Virginia Weddings

Let’s face it – Monday mornings don’t get a whole lot of love. But today, SMPers, that’s all about to change. You see, when Adam Barnes and Hart To Heart Media shared this classic Southern soiree set at The Clifton Inn, we knew it’d be just the thing to kick a week off right. Just A Little Ditty designed the day, Floral Images Design Studio crafted the blooms, and you can get your swoon on all morning long.

From The Bride…We started dating in July of 2008. We had actually met about 6 months earlier while I was still in college at the University of Richmond, through a mutual friend (and future groomsman) who I went to college with and who grew up with Chris, but it wasn’t until I had graduated and decided to stay in Richmond that we met again playing on the same intramural kickball team. Chris asked me to go out to dinner one night and as they say, the rest is history. Four and a half years later, Chris proposed to me while we were at my parents house in Wintergreen, VA. After multiple vacations, birthdays and Christmases together, I never expected him to pick a random Saturday night in Wintergreen to propose, so it was an amazing surprise.

We had known we’d have our wedding somewhere around Charlottesville or Wintergreen, as it was a central destination for most of our guests, with us and so many others coming from Richmond. Chris is from Lexington, VA and my parents spend half the year in Wintergreen, so it just made perfect sense. Finding our venue was more stressful than I would have imagined – I knew Charlottesville was a popular wedding destination, but I didn’t realize just how popular it had become until I started calling various venues around the area and found out almost all were booked solid well over a year in advance. We had heard about The Clifton Inn from my sister – it was actually one of the places she had originally suggested Chris take me to the weekend he was going to propose. As soon as I started looking into it, I knew we needed to visit, and when we found out they only had two weekends available that Fall, we immediately scheduled a visit and booked it the following day.

Our favorite thing about Clifton was that it really feels like a home. We loved that we had free reign over the entire property and that our family and close friends in our wedding party could stay there with us the entire weekend and not have to worry about running from venue to venue all weekend. Once everyone arrived Friday we were there to stay.

There are two things from our wedding day we’ve said we got really lucky with. The first was the weather! We knew we’d be risking cold weather when we picked late October, and leading up to it I was so nervous it’d be too cold to have an outdoor ceremony and cocktail reception on the front lawn. Luckily the weather cooperated as best it could – it was sunny and clear all day and even though it was chilly, at the advice of Maureen and Dickie earlier in the week, we had heaters and blankets set out for our guests to use during the ceremony and cocktails so everyone could stay warm.

The second was the band – they were amazing! From the beginning of the wedding planning process, the most important thing for us as far as the reception went was that we wanted everyone to have fun and we knew we wanted everyone, ourselves included, to be out on the dance floor for as long as possible. As soon as the band started playing, we danced pretty much the entire night surrounded by our family and friends.

When I saw the guests stand up as my dad and I were coming around the house to walk down the aisle was really a “wow moment”. Because Chris and I had done a first look, I wasn’t nervous and was very relaxed the entire time leading up to the ceremony, but seeing all of family and friends at that moment it hit me how momentous this was. It’s such a rush of emotions seeing everyone you love there to celebrate the two of you and it’s such a wonderful memory.

“Rustic chic” was the term that came to mind the first time we met with Dickie and Maureen at Clifton to begin going through all the details. I knew I wanted our wedding to feel very easygoing, not casual by any means but not stuffy or over the top, and I wanted to incorporate the relaxed nature of Clifton. It was really important to both of us for everyone to have fun and I think the decor and design reflected that relaxed natural atmosphere, particularly the farm tables and plantation bar. The color scheme was very neutral – lots of whites and tans – with pops of greenery from the flowers. We had handwritten chalkboard menus set up along the dinner stations and candles and lights everywhere.

My favorite fashion detail of the day was actually my engagement ring. The main diamond of my engagement ring was taken from my mother’s engagement ring. She passed away when I was five years old, and having her diamond has been so special for me and was even more so the day of, as it is a piece of her that got to be there with me. I also loved everything about my dress. I absolutely loved the lace details and it was so comfortable and easy to wear – I didn’t want to take it off!

Photography: Adam Barnes Fine Art Photography | Cinematography: Hart to Heart Media | Event Planning: Just A Little Ditty | Floral Design: Floral Images Design Studio | Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau | Invitations: Parklife Press | Wedding Bands: Tacori | Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: The Clifton Inn | Hair And Makeup: Avenue 42 | Calligraphy: Ginny Rogan | Lighting: Blue Ridge AV & Lighting | Groom's Attire: Jos. A. Bank | Ceremony Music: Plum Blossom String Quartet | Transportation: Groome Transportation | Wedding Venue: The Clifton Inn | Tent: Skyline Tent Company | Reception Band: EastCoast Entertainment | Rentals: Festive Fare | Rentals: Stonegate Event Rentals

I’m pretty sure my jaw dropped on my desk the second I opened these gorgeous images from Meg Runion Studios, because they are a dream. This gorgeous Bride is simply a vision, and her timeless farm wedding with the perfect touch of elegance designed by Events By Reagan will surely stick in my mind for some time. Not that I am complaining.

From Events By Reagan…The focus of Erin and Geoff’s wedding was family and Erin wished to showcase where her roots were. The couple married at the church where the bride was baptized, Holy Comforter Catholic Church, and the reception was held five minutes from the bride’s childhood home in an old hay barn on Verulam Farm, a privately owned estate that has recently opened its doors to events. The décor was inspired by the décor in her mother’s home and many decorative items were pulled directly from there, including the rugs, antique horn cups, and an antique leather topped table. The bride memorialized the groom’s late mother by wrapping her bouquet in lace from his mother’s own wedding gown while the groom honored his mother by placing a single rose on the pew where she would have been seated as he processed into the church.

We emphasized the juxtaposition of the rustic barn and Erin’s classic lace Romona Keveza gown with the combination of soft, romantic white flowers with earthy colored hydrangea, ivory draping with floral tie backs at the barn entrance, and an enchanting billowing “drape” of twinkle lights that was suspended over the dance floor. A 24 foot white-washed bar anchored the room and served as a stunning focal point where guests enjoyed signature bourbon cocktails. Cascading down the cake was a mixture of roses and hydrangea with lamb’s ear, which added a velvety texture and richness to the messy buttercream icing.

Catered by A Pimento Catering, guests enjoyed a traditional Southern stationed dinner of family favorites: fried oysters, esquites, fried chicken, and bourbon cocktails to name a few. The energy of the band, Attraction, kept guests on the dance floor all evening until the couple departed with a romantic rainy sparkler send off. The night was purely magical!

Photography: Meg Runion Studios | Event Planning & Design: Events By Reagan | Floral Design: Floral Images Design Studio | Cake: Pearl's Cupcake Shoppe | Invitations: Sas-e Ink | Church: Holy Comforter Catholic Church | Catering: A Pimento Catering | Calligraphy: Elizabeth Porcher Jones | Band: The Adrian Duke Project | Bridal Gown: Romona Keveza | Bridesmaids Attire: Amsale | Draping & Specialty Lighting: MS Events | Horse Farm & Barn: Verulam Farm | Rentals: Festive Fare | Specialty Rentals: Stonegate Event Rentals | Specialty Tabletop Items: Roxie Daisy

Florals rank high among my favorite things, so a wedding inspired by beautiful blooms? Well, that’s basically my dream come true.  FloraCulture made sure to fill every corner with the prettiest of petals, leaving this couple with a day so lovely I am sure they are still dreaming of it. Lucky for all of us, Love By Serena was behind the lens to capture every beautiful moment in a way that will make your heart sing, and you can see them all here.

From Love By Serena…I had the absolute pleasure of photographing Whitney & Jeff’s beautiful summer wedding at the The Clifton Inn. The two of them live in the Washington DC area and chose Charlottesville, VA for its sweet charm. Whitney loves all things Anthropologie, so it was only natural that the bridesmaids would wear dresses from BHLDN. Their special day included vintage, botanical details to match the lovely look of the outdoor gardens, live music for guests to dance the night away to, and a beautiful wish lantern send-off. A snippet about their relationship, from the couple…Jeff and Whitney met in North Carolina while Jeff was stationed at Camp Lejeune and Whitney was working with military families on base. Their first date was at a quaint seafood restaurant on Emerald Isle. Jeff had just totaled his car the week before and so showed up on one of his motorcycles. During dinner, they couldn’t stop staring at each other – they were both so excited and a little nervous at the same time. After dinner they went for a walk on the beach and fireworks went off! It was a completely magical setting (that Jeff will try and convince you was planned) for their first kiss. Jeff and Whitney had many dates and long walks on the beach in Surf City and Emerald Isle before Jeff left for his second deployment. While it was scheduled for June, Jeff had to abruptly depart in March. It was hard on Whitney, who soon created a visual for how many days had passed without Jeff and how many days were left. It was a rather depressing number at first, but as the summer approached and the weather grew warmer and beach walks became more frequent, Whitney started collecting beach rocks. She put them in a giant vase in the kitchen – one rock for each day Jeff and Whitney spent apart. She needed 324 rocks for the true countdown… After many, many emails, walkie-talkie phone calls, baked goods packages, and many rocks in the vase (about eleven-ish months later), Jeff returned. After taking a small tour of the East Coast, visiting family and friends, life began to settle down a bit for Jeff and Whitney and old routines fell back into place. One particularly windy day after returning from Chapel Hill to visit Jeff’s mom and stepdad, Jeff asked Whitney to take a walk on the beach. “It’s been a long time since we’ve had a walk on the beach together and you haven’t finished your rock collection yet.” Despite the March chilliness, Whitney agreed, and they set off on their sunset walk. Jeff prompted Whitney (who was cold and hugging Jeff for most of the walk) to continue to pick up her rocks. She was too cold and suggested that they should walk back and somehow got ahead of him a bit. He continued to talk about the rocks and then paid special attention to one in particular. “Hey how about this one, hun?” he said. When she turned around, Jeff was on one knee holding a beautifully sparkling diamond ring. She was speechless for a good ten seconds, which seemed like an eternity for someone (Jeff) proposing marriage to someone. Her first response: “Oh, shut up!” (not what Jeff was expecting), was followed by a series of yeses (exactly what he was hoping)!

Photography: Love by Serena | Coordination: Clifton Inn | Floral Design: FloraCulture | Wedding Dress: Tara Keely Bridal | Stationery: Trip Press Stationery | Shoes: ...me Too | Jewelry: Lulu Splendor | Bridesmaids Dresses: BHLDN | Makeup: brideface | Hair: Top Knot Studio | Men's Attire: Vera Wang | Officiant: Rabbi Cantor Annie Bornstein | Wedding Venue: Clifton Inn | Bridal Boutique: Chevy Chase Bridal (no Longer Open) | Hairpieces: BE something New | Ketubah: Doodlage | Music (Ceremony): Piedmont Chamber Players | Music (Live Band - Reception): EastCoast Entertainment

What happens when you take a rustic farm wedding and add a little Middle Eastern infusion? Sit tight m’dears, because you’re about to find out. Think Southern elegance with oh-so-sutble cultural nods woven in along the way. Beehive Events designed the florals, Jen Fariello snapped the pretty, and there’s even more to swoon sitting pretty right here.

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From the Bride… My husband, Ammar, and I were both medical interns, he in Oral and Facial surgery, and I in Obstetrics and Gynecology, in June of 2010 when we first met. We both worked intense hours in the hospital, and thought that it would be absolutely impossible to meet anyone special given those circumstances. However, one late Friday night we crossed paths while working in the Emergency Room. There was an immediate chemistry and after that, it was all history. The only major hurdle was that I was a blonde American, and Ammar was from a long line of Middle Eastern ancestors – would they accept me and my family, and would my family, in turn, accept Ammar and his family into their lives?

Amazingly, it all went swellingly well. We were engaged several months later in Charlottesville, Virginia at Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson. Ammar proposed on the front lawn of Monticello after a fresh snowfall, and it was absolutely magical. We have a mutual love for the Charlottesville area as we both attended the University of Virginia as undergraduates, and we return frequently to enjoy hiking in the Blue Ridge mountains, touring cideries and wineries, and attending college football games with family. We drove back to nearby Richmond, Virginia, where we were now Chief Residents in our respective fields, and immediately started planning our Charlottesville wedding.

We love the outdoors and Virginia history, and wanted a wedding venue that would showcase both of these. We toured many of the area’s wineries and cideries and ultimately fell in love with the beautiful Castle Hill Cider, which is situated on the Castle Hill Plantation in Keswick, Virginia. We loved the rustic feel of the venue, and it’s simple and beautiful setting beneath the Blue Ridge mountains. Our wedding took place in July, and we wanted our colors, pewter, rose, and soft coral, to be subtle and beautiful, not taking away from the beauty of the natural surroundings and fitting well with our vintage, rustic/chic style.

It was very important for us to incorporate both of our cultures in the wedding. We had a traditional Arabic ceremony on Friday night, just before our rehearsal dinner where we sat at an Arabic sofrah table, adorned with items that represented wishes for a happy, healthy, loving marriage and life together. We feasted over a traditional Middle Eastern dinner while a musician played live music with an oud. After dinner, the women enjoyed a traditional henna ceremony. Our wedding at Castle Hill Cider was more classically American, though we wrote our own wedding ceremony and vows, incorporating readings from both the Bible and the Qur’an as well as poetry that was sentimental to both of us. We were married under the shade of the linden trees, where hanging vases of fresh flowers blew gently in the Summer breeze. The cocktail hour took place in the linden grove, and then the guests proceeded into the barn.

After dinner and some dancing, a belly dancer appeared and performed a sword dance as well as traditional dance. Wedding cake was served along side an assortment of Middle Eastern pastries. We gave guests traditional packages of Jordan almonds, packaged in parcels of seven pieces to represent good luck for the newly married couple. We finished off the evening with a traditional Arabic dabke dance and a sparkler exit – we drove off in white 1940 Packard limousine and had a beautiful ride through the Virginia countryside with the windows rolled down and the sweet smell of blooming honeysuckle blowing through our hair. The night would not have been complete without kissing Thomas Jefferson’s statue at the University of Virginia Rotunda.  

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Photography: Jen Fariello Photography | Floral Design: Beehive Events | Videography: Kirby Martin | Hair: Lucas Shaffer | Catering: Sandy Motley | Event Planning: The Event Company | Invitations: Paper On The Avenue | Cake: Cakes By Rachel | Wedding Dress: Ines DiSanto | Bridesmaids Dresses: Lula Kate From Bella Bridesmaids | Headband + Bracelet: BHLDN

Unexpected glamour is quickly becoming my new favorite design element. From a stunning glittering gown paired with a barn shindig to sequin chevron runners tucked inside a laid back beauty like this Charlottesville wedding. Designed by Amore Events By Cody along with too many pretty images to count by Laura Gordon Photography, this is a wedding that pairs glittering details with scrumptious donuts and we couldn’t love it more.

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From The Bride…Though we didn’t know it at the time, my husband and I spent our high school days living just two miles away from each other. After high school, William joined the Marine Corps and I went to college at the University of Virginia. I moved back to the area after graduating and it was that summer that we were introduced by two of our best friends. The sparks flew and we became inseparable. A few months into our relationship, we took a trip to Charlottesville so that William could experience my favorite place. He fell in love with all that Charlottesville has to offer, especially the delicious food!

A few years later, William proposed during a trip to New York City. As the planning began, we both had our hearts set on getting married in beautiful Charlottesville. We envisioned an outdoor spring wedding. When we toured Keswick Vineyards, we knew it was the one for us. From the panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the classic sperry tent, we quickly fell in love. We imagined a romantic, laid back- but still glamorous, celebration with good wine and delicious food- plus some treats! Family is very important to us – I come from a big family that we are very close to and we wanted to celebrate that. Five months before our wedding, William’s father passed away. It was extremely hard for us and the last thing we wanted to do was think about planning a wedding without him there. We took a few months off from planning. Knowing how excited Will’s dad was for our big day kept us going and we planned several special touches to celebrate him on our wedding day. We placed a single white rose on his chair and had a memory candle that burned throughout the ceremony and reception. I also tracked down Will’s dad’s cufflinks and surprised Will with them during our first look.

After the wedding, William and I both agreed that our favorite moment of the day was our first look. It was an amazing and emotional moment that I will never forget. We knew we wanted to share that time together before the ceremony and take in what the day really meant. It was absolutely perfect. The first look allowed us to get the majority of our tears out and by the time the ceremony began, we were just giddy and excited about becoming husband and wife. Surrounded by our loved ones, we said “I do” under the vineyard’s large oak tree, which we adorned with a chandelier.

We chose sequin chevron runners for our reception and I was completely blown away by the florals that our planner, Cody, designed. With the help of my mom and two sisters, we took on several DIY projects. We created the seating chart out of an old frame that we spray painted gold and added chalkboard to. My sister’s boyfriend designed the menu cards, and my sisters and I hand embossed all 140 menu cards and the place cards for the head table. My dad welcomed everyone with a beautiful prayer and dinner was served family style. We really wanted to share our love of treats with our guests. We had a simple white cake trio, gold leaf painted macaroons, a popcorn bar, and Charlottesville’s Carpe Donut truck show up. I surprised William with a groom’s cake that replicated his Marine Corps uniform, which was made by my insanely talented friend. After plenty of dancing, we had a sparkler exit and rode the party bus back with all of our family and friends. It was truly the day of our dreams. We are so grateful for our amazing vendors, especially our photographer, Laura Gordon, and our planner, Cody Grannis. They were more than our vendors, they became great friends. My biggest advice to brides would be to do a first look with your groom. There is nothing in the world like sharing that moment together.

Photography: Laura Gordon Photography | Videography: MPA Weddings | Wedding Gown: Marisa Bridals | Cake: Sweethaus | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Catering: Beggar's Banquet | Makeup: Charlottesville Makeup Artist | Hair: Top Knot Studio | Wedding Venue: Keswick Vineyards | Donut Truck: Carpe Donut | Event Planning, Styling & Florals: Amore Events by Cody | Gilded Mr. & Mrs. Signs: Laura Hooper Calligraphy | Linens: BBJ La Tavola

Laura Gordon is one of those photographers who can do no wrong. She’s a rising star of the wedding world, and when she sent over these Charlottesville nuptials complete with gold sequin table runners and rich pops of pink…we couldn’t get it up here fast enough. Amore Events By Cody designed the whole southern glam shebang, and the images below are only the beginning.

From Laura Gordon… Saguna and Dan’s wedding day started at the beautiful University of Virginia Chapel where they stood in front of their most beloved friends and family and devoted their lives to each other. From there, the whole party headed toward the mountains to King Family Vineyards, where they gathered to celebrate the beautiful couple.

The gold sequined chevron runners adorned all of the tables inspired Saguna and Dan’s entire day. Keeping the runners as the focal point, we accented the reception tables with beautiful gold-rimmed china accompanied by pale gold flatware, gold tulip candle holders, and overflowing lush floral arrangements. There were also personal elements sprinkled throughout that really made this day theirs. From the family pictures garnishing the hutch, to the hand-made cork escort card holders, the stunning traditional Thai dress, the scotch bar at the fire-pit, and a UVA Rotunda-shaped wedding cake to honor where they met, this wedding was tailored perfectly for them.

The entire wedding, from the beautiful chapel ceremony to the magical sparkler exit, was breathtakingly romantic. It really was a fairytale wedding to match a storybook romance.

Photography: Laura Gordon Photography | Event Design: Amore Events by Cody | Floral Design: Amore Events by Cody | Wedding Dress: Paloma Blanca | Ceremony Venue: UVA Chapel | Reception Venue: King Family Vineyards | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: BBQ Exchange | Calligraphy: Joie De Vivre Calligraphy | Cake & Cupcakes: Sweethaus | Groom's Tuxedo: Bryn Keith | Rentals: MS Events

A late Summer Harvest Feast. I’m pretty sure those are the best five words on the planet. Complete with friends, wine and good good food. And of course, styled as beautifully as this celebration held by Lynn of Easton Events at her gorgeous winery. While we’ve included some pretty spectacular pics from Tec Pateja, make sure to spend some time in the gallery for so much more.

From Lynn of Easton Events…When Tec Petaja came to Charlottesville to shoot a wedding for us at Easton we decided that having Tec in town was the perfect opportunity to gather some of the East Coast’s best and brightest photographers to join us for a late summer feast on the verandah at Pippin Hill. This was our way of thanking our photographers for all of their hard work throughout the year and always making us look so good.

We were thrilled to have not only Tec Petaja, Belathee, Landon Jacob, Trent Bailey, Kate Headley, Patricia Lyons join us ….but also our favorite locals such as Eric Kelley, Elisa Bricker, Jen Fariello just to name a few. We asked everyone one to bring a guest so it was a lively group that settled in together for a lovely dinner on the Verandah.

We worked with Shawn Cossette of Beehive Events to come up with a fresh late summer table scape that was inspired by our setting on the verandah and the lovely blue hues of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

From Shawn of Beehive Events...The long wood tables, hand crafted and finished with a natural Nordic white wax are set with Tuscan cross back chairs. The tables are dressed in a navy blue linen runner. The arrangements and botanical elements are crafted in Turkish copper urns and white ceramic vases and vessels – the arrangements are created with a simple hand with no more than 3 botanical elements in a single container and only one gorgeous garden rose “sunset” used throughout – a somewhat spontaneous, effortless look, combining scented geranium, rosemary, olive, basil, porcelain vine, china berry, persimmons, cotoneaster and orchard picked pears.

Antlers are a reminder of the wildlife that inhabits the area. We also incorporated an abundance of candlelight from etched glass hurricanes with a wonderful bee motif, to old world glass votives as well as serene gray blue honeycomb candleholders. The place setting consist of an organic shaped wood charger with a navy blue and natural flax ticking linen napkin that is ornamented with a rosemary rosehip bouquet garnis tied with an attached birch veneer place card with names hand stamped by the Easton team.

Photography: Jen Fariello Photography | Photography: Belathée Photography | Event Planning: Easton Events | Venues: Pippin Hill Farm

When Wayne got deployed 9 months before the wedding, Christina was left to plan their dream day on her own. But with Blue Ridge Floral Design and Amore Events By Cody by her side, every detail turned out as perfect as they’d both imagined – plus then some. It’s a day that’s equally as sweet as their story and you can see it all through Aaron Watson’s lens right over here. Congrats, lovelies!

From Aaron Watson Photography… For some couples, time is of the essence when it comes to planning their wedding details. This was especially the case for Christina and Wayne who were simultaneously preparing for their “I do’s” along with Wayne’s nine month deployment.

Christina and Wayne wanted to create an atmosphere that was pure celebration from beginning to end. The sun kissed skies and rolling mountains of Pippin Hill Farm ended up serving as the idyllic location to complement their fairytale, rustic theme.

Just before he deployed, Wayne suggested sage as the perfect pop of color to accent the buttercream palette his bride-to-be adored. While she loved this idea, she also added deep violet hues to the mix after her flower girl selected a purple tutu as her dress. These shades worked together perfectly, and also served as inspiration for much of the DIY décor.

After months of separation, it’s no surprise that Christina and Wayne’s favorite memory was Christina’s emotional walk down the aisle. It was this moment where time finally froze and they were able to immerse themselves in all of the love that surrounded them.

Photography: Aaron Watson Photography | Wedding Coordinator: Amore Events by Cody | Floral Design: Blue Ridge Floral | Wedding Cake: Cakes Unlimited | Bridesmaids Dresses: Weddington Way | Caterer: Pippin Hill Farm | Lighting: Skyline Tent Company | DJ: Derek Tobler | Groomsmen Attire: Jos. A. Bank | Officiant: Evelyn Mitchell | Venue: Pippin Hill Farm | Bridal Gown Designer: Monique Lhuillier | Bridal Salon: Carine's Bridal Atelier | Hair And Makeup Artist: Charlottesville Makeup Artist | Invitations And Programs: Etsy

Nothing screams romance like a blush pink wedding palette. Equal parts soft and sweet, it’s the loveliest hue for an alfresco “I do” and this Keswick Hall affair is the perfect example. Southern Blooms made certain no dahlia or rose was left out of place, and Jen Fariello caught the whole day in gorgeous fashion. Ready for more? It’s sitting pretty right over here.

From the Bride… The overall vision was understated elegance with a romantic, European feel and many personalization’s. The color palette was shades of blush, ivory, silver and a touch of coral and sea spray. Visual details included a large gilded mirror with over the bar at cocktail hour listing the beverages and specialty drinks offered. The brides’ family’s teacups were displayed throughout the cocktail hour and reception, each holding floral arrangements or lavender. The dinner was held under a clear Navitrac tent on Keswick Hall’s patio.

The tent was decorated with bistro lights to give an elegant feel. The centerpiece of the tent was a 40-foot head table where close family members and the wedding party sat. The table was draped with a 40 foot, velvet and stenciled damask table runner, which was envisioned by Shindig Events and stenciled and made by the bride and her Dad. The linen for the head table was champagne. In addition, the table was interspersed with the bride’s family’s teacups, silver candelabras and mercury glass containers holding low lush floral arrangements.

The guest’s tables were a mixture of sea spray and champagne colored linens, interspersed with silver candelabras, mercury glass votives and low lush arrangements in both mercury glass and mint julep cups. Each place setting was antique china on a brass rope charger decorated with a sprig of lavender. Each place setting held a menu, which also served as a place card, designed by Tucked Letterpress. Each menu had a custom-made wax seal of the bride and grooms first initial.

Much of the wedding revolved around family. Alex and her Dad have always enjoyed doing projects together. From day one, Alex had envisioned a long head table at the reception with a very long table runner. With the help of a design envisioned by Shindig Events Alex and her Dad crafted a hand stenciled a 40-foot long table runner that was displayed on the head table at the reception. In addition to the table runner, the whole family helped to make the wedding guest’s favor. The favor was a small jar of local honey, which was bottled by the groom and the bride’s dad. Alex’s mom cut the lace fabric on the honey and her sister tied the bows.

A theme of family dogs was incorporated into the evening with table numbers and escort cards. Each guest was seated at a different dog’s table, with Alex and Braden’s French Bulldog, Roman, of course being the head table. Dogs have been such a huge part of both of their lives that it was important that we included them in our wedding day.

Alex and her mother have been collecting teacups for many years. These teacups held floral arrangements and lavender throughout the cocktail reception and on the head table.

Alex carried a clutch of her mother’s, which was a gift from her mother when she was 16 years old. Inside her wedding dress, Alex’s dad placed a blue handkerchief that was once his mothers. Alex also wore the same veil that her sister wore in her wedding. Braden was given his grandfather’s ring, engraved with his grandmother and grandfather’s wedding date and initials as well as our initials as his wedding band.

Photography: Jen Fariello Photography | Event Design: Shindig Weddings And Events | Floral Design: Southern Blooms | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Maliha Creations | Invitations: Tucked | Ceremony Venue: Grace Episcopal Church | Reception Venue: Keswick Hall | Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale | Hair & Makeup: Jeanne Cusick | Tent: Skyline Tent Company | Rentals: Festive Fare | Video: Humble Down Productions

When the clear tent came on the scene a few years ago, outdoor loving brides like myself rejoiced and you’re about to see why. How else can you create a (weather-proof) cozy atmosphere that only the marquee can provide, but see the beautiful night stars as you dance the night away with your love? Aaron Watson Photography, Hedge Fine Blooms and this stunning couple are here to say it’s possible… and it’s beautiful.

From Aaron Watson Photography… Pae and Seth envisioned a weekend full of celebrating their marriage with friends and relatives. Venturing off to Charlottesville for a weekend getaway created a “destination” atmosphere even though it was only an hour away from their home. For as long as she could remember, Pae dreamed of having an outdoor wedding surrounded by the beautiful nature, scent of fresh flowers and country air. With combination of the Blue Ridge Mountain hills, a backdrop of the grand estate and a lovely summer climate, made the Keswick Hall a perfect venue for this couple.

Out of town guests were greeted with Southern hospitality as the bride and groom arranged personalized gift bags filled with maps, area attractions, a weekend itinerary and local goodies. Each day, guests gathered and enjoyed organized socials and events put on by Pae and Seth, but the real thrill of the weekend was their wedding day.

Their romantic and lighthearted wedding ceremony kicked off in the evening on the lawn of Keswick Hall. Their special night continued with dinner in a tent under the stars serving Pae and Seth’s favorite southern comfort foods, followed by guests dancing the night away. To top off their perfect night, the couple surprised everyone with a fireworks display after cutting the cake and champagne toast.

Their wedding had several unique DIY touches such as their wine bottle table numbers and their “Truffles for a Cause” wedding favors donating to charities of their choice (they chose the Richmond SPCA and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital). For Pae, there were countless precious moments of the day making it difficult to narrow down to one favorite memory. However, she will always cherish the moment before walking down the aisle, taking everything in and realizing how happy she was to marry her best friend. Both Pae and Seth were all smiles when they were officially introduced as Dr. and Mrs. Cheatham for the first time.

Photography: Aaron Watson Photography | Wedding Planner: Adam Donovan-Groves | Floral Design: Hedge Fine Blooms | Wedding Gown: Tiffany's Bridal | Reception Venue: Keswick Hall | Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew | Hair & Makeup: Jeanne Cusick | DJ: JG Entertaiment | Favors: Truffles For A Cause | Groom's Attire: Armani | Officiant: Rev. Claire Goodman, Interfaith Minister - Sacred Ground Ceremonies | Bridal Gown Designer: Essense of Australia | Fireworks: Dominion Fireworks | Invitations and Programs: Paper on the Avenue | Lighting/Tent: Skyline Tent Company | Rentals: Festive Fare

We know the beauty of a barn wedding like the back of our hands; the approachable design mingled with a weathered backdrop. But what we don’t come across too often is a barn wedding gone classic. With all white blooms by Blue Ridge Floral and a decidedly formal twist, this Virginia affair is proving that barn doesn’t necessarily mean rustic. See even more captured by Lauryn Galloway in the full gallery .

The entire day was Classic Virginia! The Bride and Groom had their ceremony at the Chapel at UVA, their Alma Mater. The Bride chose shades of blue for the Bridesmaids to wear that complimented the Oranges and Yellows of the leaves so well. The Reception was at the Barn at Verulam Farm. All the flowers were gorgeous creams, whites and greens.

One of the most special parts of the day was the Bride’s veil that her Grandmother purchased in France and worn by her and the Bride’s mother on their wedding days as well. It was stunning!

Frances is from Alabama, and Andrew is from Virginia. I love how they honored both states with their Cake Topper!

Photography: Lauryn Galloway | Floral Design: Blue Ridge Floral | Dress: West Main Bridal | Ceremony: UVA Chapel | Reception: Verulam Farm | Catering: Harvest Moon Catering | Hair: Moxie Salon | Mens Attire: Mount Tabor Park | Dessert: Carpe Donut | Music: Amaretto

In another life, Jen Fariello is 100% going to be my wedding photographer, and if you don’t already know why, you’re about to see visual evidence of my decision. Every wedding she captures with her beautiful eye is brilliant, and this one doesn’t disappoint in the least, but really with the bride being part of Southern Blooms by Pat’s Flower Designs, we knew it wouldn’t.

From the beautiful bride… Bryan proposed six months after our first blind date on July 15, 2012 during a baseball game. He asked a friend who pilots antique airplanes to fly over the field with a banner: ‘Lindsay will you marry me?’ Turns out everyone at the game knew about it (but me!) and both of our parents were there to celebrate. It was such a special day!

Bryan and I knew we wanted to be married outside with a backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains so my dad suggested visiting a friend’s farm, and we knew right away that it was the perfect spot! We were drawn to the wide open space and the panoramic view of the mountains.

We are both attracted to things that are vintage, rusty, and weathered so we knew that incorporating family heirlooms, antique containers, and eclectic furniture was a must. I am blessed to work for such an amazing design company whose owners have a great eye for detail and an unbelievable collection of everything from lanterns to the spectacular arbor they constructed of old windows salvaged from a barn in Pennsylvania.

Bryan’s bout included a fishing fly and his old baseball glove was used as the ring pillow. The bridesmaids were transported to the ceremony site via hay wagon and an antique tractor, a nod to my family’s farming roots.

We used my great grandparent’s china on the head table, my dad’s homegrown sorghum syrup as favors, and Bryan’s mother’s cranberry glassware for the bride and groom. Adding to the sense of family we are blessed to call all of our vendors, who worked so hard making our day seamless and perfect, our friends. My father works for Mill Valley BBQ who provided the delicious southern-infused meal, Shindig’s seriously talented and organized Meghan Streit was my Young Life leader in high school, our dear friend Tod baked the wedding cake, and Bryan’s childhood minister presided over the ceremony. We were honored to have the stunning flowers provided by Southern Bloom’s skillful crew and knew without a doubt that our photos taken by Jen Fariello would be gorgeous reminders of this, the most important day of our lives. Inspired by the rich and vibrant colors of fall in Virginia, we decided on the combination of peach, copper, crimson, and plum and loved the idea of using local foliage and flowers in the bouquets and decor.

Vivid memories and favorite photos: Riding in the 1949 Ford truck to the ceremony. Seeing Bryan for the first time while walking down the aisle and not realizing how fast I was moving until my dad whispered “slow down!” The surprise petal toss as we exited the ceremony. Our first dance and looking out at all of the people that we love in one space – this was an incredible feeling. Seeing our parents smiling faces, none of this would have been possible without their love and support. The moment the sun broke through the clouds after the ceremony. Looking across the field after dark and seeing the illuminated cross. The sparkler exit and leaving on the old hay wagon only to find our Jeep completely and thoroughly decorated.

Photography: Jen Fariello Photography | Event Design: Shindig Weddings And Events | Floral Design: Southern Blooms | Wedding Dress: David's Bridal | Cake: Tod Dodson | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Makeup: Kara Spangler Of Studio 500 | Hair: Gena Mills Of At Last Salon | Venue: Buckner Farm | Rentals: Festive Fare | Sperry Tent + Lighting: Skyline Tent Company

When Jen Fariello and Pat’s Floral Designs join forces, seriously gorgeous things unfold. Just take this Pollak Vineyards soiree, for example. It’s the prettiest blend of Southern elegance and scenic beauty all wrapped up in one perfect summer day. Want to keep the pinning party going? We’ve got sooooo much more sitting right here.

From the Bride… Sam and I met on match.com. We initially told our parents an alternate “how we met” story, but ended up fessing up eventually! At the time, he was stationed at Fort Benning in Columbus, GA and I was in medical school in Atlanta. We met at a tavern in Atlanta for drinks before going out to Braves game with a couple of his friends. The night continued with dinner, drinks and finally blueberry white chocolate chip pancakes at 2AM. Later, we figured out that neither of us was actually hungry for pancakes at the time, but we were just having so much fun that we didn’t want the night to end! Sam was eventually re-stationed to North Carolina, and I came along later for residency.

We love hiking, camping and enjoying the outdoors any way we can, so we try to spend as much time as possible at my family’s home in the Blue Ridge Mountains outside Charlottesville. On July 4, we drove up to the top of the mountain to grill out and to watch fireworks. During the grand finale of the fireworks, he proposed to me with a beautiful ring that he had designed himself with the help of his hometown jeweler. It was the same spot where exactly one year earlier he first told me he loved me. The whole thing was pretty perfect!

We love the Blue Ridge Mountains—it’s where we fell in love and got engaged—so naturally we wanted to share this with our family and friends. Pollak is one of our favorite wineries in the area. Their wines are really top notch and the setting is just lovely.

One of our main goals was just to highlight the natural beauty of the mountains and Virginia wine country. We tried to do this by selecting a neutral color palate and by incorporating local elements whenever possible.

Designing our own ceremony turned out to be a daunting but very rewarding process. We were able to weave in important traditions while making sure it was personal and meaningful to us. Sam and I love crosswords, so we designed our own crossword puzzle and incorporated it into our program as a way to entertain guests while they were waiting for the ceremony to begin. There were some wedding-themed clues as well as trivia about us. It turned out to be a big hit!

Sam is from Maine and I’m from Virginia, and we tried to incorporate things from both our hometowns to make the celebration more personal. We called our signature drink the “Maine Virginian”, as it featured blueberry vodka from Sam’s hometown of Freeport, ME and locally grown strawberries from Albemarle county. We also had a selection of local beer and cider as well as some of Sam’s favorites from Maine.

Our welcome bags were one of my favorite touches. Almost all of our guests were coming from out of state, so we really wanted to express how grateful we were to have them there. We bottled homemade limoncello, my mother-in-law made small balsam pillows, and my mom made everyone her famous shortbread cookies.

In addition to a traditional guest book, we had a time capsule where guests could leave notes for us to open on our 5 year anniversary. For favors, I made blueberry white chocolate chocolate chip pancake mixes for our guests to take home. We devoured these on our first date, so we thought it would be fitting to offer these to our guests as well!

My favorite photo was taken during our last dance of the night. By that time, my hair was falling down and Sam had taken off his jacket and loosened his tie. We didn’t care. We were just so happy! Exhausted too, but so happy to be married and surrounded by everyone we love. Every time I look at that picture, wonderful memories from that amazing day come flooding back.

Sam is in the military, so we’ve had to spend the majority of our first year of marriage apart. Having photos like this makes me feel like I am with him even when he is on the other side of the world.

Photography: Jen Fariello Photography | Event Planning: Shindig Weddings And Events | Floral Design: Southern Blooms | Wedding Dress: Junko Yoshioka | Cake: Maliha Creations | Invitations: Think Rock Paper Scissors | Ceremony Venue: Pollak Vineyards | Reception Venue: Pollak Vineyards | Bridesmaids Dresses: Adrianna Papell | Catering: Harvest Moon Catering | Calligraphy: If So Inklined | Tent Rental: Sperry Tents Virginia | Bridesmaid Gifts: Just A Little Ditty | D J: Ran Henry | Hair & Make-up: Jeanne Cusick

There are few things better than girl time and tea. And when it happens to take place amongst the one wildly gorgeous tablescape, blush watercolor details, pretty gems from Kira Kira and a bounty of tastefully styled blooms? All the better. Mallory Joyce brought this bridesmaids’ soiree to life, and Elisa Bricker + Shaking Hands Productions captured to perfection. Get your peek right over here.

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From Elisa Bricker… Inspired by the cold chill of winter and the comfort of warm tea and warmer conversation, we designed a space for a girl to gather with her bridesmaids, to play dress up, to adorn herself with jewels, to indulge in some earl grey and cakes. A collection of heirloom china from early 20th century English and French artisans paired with feminine watercolors and lush blooms created an inviting tablescape to sit and linger with friends.

Vintage pieces from the jeweler’s family collection were used on the table including sterling silver flatware in a Gurham pattern called Buckingham 1910, English bone china in a pattern called “Commodore” by Minton, and crystal Waterford glasses.

Photography: Elisa Bricker | Videography: Shaking Hands Productions | Floral Design: Mallory Joyce | Reception Venue: Trump Winery | Jewelry: KiraKira by Suz Somersall | Hair And Makeup: Lora Kelley | China / Flatware / Crystal: Kira Kira | Creative Direction: Mallory Joyce | Dresses: Bella Rosa Bridal | Linen: Festive Fare | Paper Suite And Calligraphy: Stephanie Fishwick | Roses: Fifty Flowers | Sweets: Sweethaus

A fairytale romance deserves a fairytale wedding and this, loves, is both.  A stunning American bride, her dapper English groom and a traditional meets awesome affair that will leave you speechless.  Think a breathtaking Vera Wang gown, a beautiful Keswick Hall setting and teal blue hues that are all kinds of pretty.  See it all captured by the amazing Jen Fariello in the full gallery.

And a beautiful film from Shaking Hands Productions?  Yes, please.

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From Jen Fariello Photography… Ronda and Hugo met during a random chance encounter when Ronda was visiting an American friend who had relocated to London, England. It turned out that Ronda’s friend and Hugo share mutual friends in the UK, so a conversation was struck up. A few days later, Ronda returned to America never thinking she would ever see Hugo again. But over the course of the next few months Ronda and Hugo stayed in touch and developed a friendship, getting to know each other on an emotional level whereby they decided that they wanted to meet again in person. Despite the physical distance between them, they both knew that something just felt right and that an opportunity to have made a connection with someone so special could not go to waste. After over a year of traveling back and forth across the pond between London and Virginia, Hugo proposed to Ronda in London and they began planning their special day.

Ronda and Hugo chose to get married in Ronda’s hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia at Grace Episcopal Church with the reception following at Keswick Hall. The couple felt that the natural beauty of the venues and surrounding area, combined with Southern hospitality for which the area is renowned, would be enjoyable for their US and European guests. The wedding party enjoyed the sense of excitement and camaraderie of all staying under one roof at Keswick Hall. It proved to be a perfect location not only for those guests whom wished to explore the wealth of local attractions but also for those whom just wanted to kick back and relax by the pool.

Ronda and Hugo wanted to have a summertime wedding that hinted at subtle sophistication. Deep turquoise, celadon green, ivory and splashes of metallics were used to devise a rich yet calming palate of colors. Mercury glasses filled with candles throughout the reception room added a special soft glow of light. Tasteful elements of a travel theme were incorporated into parts of the day by creating a custom wedding logo in the form of a passport stamp that adorned welcome booklets for out-of-town guests, personalized napkins, “boarding pass” escort cards and wedding favors (guests took home custom luggage tags and personalized coffee mugs).

Ronda and Hugo wanted to nod to her American and his English heritage during both the ceremony and the reception. At the church, alongside the wedding program, vintage English handkerchiefs were offered to guests as they entered. During the ceremony, the English hymn “Jerusalem” was sung. At the reception, American-inspired hors d’oeuvres including Virginia ham and cheddar biscuits were passed along with the signature cocktail – a favorite English summer punch known as Pimm’s cocktails. Hugo chose to wear traditional English morning attire, consisting of a waistcoat and tails on the big day. Ronda, wearing Vera Wang, was given two pieces of family jewelry from Hugo which she incorporated into her look.

Ronda’s most vivid memories of the day are their first kiss at the alter and an overwhelming feeling of thankfulness and love when she looked around the reception room and saw so many friends, some new and some old, who traveled from very near and very far to be there to celebrate. Hugo’s most vivid memories of the day include Ronda’s entrance in the church and their first dance. Their favorite photos include snaps of them walking down the aisle together after the ceremony, leaving the church amidst a shower of rose petals, seated and posed with their entire wedding party, a private moment in the woods with the Keswick Hall stately sitting in the background, and the energy and fun captured on their guests’ faces dancing at the reception.

Photography: Jen Fariello Photography | Coordination: Soiree | Flowers: Floral Images Design Studio | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Cake: Favorite Cakes | Ceremony: Grace Episcopal Church | Reception: Keswick Hall | Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale | Hair: Top Knot Studio | Lighting: Blue Ridge Light Forms | Bridesmaids Gifts- Custom Hand Bags: Just A Little Ditty | Invitations & Papers: Rock Paper Scissors TN | Make-up Artist: Grace Anderson | Rentals: Festive Fare | Video: Shaking Hands Productions | Wedding Dress Belt For Reception: Oscar De La Renta

Every once in a while, a wedding comes along that makes me seriously wish I was a bride again. Because if my re-do day looked anything like this? Well, I’d probably die and go straight to wedding heaven. From the scenery to the florals from Beehive Events to one amaaazing ceremony arch, there’s a million pretty reasons to start your day with Jen Fariello’s captures right here.

From the Bride… While Peter and I live in New York City, we always knew we wanted to get married away from its fast pace. Both Peter and his father attended law school at the University of Virginia. A few years ago, Peter’s parents purchased a farm near the law school, which allowed us to visit more often. We soon fell in love with Charlottesville, its natural beauty and remarkable culture, and once we got engaged it seemed like the perfect place for our wedding.

We visited a number of potential wedding venues and found that King Family had everything we were looking for. A beautiful location, cradled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a great selection of wine, friendly staff and forever views. We couldn’t wait to bring all of our friends and family together to celebrate in this special place.

When creating the atmosphere for our wedding, we were inspired by the rustic beauty of the surrounding Virginia countryside and the pace of life in Charlottesville. We wanted a romantic vintage feeling that was both rustic and elegant, and which complemented the natural beauty of Charlottesville. We used various shades of soft pinks, blushes, creams and gold. While I love pink, I wanted to cut the sweetness of the color with mauve and rich navy.

Most of our guests traveled a long way to be at our wedding so it was important to us that they have a great time. Rather than a signature cocktail, we served King Family’s Crosé rosé (our favorite wine named for the town of Crozet); the perfect drink on a warm sunny day. We also wanted our guests to be entertained throughout the evening, so we provided a variety of lawn games for guests of all ages (from bocce to croquet to cornhole) to play during the cocktail hour, and were lucky to find an amazing band that kept the evening flowing and everyone on the dance floor. At the end of the night, we had a donut stand making fresh fireside donuts and coffee for guests.

We were very fortunate to have had such wonderful people helping us with our wedding, and we could not have asked for anything more. Our wedding day was truly the happiest day of our lives. Every detail was exactly how we dreamed it would be. We are so grateful for the amazing and talented team of people that came together and put so much care into making our wedding an event we will remember fondly for the rest of our lives.

Photography: Jen Fariello Photography | Videographer: Stone Blue Productions | Planner: Shindig Weddings And Events | Floral Design: Beehive Events | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Cake: Cakes Unlimited | Invitations: Bella Figura | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids Dresses: Marina | Catering: 20 South | Make-up: Rouge 9 Make-up Studio | Hair: Moxie Hair & Body Lounge | Band: A-Town A-List | Favors: Carpe Donut | Wedding Venue: King Family Vineyards | Decor: BHLDN

First and foremost, can I just tell you how thrilled I am that we now have a place for Virginia weddings to shine? They always have this lovely way of making my heart flutter, and now we are revel in all that pretty right here on the Mid Atlantic blog. So before you head off into your (hopefully long) Thanksgiving weekend, join me in cozying up with this quintessential Virginia wedding. One that inspired this very blog. One that is so pretty, so perfectly captured by Morgan Trinker, so filled with the sweetest blooms this side of the Mississippi by Beehive Events, and one that makes me oh-so-thankful Virginia weddings found a place on SMP. See it all here.

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From Morgan Trinker…You may remember Heather and Franklin from their Mad Men-inspired engagement session you featured on your Facebook page last year. If so, it probably won’t come as any surprise that their wedding was equally as stylish and gorgeous! Though these two now call Los Angeles home, they’re both from Charlottesville, Virginia originally and have known each other for most of their lives. In fact, growing up, their families were very close to each other, but Heather and Franklin didn’t start dating until Heather was in college, and they’ve been together ever since!

Their vision for their wedding day was rustic-meets-Gatsby-garden-party, and Castle Hill Cider was the perfect backdrop for such a glamorous affair. Their event planner, Dickie Morris, helped bring all the details together beautifully, from the art deco-inspired invitation suite, to the fresh oysters served out of a canoe during cocktail hour, to the lovely, colorful garden florals adorning everything from the tables to the flower girls’ hair. One of Heather’s good friends (and bridesmaids!) is Caroline Z. Hurley, whose geometric hand-stamped linens have recently been getting a lot of attention from design powerhouses like Domino Magazine and Design*Sponge. As a wedding gift to the couple, she created stunning table runners for the reception. The gold geometric pattern was a perfect counterpart to the soft, romantic florals and ornate candelabras on the tables. As a nod to Heather and Franklin’s careers in television and film (he’s a writer, and she’s an actress), they had a red carpet step-and-repeat photo booth at the cocktail hour and used the titles of their favorite T.V. series instead of traditional table numbers.

Even though there was a rain delay, the weather cooperated just long enough for these two to have the outdoor ceremony under a huge gorgeous tree they had been dreaming of. And if the amount of tears shed was any indication, everyone present was thankful it had turned out just as they had hoped.

Photography: Morgan Trinker | Cinematography: Shaking Hands Productions | Event Design: Just A Little Ditty | Florist: Beehive Events | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Invitations: Landis Stationery | Bride's Shoes: Louboutin | Catering: A Pimento Catering | DJ: Greg Tutwiler | Wedding Venue: Castle Hill Cider | Ceremony Music And Cocktail Hour: Art Wheeler | Ceremony Musicians: Philip Clark String Quartet | Hair and Makeup Artist: Lora Kelley | Musician Provider: Tutti Musicale | Reception Musicians: The Adrian Duke Project | Rentals: Beehive Events | Rentals: Stonegate Event Rentals | Table Linens: Caroline Z. Hurley

When the right vendors partner up with the right couple magic ensues. Fête Studios, Paisley & Jade, Just Write Studios, and so many more fabulous vendors worked perfectly together to create this dream of a day for this dream of a family, and lucky for us, Stephanie Yonce Photography was there to capture every moment!

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From the stunning bride… Eric and I met on Match.com back in May 2011. I had actually contacted him on the site through email. We exchanged emails and phone calls until we went on our first date on June 2, 2011 at Kona Grill. We sat and talked and drank for five hours that night. Made for a tough Friday work morning for both of us! It took us some time to go on our second date. He said I was playing hard to get… I just was a busy single woman :) We both were pretty much smitten from the beginning as we had a lot in common and had both accomplished a lot in our lives. I always teased him that no one ever got a second date so I should have known he would be the one I married.

He proposed on November 16, 2012 at home. We had the kids and had enjoyed a cozy, winter night at home with them. One of the kids was sick so Eric being the amazing Dad he is, ran out to the store to buy a new humidifier. I was in my pjs watching tv in what we call his former “man cave”. Throughout our relationship, I have told him that I don’t need much to make me happy but that I love receiving cards. He came home from the store and handed me a card. I opened the card and it was a “Happy Anniversary” card with the words anniversary marked out and engagement written in. By the time I finished reading the card, he was on one knee with the ring in his hand. It was a sweet proposal in our home with his kids… I could not have asked for anything more perfect!

Having grown up in Virginia, I envisioned an outdoor, garden wedding with vintage and romantic touches. I also wanted to incorporate a little southern charm into the day. My engagement ring that Eric selected has a vintage look to it so it really inspired the entire vision for the wedding! I knew all along I wanted soft colors including ivory, tan, peach, pink and green. It was also very important to both of us that my mom was honored throughout the day and that Eric’s three kids were included in the wedding through the sand ceremony. This represented the blending of our new family! Most importantly, we both wanted to give our families a weekend away from their busy lives to just enjoy each other and help us celebrate our big day. The Clifton Inn provided the perfect setting for this!

The flowers and fruit accents that Sugar Magnolias created were amazing. Each display was exactly what I had hoped for. I was also surprised by the rose petals lining the aisle. We also really liked the “Mr” and “Mrs” napkin rings. So cute! The chandeliers hanging above us during the ceremony were beautiful. The beverage station and the parasols available during the wedding were both the perfect southern touches. Two of my other favorite details was the program chalkboard as well as the surprise for Eric “Here Comes Your Boo” banner carried by Eric’s son, Ben, and my nephew, Colin.

My top three wedding memories would be:

1. Seeing my Dad’s face when I came down the stairs for the first time before the ceremony. I waited 40 years to take that walk with him and it meant the world to me!
2. I was completely focused in on Eric’s face from the minute I rounded the corner from the Main House and could see him standing at the end of the aisle. To see his face filled with so much emotion and love just blew me away! One of the many reasons I married him!
3. The balloon release and song by Laura Winingham in memory of my mom. She was my very best friend and I have missed her dearly every day for the past 14 years. To change the time and have it at sunset, made the moment even more perfect.

I realize now how quickly the day gets away from you and how much you miss as the bride about the details of the day. Try to take a few minutes before, during and after to inhale all of the hard work and vision that went into the day. Do what is best for you and your future husband… it’s truly your day and the one that you both will remember the most!

Photography: Stephanie Yonce Photography | Videography: Ginger Topham | Event Planning & Design: Fete Studio | Floral Design: Nature Composed | Cake: Shyndigz | Stationery: Fete Studio | Ceremony Venue: Clifton Inn | Reception Venue: Clifton Inn | Hair & Makeup: Avenue 42 | Calligraphy: Just Write Studios | DJ: Scratch Weddings | Officiant: Meredith Winn | Bride's Dress & Men's Tuxes: Bella Rosa Bridal | Chair Rental: Festive Fare | China Rental: Graceful Swan | Popcorn: Popcorn Monkey | Speciality Rentals: Paisley & Jade | Specialty Rentals: Stonegate Event Rentals | Tents & Lighting: Skyline Tent Company

After spending the past several days at bridal fashion week, I can say with certainty that pink is the new everything for 2014. (Just look at the miss Wang’s latest collection to walk  down the runway.) And while it can be a tricky hue to hit just right, this Charlottesville affair shows how it’s done. Designed by the bride with the talented Southern Blooms by Pat’s Floral Designs by her side, the full gallery from Jen Fariello will send any pink-loving heart into total swoon.

From the Bride… We met at a bar in our hometown. We met through mutual friends who wanted to introduce us because we worked for the same firm in the same office, but had never actually met each other. Most people think that we met at work and my mother was actually quite surprised when she got the question wrong at the shower about where we met! Steven was able to hold onto the ring for two whole nights before he popped the question while we were driving on our way to dinner at my favorite restaurant in our new hometown.

Steven’s mother found the Clifton Inn online when were researching a drivable “destination” wedding. Steven comes from a large family and has a number of young nieces and nephews. We really liked the Clifton Inn because the whole family could spend the entire weekend together and the kids could just run around! The locale was a few hours from home for us, so it was a little bit of destination and it allowed us to get away for a few days. We also really liked that we could have the cocktail hour and some of the reception outside on such a large property – it was great for the kids.

I am a huge flower person and I love early spring flowers. I really wanted pink flowers and for my bridesmaid’s dresses to match the pink flowers. A little pink on the men look great as well! We had a wonderful day. I liked being able to sneak away with Steven and take pictures together, because we really got to spend some quality, fun time together on a such a whirlwind of a day. Watching everyone you love on a beautiful lawn at the cocktail hour was probably one of my favorite, most vivid memories. The kids were running around around in the yard and boys were playing softball, all while enjoying food and cocktails!

Photography: Jen Fariello Photography | Cinematography: Exhale Productions | Floral Design: Southern Blooms | Wedding Dress: Birnbaum and Bullock | Invitations: Minted | Bridesmaids' Dresses: In White | Makeup: Carolyn Thombs | Venue: Clifton Inn | Bridal Shop: In White | Bride's Bracelet: Bride's Maid of Honor's | Bride's Earrings: Bride's Aunt's | Cake + Desserts: Clifton Inn

Southern weddings are the cream to my coffee. The sweet spot in my hectic days. And when it happens to be the most darling minty pink “I do” captured through the lens of Katelyn James? Even better. Tack on planning from Amore Events by Cody with floral pretties by Couture Designs, and it’s official — today is going to be oh so good.

From the Bride… After dating for over four years, Bob popped the question while we were on vacation in Napa Valley. Since that moment, we knew we wanted our wedding venue to somehow represent that amazing day we shared in California.

In the months following, we immediately jumped into wedding planning mode. Bob and I spent months researching and visiting countless venues. One weekend I suggested we make a trip to Charlottesville, a town I had loved since I visited my cousin at UVA when I was in high school. We toured a handful of locations, but from the moment we drove up the driveway to Pippin Hill, Bob and I knew we found the perfect venue. I remember driving home from Pippin being able to visualize our entire wedding in my head. The breathtaking panoramic views, beautiful architecture, and overall feel was everything we dreamed of; a true reminder of the day we were engaged.

Our inspiration really came from the natural beauty surrounding Pippin Hill along with the venue’s ambiance. We wanted the beautiful view from Pippin Hill to take center stage, so we chose a neutral color palette of gray, peach, ivory and blush, then accented that with coral and mint for a pop of color. Our wedding was intended to be chic, elegant, and a little rustic. Once I finally choose a dress, we added little hints of lace for a soft and romantic feel.

Bob and I wanted our day to be unique and true to our personalities. The details really made this possible. Being a graphic designer, not only was I able to envision these things, but I was lucky enough to be able to create them myself. Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to design hundreds of wedding invitations for other brides, so the true challenge came when I had to create my own. Once we booked Pippin, I had the inspiration to get started. I created a simple and elegant invitation incorporating my favorite color, the soft minty aqua, along with a subtle wood grain pattern. I had so much fun designing the coordinating pieces and making them interactive for our guests. We included a music request card in addition to a “love letter,” where our guests were encouraged to send us advice, share memories, or even draw a picture! Receiving the responses and seeing what our friends and family requested and wrote in the “love note” portion was so exciting. The invitations set the overall tone and the details didn’t stop there, we were just getting started! From the favor packaging to the hand-painted escort sign and the custom corn hole boards to the hand-sewn ring bearer flags, Bob and I designed, cut, painted, assembled and crafted for a good portion of our engagement. The best part of it all was that we tackled all these projects as a team. It was so amazing to see all our hard work come together on our wedding day.

Aside from all the details, we also really tried to incorporate our personalities and thoughtful touches into the wedding. Bob and I are both foodies, so mini bottles of olive oil and soy sauce we the perfect favors for us. Over the course of our engagement, we collected tons of wine corks that were used to create a huge “M” for the welcome table as well as our place card holders. The runner was sewn by my mother out of vintage doilies for the sweetheart table and pieces of lace from her wedding dress were integrated into my bouquet. Bob’s close friend read a Traditional Irish Blessing, a reading that reminded many of the guests of the days of summer camp when they were kids. It was so moving to see how many people were affected by this reading, there wasn’t a dry eye in the audience. We also wrote our own wedding vows for the ceremony. It was so important to us to share those intimate words with the most important people in our lives.

I wish I could have stopped time during our wedding day, but it was filled with so many wonderful memories: getting ready in the beautiful bridal loft, seeing each other before the ceremony, the look in my Dad’s eyes before we walked down the aisle, the amazing speeches given by our childhood best friends, my cathedral length veil blowing right off of my head during the ceremony, and just being surrounded by our loved ones. Our DJ ended the night with “Country Roads,” which has become a tradition amongst our group of friends. I remember dancing with Bob in the middle, as everyone circled around us and sang along. As we were surrounded by all of our closest friends and family, Bob looked into my eyes and said “never forget this moment.”

Our photographer, Katelyn James (and her hubby, Michael!), did such an amazing job capturing all the details and emotions during the wedding. We will treasure those images forever. A big thanks to Cody Grannis, our fantastic wedding planner, and all our other vendors for making our wedding day flawless. We could not have possibly asked for more.

Photography: Katelyn James Photography | Floral Design: Couture Designs | Dress: Casablanca | Cake: Maliha Creations | Invitations: Jess Creates (The Bride) | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids: J.Crew | Hair and Makeup: Faces By Joy | DJ: Derek Tobler | Officiant: Rev. Claire Goodman, Interfaith Minister - Sacred Ground Ceremonies | Transportation: UVA Chapel | Venue: Pippin Hill Farm | Bridal Boutique: TLC Bridal Boutique | Bride and Bridesmaids' Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar | Coordination and Planning: Amore Events by Cody | Mini Pies: Paradox Pastry | Reception Dress: Ruche | Ring Bearer Bow Ties: Apple & Ivy