Rolling Hills and Nostalgic Fall Hues at Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards

Steve suggested they take a vacation in July 2021. They chose to go to Atlantis, Bahamas for some fun, sun, and relaxation! Since Steve never does anything on a small scale, he planned for his brother-in-law to fly down to take pictures of the proposal, which was supposed to be a surprise. Steve has never been able to keep a secret from Paula, so, in his excitement, he told her in advance that he would be proposing on vacation. It was still a shock to her when he got down on one knee in front of the Atlantis aquarium and said those beautiful words: “You are the only fish in my sea. Will you marry me?” Of course, the answer was “YES!!”

The Bride-to-be and her mother showed up for her first-ever bridal appointment and noticed there was an Anne Barge trunk show at the salon. They focused their attention solely on her beautiful designs. Their initial vision of the wedding gown was something fitted with long sleeves and touches of beaded lace. Although she tried on the style she initially envisioned, the Bride-to-be kept looking at a beautiful ball gown she knew she had to try. The gown was exactly what she thought she did not want: ball gown silhouette, strapless, minimal beading. This Ann Barge Buckingham gown had gorgeous soft gold metallic brushed jacquard flowers all throughout the dress. The soft floral design must have been a sign because it matched the florals that are grown along the walkway to their wedding venue. She was so obsessed with the gown that she ordered it that day! The designer even accommodated her special request to remove the pockets. The process of finding the perfect gown was a lot easier than they thought it would be.

The Bride-to-be loved the ease and selection of Azazie when she was a bridesmaid for several friends’ weddings so, when it came to her own wedding she knew she wanted to use them. She was able to order sample colors and fabric to ensure she was getting the exact look she wanted for her bridesmaids. All six bridesmaids were able to choose their own style of gown so they could feel comfortable and beautiful.  By choosing the same color and fabric, they coordinated flawlessly! Completing the bride’s vision of classic looks for herself and her wedding party was Carolyn Thombs and her team who executed hair and make-up flawlessly throughout the entire weekend.

The groom selected a traditional tuxedo style and color (black) for his groomsmen as he wanted his guys to be dressed formally for the evening. He chose Jos. A. Bank to assist with the perfect attire because many of his groomsmen live all over the east coast and it allowed for a stress-free try on, pickup and drop off.

The groom especially wanted to be involved in the selections of the food & drink since the couple are self-proclaimed foodies. Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards curated a special menu. From the passed canapes to the seated three-course dinner, all food was centered around the warmth of the fall season. One of their favorite canapes was the skirt steak & kimchi taco with radish sprout and bulgogi sauce. Their 108 guests dined on filet mignon, Chesapeake Bay crab cake, truffled potato puree and grilled broccolini. Pippin Hill’s chef even accommodated the groom’s special request to use Cheez Whiz on the Philly cheesesteak toasties for the late-night snack. Guests were treated to a luxury open bar and toasted the newly married couple with champagne. To continue with the vineyard theme, four of the couple’s favorite Pippin Hill wines were included in their evening. The Zero White and Red Pump, were selected for their cocktail hour and the Viognier and Cabernet Franc, were selected for their dinner pairing.

The couple wanted to embrace the florals of the season but remain traditional with the fall color palette while adding pops of color for a modern feel. They allowed local florist Tourtourelle to choose flowers in shades of ivory, cream and green, with accents of antique pinks and caramels. Terracotta urns were brought in and stocked with selected florals to complete the couple's vision of the Italian Garden Villa. The bride especially wanted a bouquet that was delicate and did not overwhelm her dress. To make her bouquet even more special, she included her father’s West Point pin which was loaned to her by her grandmother. This was a sentimental surprise to her father. In addition, her bridesmaids carried simple baby’s breath bouquets wrapped in a satin ribbon. The bride wanted the reception to feel romantic so, in addition to floral arrangements, glass cylinder hurricanes and rose pillar candles were spread throughout the reception area.

The couple knew they wanted cake for their wedding but were undecided on style. Most importantly, they wanted it to taste delicious while accommodating the many flavors the couple enjoys. They decided to showcase three different cakes for their wedding. One vintage piped two-tiered cake with one tier being funfetti flavored and the other a chocolate cake with peanut butter cup buttercream. Their baker/cake designer, Maliha Creations, even nestled a small replica of their golden retriever dog, Benny, into the cake so he could be part of their special day! Two additional cakes were simply decorated with flavors of carrot cake and lemon cake inside. Guests had the option to choose as many flavors as they wanted to try throughout the evening.

The bride used leftover fabric from her wedding dress alterations, at Fariba's Bridal Alterations & Custom Design, to create a custom bow tie for the groom to wear on the wedding day. In addition, sewn into the skirt of her dress was fabric from her mother’s wedding gown.

The bride and groom became pawrents in January 2021 and knew they absolutely had to include their golden retriever, Benny, in their special day. Benny was present during pictures, was featured on the cocktail napkins for the evening, and had a figurine made of him that showed he was enjoying the cakes.

The couple wanted a unique remembrance of their wedding day, so they contacted Fine Artist Steph Moraca to create a live event painting. Guests were able to see the stunning canvas painting come to life throughout the entire event. Her artistry became a part of the wedding guest experience.