It all starts with a love story. Two people meeting, by chance, and even though they’ve met thousands of others, it’s this one person that truly changes their lives. It’s the look you wait for your entire life, and when it eventually happens you just can’t wait to see that look forever and ever. This is just such a love story that started with just such a look, and we are lucky enough to see a pretty chapter of it unfold thanks to Vicki Grafton Photography. A gorgeous wedding that marks the start of countless looks, and every sweet image can be seen here. Today is a good day. A good day indeed.
From the Bride… Ross and I met at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia. He was a senior, about to graduate in two weeks, and I was a sophomore. We met at a party that I had actually been invited to by someone else; obviously it didn’t work out for that guy. I had seen Ross before in our business administration building, and he smiled at me as we crossed paths. I actually remember telling my mom about him doing this. The last two weeks flew by and Ross graduated. I wasn’t sure if I would hear from him again, but he sent me roses for my birthday, and I knew it wasn’t the end. We continued to see each other and ended up making it official a few months later.
Two years flew by and it was my turn to graduate. My family and Ross’ all gathered to go out for a celebratory dinner the night before the event. After dinner, Ross and I took a nostalgic walk which ended at a historic building on campus, where there were candles, rose petals everywhere and a bottle of champagne. After reading a poem he wrote, he got down on one knee and popped the question. Next thing I knew all of our family, including my 89 year-old grandfather and some close family friends, jumped out of the bushes and surprised me. It was a truly special moment for us, and I’m so glad he asked me in a spot that meant so much to the both of us.
While I am all for the classics, we knew we didn’t want to have a completely traditional wedding. We chose our location, Breaux Vineyards in Purcellville, VA, because of the gorgeous view and, of course, our shared love of wine. After much deliberation, we decided to set the date of September 15, 2012. I had looked through magazines and websites, but was having a hard time deciding what I really wanted. That’s when we found Vicki Grafton of My Simple Details. She helped me take everything I loved and tie it all together. Though the wedding was at a vineyard, I didn’t want it to be wine-themed. I was really inspired by burlap and lace although I included some touches of vineyard inspiration, like a wine barrel bar and cake table and the letter “A” I made out of corks. I was inspired by a neutral palate of pale pink, grey, ivory, champagne and beige. For the ceremony, the aisle was lined with shepherds’ hooks that held vases of flowers and two wine barrels stood at the end that had three tiers of white hydrangeas sitting on top of them. Our cocktail hour featured a cornhole set that Ross made and painted, a guestbook with Polaroid photos of the guests and a seating chart made out of two French doors and one antique pink door, which displayed wedding pictures from both Ross and Cathleen’s grandparents and parents. For the reception, we chose to have square and rectangular tables; some were covered in champagne colored tablecloths and others were rustic farm tables with burlap runners. The tent had clear lanterns hanging from the ceiling, and candles sat on every table to add extra ambiance. Since we were at a vineyard with perfect scenery, I didn’t need to get crazy with flowers, but Morgan from Petals & Hedges completely nailed it; the flowers were soft, elegant and natural. Overall, this day came together even more perfectly then I could have ever dreamed and it is a day that my husband and I will cherish forever.
*Photography: Vicki Grafton Photography / Wedding Venue: Breaux Vineyards in Purcellville, VA / Wedding Planning + Design: My Simple Details / Floral Design: Petals and Hedges / Wedding Catering: Savoir Fare Limited / Wedding Cake: Cake Panache / Music: Cherry Blossom String Quartet / DJ: Dream Day DJs / Wedding Stationery: The Dandelion Patch / Wedding Dress: Marisa (Style #865) via Jeanette’s / Bride’s Dress Sash: Erin Cole / Bride’s Earrings: Nadri via Nordstrom / Bride’s Shoes: Ann Taylor / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: DSW / Bridesmaids’ Jewelry: Brighton via Ketterman Jewelers / Groom + Groomsmen’s Suits: Calvin Klein / Flower Girls’ Tutus: Tutu Girl
* While Whysall Photography was hired to shoot the wedding, these images are from the planner who runs Vicki Graphton Photography. You can see all of the official wedding images captured by Whysall Photography right here.