This is the kind of wedding that has a little bit of everything I love, rolled into one pretty package. From the Bride’s elegant style and lengthy waves to the Southern ceremony under the most beautiful tree, and then the portraits by the waterside. Simply Sarah, you never disappoint. With planning by Missy Brittain and blooms by The Proper Petal, there’s so much to soak in here in the full gallery.
From the bride… Matthew and I are both from Williamsburg, Virginia. Williamsburg is a mid sized town with a small town vibe in that everyone knows everyone, none of that “6 degrees of separation” here. We both went to the same elementary school for 4th and 5th grade. Needless to say we have known each other for a long time; however, we truly met the summer after freshman year of college, at a friends party one night. We were pretty much inseparable after that, and fell in love shortly after, somewhere between Virginia Tech football games, hikes along the Blue Ridge Mountains and late nights at the library. We got engaged on top of a mountain in North Carolina after a (basically vertical) hike. He really made me work for that ring.
September 16, 2017 will forever be one of the best days of our lives. For our wedding, I wanted it to be really true to who we were as a couple, and as individuals. I didn’t want to use, for example, flowers that I didn’t like but that went with the color scheme. I got a lot of design ideas and inspiration starting with the venue – Westover Plantation. It’s a property that is whimsical, but not in the Alice-in-Wonderland way but a sophisticated and classic way. Gardens that are a little overgrown, a stately old plantation home and lots of space for our guests to explore right on the James River. We were able to incorprate all of these elements into our day to create a special wedding experience for our guests.
It is hard to pick just one favorite memory from our wedding day, but walking down the aisle was one of the best moments of the day, of the week, of the year…. of my life. I had my dad there to support me, and walked towards the man of my dreams. There are no words to describe those emotions. Then, walking into the reception with my new husband – seeing everyone we love in one room. Getting to spend the night dancing and singing with all our people. As cliche as it may sound, It truly was the best night ever.
If you have the opportunity to have Simply Sarah photograph your day, and you don’t take it – you’re making a huge mistake. Not only is her photography stunning (there is no disputing the girl knows her way around a camera), she and Will make you feel comfortable, at home, and confident. We chose to have Simply Sarah do our engagement pictures as well as photograph our big day and it was one of the best decisions we made with regard to our wedding planning proccess. She is organized, knows what she is doing, and kept amazing attention to detail. Always making sure we got all the shots we wanted, and the ones she knew we needed. Sarah is a pleasure to work with and one of the sweetest, most genuine humans out there. Highly, highly recommend Simply Sarah Photography!
Photography: Elizabeth Lanier Photography | Event Planning: Missy Brittain | Floral Design: The Proper Petal | Wedding Dress: Marchesa | Cake: Carrot Tree | Shoes: Bella Belle | Catering: Champagne Taste | Hair & Makeup: Eye Do Makeup & Hair | Calligraphy: Haniya Calligraphy | Groom's Attire: The Black Tux | Harpist: Diana Elliott | Wedding Venue: Westover Plantation | Film Processing: PhotoVision Prints