More than pretty flowers or a perfect place setting, Lauren and Jeremy wanted their wedding designed by Amore Events to focus on what matters most. “Our goal was for everyone at our wedding to sense the love we have for each other…we wanted it to feel like us, but in a way that honored our family and friends and their never-ending support.” It’s a sense you feel in every image by Michael and Carina and you can see it all with a trip to The Vault.
From the Bride…Jeremy and I dated for over five years before getting married. We met one another while working at the same consulting firm in Washington D.C. I’ve lived in Virginia almost my entire life and Jeremy has lived in Virginia for a long time. Virginia is our home. When Jeremy decided to go back to school full-time and get his MBA he chose Darden, at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. While Jeremy lived in Charlottesville, I stayed in Washington, D.C. and came to visit him on the weekends. We spent so much time with friends wine tasting at Pippin Hill Farm and Vineyards. After Jeremy proposed in December 2014 while we were on vacation in Turks and Caicos, we immediately knew we wanted to get married at Pippin Hill! We wanted our wedding to honor us as a couple, as well as celebrate our future. It was important to us that every detail have significance and meaning (my center diamond in my engagement ring is the diamond that Jeremy’s father proposed with to his mother, I wore my grandmother’s engagement ring and wedding ring on my right hand during our wedding ceremony; we chose our processional musical selections carefully since Jeremy is musically talented and plays both the guitar and the drums, we chose to celebrate loved ones who couldn’t be there at our wedding, among other details).
Our goal was for everyone at our wedding to sense the love we have for each other. In addition, we wanted all our friends and family to sense how much we love them and appreciate that they came to celebrate with us on our special day. We wanted it to feel like us, but in a way that honored our family and friends and their never-ending support. Pippin Hill is nestled in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains and is only about 15 minutes from downtown Charlottesville. Pippin Hill truly displays how beautiful the state of Virginia is. The grounds and vineyards provide an agrarian feel, while the private Granary room has a rustic charm of an old barn. We loved that Pippin Hill would not feel overwhelmingly rural, but that it would encompass romance, elegance and a timeless style. Even though Charlottesville is only about 2 hours from Washington, D.C. we wanted our guests to feel like they were getting away for the weekend and enjoy themselves in the countryside of Virginia and #39;s Monticello Wine Trail. We wanted our wedding to be a mixture of rustic and elegant. I have always been a romantic at heart and wanted our wedding to be classic but with our own sense of style as a couple. Pippin Hill’s setting did not need much added, as the rolling hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the vineyards, the outdoor veranda and the indoor Granary private dining room gave us plenty to work with.
As our guests entered the reception in Pippin Hill’s Granary room, they found the dinner menu displayed in calligraphy on a large chalkboard and their names and seating numbers hand-written on vintage mirrors. Bistro lights were draped from the ceiling to create soft and romantic lighting. As our guests sat down at their tables, they found a twig of lavender as an accent on their plates. We loved the idea of soft cream tablecloths with overflowing florals in blush and peach undertones. We chose white and peach peonies, ranunculus, david austin roses, garden roses, russian olives, seeded eucalyptus, hydrangeas and plenty of greenery. We wanted our florals to feel like they were snipped from the garden and effortlessly displayed in gold and mercury glass vases. We wanted muted blush undertones and nothing overwhelmingly pink. Hurricane lanterns and plenty of candles flickered throughout the evening for a timeless feel. For our head table, we sat at a large farm table with lace and greenery runners, rustic lanterns and candles. We didn’t want to detract from, but rather enhance Pippin Hill’s beauty.
On the day of our wedding, I wore my Amy Kuschel form-fitted lace wedding dress that I purchased from Hitched Salon in Washington D.C. I had each of my bridesmaids wear Amsale blush chiffon gowns and let them choose their own hair and makeup styles. My two younger sisters were both my Maids of Honor and are my two best friends. The three of us have always been close since we were young, like the Three Musketeers. I wanted them to feel special and stand out from the rest of the bridesmaids. Their Amsale chiffon gowns were the same style as the bridesmaids, but their gowns had a beautiful printed pattern in a light shell color. My hair stylist, Brianna Adams and makeup artist, Gohar Beaver ensured our looks were glowy, dewy, and natural. I wanted us to look natural and effortless. The day of the wedding was perfection. We could not have asked for better weather. There was not a cloud in the sky and there was zero humidity, which is a rare occurrence for a Virginia winery wedding in mid-June. My wedding planner, Cody Grannis (Amore Events by Cody) and Pippin Hill’s day of coordinator, Hannah Davis ensured that every single detail was executed flawlessly. We didn’t have to worry about anything besides feeling all of the feelings, and just enjoying each blissful second.
Our wonderful photographers, Michael and Carina of Michael and Carina Photography and videographer, Jonathan Joy-Gaba (Joy Gaba Photo) captured so many moments that we have relived again and again; including when we first we saw each other in the vineyard, my father walking me down the aisle, and the insane dance party that ensued after dinner, care of our 7-piece band, DC Fusion. DC Fusion was amazing and completely set the vibe for the rest of the night. Everyone danced all night long! Since the weather was so perfect many of our guests enjoyed Pippin Hill’s outdoor veranda for cocktails and Cuban cigars. Our wedding day at Pippin Hill could not have been a more perfect way to begin this new phase of our lives together. We were beyond fortunate to have met the BEST vendors in the business, and be supported by our loving family and friends in the process. They are truly who made the day as beautiful as it was for us. We feel so fortunate that we have such an incredible day to reflect on, as we take on this new endeavor that is marriage!
Photography: Michael And Carina Photography | Cinematography: Joy Gaba | Event Planning + Design: Amore Events by Cody | Floral Design: Amore Events by Cody | Wedding Dress: Amy Kuschel | Cake: Maliha Creations | Invitations: Minted | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Catering: Pippin Hill Farm | Makeup: Gohar Ayvazyan Makeup | Hair: Brianna B Adams | Band: EastCoast Entertainment | Venue: Pippin Hill Farm | Bridal Boutique: Hitched Salon | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab