Virginia Weddings

Backyard Outdoor Weddings

Settings

Styles

5 Picture-Perfect Mid-Atlantic Wedding Venues

From The Groom’s Mother… I’ve planned hundreds and hundreds of weddings—each one unique in its own way—but nothing has come close to working with a young couple when one of them, say, a particularly adorable groom, happens to be my own son. Of course, this could have been a recipe for disaster but I knew that planning with my future daughter-in-law was going to be a pleasure, not only because she happens to be a truly lovely human being, but because she’s one of those fabulous brides who gets the big picture.

Elizabeth understood that the most important thing when planning a wedding isn’t a checklist. Sure, selecting the food, the wine or the band are super important, but the primary focus should be on creating a memorable experience for your guests. She believes, as I do, that a magical wedding leaves your guests feeling like they’ve done more than gone through the motions and matrimonial rituals. Being aligned in that goal made the wedding day a wonderful experience, and perhaps more importantly made all the planning a special and, believe it or not, fun time for our family.

Pippin and Elizabeth’s wedding took place at, Elizabeth’s family’s home — which made it all the more meaningful and personal. The late afternoon ceremony was in one of the “garden rooms,” followed by cocktails in the back of the property overlooking a gorgeous rolling hillside. Then we surprised everyone by inviting our 285 (somewhat hesitant) guests onto mini coaches and whisking them up to the highest point of the farm. There they discovered our gorgeous Sperry dinner tent with 280-degree breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

La Tavola’s Blue Marrakesh cloth—an Easton Events’ favorite—was the perfect backdrop for Southern Blooms to bring Elizabeth’s vision of tailored elegance to fruition. Photographer Jose Villa captured all the magic as he always does—flawlessly. A stunning sunset was the finishing touch. Granted, I might be a bit biased, but it was MEMORABLE!

I’m not sure which was better: getting to spend 12 months planning with Elizabeth and her amazing mother Anne, or watching two of my favorite people on the planet pledge their love in front of a swooning group of family and friends. All I know is that I am one lucky and very proud mother and mother-in-law.

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Event Planning

Easton Events

View Portfolio

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Wedding Dresses

Carolina Herrera

Spring 2015

Spring 2016

View All Collections

After finding the perfect man, finding the perfect venue is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your big day. And these Mid-Atlantic beauties? They’re as perfect as it gets. Rustic, glamorous, timeless and romantic, these gorgeous venues are some of the best the East Coast (and the rest of the country) has to offer.

[dotted]

5 Picture-Perfect Mid-Atlantic Wedding Venues

Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards (shown above): Set amongst the Blue Ridge Mountains with sprawling lawns, rolling vineyard-covered hills and a rustic yet elegant event space, Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards, in Charlottesville, Virginia, is the perfect setting for your dream day. Plus, with the founder of Easton Events behind this gorgeous venue, you know any wedding here is bound to be stunning. See it here.

Evergreen Museum + Library: Baltimore’s Gilded Age mansion and adjacent Italian gardens will transport you and your guests back to a more glamorous time. The exquisite estate is classic elegance at its very best, just like every wedding that takes place here. See it here.

DAR Constitution Hall: This National Historic Landmark Building offers couples a rich history, the excitement of Washington D.C., classic Beaux-Arts architecture and countless spaces for a glamorous affair. See it here.

Frick Art + Historical Center: Beautifully landscaped gardens surround this historic Pittsburg Gilded Age mansion. With a timeless elegance and sophisticated vibe, the Frick Art + Historical Center allows couples to create the stunning wedding of their dreams. See it here.

The Biltmore Estate: Asheville’s Biltmore Estate is as close to a fairytale wedding as you can get with expansive grounds and a European-style castle all nestled into the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. See it here.

[dotted]

Photography: Josh Gruetzmacher

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Easton Events

View Portfolio

Intimate Mountain-Top Elopement

A good elopement gives me chills. They just scream romance to me. Two people running off to say I do? It’s just dreamy. So when they bring along the likes of Josh Gooden to capture the perfection on film, I get all sorts of excited. This beauty of an elopement at Broadhead Mountain Retreat will surely make you smile, and you can see even more of their oh-so-special day from Anna Reynal here.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/126495673 600 338]

Colors

Seasons

Winter Weddings

Settings

Styles

Elegant + Romantic Southern Bridal Session

From The Bride…I didn’t always think that I would want to elope. It was something that I realized a couple of years ago, but before then I imagined I would do a traditional wedding with guests, tons of flowers (give me ALL the flowers), favors, dinner, brunch, bachelorettes and the whole nine yards. With Trevor and I both working in design and at times, a tad particular about aesthetics, it became clear at some point that it would be far too easy to get off track while planning a traditional wedding. It was really important that our wedding day be about the marriage and not about the place settings or the furniture rentals. Not that it’s wrong to be excited about those things. It is exciting! I’ll be the first one to say that I love a good wedding. We just decided that simple would be best for us. The moment anything became too stressful in our planning, it pretty much went out the window. I ordered my dress online for next to nothing and opted to do my own hair and makeup so that Trevor and I could just hang out together all day and keep things low-key. Eloping also allowed us to purchase a home right away, which is something that we ultimately decided was our first priority. Beginning with the end in mind and recognizing what would bring us long-term happiness was key in making this decision. Luckily, our families were incredibly supportive of our decision. We couldn’t have done it without them!

A lot of people have asked why we chose Charlottesville. We entertained lots of ideas for the location of the ceremony but we were both really happy with where we ended up. Charlottesville is an easy, three hour drive from our home in Baltimore, so it was just far enough away to feel like we were getting out of town, but close enough that we can go back and visit for anniversaries or just when the mood strikes us! The day was exactly what we hoped it would be, and we are so grateful to have these amazing memories to reflect on for years to come.

Abby Capalbo

Design, Styling, Parties

Abby Capalbo Styling

Your wedding day is going to be one of the most special days of your life, so I’m a firm believer that you should enjoy every minute of planning your big day. That includes a beautiful bridal session like this one from Michael and Carina Photography. In the soft, subdued lighting, the lush florals from Southern Blooms look even lovelier, especially with the romantic gown and beautiful bride. After taking a peek through the gallery, you’ll be calling up your photographer to plan your own bridal session ASAP.

Colors

Seasons

Classic Weddings Romantic

Settings

Event Venue

Styles

From Michael And Carina Photography… We are sending you a beautifully styled indoor bridal session today, simple and elegant. The dreary weather that day turned out to be a blessing after all! This is the story of a bride preparing for her wedding day. Trying on the dress and the shoes for one last time before the big day is quite special. The bride’s letter to her (future) husband, her engagement ring, her shoes and a lush green bouquet added meaningful details to the clean look.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Wedding Dresses

BHLDN

Bridal 2016

Bridal 2019

View All Collections

Elegantly Rustic Virginia Wedding

What’s a couple to do when they want an intimate backyard wedding and 300 guests? This sweet Bride and Groom decided to take the party to a bigger backyard—the one at Willow Spring Farm, an antebellum estate in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Take a look at the gallery for all the little touches that kept this wedding intimate and personal.

Colors

Seasons

Outdoor Weddings Rustic Weddings

Settings

Styles

Al Fresco Classic Weddings Rustic

From Michael and Carina Photography… Aaron and Bethany’s wedding at Willow Spring Farm in the Shenandoah Valley, just west of Charlottesville, VA, was simply perfect. Just a few minutes away from where we met them for their engagement session, he didn’t know what to say when he saw her for the first time. He held her hands, admired his bride in her wedding dress, and then he embraced her under the shade of an old tree. Their ceremony was a celebration not only of their love for one another, but their profound devotion & love of God. Afterwards, we walked through the fields under the setting sun, and joined them for an evening of laughter and celebration long into the night.

From the Bride… I’d always dreamed of a sweet and intimate backyard wedding, which is a little tough to do when you’re inviting almost 300 guests. When we stumbled on the back patio of Willow Spring Farm I knew we could make our dream come true (we just had to keep our fingers crossed for blue skies). We wanted our wedding to feel like us—fun, romantic, and very personal!

From start to finish, our wedding day was absolutely perfect. We couldn’t have asked for more beautiful weather and it was amazing to watch everything we’d been planning come to life. We put our heart and soul into designing our invitations, programs, favors (sweet little sachets of lavender), and florals. I loved every moment of handpicking each flower and piecing together my beautiful bouquet. My mom made my cute little bird cage veil and I wrapped my bouquet with a swatch of lace from her wedding dress (worn first by her mom, my grandmother). I wore my grandmother’s vintage wedding rings and one of my friends made the most beautiful cakes for us (my mom handmade the little birdie toppers). They say it take a village to raise a child- well it took a village to pull off our beautiful day, and we wouldn’t have had it any other way. Friends and family pitched in left and right making the space and feelings more beautiful than we ever could have dreamed.

We let the beauty of our venue (a gorgeous pre-civil war era home) speak for itself and got married on the front steps while our loved ones filled the front yard. Our friends and family read scripture and poems and played beautiful melodies while we exchanged our vows. Our day was anchored in Jesus and the purpose of our wedding was to bring Him glory and honor. We ended our ceremony with everyone (wedding party and guests alike) holding hands- united. That was important to us- that our wedding feel like a back yard party reuniting old and new friends, family, and strangers. All of us enjoying life and celebrating this beautiful day under the blue skies and twinkling lights. We’ve never felt more loved and encouraged and must say it was the perfect start to forever.

Colorful Charlottesville Virginia Wedding

What began with a sweet Superbowl story, eventually led to the perfect proposal and one chic celebration. Add in the state that held their hearts, this lovely pair wed on a Virginia fall day surrounded by rustic chic decor and pretty pops of color. While Amore Events made sure every detail was darling – from caricatures to a sparkling exit – Laura Gordon shared it all with us, here!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/119336997 600 338]

Colors

Seasons

Winter Weddings

Settings

Styles

Rustic Tented Wedding at Fat Cat Farm

From Laura Gordon Photography… Whitney and Cameron met while living and working in Washington, DC. Whitney grew up in Michigan and moved to the area a little over six years ago for work. Cameron was born in the States but grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia and then moved to DC to pursue his career in broadcasting nearly three years ago.

From the beautiful Bride… A little over two years ago, I, like every other American (and a large population from around the world), was tuning into the single game that culminates the entire NFL season: the Super Bowl. I had planned to meet a crew of my friends to enjoy the festivities and watch the New York Giants take on the New England Patriots. When I walked in with my friend we sat down and I noticed this tall good looking guy, and I shared that sentiment with my friend. He was a reporter covering the Super Bowl by getting fan reactions to the game and half-time commercials. When he came up to our group to ask if we would be interested in giving him some sound, my group was happy to oblige. And so our story begins…I have my version (backed by several other people) and he has his version.

The gist is that he thought he would be sly and leave his tie with me, as I was telling an animated story and of course, needed a prop, and what better thing than his neck tie, right? Eventually, I would have to give it back to him or as he would tell you, he would have a reason to come talk to me again. For all those that really know me, quiet and shy are not my thing, so, in true Whitney fashion, and full sassy mode, the game ended and I walked over to return his tie and asked, “are you going to ask for my number or what?” Yes, I actually said that. And for the record we both remember that part of the story very clearly. Since then, we have been happily navigating this thing called life, together.

Our first decision was where to get married with our families spread across much of the United States and into Canada. We really debated this and finally decided that it was not fair to have one side of our family travel and not the other so we made the decision to get married where we live and met, Virginia. Pippin Hill Farm was definitely part of the inspiration of the look and feel of the wedding, as I loved all of the details and the rustic chic vibe it embodies.

I found many of the vendors through lots of research…spending hours upon hours on wedding and style blogs. Once we hired Cody, she was able to direct us to the Charlottesville vendors that best suited our vision. We had a phone call and then were off to the races getting things booked on our end and continuing to further develop and execute our vision. The one other different thing we did was had a caricature artist. We felt like photo booths had been over done and Cameron was really pushing for the caricature artist so we booked it, much to the dismay of my mom, and it ended up being a HUGE hit.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

View All Collections

Watters

Willowby Fall 2014

Watters Maids Fall 2014

Wtoo Maids Fall 2014

C20 Mothers 2012 Part I

C20 Mothers 2012 Part II

C20 Mothers Spring 2013

C20 Mothers Fall 2012

Seahorse Spring 2013

Watters Brides Fall 2014

Watters Brides Spring 2013

Watters Brides Spring 2015

Wtoo Brides Spring 2015

Willowby Spring 2015

Watters Maids Spring 2015

Wtoo Maids Spring 2015

Encore Spring 2015

Watters Brides Spring 2016

Willowby Spring 2016

Wtoo Brides Fall 2015

Willowby Fall 2015

View All Collections

BHLDN

Bridal 2016

Bridal 2019

View All Collections

I might as well just come out and say it, farmhouse weddings are my favorite. Framed with natural elements, Beehive Events dressed this duos day in rustic elegance in the form of farm tables and geode filled centerpieces. From the handmade soap favors to the hay bale portraits, every detail Jen Fariello Photography is drownright darling and you can see them all here!

Colors

Seasons

Whimsical Barn Wedding with Romantic Details

Settings

Rustic Weddings Tented

Styles

Classic Weddings Rustic

From the beautiful Bride… Andrew and I met through mutual friends in Charlottesville, Virginia while at the University of Virginia. Considering that we grew up, took our educations, and met all within a 100 mile radius, it’s a bit ironic that we ended up getting engaged in Greenland!

I work for Visit Greenland, the national tourist board of Greenland, so I am constantly traveling back and forth between Greenland and Washington, D.C. In April 2013, Andrew visited me while I was in Nuuk. He used the opportunity of being in such a beautiful and unique setting – sailing in Nuuk Fjord on a snowy day – to pop the question! Despite a proposal at the top of the world, there was no question that we would bring it back home to Charlottesville for our wedding.

The decision to have our wedding at Fat Cat Farm took all of three seconds! In fact, I used to work with Beehive Events at Fat Cat Farm – their private home/studio/gardens. The farm is very near and dear to my heart, but Shawn Marie Cossette and David Dienner even more so! Getting married at Fat Cat Farm was as close to getting married at home as I could get!

Enjoying nature and the outdoors is part of everything I do, so bringing in as many natural elements as possible to the wedding was essential. Everything from the farm tables and wooden chargers to the reindeer antlers and geodes in some of the centerpieces conveyed a love for the natural world. A neutral palette of creams and ivories, blush pinks, and sage greens woven in through the flowers and luxurious linens finished the dressed rustic look that Beehive Events has perfected.

Where to begin! Our wedding day was filled with personal elements! Our invitations were a custom letterpress design featuring a subtle bubble motif – an exact replica of the design on the first ring Andrew ever gave to me back in 2008. Just before the wedding ceremony, Andrew and I presented our mothers with matching bracelets adorned with heart charms saying the word “Mom” in many languages. They were the perfect complement to the floral bracelets they each wore.

Everyone knows the tradition of having something old, new, borrowed, and blue on wedding day, but I had never heard the “…and a six pence in your shoe!” part. Well, I was lucky enough to receive two – one from my sister-in-law and one from my Matron of Honor – so I wore one in each shoe. The imprints are still there! Speaking of shoes, my red designer peep-toe shoes from Iceland were the pièce de résistance for my otherwise classic wedding look. As a child I was attracted to any and everything red, so some things never change!

The strongest memory is absolutely being surrounded by so many family members and close friends! They came from all up and down the east coast, and even my dearest friends from Greenland made it all the way to Charlottesville just for us. Andrew’s brother is a true entertainer and a natural at the microphone, so his Best Man speech during the reception (which was actually one part toast and one part roast) was the perfect lead-in to the most fun part of the evening. I can still hear guests roaring into laughter. My father and I danced to Last Dance by Donna Summer for the father-daughter dance. What started as a slow and sweet dance soon broke into an unexpected and choreographed fast little number one might find on Dancing with the Stars! My father was beaming the whole time.

Jumping on a hay bale was so much fun! I admit I saw this one on Pinterest, but I just had to copy it. Between my photographer who made all of my photo bucket list wishes come true and Andrew who had the honor of hoisting me up onto said hay bale, I’m not sure who showed more patience. The whole affair was a crowd pleaser that no one has forgotten!

As guest favors, we gave handmade goat milk soaps in Oatmeal Honey scent by The Freckled Farm Soap Company out of Richmond, Virginia. Having been Charlottesville residents for 7 years, the localvore lifestyle is engrained in us! We wanted to give our out-of-town guests a way to take home a bit of central Virginia.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Modern Trousseau

Spring & Fall Classics

Spring 2015

Fall 2015

View All Collections

When a bride has a self-proclaimed love of gardening, you know her wedding is going to be full of vibrant blooms. Florist Nature Composed created gorgeous bouquets & centerpieces full of whimsical green ferns, white dahlia’s and bold anemones. Shot by photographer Callie Davis with Nancy Ray Photography, this gorgeous barn wedding oozes romance, while remaining effortlessly chic. See even more right here.

Colors

Seasons

Religious Institution Rustic Weddings

Settings

Styles

Classic Weddings Rustic

From Mallory Joyce… When Michelle and I first began to discuss her wedding, there were three words that kept rising to the surface: joyful, generous, and whimsical. Having known Michelle for several years as a dear friend, I was struck by the fact that these words truly describe Michelle herself. It felt natural that her wedding design should be an extension of her unique style and of her love story with longtime college sweetheart, Matthew. Michelle is a kind, giving person and our priority throughout the planning was to ensure that guests felt welcomed and treasured as well-loved company. We wanted the reception to feel like a big family gathering, so we designed long tables with a family-style dinner service. Michelle works on a farm and has had a long love affair with gardening, so we made certain the flowers were loose, whimsical, and a natural extension of the surrounding landscape. Jenn of Nature Composed even brought in a huge backdrop of greenery for the ceremony so the indoor space felt more like an intimate garden. Matthew and Michelle live in California now and the two are passionate about food and wine, so we incorporated thoughtful details like homemade jam favors for the guests and wood cutting boards as table numbers. One of our favorite parts of the wedding was when Michelle’s father surprised her and Matthew with a horse-drawn carriage to carry them to the reception! Michelle, who loves horses, was overjoyed!

Elegant Pink + Purple Wedding Inspiration at Trump Winery

A gorgeous tablescape at an elegant, modern winery; I’m already in love. But then came the ribbons and I might as well just start pinning these pics right now. As someone who may have a hoarding problem when it comes to ribbons and bows, these beauties caught my eye and added such a lovely touch to this shoot by Allison Hopperstad, styled by EightTreeStreet. See every pink, purple and gold goodie here.

Colors

Seasons

Settings

Weddings in Wineries

Styles

Classic Elegance at Trump Winery

From EightTreeStreet… There’s nothing more elegant than a traditional table decoration and a venue that is inviting, luxe and exudes tradition. We love winery weddings, and for our inspiration shoot we wanted to infuse a little bit of that old time charm, with a mixture of elegant decor and modern touches to offer a different view on decorating and designing a winery wedding. The minute we walked into Trump Winery’s Grand Hall, we were in love with the spaces and the halls. It’s a gorgeous combination of old time charm and modern decor. From beautiful chandeliers, to the charming bridal suite, this venue has everything we wanted to explore a new decor idea for winery weddings that moves away from traditional rustic looks.

Outfitted in pretty golds, pinks and touches of plum and magenta, our classic modern shoot took place at the Grand Hall at Trump Winery. The venue features a combination of contemporary design and lovely classical touches which was the most delightful inspiration for the shoot. The linens are a gorgeous combination of golden yellows, and we loved working with Wildflower Linen to design this table.

We were thrilled to be able to feature one of the gowns designed by Grace Bridal Couture in Los Angeles, a gorgeous ball gown accented by a delicate horsehair sash of encrusted rhinestones, complemented by a long and flowy veil, so feminine and delicate! Our wonderful group of talented vendors did an amazing job designing details for the shoot, and we love working with our model Elle; she embodied timeless beauty and a classic old time glamour! Since we love a new twist on favorites, we were so excited to create a cake table featuring two naked wedding cakes made out of cheesecakes, decorated with flowers, ribbons and fruit, for something a little bit different.

Even though it poured for days and the rain didn’t want to end, we enjoyed a wonderful time shooting, and we ventured outdoors to capture some of the beautiful views and the most delightful little chapel. We love a venue that features such a sweet detail, it’s own little chapel!

This Lauren Niles wedding is the perfect fusion of classic elegance and modern romance. Stripes and bow ties married to sequins and one seriously twirl-able dress, just for starters. And the day wouldn’t have been complete without the addition of luxurious white florals crafted by Hedge Fine Blooms. Get ready to pick your jaw up off the floor—this gallery from L. Hewitt Photography is incredible.

Colors

Seasons

Religious Institution Weddings in Wineries

Settings

Styles

Rustic Chic Wedding Inspiration at Verulam Farm

From Lauren Niles Events…When Monika, Baltimore blogstress of Champagne Picnic, contacted me to help her plan a destination wedding, I knew it was going to be a positively lovely, incredibly fashionable and downright fun weekend affair. I was beyond thrilled to get started!

Monika wanted to design a wedding that was classically romantic with nods to European style, but with an underlying sense of fun and whimsy. To do this, we played with bold stripes, a combination of lush and natural textures and, of course, a dash of sequins. Set against the stunning views of Trump Winery, guests lounged on linen furniture and sipped on his and hers cocktails: an Old Fashioned & a Champagne Picnic. Dinner and dancing followed, as guests enjoyed an environment of organically styled florals, a dance floor surrounded by soft drapery, a super fun, sequin adorned champagne bar and a band that had them dancing until last call. After dinner, the cocktail lounge area was transformed into a warm escape with evening winery views, a fire pit and pillows for getting cozy.

A few of our favorite details were the custom skirt we had designed for Monika from Garnish, the custom monogram by Just Ink on Paper, the adorable signage designed by the lovely sister of the bride and MOH, custom striped bowties for the incredible wait staff, the little gold footed pups that held beautifully calligraphed table numbers and the breathtaking images of the Bride & Groom at the Trump Winery Chapel by the talented Leah Hewitt.

From the beautiful Bride…Mike and I got married in Charlottesville, Virginia this past September. We met in Baltimore, but I grew up in NJ and he grew up in Florida. We are all over the map already, so when choosing a wedding destination, we didn’t have a specific place in mind. Charlottesville is beautiful, filled with dozens of wineries, history, and a charming downtown area. We discovered Trump Winery and knew it was the place we had to celebrate our wedding day. We initially wanted to have both ceremony and reception at the winery, but chose a Catholic ceremony at the University of Virginia Chapel.

I found my dress at an awesome boutique just outside of Baltimore called Garnish Boutique. We did the back and forth from one boutique to another, trying on different styles and silhouettes but I came back to Garnish, knowing I wanted to buy my dress from the lovely shop owner there, Mia. I thought I was going back in to buy one dress with a big, layered tulle skirt with horse hair trim, but there was a Theia Couture trunk show going on that weekend and we thought it would be fun to try on a few of them.

The Theia dress was a long, form fitting gown covered in crystals, embellishments, and delicate beading from top to bottom. The part that made it mine? The detachable skirt that came along with it. It was so unique and different that I knew I had to have it. The skirt was initially much more delicate and sheer but I still wanted that princessey look I was originally searching for. I had a tailor custom design the skirt into my perfect layered, billowy, tulle dream of a skirt, and my wedding dress was complete. It was the best!

I had 10 bridesmaids. I know, that is crazy, but that’s how it had to be. Mike had 9 groomsmen, so it ended up working perfectly that we had a large, fun, beautiful bridal party. I decided I didn’t want the girls in matching dresses and that they would choose their own in the neutral color scheme of golds, tans, blushes, and light greys. It ended up working perfectly and I was so happy the girls could choose their own dress for their body type, budget, and look they wanted. We got ready in matching floral rompers adorned with pom poms – they were super cute and comfy and were a bit different (and more affordable) than buying all of the girls matching robes. We had an awesome morning getting ready together, drinking mimosas and listening to music, and getting all dolled up for the day.

Both bridal parties, both sets of parents, and other friends and family members got ready at Meriweather Springs Vineyard, an estate in Charlottesville on a winery that my family stayed in during the week of the wedding. The bridesmaids and moms got ready upstairs in a large gathering room that was flooded with natural light and a beautiful backdrop of the vineyard. The groomsmen got prepped for the day downstairs, in the barrel room, equipped with a bar and ample space for them to lounge around and spend time together. I wanted to surprise Mike with a gift, even though we had said “no gifts” on the wedding day, I just had to. I always knew that I would get him a Rolex watch to surprise him with on our wedding day when he had told me a story about how his Grandfather had given him his Rolex which he had unfortunately lost and always regretted it. So, I figured it all out with the help of a friend and while he was getting ready, the Rolex was delivered to him for him to open and wear on our wedding day.

The cocktail bar had linen benches, a wooden bar, black and white striped throw pillows, trays with gold frames, candles, and matchbooks with our initials in Mr. and Mrs. glasses adorned the cocktail hour, which took place on the terrace of Trump Winery. The view was breathtaking and overlooked the entire winery, complete with lush landscape, rolling hills, lakes (that had actual swans in them!), and a colorful sunset that could have been a painting. The guests enjoyed specialty champagne and old fashioned cocktails around tables with blush silk shantung linens.

AH, the reception! My planner, Lauren, made sure that it was a huge surprise and wouldn’t let me take a peek in the days of set up prior to our wedding. I was blown away at the reveal- the lighting, the mass amounts of candlelight, the incredible drape treatment around the dance floor, the beautiful flowers by Hedge, the champagne bar with the bowl of cascading blooms I knew I had to have from the beginning- it was all more than I could have imagined. We danced all night and had the best time with all of our closest friends and family.

This is my type of farm. With rustic blooms that I dream of filling my home with and stunning sunsets at an al fresco wedding reception, I’m ready to pack my bags and move in to Verulam Farm. Katie Stoops captured every gorgeous moment of this shoot, crafted by Dickie Morris, and after oohing and aahing over these pics, I see farm weddings becoming a whole lot chicer.

Colors

Seasons

Settings

Styles

Charlottesville Engagement Session at Clifton Inn

From Katie Stoops Photography… After seeing the striking patterns of the napkins from Children Inspiring Hope, Dickie Morris of Just A Little Ditty was inspired to create a shoot that was vibrant and textural with ethereal elements. The stunning florals from Jenn Pineau of Nature Composed are the perfect example of being organic yet perfectly tailored and beyond colorful. No one should be afraid of using color because it can be done in the most beautiful way! Suz Somersall’s jewelry design gave a rich, opulent, but approachable appeal to adorning as a Bride. We used contrasting details such as soft pink Himalayan salt & dried peppercorns with a dreamy sheer vintage gown from Gossamer Vintage to create a warm, relaxed, & exciting event.

These two sweeties? Who, by the way, have turned me to mush with their cuteness. Well, they’ve got the right idea if you ask me. They planned their engagement sesh right at their wedding venue, Clifton Inn, giving them a little preview and a whole lot of excitement for their Big Day. Rachel May Photography followed their every adorable move and the resulting gallery is for lovers.

Colors

Seasons

Hotels + Resorts Weddings

Settings

Styles

Rustic Charm Pippin Hill Wedding

From the beautiful Bride…Luke and I first met in the spring of 2009 through a mutual friend one night in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I had lived in Manhattan for two years attending college and had never ventured into Brooklyn before that night. Looking back on it, I am so thankful for my decision to try something new. Upon being introduced to one another, we briefly spoke a few times as the night went on. As the weeks passed I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Our connection manifested in modern day fashion… after I found him on Facebook and we arranged to meet up again.

Our first date was under an oak tree shading the perfect spot in Central Park’s Sheep’s Meadow. Luke and I sat in the park for hours talking and completely lost track of time as we got to know each other. It was this date that started our love story.

Although we dated for over five years, Luke tells everyone he knew all along I was the one. By December 2013, Luke selected an engagement ring and asked his brother to hold onto it for safe keeping until the timing was perfect. The time was six months later when we took a last minute vacation to the Dominican Republic. Luke was so nervous that he wasted no time in popping the question as we relaxed on the beach looking over the ocean. I was so excited and surprised, so much so that I completely forgot to say yes at first. Luke slipped the ring on my finger and we finished our vacation celebrating the beginning to this new chapter in our lives.

Luke, our adorable Chiweenie puppy and I, currently reside together in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, just two blocks from where we first met. Luke recently joined New York University in their athletics department as a Facility and Events Manager and I am the Communications and Events Manager at Dylan’s Candy Bar. While Luke and I love living and working in New York City, we are always eager to go on weekend trips to explore and create memories together. Most of these trips include hiking, skiing and visiting family and friends. We discovered our wedding location, Charlottesville, Virginia, on one of these trips together. I fell in love with the absolute beauty of the area and knew this was the location I would pick when I got married. Charlottesville also happens to be the perfect mid-point between both of our families, mine mostly residing in North Carolina and his in Pennsylvania.

This engagement session was photographed by Rachel May Photography, at the Clifton Inn in Charlottesville, Virginia, on the same grounds that we will be getting married this August. Rachel was able to make Luke and I feel so comfortable being ourselves behind the camera and I believe that the images truly show both of our personalities and the love that we have within our relationship. The time that we spent during this shoot at the Clifton Inn, made us even more excited to bring together our family and friends to such a stunning destination for our wedding later this year.

Photography: Rachel May Photography | Wedding Venue: The Clifton Inn

Striking the perfect blend of Southern elegance and rustic charm, this Pippin Hill affair is wedding perfection. For one, the beauty-filled backdrop is unbeatable, but when it’s accentuated with Southern Blooms By Pat’s Floral Design, it’s simply breathtaking. Secondly, how adorable are those flower girls?! Josh Gruetzmacher has captured every moment and it’s ready for the picking, here.

Colors

Seasons

Settings

Weddings in Wineries

Styles

Virginia Countryside Wedding Inspiration

From The Bride… We were inspired by the natural beauty of our venue, Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards. We wanted to compliment the space in every way by going for an overall fresh and natural look. We felt that this also mirrored our relationship together and how natural we’ve always felt as a couple.

We focused on choosing elements that reflected our personalities and our every day life. If something wasn’t what we would put in our home, then we wouldn’t include it in our wedding. We took advice from family and friends, but made all of the major decisions together.

We included special details to pay homage to each of our families and really attached meaning to every aspect of the day and the décor.

At the very end of the night, we asked our band to play a song that both reminded us of the very beginning of our relationship, almost 8 years ago. Hearing it on our wedding night and being able to dance together knowing how things had come full circle, was very special to us. Although there were many people still around at that point we both felt like we were the only ones in the room.

Our advice would be to take your time and really focus on the details even if you think they are things no one else will notice. The small things that our closest family and friends mentioned to us were the most heartwarming. At the end of the day, what matters most is the marriage not the wedding!

We’d like to thank all of our family, friends and vendors who played a huge part in making our day so special. On such an emotional day, it was helpful to have such a large support network there to make us both feel calm and comfortable.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Sarah Seven

Signature Bridal

Gold Label

View All Collections

This photo shoot by Elisa Bricker has almost too much beauty for me to count. From the stunning organic calligraphy paper suite by Stephanie Fishwick to the rich, earthy florals from Flower Afternoon, this whole scene in the Virginia countryside, styled by the talented Mallory Joyce, has me captivated. With a gallery as full as this one, I’ll be happily pinning into the weekend ahead.

Colors

Seasons

Settings

Estate Weddings

Styles

Ralph Lauren Inspired Shoot at Mount Ida Farm

From Elisa Bricker… This basis for this inspiration shoot came from deep colors and tones – a desire to show a less traditional and earthier event. The organic free-form calligraphy paper suite pairs beautifully with the locally sourced bouquet, and is tempered by a delicate cake and table.

We are kicking off the work week with a Ralph Lauren shoot from Fête Weddings that will surely get your Monday off to the prettiest of starts. Layered with gorgeous texture and classic styling, you’ll want to pin each and every image beautifully captured by Adam Barnes – and you can do just that right here.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/93531382 600 338]

Colors

Seasons

Settings

Styles

Intimate Southern Wedding Dressed in Neutrals

From Fête Weddings…For this Ralph Lauren inspired wedding styled shoot, we wished to capture the designer’s unique talent for creating a style that looks simultaneously aristocratic and naturally elegant. Inspired by the crisp whites, dusty lilacs, powdery pinks and dove grays of Ralph Lauren’s Fall 2014 collection, the color palette set a romantic tone to complement the classic beauty of Mount Ida Farm in Charlottesville, VA. Then, to increase the drama, we added color accents of burgundy and navy and lots of texture, including plaid linens, wooden details, a long table garland, feathers, and a grand bridal bouquet of lisianthus, scabiosa and wax flowers. Paying homage to Ralph Lauren’s equestrian flair, we dressed our bride in a second look with a black blazer, top hat and riding boots to pose with her husband and the magnificent Clydesdale horses in a field overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. We sought to craft fall wedding inspiration that exudes timelessness with a touch of drama, a nod to Ralph Lauren’s iconic brand.

Let’s face it – Monday mornings don’t get a whole lot of love. But today, SMPers, that’s all about to change. You see, when Adam Barnes and Hart To Heart Media shared this classic Southern soiree set at The Clifton Inn, we knew it’d be just the thing to kick a week off right. Just A Little Ditty designed the day, Floral Images Design Studio crafted the blooms, and you can get your swoon on all morning long.

Colors

Seasons

Hotels + Resorts Weddings

Settings

Styles

Rustic, Elegant Charlottesville Barn Wedding at Verulam Farm

From The Bride…We started dating in July of 2008. We had actually met about 6 months earlier while I was still in college at the University of Richmond, through a mutual friend (and future groomsman) who I went to college with and who grew up with Chris, but it wasn’t until I had graduated and decided to stay in Richmond that we met again playing on the same intramural kickball team. Chris asked me to go out to dinner one night and as they say, the rest is history. Four and a half years later, Chris proposed to me while we were at my parents house in Wintergreen, VA. After multiple vacations, birthdays and Christmases together, I never expected him to pick a random Saturday night in Wintergreen to propose, so it was an amazing surprise.

We had known we’d have our wedding somewhere around Charlottesville or Wintergreen, as it was a central destination for most of our guests, with us and so many others coming from Richmond. Chris is from Lexington, VA and my parents spend half the year in Wintergreen, so it just made perfect sense. Finding our venue was more stressful than I would have imagined – I knew Charlottesville was a popular wedding destination, but I didn’t realize just how popular it had become until I started calling various venues around the area and found out almost all were booked solid well over a year in advance. We had heard about The Clifton Inn from my sister – it was actually one of the places she had originally suggested Chris take me to the weekend he was going to propose. As soon as I started looking into it, I knew we needed to visit, and when we found out they only had two weekends available that Fall, we immediately scheduled a visit and booked it the following day.

Our favorite thing about Clifton was that it really feels like a home. We loved that we had free reign over the entire property and that our family and close friends in our wedding party could stay there with us the entire weekend and not have to worry about running from venue to venue all weekend. Once everyone arrived Friday we were there to stay.

There are two things from our wedding day we’ve said we got really lucky with. The first was the weather! We knew we’d be risking cold weather when we picked late October, and leading up to it I was so nervous it’d be too cold to have an outdoor ceremony and cocktail reception on the front lawn. Luckily the weather cooperated as best it could – it was sunny and clear all day and even though it was chilly, at the advice of Maureen and Dickie earlier in the week, we had heaters and blankets set out for our guests to use during the ceremony and cocktails so everyone could stay warm.

The second was the band – they were amazing! From the beginning of the wedding planning process, the most important thing for us as far as the reception went was that we wanted everyone to have fun and we knew we wanted everyone, ourselves included, to be out on the dance floor for as long as possible. As soon as the band started playing, we danced pretty much the entire night surrounded by our family and friends.

When I saw the guests stand up as my dad and I were coming around the house to walk down the aisle was really a “wow moment”. Because Chris and I had done a first look, I wasn’t nervous and was very relaxed the entire time leading up to the ceremony, but seeing all of family and friends at that moment it hit me how momentous this was. It’s such a rush of emotions seeing everyone you love there to celebrate the two of you and it’s such a wonderful memory.

“Rustic chic” was the term that came to mind the first time we met with Dickie and Maureen at Clifton to begin going through all the details. I knew I wanted our wedding to feel very easygoing, not casual by any means but not stuffy or over the top, and I wanted to incorporate the relaxed nature of Clifton. It was really important to both of us for everyone to have fun and I think the decor and design reflected that relaxed natural atmosphere, particularly the farm tables and plantation bar. The color scheme was very neutral – lots of whites and tans – with pops of greenery from the flowers. We had handwritten chalkboard menus set up along the dinner stations and candles and lights everywhere.

My favorite fashion detail of the day was actually my engagement ring. The main diamond of my engagement ring was taken from my mother’s engagement ring. She passed away when I was five years old, and having her diamond has been so special for me and was even more so the day of, as it is a piece of her that got to be there with me. I also loved everything about my dress. I absolutely loved the lace details and it was so comfortable and easy to wear – I didn’t want to take it off!

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Modern Trousseau

Spring & Fall Classics

Spring 2015

Fall 2015

View All Collections

I’m pretty sure my jaw dropped on my desk the second I opened these gorgeous images from Meg Runion Studios, because they are a dream. This gorgeous Bride is simply a vision, and her timeless farm wedding with the perfect touch of elegance designed by Events By Reagan will surely stick in my mind for some time. Not that I am complaining.

Colors

Seasons

Religious Institution Rustic Weddings

Settings

Styles

Botanical Inspired Wedding in Charlottesville, VA at the Clifton Inn

From Events By Reagan…The focus of Erin and Geoff’s wedding was family and Erin wished to showcase where her roots were. The couple married at the church where the bride was baptized, Holy Comforter Catholic Church, and the reception was held five minutes from the bride’s childhood home in an old hay barn on Verulam Farm, a privately owned estate that has recently opened its doors to events. The décor was inspired by the décor in her mother’s home and many decorative items were pulled directly from there, including the rugs, antique horn cups, and an antique leather topped table. The bride memorialized the groom’s late mother by wrapping her bouquet in lace from his mother’s own wedding gown while the groom honored his mother by placing a single rose on the pew where she would have been seated as he processed into the church.

We emphasized the juxtaposition of the rustic barn and Erin’s classic lace Romona Keveza gown with the combination of soft, romantic white flowers with earthy colored hydrangea, ivory draping with floral tie backs at the barn entrance, and an enchanting billowing “drape” of twinkle lights that was suspended over the dance floor. A 24 foot white-washed bar anchored the room and served as a stunning focal point where guests enjoyed signature bourbon cocktails. Cascading down the cake was a mixture of roses and hydrangea with lamb’s ear, which added a velvety texture and richness to the messy buttercream icing.

Catered by A Pimento Catering, guests enjoyed a traditional Southern stationed dinner of family favorites: fried oysters, esquites, fried chicken, and bourbon cocktails to name a few. The energy of the band, Attraction, kept guests on the dance floor all evening until the couple departed with a romantic rainy sparkler send off. The night was purely magical!

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Amsale

Amsale Bridesmaids Fall 2014

Amsale Bridesmaids Spring 2014

Additional Styles by Amsale

Amsale Bridal Fall 2014

Amsale Bridal Spring 2015

Amsale Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Amsale Bridal Blue Label

Amsale Bridal Spring 2016

Amsale Bridal Fall 2016

Amsale Bridal Spring 2018

Amsale Bridal Fall 2018

Amsale Bridesmaids

View All Collections

Romona Keveza

Romona Keveza Luxe Bridal

Romona Keveza Luxe Bridal Fall 2016

Romona Keveza Bridal Fall 2017

Romona Keveza Collection Bridal Spring 2017

Romona Keveza Collection Bridal Fall 2019

ROMONA New York

View All Collections

Florals rank high among my favorite things, so a wedding inspired by beautiful blooms? Well, that’s basically my dream come true. FloraCulture made sure to fill every corner with the prettiest of petals, leaving this couple with a day so lovely I am sure they are still dreaming of it. Lucky for all of us, Love By Serena was behind the lens to capture every beautiful moment in a way that will make your heart sing, and you can see them all here.

Colors

Seasons

Hotels + Resorts Weddings

Settings

Styles

Charlottesville Cider Farm Wedding

From Love By Serena…I had the absolute pleasure of photographing Whitney & Jeff’s beautiful summer wedding at the The Clifton Inn. The two of them live in the Washington DC area and chose Charlottesville, VA for its sweet charm. Whitney loves all things Anthropologie, so it was only natural that the bridesmaids would wear dresses from BHLDN. Their special day included vintage, botanical details to match the lovely look of the outdoor gardens, live music for guests to dance the night away to, and a beautiful wish lantern send-off. A snippet about their relationship, from the couple…Jeff and Whitney met in North Carolina while Jeff was stationed at Camp Lejeune and Whitney was working with military families on base. Their first date was at a quaint seafood restaurant on Emerald Isle. Jeff had just totaled his car the week before and so showed up on one of his motorcycles. During dinner, they couldn’t stop staring at each other – they were both so excited and a little nervous at the same time. After dinner they went for a walk on the beach and fireworks went off! It was a completely magical setting (that Jeff will try and convince you was planned) for their first kiss. Jeff and Whitney had many dates and long walks on the beach in Surf City and Emerald Isle before Jeff left for his second deployment. While it was scheduled for June, Jeff had to abruptly depart in March. It was hard on Whitney, who soon created a visual for how many days had passed without Jeff and how many days were left. It was a rather depressing number at first, but as the summer approached and the weather grew warmer and beach walks became more frequent, Whitney started collecting beach rocks. She put them in a giant vase in the kitchen – one rock for each day Jeff and Whitney spent apart. She needed 324 rocks for the true countdown… After many, many emails, walkie-talkie phone calls, baked goods packages, and many rocks in the vase (about eleven-ish months later), Jeff returned. After taking a small tour of the East Coast, visiting family and friends, life began to settle down a bit for Jeff and Whitney and old routines fell back into place. One particularly windy day after returning from Chapel Hill to visit Jeff’s mom and stepdad, Jeff asked Whitney to take a walk on the beach. “It’s been a long time since we’ve had a walk on the beach together and you haven’t finished your rock collection yet.” Despite the March chilliness, Whitney agreed, and they set off on their sunset walk. Jeff prompted Whitney (who was cold and hugging Jeff for most of the walk) to continue to pick up her rocks. She was too cold and suggested that they should walk back and somehow got ahead of him a bit. He continued to talk about the rocks and then paid special attention to one in particular. “Hey how about this one, hun?” he said. When she turned around, Jeff was on one knee holding a beautifully sparkling diamond ring. She was speechless for a good ten seconds, which seemed like an eternity for someone (Jeff) proposing marriage to someone. Her first response: “Oh, shut up!” (not what Jeff was expecting), was followed by a series of yeses (exactly what he was hoping)!

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Wedding Dresses

Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

View All Collections

Wedding Dresses

Tara Keely

Fall 2016 Collection

Spring 2017 Collection

Fall 2017 Collection

Spring 2018 Collection

View All Collections

Wedding Dresses

BHLDN

Bridal 2016

Bridal 2019

View All Collections

What happens when you take a rustic farm wedding and add a little Middle Eastern infusion? Sit tight m’dears, because you’re about to find out. Think Southern elegance with oh-so-sutble cultural nods woven in along the way. Beehive Events designed the florals, Jen Fariello snapped the pretty, and there’s even more to swoon sitting pretty right here.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/87996864 600 338]

Colors

Seasons

Settings

Styles

Laid Back Glamour in Charlottesville, Virginia

From the Bride… My husband, Ammar, and I were both medical interns, he in Oral and Facial surgery, and I in Obstetrics and Gynecology, in June of 2010 when we first met. We both worked intense hours in the hospital, and thought that it would be absolutely impossible to meet anyone special given those circumstances. However, one late Friday night we crossed paths while working in the Emergency Room. There was an immediate chemistry and after that, it was all history. The only major hurdle was that I was a blonde American, and Ammar was from a long line of Middle Eastern ancestors – would they accept me and my family, and would my family, in turn, accept Ammar and his family into their lives?

Amazingly, it all went swellingly well. We were engaged several months later in Charlottesville, Virginia at Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson. Ammar proposed on the front lawn of Monticello after a fresh snowfall, and it was absolutely magical. We have a mutual love for the Charlottesville area as we both attended the University of Virginia as undergraduates, and we return frequently to enjoy hiking in the Blue Ridge mountains, touring cideries and wineries, and attending college football games with family. We drove back to nearby Richmond, Virginia, where we were now Chief Residents in our respective fields, and immediately started planning our Charlottesville wedding.

We love the outdoors and Virginia history, and wanted a wedding venue that would showcase both of these. We toured many of the area’s wineries and cideries and ultimately fell in love with the beautiful Castle Hill Cider, which is situated on the Castle Hill Plantation in Keswick, Virginia. We loved the rustic feel of the venue, and it’s simple and beautiful setting beneath the Blue Ridge mountains. Our wedding took place in July, and we wanted our colors, pewter, rose, and soft coral, to be subtle and beautiful, not taking away from the beauty of the natural surroundings and fitting well with our vintage, rustic/chic style.

It was very important for us to incorporate both of our cultures in the wedding. We had a traditional Arabic ceremony on Friday night, just before our rehearsal dinner where we sat at an Arabic sofrah table, adorned with items that represented wishes for a happy, healthy, loving marriage and life together. We feasted over a traditional Middle Eastern dinner while a musician played live music with an oud. After dinner, the women enjoyed a traditional henna ceremony. Our wedding at Castle Hill Cider was more classically American, though we wrote our own wedding ceremony and vows, incorporating readings from both the Bible and the Qur’an as well as poetry that was sentimental to both of us. We were married under the shade of the linden trees, where hanging vases of fresh flowers blew gently in the Summer breeze. The cocktail hour took place in the linden grove, and then the guests proceeded into the barn.

After dinner and some dancing, a belly dancer appeared and performed a sword dance as well as traditional dance. Wedding cake was served along side an assortment of Middle Eastern pastries. We gave guests traditional packages of Jordan almonds, packaged in parcels of seven pieces to represent good luck for the newly married couple. We finished off the evening with a traditional Arabic dabke dance and a sparkler exit – we drove off in white 1940 Packard limousine and had a beautiful ride through the Virginia countryside with the windows rolled down and the sweet smell of blooming honeysuckle blowing through our hair. The night would not have been complete without kissing Thomas Jefferson’s statue at the University of Virginia Rotunda.

[dotted]

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Wedding Dresses

BHLDN

Bridal 2016

Bridal 2019

View All Collections

Unexpected glamour is quickly becoming my new favorite design element. From a stunning glittering gown paired with a barn shindig to sequin chevron runners tucked inside a laid back beauty like this Charlottesville wedding. Designed by Amore Events By Cody along with too many pretty images to count by Laura Gordon Photography, this is a wedding that pairs glittering details with scrumptious donuts and we couldn’t love it more.

[iframe //player.vimeo.com/video/94692419 600 338]

Colors

Seasons

Spring Weddings

Settings

Weddings in Wineries

Styles