyce created a statement reception palette by using “a lot of local flowers including dahlias, cosmos, and celosia in pinky-peach hues and ground(ing) the punchy colors with touches of honey-toned roses to keep the palette autumnal.”

The bride’s Jane Hill dress paired a classic sleek silhouette with romantic and distinctly bridal detailing. The bride explains “It was a silhouette and neckline that I find myself wearing in everyday life – but the bridal details really elevated a silhouette and neckline I love. For me, the pearl buttons were the deciding factor.”

Photographer Katie Trauffer Photography embraced the Autumnal inspiration, capturing enduring, romantic portraits with an eye for the turn of the season. From streaming golden light through trees at the peek of their Fall transition to the leaf-blanketed secret garden courtyard, she used the emergence of Autumn to craft portraits that would embrace and honor the vibrancy of the couple’s color palette while feeling authentic to their love and eternally stylish.

“Newlywed portraits are always one of my favorite parts of a wedding day as I have the opportunity to translate my couple’s love and vision for their day into heirlooms they will hold onto decades after the last champagne is poured. Especially here, I wanted their portraits to retain the timeless yet colorful inspiration for their event. Beyond portraits, though, I cherish capturing those little moments in between- the way the bride smiled at her new husband during toasts over a table laden with bountiful blooms, the way the groom kissed her hand as they walked with their wedding party to line up for the ceremony- those are some of my favorite images in a gallery that is truly overflowing with favorites!”

Planner White Birch Events seamlessly organized an event that was flawlessly executed and immensely personal. From the couple’s gift table, complete with their prized tennis trophy as a cardholder, to the bathroom champagne bar- a highlight for the couple who loved how it “made the bathroom a fun place to gather and hang out (at) before heading back to the dance floor”- Cinda ensured every detail was beautifully honored and that the entire event had ample time for each carefully chosen vendor to craft their best work. A highlight of the night was the couple’s choreographed first dance “Derek and I spent months (half seriously) practicing the Dirty Dancing lift. After a disastrous and hilarious practice routine fall, we settled for a death drop instead” for a moment that had the entire tent cheering. At the end of the night, “After the guests were led out in a second line to “When the Saints Go Marching In”, Derek and I stayed behind for a private dance to “Lover” by Taylor Swift.” The bride says “whenever I hear this song, I think of Derek and after our wedding, it brings even more special memories of our Last Dance.”

A Nantucket Inspired Summer Wedding Packed with Charm

Ready for an instant dose of New England summer? Today’s nantucket-inspired wedding is giving us all the warmth we’re craving on this chilly December day. Sarah Kazemburg Events + Styling brought the couple’s grandmillenial meets garden party vision to life, while Floral & Bloom Designs brought the colorful aesthetic to new heights with the addition of coral charm peonies, butterfly ranunculus, delphinium and more! See all the charm at the full gallery captured beautifully by Sarah Shank Photography!

From Sarah Kazemburg Events + Styling…While Lauren and Jimmy’s wedding took place in Virginia near both of their hometowns, they envisioned it being a colorful, grandmillenial summer garden party inspired by their favorite vacation spot/happy place in Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard where they were engaged in 2020 after five years of dating. They fell in love with the historic Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House’s lush open garden lawn for ceremony, romantic fountain for cocktail hour and tented reception space for an al fresco celebration.

Invitations by Emily Baird Design set the initial scene, featuring a colorful, grandmillenial inspired monogram, a custom floral and lobster pattern and a die-cut lobster card insert to nod to the Nantucket staple. An all-calligraphy, letterpressed invitation card kept the suite balanced and clean paired with more colorful inserts to felt curated but not too “matchy”.

As they arrived for the wedding weekend, guests received mini welcome totes filled with treats to enjoy over the weekend including Cape Cod chips and mini lobster gummies. Lauren gifted each of her bridesmaid a handkerchief, each with a unique floral embroidery pattern that she collected over the course of wedding planning.

Sumptuous, colorful flowers were a big priority to Lauren and included all of her favorite summertime blooms – coral charm peonies, butterfly ranunculus, delphinium and more. Lush floral gardens in pink and white lined the ceremony aisle where Lauren and Jimmy exchanged vows under a large Oak tree. Their sweet golden retriever Edgar was included the processional right before Lauren walked down the aisle with her dad.

During cocktail hour, guests were greeted with refreshing Orange Crushes and Aperol Spritz’s and grazed over a coastal harvest raw bar set in a boat. One of Lauren’s favorite moments was when her dad, a professional fiddler, joined their string quartet to perform a few songs during cocktail hour.

The custom lobster pattern and monogram from their invitation suite was brought into the bar design to bring the look full circle. Their seating chart featured lobster-cut die cards calligraphed with guests names to lead them to their tables, with a punny headline “You’re My Greatest Catch” set on a striped backdrop wall.

A kings table set in the center of the reception tent created a wow factor for the space, set with a blue and white striped linen and colorful florals running down the length. Place settings featured wicker base plates and floral patterned china to complete the look.

Their buttercream wedding cake featured textured stripes and the monogram motif, set on a mini market cart decked out with the aisle florals repurposed from the ceremony.