A Stunning Fall Wedding in Virginia Wine Country at Keswick Vineyards
From the bride: The visual aesthetic I came in wanting was a modern garden romance with touches of fall but still light and bright. I didn’t want it to be too dark and drab and not too expected with the color palette. There was also an element of fruit I wanted to be incorporated throughout - Which started with the stamps on the invite, a detail included in the favor table, and also part of the reception centerpieces. I feel like we successfully achieved this aesthetic, as my dress was modern romantic. The florals and decor captured a mix of modern romance, but we also added in more rustic touches, too, with wood tones, to help make it warm and seasonal. I wanted some pops of darker tones to bring in the fall vibes. I also really wanted touches of dusty blue (this was a part of the vision from day 1!) However, it didn’t fit with the "warmer" color scheme, so we decided we would do small touches throughout to make it more cohesive. It’s a wedding, so there needed to be some levels of a formal affair, but we didn't want it to feel too stuffy, so we have some fun touches such as the donut truck and a Polaroid guestbook, with a big focus on the dancing and party! We also did a champagne toast to kick off that part of the night, and make sure our guests knew they were in for a good time! It was so fun to see everything come to life, and it was more spectacular than we could have ever hoped for!
From the bride: On Memorial Day weekend in 2022, my parents were visiting from Alabama. I had planned a few dinners and activities so Tom offered to plan our day on Saturday. He told me he scheduled a boat ride for the 4 of us to go from Alexandria, VA to Georgetown. So, as I was getting ready that morning, I noticed he was wearing an outfit he had recently bought. I thought that was interesting, but I didn’t question it. Then, when we arrived at the park in Alexandria where we were supposed to load on the boat, he got down on one knee and popped the question! I think we were both so nervous that we both blacked out for a second and don’t remember quite what he said, but we know I said YES!!!! Then, immediately after, his family pops out of the bushes with champagne and signs and flowers and hugs and the biggest smiles. We were all crying and in shock that we didn’t even realize Tom had also arranged a photographer who was capturing the whole thing. It was the sweetest, most special moment to celebrate with both of our families. Then, Tom kept the surprises going by sharing that we did have a boat ride, but it was just the two of us to celebrate our engagement before we headed to a restaurant where we’d be meeting our friends. It was just the most special day, and Tom did so much planning and preparation (he even sent our moms a full itinerary, including a map!) I know it meant so much for our parents to be there to witness and celebrate it with us.
From the bride: As I wanted the florals to stand out against the bridesmaid dresses, I opted for a more neutral color. I knew a stain champagne hue would be chic, timeless, and flattering for all the bridesmaids! I gave the girls the option to choose their preferred dress style, and interestingly enough, each one selected a different style. It was fun to have such variation, and I was so happy that everyone chose the dress they loved and would be comfortable in. We used Revelry for the dresses and had a great experience.
From the bride: For the food, our vision was for seasonal and local, with fun twists from the traditional wedding expectations. Given that we were getting married at a beautiful VA vineyard, we had a wonderful selection of Keswick Vineyards wines. For the specialty his and hers cocktails, we opted for a fall-inspired rosemary-ginger margarita and a revolver made with bourbon, coffee liquor, and orange bitters. For cocktail hour hors d'oeuvres, we chose a Virginia ham biscuit, grilled cheese and tomato soup shooter, mini tuna tartare tacos, and smoked brisket and potato croquettes. For dinner, guests had a choice between herb-crusted bistro steak with a root vegetable pave, lemon and thyme-roasted chicken with pecorino risotto, or a vegetable ratatouille.
From the bride: For the florals, we wanted to incorporate the colors of the season, but when looking for inspiration, I often found that the fall colors were either way overdone or overly drab. I wanted it to feel seasonal but also include fun colors and interest. We worked with a fabulous florist from Steelcut Flower Co. I explained my preferences with minimal detail, and she took it and created something I could never have imagined! My favorite touch was the ever-so-faded greenery draped across our reception bar. It was such an understated fall touch that looked so natural like it could have just been growing there! I had so much fun with the decor. I feel like in another life, I should've been an interior designer. We had a velvet lounge set that blended perfectly with the fall foliage and other decorative elements. We used some fun patterns for our cocktail hour linens, with more subtle linens for the reception (again, to make the florals pop!) Candles are so important for setting the ambiance, and one of the best decisions we made was to use amber uplighting in the tent. We originally didn't want to use any uplighting as we were worried it might look cheesy. Our planners recommended the amber lights to create a "warm glow," and they were so right! The tent felt instantly cozy when you walked in because of that detail we almost went without.
From the bride: We chose a delicious floral imprinted carrot cake from Cake Bloom, a wonderful Charlottesville bakery. Guests also indulged in one of our favorite treats - warm apple cider donuts from Carpe Diem - when taking a reprieve from the dance floor.
From the bride: We wanted our wedding to be very true to us. We wanted guests to feel that from the moment they arrived at the venue to their exit. So, there were some details sprinkled throughout that we think represent us as a couple and as individuals. For example, on the welcome table, we include pictures of our parents on their wedding days. The ceremony program has a quote from a Tyler Childers song, whom we both love. Our wedding favors were mini jars of apple butter from a farm we visited on one of our early dates.
From the bride: Additionally, we put together welcome bags with goodies from each state that holds a special place in our hearts - mini cookies from New York (where Tom was born and raised), a bag of peanuts from Alabama (where I was born and raised) and caramel candies from Virginia (where we got engaged and now married!), plus a custom wine stopper since we were getting married at a vineyard. We also had to throw it back to my Southern roots with the bourbon burial. Incorporating those personal details was always a top priority for us!
From the bride: A final detail of the night was when the after-party crew made our way to the downtown area to keep the party going. To my surprise, Tom had arranged for our names and wedding date to be displayed on the marquee of the local theatre, which we walked past. I had no idea he had done this, so I was shocked! Although we didn't have professional photographers at the after-party, I think our friends did a great job of capturing the sweet moments.
