My cure for a rainy, autumn day like today? Loads of luscious blooms from Holly Heider Chapple Flowers and a happy pink and green combo that’ll leave you aching for a warm summer day. It comes in the form of these cheerful captures from Abby Jiu Photography, and beyond the lovely, is a sweet layer of tradition folded in—including the delicately beautiful lace veil worn by the Bride’s great-great-grandmother. See it all here.
From Holly Heider Chapple Flowers…A lovely, sentimental summer event, Sally Roberts and Andrew Boardman’s nuptials were held in picturesque Leesburg, Virginia. Beautifully realized in pale pinks and soft yellows, the affair was gorgeously styled and heartwarmingly personal. All of the bridesmaids and groomsmen were sisters and brothers of the bride and groom and the flower girls were a delightful little train of nieces. Additionally, Sally’s exquisite veil was a family heirloom. First worn by Sally’s great-great-grandmother in 1804, the veil has been passed down through generations, worn by over 17 brides- and counting!
From The Bride & Groom…We met at love at first sight, of course! Andrew and Sally met on the first day of class during their freshman year of college. Andrew arrived to class five minutes late, and after scanning the 300-person lecture hall, he noticed a beautiful girl at the front of the classroom. Completely mesmerized and determined to meet her, Andrew walked all the way down the aisle to the front of the classroom, sat next to her, and introduced himself – this was the very first time Andrew and Sally met. It turns out that eight years later, it would be her walking down an aisle past hundreds of people to stand next to him at the wedding altar!
Our favorite part of the day was ringing the church bell immediately after the wedding ceremony. It was a very special moment for us not only because it was the first thing we did together as a married couple, but it was also symbolic of us proclaiming our lifelong love and marriage to the world – via wedding bells!
After the engagement, we conducted exhaustive research on where and when to have our wedding – from warm weather beach destinations to a winter wedding at a lodge in the mountains. But what we quickly realized is, the most important aspect of our wedding planning didn’t revolve around the glitz and glamour, but rather ensuring that as many of our guests could be able to attend as possible. Since the majority of our families live in Northern Virginia, we decided to have the wedding in Sally’s hometown of Leesburg, VA, allowing all 250 of our family members and closest friends to attend. What made this extra special is that the ceremony was held in the church where Sally was baptized, and the reception was held at Sally’s parents’ house, where she was raised. The wedding was nothing short of spectacular. Planning all the minute details of a home wedding took an enormous amount of time and attention, but the experience mimicked one of the Roberts family’s favorite movies, Father of the Bride.
Photography: Abby Jiu Photography | Floral Design: Holly Heider Chapple Flowers LTD | Stationery: The Dandelion Patch | Ceremony Venue: St James Church Of Leesburg | Reception Venue: Private Residence | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Caterer: Paula Kiley | Makeup Artist: Jan Scott | Groomsmen's Attire: Brooks Brothers | Bridal Boutique: Hannelore's Of Olde Town | Bridal Gown: Rivini | Bridal Shoes: Kate Spade