After the Groom popped the big question – at a rustic chic farmhouse vineyard – it only made sense to say “I do” in the very same place. Friends and family gathered for true southern hospitality while surrounded by stunning Southern Blooms By Pat’s Floral Designs blooms and Shindig Weddings And Events décor. See all the love through the lens of Jen Fariello Photography right over here.
From the beautiful Bride… Grant and I met while working at a university in my hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. I saw the job as a temporary solution until I could secure a position at my alma mater in Virginia, so I was surprised when Grant and I started spending time together and I found myself enjoying being home more than I ever thought possible. Once I finally secured that job, we were in love and both knew that Grant would follow me up to Virginia.
On the February weekend that Grant moved to Charlottesville, I followed a friend’s suggestion to take him to one of the newer vineyards in the area, Pippin Hill. Although it was a wintry day, we enjoyed the beautiful views of the mountains while enjoying amazing Virginia wine and planning our future adventures. A year and a half later, Grant lured me to Pippin after work under the pretense of attending a tasting event and proposed on a beautiful July afternoon with the vineyard to ourselves.
In terms of choosing a wedding venue, we both had our eyes on Pippin Hill from the time of our first visit. We loved not only the stunning views, delicious food and wine, and farmhouse chic decor, but we felt truly welcomed and taken care of every visit because of their outstanding staff and focus on southern hospitality. We planned our wedding day for February 1, 2014, nearly a year to the day of our first trip to Pippin.
Stylistically, Grant and I wanted the aesthetic to match that of Pippin, which is classically elegant with a rustic feel, and we wanted everything to feel seasonally appropriate without being overly “wintry.” I wanted colors that would softly blend in with a winter landscape while adding a modest touch of color and texture, which is why I picked a long dusty purple Amsale dress for the bridesmaids and then selected soft pink, white, and green florals for the bouquet. I loved the pop of the white anemones in the bouquet, as well as the soft texture of the lamb’s ears. One of my favorite design aspects of the wedding was the beautiful invitation suite that I featured a custom monogram of our initials surrounded by wintry branches and a light gray envelope with white calligraphy topped off with vintage stamps.
I honored my maternal grandmother, who passed away when I was in college, in a couple of ways on the wedding day. I wore her beautiful fur coat as we left the church to go to the reception and for a few photos with my bridesmaids, a couple of whom also had fur stoles. Also, I wrapped my grandmother’s handkerchief around my bouquet to serve as my “something old.” It felt truly special to have two of her treasured items with me at all times on the wedding day.
My most vivid memories are from the actual ceremony, which is when everything stood still for a little bit. I remember all of the songs, the beautiful homily our pastor delivered, and running out of the church past all of our friends and family into the waiting car. My favorite photo is of Grant and me leaving the ceremony at Pippin through all the sparklers…our wonderful photographer Jen had asked him to dip me for one final kiss as we left and she captured it perfectly. I also love the photos that feature the back of my dress!
Photography: Jen Fariello Photography | Event Planning: Shindig Weddings And Events | Floral Design: Southern Blooms | Wedding Dress: Lela Rose | Cake: Favorite Cakes | Invitations: If So Inklined | Ceremony Venue: Christ Episcopal Church | Reception Venue: Pippin Hill Farm | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Make Up: Rouge 9 Make-up Studio