Charlottesville Wedding Ideas and Inspiration

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

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]The couple were inspired by classic fall colors but wanted to add pops of color from
flowers that were grown locally. They chose various shades of green with an accent of
gold and added pops of color with caramels, maroons, and antique pinks as suggested by their floral design team, Tourterelle.[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

They fell in love with Italian Garden Villa themed weddings and wanted to bring that same vibe to their special day. They were inspired by their venue, Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards, because of its natural stunning views of rolling hills and acres of vineyards. Their wedding planner, Kelsey Mayo-Ros from Donovan-Groves Events, knew the grounds well and assisted the couple in making their vision come to life. They added to the theme by including little details throughout the day like printing guests names on wine bottles to use as their seating chart. The Bride and Groom are so thankful for Jessica Lapp Photography and Lexa Visuals for capturing their special day and they will have those memories to share for years to come.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]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!!”[/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]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.[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]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.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]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.[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]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.[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]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.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]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.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]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.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]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.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]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.[/field]
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These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Jessica Lapp

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Lush Fall Virginia Wedding at the Market at Grelen

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]The wedding colors were a Dusty Rose and warm earth tones with pops of deep yellow, plum, olive, rusty orange and gold.

Dusty Rose” evoked a soft, muted pink hue reminiscent of antique roses, lending a vintage romantic feel to Ali & Jack’s wedding. The Muted fall colors in a range of earthy tones reflected the changing foliage of autumn and brought warmth to the large outdoor venue. The pops of golden yellow, plum and orange brought vibrancy and energy to the palette, adding a touch of brightness amidst the subdued tones of fall.[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]Ali and Jack envisioned a wedding that exuded elegance without feeling overly formal. With the guidance of Ali’s mother, Leslie Gregg, founder of The Market at Grelen, the couple embarked on their planning journey. Collaborating with renowned florist Mallory Joyce and planner Heather Clarke of the Hive was pivotal in translating their vision into reality. Together, they curated a stunning color palette designed to captivate guests and infuse the expansive venue with an intimate ambiance. Opting for locally sourced blooms and incorporating branches and greenery from the nursery added an extra layer of significance to the décor. Once the floral arrangements were finalized, attention turned to selecting tableware. Deep burnt orange napkins, fall colored vases and understated plates were chosen to complement rather than compete with the focal point—the flowers. Elevating the aesthetic, they upgraded to King Louis chairs and adorned the tables with lavish gold accents, including chargers, glasses, and flatware, adding a touch of glamor to the celebration.[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]Ali and Jack both went to The University of Michigan and met in a bar the very night of Ali’s graduation (classic!). They cemented their immediate bond by spending a 5th year in Ann Arbor before ending up in Boston, MA, where they currently reside. Ali’s childhood summers were spent amidst the serene beauty of McGregor Bay, nestled within the Georgian Bay at the northern edge of Lake Huron in Canada. This idyllic locale holds profound significance for her, and when she introduced it to Jack, his appreciation for its natural splendor meant the world to her. Understanding the profound importance of Ali’s summer retreat, Jack orchestrated a proposal that captured the essence of their shared love for the outdoors. He chose to propose to Ali on her beloved hiking trail, fondly referred to by her family as “the blueberry hike” due to the abundance of blueberry bushes along its path. In a heartfelt gesture, Jack collaborated with Ali’s parents to secretly hike the trail early one morning, concealing a bottle of
champagne and a love letter in the geo-cache at the summit. Later, as Ali and Jack ascended to the peak, she discovered the heartfelt letter and was swept off her feet as Jack proposed against the breathtaking backdrop of their cherished landscape.
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”] by Allison Webb (bought at Flair in Boston)

The Allison Webb wedding dress was a masterpiece of elegance and sophistication, adorned with delicate beading and a stunning tulle bow at the back. Much like the wedding decor, the dress was the perfect combination of sophistication, romantic charm and whimsy. A row of buttons cascades down the back, adding a timeless and classic detail to the design. With its intricate craftsmanship and ethereal beauty, this dress was captivating!
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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]Bridesmaid Dresses: Dusty Rose crepe and chiffon by Revelry. [/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Groomsman Attire: Black tie. The groom’s tuxedo was custom made in Boston and the groomsmen rented similar looking tuxedos from Jos. A Bank.
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Once again, aiming for an exquisite blend of sophistication and comfort, Serendipity Catering curated a delightful menu inspired by the rich flavors of fall. The signature drinks were: Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour, Moscow Mule & Apple Cranberry Spritz (non-alcoholic). The appetizers tantalized the taste buds with a variety of delectable options, including cocktail meatballs in bourbon BBQ sauce, petite crab cakes, Virginia ham biscuits, and tomato basil soup served in demitasse cups with grilled cheese triangles. Following a refreshing fall-inspired salad featuring winter squash and pomegranate seeds, guests were treated to a selection of main courses, including Tuscan Grilled Chicken, Grilled Flank Steak with a Parsley Garlic Chimichurri Vinaigrette, or Wild Mushroom Ravioli. [/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Ali and Jack envisioned their wedding flowers to embody a natural, abundant, and breathtaking aesthetic. Florist Mallory Joyce exceeded expectations, bringing their vision to life with organic designs that mimicked the natural growth of flowers in their surroundings. The focal point of the ceremony was the stunning floral arbor, which continued to dazzle guests behind the bride and groom at the head table. This rounded arch was adorned with lush foliage, intertwining vines, and an array of blooming flowers, creating a truly enchanting and vibrant display. [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The wedding cake, skillfully crafted by Maliha Creations, offered a trio of enticing flavors: Carrot Cake with Cardamom Frosting, Almond Cake with Cookie Butter Frosting, and Lemon Cake with Passion Fruit Curd. As a delightful late-night treat, soft pretzel bites with cheese sauce and chocolate brownie mousse shooters added the perfect finishing touch to an unforgettable culinary experience. [/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]The ceremony was held on the Berry Lawn overlooking Grelen Nursery, founded by Ali’s father, Dan Gregg, in 1990. The officiant, Randall Schlack, traveled from Michigan to join the wedding, representing a special connection to the
Schaffers’ hometown. Music played a significant role in the ceremony, with the ethereal melodies of the three-piece trio, Ninja Strings, setting the perfect ambiance. The ideal fall weather, soul-stirring music, and heartfelt personal vows that Ali and Jack exchanged made for a deeply moving experience for everyone present. Having just been married, Ali and Jack walked back down the aisle to Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” and that’s exactly how it felt: perfect! [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]Cocktail hour in The Market at Grelen’s enchanting moon garden! Encircled by vibrant foliage and illuminated by twinkling bistro lights, this setting was an idyllic kickoff to the celebration following the ceremony. The half-circle bar (rented from Paisley & Jade) blended in effortlessly as it encircled the majestic cherry tree at the center. The bar was personalized on either side with the “JA” monogram which was also featured on the invitation, program, and menu. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]The lush greenery inside the tent was truly stunning. Alongside the exquisite floral arrangements adorning the entrance, tables, and corners, the nursery embellished the space with towering trees flanking the bandstand. These additions created an enchanting ambiance, transporting guests to a picturesque autumn forest. And with the clear star-gazing tent overhead, the atmosphere was nothing short of magical. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Grelen has a rich history that spans over three decades. Founded by my husband, Dan Gregg, in 1990, Grelen Nursery started as a humble 5-acre test plot and has since blossomed into one of the largest rural businesses in Virginia. For more than 30 years, Dan poured his heart and soul into nurturing this land, and the result is a breathtaking 1000-acre tree nursery that stands as a testament to his dedication.
In 2013, I joined this beautiful journey and introduced The Market at Grelen, a European-style Garden Shop, Cafe, and Event/wedding Venue on the Grelen Nursery property. Little did we know that this venture would become a cherished part of our family’s story.
Our daughter, Ali, grew up hearing tales of Grelen around our dinner table. She learned about the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, the seasons that painted our landscape, and the countless hours of hard work that went into making Grelen what it is today. So, when the time came for Ali and her fiancé to choose a venue for their wedding, it was as if she was selecting a piece of her own history.
Although she had a huge selection of beautiful Central Virginia venues from which to choose, Ali couldn’t imagine saying “I do” anywhere else. She felt a deep connection to Grelen, which became even more profound when she and her fiance, Jack, temporarily moved from Boston during Covid to live in Boxwood Villa, one of our homes designed for Grelen wedding couples and guests. The two spent a lot of time exploring Grelen Nursery’s 6 miles of trails and grew to love this land as much as we do.
So it goes, in October of 2023, on a glorious fall weekend, Ali and Jack were married starting their own journey together surrounded by the same lush elegance, meticulous design, and breathtaking environment that has defined Grelen for decades. To put it mildly, her father and I couldn’t be more honored that they chose The Market at Grelen for their wedding. Ali & Jack’s wedding day was not only a celebration of the love that they share but a joyous culmination of the legacy we’ve built. It was truly a merging of two love stories—theirs and ours—that made their wedding day all the more special.
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These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

BBJ La Tavola

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Seriously Chic Springtime Wedding In The Virginia Countryside

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

The wedding colors were blush, sage, and neutrals.

[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

Brigid and Brady’s dream was to get married at a winery in Charlottesville, the town where they first met. They loved the views of King Family Vineyard, and wanted a neutral color palette to enhance all the beauty of the venue instead of compete with it. They also leaned heavily into florals and pastel accent colors to celebrate Spring in the Virginia countryside. For their reception, they wanted a Bridgerton vibe — light bright garden-like florals, gold accents.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]

With the help of some of our closest friends, Brady convinced Brigid that they were attending a photography session with friends who had extra time with their wedding photographer. Little did she know that Brady arranged the whole thing with a proposal in mind! After some very convincing group shots, Taylor Swift started playing and Brigid looked up to see Brady on one knee!

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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]

After visiting many popular bridal boutiques, Brigid found her wedding gown in the same local bridal shop her mom found hers—Fantasy Bridal in Hamilton, NJ (now closed after 35 years in business). The designer was Casablanca Bridal.

[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]The bride selected a neutral misty sage for the bridesmaids dresses and encouraged each of her gals to select the type of dress (cut, neckline, etc) that made them feel most comfortable.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”][/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]

The Local, one of Charlottesville’s well known catering teams, curated a beautiful menu for the couple and their guests.

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

We worked with a local favored florist, Hedge Fine Blooms, to bring the bride’s vision for lush and romantic garden florals to life!

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]

Why have one cake when you can have FIVE?! Because these lovers couldn’t decide on one flavor of cake for their guests to enjoy, they opted for five flavors from local Charlottesville cake baker extraordinaire, Cake Bloom. All cakes were showcased throughout reception and when it came time for the dessert course, guests could choose which flavor fit their fancy.

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]Guests enjoyed a live violin and cello duet, out on the lawn during cocktail hour.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]

Brigid and Brady’s families hadn’t met prior to wedding weekend, so the couple days leading up to their beautiful celebration at KFV were full of lots of laughs and getting-to-know you-fun and time spent together. From wine-tasting to rehearsal dinner and welcome party festivities, Brigid and Brady loved seeing their families gel together just as they knew they would.

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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]Brigid dried and pressed garden flowers leading up to her wedding day so all of her wedding day signage, including the framed table numbers at each table, was a true labor of love crafted by the the bride herself. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]During dancing, guests were welcome to head to the s’mores station outside, to enjoy a fire, sweet treat and conversation. Brady & Brigid took a few minutes away from the dance floor to roast marshmallows and mingle with their guests![/field]
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These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Jessica Lapp

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Sweet Summer Strawberries Delighted Guests at This Tented Wedding at The Clifton Inn

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

The bride fell in love with the idea of a classic, neutral color palette that played out through an abundance of white florals accented with greenery and taupe floral embroidered BBJ Linens. Gold and grey colored accents were woven throughout the tabletop decor and bridesmaid dresses.

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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

“Hospitality – this was the key word and driving factor from the very beginning of wedding planning. Family and friends traveled from literally all over the world to celebrate Morgan and James’ union. In thanks, our goal was to create an entire wedding weekend itinerary for guests to enjoy while experiencing everything Morgan and James loved about the area! The Clifton was easily the perfect backdrop for this “Virginia garden party” themed celebration while providing the opportunity for family and friends to spend an extended weekend together. For many of the guests, this was their first experience in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains so we crafted an itinerary that included tours around the local Charlottesville vineyards, a fun Welcome Party at a local brewery (complete with food trucks and wood fired pizza!), and wrapped up the weekend with a polo themed post-wedding luncheon complete with craft cocktails and a “hat bar”.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”][/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]The bride’s chiffon dress was a v-neck style appliqued with floral embellishments also in white.[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]The intimate size bridal party wore differing styles of grey silk dresses.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]The groom and groomsmen were in traditional black tuxedos.[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]

The dining experience was such an important piece of this event. The bride is a sommelier and carefully selected wines to pair with each delectable course crafted by The Clifton‘s culinary team led by Michelin-starred executive chef Matthew Bousquet. The locally sourced dinner menu featured choices of trout, duck, and short ribs included ingredients sourced from the Chef’s own garden on the venue’s property!

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]We wanted to utilize seasonal, yet unexpected, elements into the table scapes to elevate our “garden party” vive. Incorporating seasonal fruit, in this case locally grown strawberries, added a pop of color (red; a small way to pay homage to this Memorial Day Weekend celebration) and visual interest into the table scapes.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]

The five tier white wedding cake by Maliha Creations was decorated with white flowers inspired by the bride’s dress. The couple’s pup playfully peeked out from the bottom tier!

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]

Led by the bride and groom, the guests were escorted from cocktail hour by their band in a New Orleans style “second line” over to the tented reception.

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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]The couple hosted a unique “guest book,” which was a rotary phone that guests could pick up and leave a heartfelt recorded message for the couple.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]A custom invitation suite featuring die cut detail card and Flowering dogwoods (the state flower), that we later carried into the day-of paper goods and decor, drove home the overall Virginia theme.[/field]
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These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Hunter Ryan Photo

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Perfecting the Enchanted Garden Aesthetic at Pippin Hill Farm

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Purple, blush pink, dusty blue, white[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]We wanted a really lush floral arch and an elegant yet whimsical aesthetic. Christian told the florist to think of this as Allison Wonderland’s wedding. We wanted fully green chandeliers dripping with wisteria.[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”][/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]The Bride wore a Monique Lhuillier dress with a beautiful floral pattern. She made 5 trips by train from DC to NYC to choose the dress and complete all fittings. She also wore a Monique Lhuillier veil with colorful florals embroidered throughout. She wanted a unique scent to remember her wedding day by and loved wearing Monique Lhuillier perfume.
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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]We gave the bridesmaids the color scheme and some inspiration and let each bridesmaid choose their own dress based on their preference.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”][/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Macerated strawberry paired with sparkling rose for an amuse bouche
First Course Heirloom tomato and burrata with chardonnay wine pairing
Second Course braised short rib[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Draping wisteria from the chandeliers, a lush floral arch and lined aisle for the ceremony [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Simple white cake wrapped in greenery[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]Both parents had readings during the ceremony[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]Bride purchased extra wedding dress material and sewed a tie for the groom. She surprised him with this on their wedding day. He was really surprised, thought it really sweet, and cried when he saw it. There were hints of this in the wedding invite unbeknownst to the groom and guests.
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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]They included their 7 year old dog, a Beagle-Dachshund named Citizen, as their flower girl and ring bearer. They had a custom white dress made for her because she has a long dachshund body and not other dresses quite fit. She high-fived the groom when she made it down the aisle and this was caught in a photo! We used a dog service to bring her to the venue, put her in her outfit, watch her until she went down the aisle, and took her home after some portraits with the couple.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]We chose to support women-owned small businesses by only hiring women-owned businesses for ALL wedding vendors (with the exception of the DJ).[/field]
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A Style-Centered Keswick Vineyards Wedding That Wows

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

The wedding colors were greens, whites, creams, earth tones, and textured rattan with pops of golds.

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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

The bride, Kedron, has an impeccable taste and sense of fashion, so we collaborated to give her the wedding design of her dreams that matched her own style. Kedron’s and Aaron’s ceremony overlooked the vineyards and their altar space was flanked by a beautiful broken arch of white and green florals. Cocktails were enjoyed on the patio along with passed canapes, and as guests entered into the sailcloth tent for the reception, they were met with a beautiful design of neutral, earthy tones and textures, subtle pops of mixed metals, and a whimsical green floral print on linens with complimenting floral arrangements and tall tapered candles.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”][/field]
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Kedron wore a beautiful down with an asymmetrical neckline from Lovely Bride Charleston. It fit her like a glove — in the most perfect way! After their ceremony, Kedron and Aaron poured champagne in their champagne tower surrounded by their wedding party, then Kedron popped on a pair of white-framed vintage sunglasses and strutted around the venue hand in hand with her groom sipping on signature cocktails – blood orange cosmos and black walnut old fashioneds – and hugging their loved ones.

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Bridesmaids dresses were curated by the bride herself — she gave her ladies a palette of inspiration and encouraged them each to select dresses that fit the design and made them feel most comfortable. The colors ranged from deep forest green to light stage – and everything in between – and some were patterned while others were a single solid color. The majority of bridesmaids dresses were sourced from BHLDN.

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[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Aaron and his groomsmen wore classic black tuxedos for the special day. [/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]The newlyweds wedding reception featured an incredible spread of stations — Mediterranean station featuring an elaborate mezze spread of grilled pita, hummus, peppers, sambousek, and keftedes; a Southwest station featuring scrumptious tacos, mahi, cilantro lime rice, and cord salad; and a Summer Grill station with chicken, asparagus, and quinoa salad. [/field]
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Collaborating with Willow Branch Flowers And Design, the florals effortlessly complemented the design of the wedding. White orchids, lush creamy garden roses, ranunculus, cosmos, baby’s breath and greenery were all blended together to create gorgeous ceremony arrangements, delicate cocktail hour bud vases, and stunning reception tent detail.

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Kedron and Aaron cut into the most charming carrot cake created by Cake Bloom! After feeding each other bits of their cake, coffee and tea were made available to their guests as well as small bite sized assorted desserts such as mini key lime tarts, cheesecakes, and chocolate pot de cremes.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]The bride’s best friend’s father officiated Kedron and Aaron’s wedding ceremony. Having a loved one pronouncing newlyweds married for the first time is such a special treat! [/field]
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Virginia Floral Garden Wedding In Fun And Festive Sorbet Tones

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The colors were yellow, peach, tangerine, creams, and dusty blue.

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From the bride… Our style is fairly traditional, elegant, refined but also fun, and colorful. We were inspired by the beautiful property and scenery of Clifton Inn and aimed to amplify the “garden feel” with our florals. I would describe our wedding as garden chic – elegant, timeless, overflowing with florals, and very welcoming. We added bistro lighting and crystal chandeliers to the tent for a touch of elegance and to compliment our crystal tablescape design. Our top priority for our wedding day was creating an environment for our guests to have fun and celebrate with us. While planning our wedding weekend, we kept our guests top of mind, as we wanted our guests’ experience to be unforgettable too. We wanted to set the tone for the remainder of the event at cocktail hour. Between our fun design elements of having our custom crest blown up on our cocktail hour bar, lounge seating, and having live jazz music, we were hoping our guests would let loose and start having fun before the kick-off of our reception.

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Connor and I met through mutual friends at the University of South Carolina in 2015. While our paths had crossed many times during our years in undergrad, it wasn’t until our senior year that we finally connected. After a year of long-distance directly following our graduation, we both made the move to Washington D.C. to be closer together and continue our professional careers. In October 2020, Connor planned a trip to Charlottesville, Virginia for us to visit some friends and enjoy the wineries. Connor proposed while at King Family Vineyard with the Blue Ridge mountains peeking through the clouds behind us, which was equally surprising & romantic. After getting engaged in Charlottesville, we knew we wanted our wedding there. The same night we got engaged, Connor and I googled “wedding venues in Charlottesville” and immediately fell in love with Clifton Inn. The beautiful grounds and views of the Blue Ridge mountains were a perfect backdrop for our ceremony. We loved that we were able to have our immediate family and closest friends stay on the property for the duration of our wedding weekend. With many of our friends and family residing in different states, it was so special to have everyone together in one place and truly made the weekend feel like it was more than just one day and a mini-vacation for all of us.

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While dress shopping, I was very torn between getting a fitted or an A-Line dress. I really loved both styles but was having a hard time finding a dress that really felt like “me”. Once I put this dress on, I knew it was the one! I had never seen a wedding dress like this before with the fitted silhouette but also having an overlay that made the dress more A-Line (best of both worlds for me)! I loved the delicate chiffon lace and the cap sleeves. The dress was romantic, matched our garden party aesthetic, and was unique with the almond undertones and the long train overlay skirt.

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The bridesmaids wore soft, French blue Jenny Yoo chiffon dresses from Bella Bridesmaids. The styles were mismatched within the same blue shade, creating a beautiful and romantic mix and setting the backdrop for fun sorbet tones of the florals.

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Connor and the groomsmen wore classic black tuxedos, which were a sharp and perfect contrast to the French blue bridesmaid dresses and the punchy sorbet palette carried by the florals.

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We selected our catering menu based on what we could source locally and fresh to the season. We served a selection of meats and cheeses and passed hors d’oeuvres during cocktail hour (Ratatouille Crostini, Maryland Crabcakes, Country Ham and Pimiento Cheese Biscuits, Duck Confit Spring Rolls, Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus). For our plated dinner, we had a spring salad complete with goat cheese, fresh fruit, and candied pecans. Our main courses were Roasted Chicken Breast, Braised Short Ribs, and a Spiced Lentil Cake. Our specialty cocktail was a Clifton classic cocktail – The 1799. This was made from cucumber vodka, elderflower liquor, pineapple, and lime, and it was a perfectly refreshing and summery drink!

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Our ceremony florals were the first impression of our wedding day, so we really wanted to wow our guests with our floral-lined aisle and floral arch. Our florist, Mallory Joyce, TRULY encapsulated our vision of a garden party with her playful arrangements and gorgeous flower pairings. We chose bright yellows, peach, tangerine, creams, and pinks for our florals to compliment the blue linens and bridesmaid dresses. We love color and wanted to take risks with colors that aren’t typically seen paired together for a wedding to be a bit unique but still classic.

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Our cake was a Lemon Chiffon Cake filled with Triple Cream and Raspberry Curd, iced with Chambord Buttercream, and decorated with buttercream flowers that complimented our color palette. We also had a coffee bar and Mini Fruit Tart & Mini Tarte Tatins to keep us dancing into the evening!

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One of our favorite memories from our wedding weekend is our first look and exchanging of our private vows. We wanted to have a private moment amid a busy day to center ourselves and to be with each other prior to our guests’ arrival. We chose to exchange private vows during our first look so we could soak in what we were promising to each other and not be overwhelmed by emotion during our ceremony. To us, the first look allowed us to get jitters out of the way early on and truly spend our wedding day together rather than apart for most of the day.

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We chose to incorporate unique touches that would be fun for guests to enjoy, like having a trumpet player lead the way from cocktail hour to the reception and having a live painter to watch throughout the evening. We were excited to surprise our friends and family with a live painter. Wed On Canvas captured our wedding ceremony beautifully, which provided our guests entertainment throughout the evening and provided Connor and I a beautiful piece of art to hang in our home.

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We worked with The Welcoming District to design a crest that is reflective of our wedding day and personalities. We had our dog, Piper, included as well as florals that matched our floral design and colors. We used our crest for fun details like our cocktail hour bar, garden flag, matchboxes, and welcome bags. Our welcome bags included some of our favorite things, like local Virginia peanuts, custom sugar cookies, and white wine with details of the weekend events.

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[field title=”Special Detail #3″]From the bride: Connor and I took dance lessons for the month leading up to our wedding so we could feel a bit more comfortable for our first dance, even though we did forget some of the choreography! My dad also joined in the lessons for our father/daughter dance, which was a really entertaining experience for all of us.[/field]
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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Sidney Leigh Photography

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A Timeless Virginia Wedding Celebrating Bold Autumn Colors

Celebrate the beauty of the autumn season with this simply inspired Virginia wedding. The celebration was artfully planned by White Birch Events, who thoughtfully crafted every dreamy detail of the day. The blooms designed by Mallory Joyce exquisitely tell the story of true love, with free-flowing arrangements in the festive tones of fall. Romantic and timeless imagery by Katie Trauffer Photography is a sight to behold, enjoy it all inside the full gallery.

From Katie Trauffer Photography… Classic details give a modern twist with a bold autumn-inspired reception design. On an idyllic Fall day at the historic Clifton Inn in Charlottesville, VA, timeless romance and bold seasonal color came together in an abundance of Autumn beauty. Thoughtfully planned by White Birch Events, this day was brought to life with florals by Mallory Joyce who expertly weaved together a locally sourced palette of impactful Autumnal colors. Katie Trauffer Photography thoughtfully captured every sublime detail in a full gallery alive with the colors of Fall! Florist Mallory Joyce says “Celia loved classic, white flowers but she also was drawn to the bright and varied tones of early autumn. We decided to marry the two visions by keeping her ceremony and personal flowers all neutral tones and then pumping up the color for the reception.”

For their invitation suite, the couple chose to incorporate a stunning custom portrait of their venue by artist Line In the Sam. They worked with local stationer Carly Reed Designs to choose a neutral color palette with an earthy green envelope. Choosing their venue was a natural fit, it was the first venue they toured and the couple explains that with “the historical significance of The Clifton and after we tried the food, it was a no-brainer. We booked their next available date.”

For the bride, colorful flowers have always been a way to spread joy thanks to her father who is “famous for his dahlia gardens.” She explains “Instead of bringing a bottle of wine to a dinner party, my dad will bring a huge, beautiful bouquet of fresh-picked dahlias from his garden – in his signature vase – a recycled tennis ball can. The flowers are always vibrant colors, a mix of dahlias and any other local blooms or greenery he has at the time.”

Embracing this joyful inspiration, florist Mallory Joyce created a statement reception palette by using “a lot of local flowers including dahlias, cosmos, and celosia in pinky-peach hues and ground(ing) the punchy colors with touches of honey-toned roses to keep the palette autumnal.”

The bride’s Jane Hill dress paired a classic sleek silhouette with romantic and distinctly bridal detailing. The bride explains “It was a silhouette and neckline that I find myself wearing in everyday life – but the bridal details really elevated a silhouette and neckline I love. For me, the pearl buttons were the deciding factor.”

Photographer Katie Trauffer Photography embraced the Autumnal inspiration, capturing enduring, romantic portraits with an eye for the turn of the season. From streaming golden light through trees at the peek of their Fall transition to the leaf-blanketed secret garden courtyard, she used the emergence of Autumn to craft portraits that would embrace and honor the vibrancy of the couple’s color palette while feeling authentic to their love and eternally stylish.

“Newlywed portraits are always one of my favorite parts of a wedding day as I have the opportunity to translate my couple’s love and vision for their day into heirlooms they will hold onto decades after the last champagne is poured. Especially here, I wanted their portraits to retain the timeless yet colorful inspiration for their event. Beyond portraits, though, I cherish capturing those little moments in between- the way the bride smiled at her new husband during toasts over a table laden with bountiful blooms, the way the groom kissed her hand as they walked with their wedding party to line up for the ceremony- those are some of my favorite images in a gallery that is truly overflowing with favorites!”

Planner White Birch Events seamlessly organized an event that was flawlessly executed and immensely personal. From the couple’s gift table, complete with their prized tennis trophy as a cardholder, to the bathroom champagne bar- a highlight for the couple who loved how it “made the bathroom a fun place to gather and hang out (at) before heading back to the dance floor”- Cinda ensured every detail was beautifully honored and that the entire event had ample time for each carefully chosen vendor to craft their best work. A highlight of the night was the couple’s choreographed first dance “Derek and I spent months (half seriously) practicing the Dirty Dancing lift. After a disastrous and hilarious practice routine fall, we settled for a death drop instead” for a moment that had the entire tent cheering. At the end of the night, “After the guests were led out in a second line to “When the Saints Go Marching In”, Derek and I stayed behind for a private dance to “Lover” by Taylor Swift.” The bride says “whenever I hear this song, I think of Derek and after our wedding, it brings even more special memories of our Last Dance.”

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Katie Trauffer Photography

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Bursting With Blooms Bridgerton Inspired Pippin Hill Wedding

The Duke and Dutchess themselves would delight at this Bridgerton-inspired Pippin Hill Farm wedding. Laurel Elise Events planned a day that brought the couple’s love story to life, and Cultivate Event Co filled it with floral installations as far as the eyes could see. You’ll fall in love with every second of the special day artfully captured by Rebecca Theresa Photography. See it all unfold inside the full gallery.

From Rebecca Theresa Photography… Janie and Zach’s Bridgerton-inspired destination wedding at Pippin Hill Farm was an epic celebration with over-the-top florals and panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Using the expertise of Laurel Elise Events, they chose a lavender, pink, green, and ivory design which was seen all throughout their day, from the incredible custom suite and crest by Emily Mayne Studio, to the stunning cake display by Cakes by Rachel. The pair and their family from Dallas hosted just under 150 guests for a complete wedding weekend in Charlottesville, complete with a welcome dinner and post-wedding brunch. The duo first met when Janie showed up late to a pre-orientation program prior to freshman year at Washington & Lee. Everyone else was there already, and she rolled in 10 minutes late smiling and apologizing. Zach was attracted to her immediately and the rest is history. They now have 2 dogs and a cat, all rescues, and we love working from home with them in our Dallas townhome. They had a memorable honeymoon in Paris to complete their fairytale wedding experience. From the bride: “Janie and Zach met at a small college in Virginia, where they fell in love with each other and the Blue Ridge Mountains too. Upon their graduation, they moved to Dallas together to start a new chapter. Two years and three rescue animals later, Zach designed a custom engagement ring with a local jeweler in anticipation of proposing during a family vacation to the beach. But as soon as he had it in his hands, he knew he couldn’t wait another day — he invited Janie to the rooftop deck of their newly purchased home and popped the question as the sun set behind the Dallas skyline. Janie and Zach knew they wanted to celebrate their wedding in front of a sweeping view of the mountains of Virginia.

The first and best decision they made in their wedding planning process was hiring their talented Charlottesville-based planner Elise from Laurel Elise Events. With her careful guidance, they signed with their venue Pippin Hill Farm sight-unseen due to the pandemic. When it came to planning the aesthetics of their wedding, the couple knew only one thing: they LOVED over-the-top florals and greenery! They had even cultivated their own vibrant garden on the same rooftop where Zach had proposed. As Janie was dress shopping, her father pulled a dress that felt “right” the moment she put it on. The sweetheart gown by Mira Zwillinger was covered in gorgeous hand-embroidered leaves that reminded her of Zach and his passion for gardening. It was love at first sight! The dress helped set an organic tone to their wedding theme. On the flight to meet Elise and see Pippin Hill Farm for the first time, Janie watched the first season of Bridgerton, which provided her with more fantastic inspiration. “Romantic, whimsical, overgrown, secret garden, and floral-forward” were all phrases the couple suggested to guide their planner’s creative vision. Per Janie’s request to steer clear of pink, but keep it springy, the team kept to a color scheme of dusty lavender and green. With Elise’s guiding help, the couple settled on vendors and the details of what each one would bring to the big day. At each turn in the creative process, Elise helped incorporate the romantic “secret garden” theme. Even the invitations were decked out in a custom flower print, which tied in the same variety of flowers that their florist Cultivate Event Co would incorporate on the wedding day. On the day-of, Janie wore a gold four-leafed clover tied with a blue ribbon around her ankle, a good-luck charm adorned by each bride in her family. The aisle was lined in organic, vertical arrangements that appeared to grow straight out of the ground. They swayed romantically as the crisp April air whipped through Pippin Hill Farm‘s Vineyard. The altar arrangement matched, and was kept low to preserve the beautiful view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. As the couple concluded their simple ceremony, Zach stopped halfway down the aisle to dip Janie for one more kiss. Not only was it fantastic material for the photographers and videographers — it was also exhilarating and fun!

As the couple rounded the corner back into Pippin Hill Farm, they were greeted with their first drink as husband and wife: a glass of champagne shared out of a sterling silver “Loving Cup.” The cup was engraved with their initials, which appeared beside those of other couples in Janie’s family who had shared their own first drinks from it. Meanwhile, their guests enjoyed signature cocktails named after the couples’ animals, who made special appearances in the form of watercolor portraits printed on the cocktail napkins. As Janie and Zach exited the cocktail hour on the veranda and entered the reception space, they were amazed by how Elise had transformed it. Smilax dripped from the chandeliers, across the ceilings, and down the walls. The cake was ringed with fresh florals as if it had sprung up from a garden. Above the head table hung an installment of greenery and purple flowers, reminiscent of the wisteria which adorned the Bridgerton home’s façade. The installment, illuminated from below by flickering candlelight, gave a magical and intimate feel to the head table. Beneath it, the couple enjoyed a fantastic toast by the father of the bride and a delicious dinner service as they were surrounded by their closest friends. Janie and Zach opened the dance floor with their first dance to John Denver’s “Annie’s Song,” which once again tied together the beauty of nature with their everlasting love for each other. After dancing the night away with DJ GBaby, the couple enjoyed one last private dance together. As they swayed together, they soaked in the amazing day one last time before heading out in a getaway car. While the whole wedding was a fantastic and magical experience, the couple agrees: “being married is the best part!”

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BBJ La Tavola

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Whimsical Romance At This Mountain Vineyard Wedding At Pippin Hill Farm

This mountain vineyard wedding at Pippin Hill Farm is sure to melt your heart. Our brides both embraced their own unique style in their wedding fashion but the feeling of love and joy captured in the photos by Kylie Martin Photography was all-encompassing. Donovan-Groves Events planned the day in calming shades of green, white, and blue, and the floral design by Nature Composed was equal parts whimsical and romantic. You’ll love every magical moment inside the full gallery.

From Kylie Martin Photography… Reilly and Lauren were joined by their closest loved ones at their mountain vineyard wedding in Charlottesville, Virginia. Reilly recently shared where her inspiration came from and what experience she and Lauren were hoping to create for their guests on their special day.

“We wanted it to be a classic elegance that still felt warm and inviting for our loved ones. We kept the wedding at about 105 people which really helped with the intimacy of the event, and we truly felt surrounded by loved ones – rather than a crowd of people. This also allowed us to include little details for our guests, like toiletry items in the bathroom with monogrammed hand towels, our custom matchbooks and welcome boxes, and the custom linen napkins on the head table. We also wanted to make sure our sweet ragdoll cat Penelope was incorporated – as we featured her on all the table cards and my specialty cocktail was named after her “the Pink Penelope”. The live music was another element that I found particularly important and felt like it pulled the night together with a bow – this ranged from our harpist during the ceremony Eve Watters to the Trademark Band that kept the party going all night.” Lauren added that she wanted a nod to late 16th/18th century English style with the wax seals, harpist and the Shakespearean Sonnet because of her love for the romanticism of British literature.”

“For our looks, Lauren went for a clean, sophisticated, elegant look which was mirrored in her sleek bun, tighter bouquet and classic dress. She also wore her mother’s necklace and gold bangle, as well as incorporating her mother’s favorite flowers into her bouquet – alstroemeria. My look – I went for something more romantic and whimsical, which was reflected in my lace Monique Lhuillier dress and the looser, larger bouquet. My shoes were my “something blue” and I wore my mother’s pearl earrings that were actually a gift from my father on their wedding day. My own wedding gift from Lauren was her mother’s wedding ring redesigned, which I wore that day, and again the sapphires in the beautiful custom ring were a nod to our overall blue and white theme. I also REALLY wanted a veil – it’s what made the whole thing feel bridal to me. And then swapped out the veil for a fun flower headband for the reception.”

Reilly and Lauren chose to exchange personalized vows during their first look, Lauren stated “I wanted to have a special moment with just us two, because we anticipated a day full of love from everyone else (which is great) but at the end of the day, it was OUR day and I wanted to be sure we had that special moment together! I am so glad we went that route because it was something I’ll never forget.”

When asked what moment from the day left an impression, Lauren shared “My highlight is probably when Reilly and I snuck away from everyone later in the night and just had a moment alone on the veranda looking into the mountains while everyone was partying.” Reilly shared her favorite memory of “running through the vineyard together for our couples photos – it’s always been a dream to run through a vineyard in my gown with my wife by my side. So that was so dreamy. And then I also loved dancing with Lauren in front of everyone at the end of the night to “King of my Heart” by Taylor Swift because Lauren is truly the Queen of my heart, and we were able to just be our hammy selves in front of everyone.”

A Beautiful Homage To The Bride’s Parents Leads To An Unexpected Sign

They say rain is good luck on your wedding day and for this couple, it certainly is the case! After losing both her parents, it was especially important to our bride to honor them at such a momentous event. As the rabbi officiating their ceremony began talking about Allie’s parents, rain started to fall from the sky making our bride feel as if her parents were truly watching over her on her wedding day. Donovan-Groves Events planned the heartfelt day, and Blue Ridge Floral filled it with beautiful blooms. You’ll love every image elegantly captured by Mina Von Feilitzsch Photography, see every sweet moment inside the full gallery.

From the bride… Beyond the typical challenges of being a COVID wedding (we were originally going to wed on Nov 1, 2020), I knew our wedding would be extra special. Unfortunately, I lost my father at the age of 18 and then lost my mother 6 years later, in 2017. I was an only child and extremely close with both of them. It was extremely important to me to commemorate them on my big day. There are so many ways people have commemorated loved ones no longer living and there is no one way that is meaningful to everyone.

After a lot of hard thinking, I came up with a few ways. I included two empty chairs in the front row of the ceremony – one with my mother’s scarf and one with my father-in-law’s jacket, with my favorite picture of my father and me in the pocket. I found it most appropriate to walk down the aisle alone – there wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd. I also chose to walk down to “Somewhere over the Rainbow,” a nod to my parents and grandmother. When I reached the middle of the aisle, my husband Lee came to meet me and we walked the rest of the way together – symbolic of our future together. When I reached my parents’ seats, a piece of my bouquet was made to break away and I placed a piece of it on my mother’s seat. The radar was watched closely and showed no sign of rain. Just as I started walking down the aisle, however, a rain cloud approached.

Every single person in attendance will confirm that just as our rabbi started talking about my parents, the clouds separated and the rain fell down. All of our vendors and guests told us they have never seen anything like it and how supernatural and surreal it was to experience. We did a quick change of plans and re-situated the ceremony under the winery’s covered patio. After the ceremony, the quick rain shower left us the most beautiful rainbow and sunset for incredible cocktail hour photos. Aside from being an incredibly planned party by our wedding planner, Adam of Donovan-Groves Events, at an INCREDIBLE venue (Jennifer Aniston married Justin Theroux there!), the miracle that happened during our ceremony was once-in-a-lifetime and a story that deserves to be shared!

Majestic Mountaintop Wedding Overflowing With Style In Virginia

This majestic mountaintop wedding is overflowing with style. From the scenic ceremony designed to look like an outdoor church to signature drinks topped with custom cookies cut out in the shape of the couple’s dog, every creative detail was carefully curated by Just A Little Ditty. Southern Blooms filled the day with lush summer florals in bright and happy hues, and Jen Fariello Photography captured all the love of the day perfectlyin her elegant imagery. Visit the full gallery for a closer look at all the lovely.

From Jen Fariello Photography… Shannon and Jono met around St. Patrick’s Day in 2017 and quickly realized they led basically parallel lives, both floating through the same towns, schools, and social scenes but just missing each other. When they finally connected though, the rest was history. Taking inspiration from their Irish heritage and Shannon’s killer personal style, they collaborated as a team with Marilyn Speight of Just A Little Ditty, Sherry Spencer of Southern Blooms by Pat’s Floral Designs, Danielle Redmond of Occasions Caterers, and Jen Fariello Photography to bring their whimsical yet elevated garden party dreams to life. Originally, the ceremony was planned for a historic church with the reception to follow at a luxury resort in Charlottesville, but we were forced to pivot nine months prior to the wedding due to covid and renovation-related setbacks. Plan B, however, turned out to be even better than anyone dreamed!

A private mountaintop setting provided the perfect celebration scene. Accommodations and auxiliary events, like the rehearsal dinner, a pool party, and the farewell brunch were held at a nearby luxury inn, The Clifton. Guests were also treated to a modern welcome party at The Quirk hotel in downtown Charlottesville. When it came to the wedding itself, guests experienced a progressive event, starting with the outdoor ceremony on the mountaintop, cocktails at the historical home on the property, dinner in a sailcloth tent overlooking all of Central Virginia, and dancing in another sailcloth tent designed as a lounge meets ballroom space. In an attempt to recreate a church vibe, Shannon, Marilyn and Sherry designed a custom cross arbor which the team at Southern Blooms by Pat’s Floral Designs executed magnificently. White Glove Rentals provided gorgeous white garden chairs which featured an arc detail reminiscent of the church’s windows, accented by a meadow aisle of lush summer florals. Julie and the team at The Stylish Bride helped Shannon with all of her various wedding looks which featured custom dresses by Oscar de la Renta, Mark Ingram Collection, and a wedding gown Monique Lhuillier. They also worked with the wedding party to coordinate a mix of ready-to-wear styles in various floral patterns and shades of blue.

Occasions Caterers helped to create many custom touches that reflected Shannon and Jono’s personal style – like signature cocktails inspired by the couple’s Hawaiian honeymoon, a tableside ordering experience for guests that gave a restaurant feel, dishes using ingredients sourced and inspired by the setting, and late-night treats of espresso martinis (the couple’s favorite drink) with cookies perched on the side of the glasses shaped like their dog TJ, cheesy bread from the couple’s UVA college days and Detroit-style pizza as a nod to their new home base. Dinner featured classical string music by Melodious Strings, who covered everything from Beethoven to Bruno Mars. Tables were set in three distinct yet coordinated looks that provided many opportunities for the eye to dance around the layers of texture, color, and light. The crown jewel of the dinner tent was a stunning five-tier wedding cake by Anita Gupta of Maliha Creations. Smooth, white fondant icing provided the perfect canvas for sugar flowers, leaves, and clovers all echoing the blooms featured in the couple’s day. Emily Baird Design designed all stationery elements which included custom hand calligraphed clover escort cards, bar inserts, paper cones in various prints pulled from the invitation suite, and ceremony booklets with custom wax seals. The couple’s wedding monogram, designed by Emily as well, was also featured on the dance floor. Simply Irresistible kept guests dancing all night long and the evening ended with a visit to a special stargazing area where the couple took advantage of the elevation to treat their friends and family to a one-of-a-kind viewing experience.

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You’ll Never Believe This Magnificent Italianate Palace is in the Rural Part of Virginia, Atop Mountains!

You won’t believe this Italian palazzi-inspired wedding took place in the Virginian mountains! Channeling luxurious intimacy and balancing timelessness with modernity, Fleur Avenue Events reimagined a traditional Italian wedding for this fashion-forward couple at the Swannanoa. Drama was infused into every grand detail — from the bride’s French lace cathedral veil and not one — but two — ornately-crafted gowns, to the venue’s lofty archways and artistically-styled florals. Nikki Santerre captured the ultra-chicness of the celebration with a fine-art style. Experience the splendor of this beautiful day at the full gallery!

From Nikki Santerre… Inspired by classic bridal look, epic architecture of Italian palazzi, and couture wardrobe, this editorial designed and planned by Fleur Avenue Events channeled the luxurious intimate celebration at former splendor and now decaying grandeur of Swannanoa Palace behind the modern interpretation of a traditional Italian wedding for a fashion-driven couple.

Featuring stylish ornate wedding gown, a show-stopping cathedral veil with French lace detail, lush and dramatic reception setup in between archways of the majestic Italianate summer villa, and vibrant fine art style of film photographer Nikki Santerre, modern wedding planning couples are invited to take inspiration from sumptuous iconic locations to create an elegant heirloom-driven day for their marriage celebration.

Classic Virginia Spring Wedding At The Clifton Inn

Wanting to mirror the aesthetic of a spring day, Shelby and Scott’s wedding was equal parts romantic and classic. Set in the Virginia countryside with lots of greenery, neutral blooms, and charming garden touches Sophie Felts Floral Design helped bring their wedding dreams to life. Shelby and Scott spent a great deal of time focusing on the details, and enlisted Social Graces Weddings to help them fill the day with intimate and thoughtful touches. From their custom monogram incorporated throughout various elements of the wedding, from the wax seal on the escort board to poolside pillows, to the inclusion of their newly adopted Shih Tzu, Gigi, every detail was thoughtfully curated. The love and happiness of the day shine in the artful imagery by Sidney Leigh Photography. You’ll find even more meaningful moments in the full gallery.

From Sidney Leigh Photography… Shelby and Scott met at work where Scott claimed, “love at first sight.” Although it took a little time and persistence before the two became official, they soon became inseparable. Scott proposed during dinner at The Inn at Little Washington on January 25th, 2020 a very special location to Shelby and her family as her grandparents used to frequent this remarkable place.

Charlottesville, Virginia was always a favorite destination for Shelby and Scott while living in the DC area. The rolling countryside, beautiful wineries, pristine golf courses, and charming downtown perfectly captured the vision for the wedding weekend festivities. The Clifton embodied all the characteristics that Shelby and Scott were looking for as a backdrop for their celebration. The history of the estate coupled with scenic mountain views and intimate accommodations for their immediate family and friends made their selection of the venue effortless.

The one facet of the wedding day that couldn’t be planned for was the weather, and although the rain started falling about 20 minutes before the outdoor ceremony started, both Shelby and Scott agreed that it was incredibly special to watch everyone come together to celebrate with them all the same. All in all, every inch of this Charlottesville wedding day was customized to perfectly fit Shelby and Scott as a couple, and even with the rain, it could not have been a more beautiful wedding day!

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Sidney Leigh Photography

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This Inspired Shoot Will Convince You To Have A Micro Wedding

This inspired shoot highlights everything we love about micro weddings. Just A Little Ditty planned a day that proves a more intimate guest list gives you free rein to play around with luxe touches that otherwise might have been out of budget, like extravagant welcome baskets. The florals in this feature are a feast for the eyes, all lovingly designed by Southern Blooms by Pat’s Floral Designs. Don’t miss the explosion of crisp color beautifully captured by Jen Fariello Photography. There’s even more pretty to see over in the full gallery.

From Just A Little Ditty… The initial concept was for a winter shoot full of bright colors, whimsical details, and luxe touches. Taking inspiration from the Quirk Hotel’s artistic vibe we designed a seasonally appropriate shoot that was crisp, bold, and modern.

Building a collected palette using shades from Pantone’s colors of the year, gray and yellow, we accented this foundation with neutral, pink, and metallic hues while incorporating various textures of acrylics, crystals, velvets, and wood to create a moody yet vivid aesthetic.

This petite shoot featured a ceremony with wild yet structured florals framing the altar and modern gold wire chairs, then transitioned to cocktails and mimosas, wrapping up with an intimate dinner featuring a show-stopping head table and small guest tables for two where a bountiful brunch was served.

A Whimsical Secret Garden Meets Monet’s Water Lilies Wedding

When two worlds collide the results are captivating. A powerhouse team of wedding experts came together with an original concept to create an ethereal, secret garden-inspired editorial. When they arrived on the grounds of their venue The Clifton they couldn’t help but remark on the resemblance to the painting Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies by Claude Monet. The inspiration then shifted to an event experience combining the two concepts together, which Karen Duckett Events pulled together beautifully. Inside the sailcloth reception tent florals by Floral & Bloom inspire. Each detail was artfully captured by cinematographers Deanna and Grant Harrison of Harrison Films and film photographer Hana Gonzalez of Weddings by Hana. Head to the full gallery for all of the eye-catching inspiration.

From Karen Duckett of Karen Duckett Events… We crafted a color palette of saturated greens, jade, and chartreuse as our pops of color, but wanted a softer base of taupe, cement gray, and cameo pink to allow the bolder colors to really shine. When it comes to eye-catching elements, the balance of color, texture, and detail are key to creating sensory pleasure for all those who partake in the experience.

The focus for this inspiration shoot was heavily on the tabletop details tucked away within the sailcloth tented reception space. Tabletop florals of local limelight and lace hydrangea, garden roses, dahlias, spray roses, butterfly ranunculus, campanula, delphinium, and foxglove were masterfully installed by Rachel Johnson of Floral & Bloom. On the head table, she created a way to bring the eye up by using flowers along the existing columns within the sailcloth tents and a cascading floral runner dripping down to the wooden tent floor.

We hope that the classic, sophisticated garden reception will entice couples to take a second look at the existing grounds and architecture of their chosen venue to create bespoke designs that tie back to natural elements of beauty surrounding their family and friends.

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EDEN LUXE Bridal

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A Cherry Blossom-Inspired Spring Wedding at Pippin Hill You Just HAVE to See

If you know SMP, you know we’re biggg fans of Pippin Hill Farm – and today’s wedding planned by Just A Little Ditty might just be our favorite one yet. Coral charm peonies from Southern Blooms by Pat’s Floral Designs, floral bridesmaid dresses from Jenny Yoo and the sweetest couple of all time, I mean… can you even blame us?! If you’re looking for some inspiration to get you in the spirit of Spring, look no further. Lucky for us Rebecca Yale was there to capture every can’t-miss detail of their day – head on over to the full gallery to watch the magic unfold!

From Rebecca Yale Photography… Mechelle and Julia were married in late April at Pippin Hill in Charlottesville, VA. Mechelle is originally from Florida and Julia from Maryland and they’ve lived all over the world together, including a 2 year stint in Norway, so choosing a wedding venue was difficult, but they fell in love with the rolling hills of Virginia wine country. April is peak cherry blossom season so they decided to embrace the beautiful bloom and let it serve as inspiration for the design of the day.

Rock Paper Scissors made a custom crest using the bride’s initials and a wreath of cherry blossoms, echoing the infinity circle altar that served as their ceremony backdrop and the hoops of cherry blossoms over the head table and dance floor in the granary. The custom crest was used on the save the date, programs, menus, cocktail napkins and was even engraved onto their custom ring box and made into a sticker on their wedding favors (homemade fudge by Mechelle using her late grandmothers recipe, placed inside mugs with drawings of the two cities they’ve lived in together, Austin and Oslo).

The brides opted for a first look, but wanted it to feel a little different so decided to stand back to back to each other and hold hands so they could be close the first time they saw each other. Some other fun details of note were Mechelle’s ready-to-wear black and white Monique Lhuillier Gown and mismatched printed bridesmaids dresses from Jenny Yoo. The brides’ wrote their own vows in custom vow books, which combined their cherry blossom crest with a silhouette of one of their favorite photographs taken on top of a fjord in Norway during their engagement session.

They also used the same silhouette on the back of their cake later in the evening, which they cut out in the courtyard surrounded by their friends all holding sparklers. Mechelle and Julia honored their beloved late dog, Huck, with a photo of him on her bouquet and drawing of him on the back of each of their vow books. The brides loved the outdoor patio area of Pippin and wanted to take advantage of it as much as possible so in addition to cocktail and cake cutting they opted to have their first dance out there under the string lights before inviting their guests in to eat.

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Rebecca Yale Photography

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How to Make Your Micro-Wedding Feel Artfully Curated and Timeless

If you ask us, there are million advantages to hosting a micro-wedding. What’s our favorite, you might ask? Well, besides the sheer intimacy they provide for both you and your guests, our favorite thing about micro-weddings is the ability to break boundaries throughout the curation process, in ways a traditional wedding could never. Looking for some inspiration on how to artfully curate your micro-wedding while keeping it timeless in style? Allow Elle Loren & Co to pave the way. Head on over to the full gallery, captured by Nicole Colwell Photography for all the inspiration (including all the heavenly, bright blooms from Wild Fleurette!)

From Elle Loren & Co… Micro-weddings & elopements are here to stay, and we are elated to be able to focus on a refined look that is artfully curated and feels ever so timeless. We believe in all the small details; putting together a complete flow from the dainty paper suites, that custom Susie Altzman ring (taking our breath away), and waving back at smiling poppy blooms dancing amidst the honey bees. Locally sourced flowers from family-owned farms in Virginia mingled our team of vendors organically. With a smaller guest count, the options for your ceremony location are endless.

We chose a humble wooded grove, through a ray of sunshine, almost as if the universe whispered, love is here. Styling a lush setting for our couple to share vows, we wanted to make the structure disappear with two strong foundations of greenery and blooms shooting up to surround Maddie and Mark. With our ability to really hone in on our couple, we could feel the warmth radiating from their gaze.

We were overjoyed witnessing Maddie’s groom swooning over her! Those blue eyes and statement DAISY earrings were the perfect touch. Whimsical, effortless, and glam vibes. A statement, that is tasteful and delicate. Lovers of everything floral, we let this eloquently flow into our detailed design, using handpicked elements to carefully curate every part of the design. We styled a lush palette of wild greens, yellows and a touch of the white to round out a mountain canvas nestled at Ivy Rose Barn. Our table was adorned with abundance of florals sweeping off the end. White classic ceramic tied the wooden garden chairs and wooden chargers together for a living tablescape, matching the landscape within the valley. Fluttering in a field of wildflowers with your favorite person on the best day ever.

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Sugared Fig Paperie

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A Spring Pippin Hill Wedding with a One of a Kind Wedding Gown

There’s always something that stands out to us about each wedding we feature here on SMP, and for this gorgeous day at Pippin Hill (one of our faves!), it was the dress… ohh, the dress. It’s unlike any we’ve seen before! Not to mention the bride’s contagious smile and her husband’s emotional reaction during their first look, captured so perfectly by Kylie Martin Photography. Take in all the stunning details of this beautiful Spring wedding planned by Amore Events by Cody below!

From Kylie Martin Photography… Morgan and Tommy opted for an intimate spring wedding at Pippin Hill Farm in Charlottesville Virginia. They had classic elements throughout the day but also had fun touches that emphasized their playful side. Morgan opted for a less traditional gown that stunned against the Blue Ridge Mountains at sunset.

Both Morgan and Tommy have a love for travel which has been fundamental part of their relationship as they have spent a good portion of their time together traveling the world. Morgan wanted to incorporate travel details throughout their day.

With the help of Cody at Amore Events, unique touches were brought into the reception space to highlight the theme which included table seatings cards placed in luggage tags, tables numbered with destination images of the bride and groom at an international destination that they had travelled to together and postcards for guests to sign from all around the world.

As a photographer, it was wonderful to see how much of Tommy and Morgan’s vibrant personalities and enthusiasm for life was brought into their day. Both of them light up a room when they walk in and the energy and joy that followed them throughout their wedding was palpable. It was not only a treat to photograph such a lively couple but also to document a wedding that stepped outside of the box when it came to certain details. The Cooley’s wedding while fun and less traditional, still carried a sense of timelessness.

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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A Little Bit Classic, A Little Bit Rock n’ Roll at a Charlottesville Vineyard

Overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains, this Virginia affair planned by Alana Futcher, with florals by Mallory Joyce brings together the beauty of a classic wedding + fun pops of personality like a getaway vespa (umm the coolest!) and two stunning brides. See this celebration unfold through the lens of Michael and Carina. Plus, find even more right here!

Brianna and Emmalie have been best friends and lovers for years. They envisioned their wedding to be elegant, fun and full of laughter. It was a celebration of love and family. They said their I-dos in front of the large rolling landscape of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Charlottesville vineyards. The family-style dinner was set up around the courtyard fountain as the sun was setting. Their first dance took place outside, both brides had a bouquet toss and the getaway vespa made for the perfect ending to a perfect day!

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