Virginia Weddings

Laura Gordon is one of those photographers who can do no wrong. She’s a rising star of the wedding world, and when she sent over these Charlottesville nuptials complete with gold sequin table runners and rich pops of pink…we couldn’t get it up here fast enough. Amore Events By Cody designed the whole southern glam shebang, and the images below are only the beginning.

From Laura Gordon… Saguna and Dan’s wedding day started at the beautiful University of Virginia Chapel where they stood in front of their most beloved friends and family and devoted their lives to each other. From there, the whole party headed toward the mountains to King Family Vineyards, where they gathered to celebrate the beautiful couple.

The gold sequined chevron runners adorned all of the tables inspired Saguna and Dan’s entire day. Keeping the runners as the focal point, we accented the reception tables with beautiful gold-rimmed china accompanied by pale gold flatware, gold tulip candle holders, and overflowing lush floral arrangements. There were also personal elements sprinkled throughout that really made this day theirs. From the family pictures garnishing the hutch, to the hand-made cork escort card holders, the stunning traditional Thai dress, the scotch bar at the fire-pit, and a UVA Rotunda-shaped wedding cake to honor where they met, this wedding was tailored perfectly for them.

The entire wedding, from the beautiful chapel ceremony to the magical sparkler exit, was breathtakingly romantic. It really was a fairytale wedding to match a storybook romance.

Photography: Laura Gordon Photography | Event Design: Amore Events by Cody | Floral Design: Amore Events by Cody | Wedding Dress: Paloma Blanca | Ceremony Venue: UVA Chapel | Reception Venue: King Family Vineyards | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: BBQ Exchange | Calligraphy: Joie De Vivre Calligraphy | Cake & Cupcakes: Sweethaus | Groom's Tuxedo: Bryn Keith | Rentals: MS Events

A late Summer Harvest Feast. I’m pretty sure those are the best five words on the planet. Complete with friends, wine and good good food. And of course, styled as beautifully as this celebration held by Lynn of Easton Events at her gorgeous winery. While we’ve included some pretty spectacular pics from Tec Pateja, make sure to spend some time in the gallery for so much more.

From Lynn of Easton Events…When Tec Petaja came to Charlottesville to shoot a wedding for us at Easton we decided that having Tec in town was the perfect opportunity to gather some of the East Coast’s best and brightest photographers to join us for a late summer feast on the verandah at Pippin Hill. This was our way of thanking our photographers for all of their hard work throughout the year and always making us look so good.

We were thrilled to have not only Tec Petaja, Belathee, Landon Jacob, Trent Bailey, Kate Headley, Patricia Lyons join us ….but also our favorite locals such as Eric Kelley, Elisa Bricker, Jen Fariello just to name a few. We asked everyone one to bring a guest so it was a lively group that settled in together for a lovely dinner on the Verandah.

We worked with Shawn Cossette of Beehive Events to come up with a fresh late summer table scape that was inspired by our setting on the verandah and the lovely blue hues of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

From Shawn of Beehive Events...The long wood tables, hand crafted and finished with a natural Nordic white wax are set with Tuscan cross back chairs. The tables are dressed in a navy blue linen runner. The arrangements and botanical elements are crafted in Turkish copper urns and white ceramic vases and vessels – the arrangements are created with a simple hand with no more than 3 botanical elements in a single container and only one gorgeous garden rose “sunset” used throughout – a somewhat spontaneous, effortless look, combining scented geranium, rosemary, olive, basil, porcelain vine, china berry, persimmons, cotoneaster and orchard picked pears.

Antlers are a reminder of the wildlife that inhabits the area. We also incorporated an abundance of candlelight from etched glass hurricanes with a wonderful bee motif, to old world glass votives as well as serene gray blue honeycomb candleholders. The place setting consist of an organic shaped wood charger with a navy blue and natural flax ticking linen napkin that is ornamented with a rosemary rosehip bouquet garnis tied with an attached birch veneer place card with names hand stamped by the Easton team.

Photography: Jen Fariello Photography | Photography: Belathée Photography | Event Planning: Easton Events | Venues: Pippin Hill Farm

When Wayne got deployed 9 months before the wedding, Christina was left to plan their dream day on her own. But with Blue Ridge Floral Design and Amore Events By Cody by her side, every detail turned out as perfect as they’d both imagined – plus then some. It’s a day that’s equally as sweet as their story and you can see it all through Aaron Watson’s lens right over here. Congrats, lovelies!

From Aaron Watson Photography… For some couples, time is of the essence when it comes to planning their wedding details. This was especially the case for Christina and Wayne who were simultaneously preparing for their “I do’s” along with Wayne’s nine month deployment.

Christina and Wayne wanted to create an atmosphere that was pure celebration from beginning to end. The sun kissed skies and rolling mountains of Pippin Hill Farm ended up serving as the idyllic location to complement their fairytale, rustic theme.

Just before he deployed, Wayne suggested sage as the perfect pop of color to accent the buttercream palette his bride-to-be adored. While she loved this idea, she also added deep violet hues to the mix after her flower girl selected a purple tutu as her dress. These shades worked together perfectly, and also served as inspiration for much of the DIY décor.

After months of separation, it’s no surprise that Christina and Wayne’s favorite memory was Christina’s emotional walk down the aisle. It was this moment where time finally froze and they were able to immerse themselves in all of the love that surrounded them.

Photography: Aaron Watson Photography | Wedding Coordinator: Amore Events by Cody | Floral Design: Blue Ridge Floral | Wedding Cake: Cakes Unlimited | Bridesmaids Dresses: Weddington Way | Caterer: Pippin Hill Farm | Lighting: Skyline Tent Company | DJ: Derek Tobler | Groomsmen Attire: Jos. A. Bank | Officiant: Evelyn Mitchell | Venue: Pippin Hill Farm | Bridal Gown Designer: Monique Lhuillier | Bridal Salon: Carine's Bridal Atelier | Hair And Makeup Artist: Charlottesville Makeup Artist | Invitations And Programs: Etsy

Nothing screams romance like a blush pink wedding palette. Equal parts soft and sweet, it’s the loveliest hue for an alfresco “I do” and this Keswick Hall affair is the perfect example. Southern Blooms made certain no dahlia or rose was left out of place, and Jen Fariello caught the whole day in gorgeous fashion. Ready for more? It’s sitting pretty right over here.

From the Bride… The overall vision was understated elegance with a romantic, European feel and many personalization’s. The color palette was shades of blush, ivory, silver and a touch of coral and sea spray. Visual details included a large gilded mirror with over the bar at cocktail hour listing the beverages and specialty drinks offered. The brides’ family’s teacups were displayed throughout the cocktail hour and reception, each holding floral arrangements or lavender. The dinner was held under a clear Navitrac tent on Keswick Hall’s patio.

The tent was decorated with bistro lights to give an elegant feel. The centerpiece of the tent was a 40-foot head table where close family members and the wedding party sat. The table was draped with a 40 foot, velvet and stenciled damask table runner, which was envisioned by Shindig Events and stenciled and made by the bride and her Dad. The linen for the head table was champagne. In addition, the table was interspersed with the bride’s family’s teacups, silver candelabras and mercury glass containers holding low lush floral arrangements.

The guest’s tables were a mixture of sea spray and champagne colored linens, interspersed with silver candelabras, mercury glass votives and low lush arrangements in both mercury glass and mint julep cups. Each place setting was antique china on a brass rope charger decorated with a sprig of lavender. Each place setting held a menu, which also served as a place card, designed by Tucked Letterpress. Each menu had a custom-made wax seal of the bride and grooms first initial.

Much of the wedding revolved around family. Alex and her Dad have always enjoyed doing projects together. From day one, Alex had envisioned a long head table at the reception with a very long table runner. With the help of a design envisioned by Shindig Events Alex and her Dad crafted a hand stenciled a 40-foot long table runner that was displayed on the head table at the reception. In addition to the table runner, the whole family helped to make the wedding guest’s favor. The favor was a small jar of local honey, which was bottled by the groom and the bride’s dad. Alex’s mom cut the lace fabric on the honey and her sister tied the bows.

A theme of family dogs was incorporated into the evening with table numbers and escort cards. Each guest was seated at a different dog’s table, with Alex and Braden’s French Bulldog, Roman, of course being the head table. Dogs have been such a huge part of both of their lives that it was important that we included them in our wedding day.

Alex and her mother have been collecting teacups for many years. These teacups held floral arrangements and lavender throughout the cocktail reception and on the head table.

Alex carried a clutch of her mother’s, which was a gift from her mother when she was 16 years old. Inside her wedding dress, Alex’s dad placed a blue handkerchief that was once his mothers. Alex also wore the same veil that her sister wore in her wedding. Braden was given his grandfather’s ring, engraved with his grandmother and grandfather’s wedding date and initials as well as our initials as his wedding band.

Photography: Jen Fariello Photography | Event Design: Shindig Weddings And Events | Floral Design: Southern Blooms | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Maliha Creations | Invitations: Tucked | Ceremony Venue: Grace Episcopal Church | Reception Venue: Keswick Hall | Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale | Hair & Makeup: Jeanne Cusick | Tent: Skyline Tent Company | Rentals: Festive Fare | Video: Humble Down Productions

When the clear tent came on the scene a few years ago, outdoor loving brides like myself rejoiced and you’re about to see why. How else can you create a (weather-proof) cozy atmosphere that only the marquee can provide, but see the beautiful night stars as you dance the night away with your love? Aaron Watson Photography, Hedge Fine Blooms and this stunning couple are here to say it’s possible… and it’s beautiful.

From Aaron Watson Photography… Pae and Seth envisioned a weekend full of celebrating their marriage with friends and relatives. Venturing off to Charlottesville for a weekend getaway created a “destination” atmosphere even though it was only an hour away from their home. For as long as she could remember, Pae dreamed of having an outdoor wedding surrounded by the beautiful nature, scent of fresh flowers and country air. With combination of the Blue Ridge Mountain hills, a backdrop of the grand estate and a lovely summer climate, made the Keswick Hall a perfect venue for this couple.

Out of town guests were greeted with Southern hospitality as the bride and groom arranged personalized gift bags filled with maps, area attractions, a weekend itinerary and local goodies. Each day, guests gathered and enjoyed organized socials and events put on by Pae and Seth, but the real thrill of the weekend was their wedding day.

Their romantic and lighthearted wedding ceremony kicked off in the evening on the lawn of Keswick Hall. Their special night continued with dinner in a tent under the stars serving Pae and Seth’s favorite southern comfort foods, followed by guests dancing the night away. To top off their perfect night, the couple surprised everyone with a fireworks display after cutting the cake and champagne toast.

Their wedding had several unique DIY touches such as their wine bottle table numbers and their “Truffles for a Cause” wedding favors donating to charities of their choice (they chose the Richmond SPCA and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital). For Pae, there were countless precious moments of the day making it difficult to narrow down to one favorite memory. However, she will always cherish the moment before walking down the aisle, taking everything in and realizing how happy she was to marry her best friend. Both Pae and Seth were all smiles when they were officially introduced as Dr. and Mrs. Cheatham for the first time.

Photography: Aaron Watson Photography | Wedding Planner: Adam Donovan-Groves | Floral Design: Hedge Fine Blooms | Wedding Gown: Tiffany's Bridal | Reception Venue: Keswick Hall | Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew | Hair & Makeup: Jeanne Cusick | DJ: JG Entertaiment | Favors: Truffles For A Cause | Groom's Attire: Armani | Officiant: Rev. Claire Goodman, Interfaith Minister - Sacred Ground Ceremonies | Bridal Gown Designer: Essense of Australia | Fireworks: Dominion Fireworks | Invitations and Programs: Paper on the Avenue | Lighting/Tent: Skyline Tent Company | Rentals: Festive Fare

We know the beauty of a barn wedding like the back of our hands; the approachable design mingled with a weathered backdrop. But what we don’t come across too often is a barn wedding gone classic. With all white blooms by Blue Ridge Floral and a decidedly formal twist, this Virginia affair is proving that barn doesn’t necessarily mean rustic. See even more captured by Lauryn Galloway in the full gallery .

The entire day was Classic Virginia! The Bride and Groom had their ceremony at the Chapel at UVA, their Alma Mater. The Bride chose shades of blue for the Bridesmaids to wear that complimented the Oranges and Yellows of the leaves so well. The Reception was at the Barn at Verulam Farm. All the flowers were gorgeous creams, whites and greens.

One of the most special parts of the day was the Bride’s veil that her Grandmother purchased in France and worn by her and the Bride’s mother on their wedding days as well. It was stunning!

Frances is from Alabama, and Andrew is from Virginia. I love how they honored both states with their Cake Topper!

Photography: Lauryn Galloway | Floral Design: Blue Ridge Floral | Dress: West Main Bridal | Ceremony: UVA Chapel | Reception: Verulam Farm | Catering: Harvest Moon Catering | Hair: Moxie Salon | Mens Attire: Mount Tabor Park | Dessert: Carpe Donut | Music: Amaretto

In another life, Jen Fariello is 100% going to be my wedding photographer, and if you don’t already know why, you’re about to see visual evidence of my decision. Every wedding she captures with her beautiful eye is brilliant, and this one doesn’t disappoint in the least, but really with the bride being part of Southern Blooms by Pat’s Flower Designs, we knew it wouldn’t.

From the beautiful bride… Bryan proposed six months after our first blind date on July 15, 2012 during a baseball game. He asked a friend who pilots antique airplanes to fly over the field with a banner: ‘Lindsay will you marry me?’ Turns out everyone at the game knew about it (but me!) and both of our parents were there to celebrate. It was such a special day!

Bryan and I knew we wanted to be married outside with a backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains so my dad suggested visiting a friend’s farm, and we knew right away that it was the perfect spot! We were drawn to the wide open space and the panoramic view of the mountains.

We are both attracted to things that are vintage, rusty, and weathered so we knew that incorporating family heirlooms, antique containers, and eclectic furniture was a must. I am blessed to work for such an amazing design company whose owners have a great eye for detail and an unbelievable collection of everything from lanterns to the spectacular arbor they constructed of old windows salvaged from a barn in Pennsylvania.

Bryan’s bout included a fishing fly and his old baseball glove was used as the ring pillow. The bridesmaids were transported to the ceremony site via hay wagon and an antique tractor, a nod to my family’s farming roots.

We used my great grandparent’s china on the head table, my dad’s homegrown sorghum syrup as favors, and Bryan’s mother’s cranberry glassware for the bride and groom. Adding to the sense of family we are blessed to call all of our vendors, who worked so hard making our day seamless and perfect, our friends. My father works for Mill Valley BBQ who provided the delicious southern-infused meal, Shindig’s seriously talented and organized Meghan Streit was my Young Life leader in high school, our dear friend Tod baked the wedding cake, and Bryan’s childhood minister presided over the ceremony. We were honored to have the stunning flowers provided by Southern Bloom’s skillful crew and knew without a doubt that our photos taken by Jen Fariello would be gorgeous reminders of this, the most important day of our lives. Inspired by the rich and vibrant colors of fall in Virginia, we decided on the combination of peach, copper, crimson, and plum and loved the idea of using local foliage and flowers in the bouquets and decor.

Vivid memories and favorite photos: Riding in the 1949 Ford truck to the ceremony. Seeing Bryan for the first time while walking down the aisle and not realizing how fast I was moving until my dad whispered “slow down!” The surprise petal toss as we exited the ceremony. Our first dance and looking out at all of the people that we love in one space – this was an incredible feeling. Seeing our parents smiling faces, none of this would have been possible without their love and support. The moment the sun broke through the clouds after the ceremony. Looking across the field after dark and seeing the illuminated cross. The sparkler exit and leaving on the old hay wagon only to find our Jeep completely and thoroughly decorated.

Photography: Jen Fariello Photography | Event Design: Shindig Weddings And Events | Floral Design: Southern Blooms | Wedding Dress: David's Bridal | Cake: Tod Dodson | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Makeup: Kara Spangler Of Studio 500 | Hair: Gena Mills Of At Last Salon | Venue: Buckner Farm | Rentals: Festive Fare | Sperry Tent + Lighting: Skyline Tent Company

When Jen Fariello and Pat’s Floral Designs join forces, seriously gorgeous things unfold. Just take this Pollak Vineyards soiree, for example. It’s the prettiest blend of Southern elegance and scenic beauty all wrapped up in one perfect summer day. Want to keep the pinning party going? We’ve got sooooo much more sitting right here.

From the Bride… Sam and I met on match.com. We initially told our parents an alternate “how we met” story, but ended up fessing up eventually! At the time, he was stationed at Fort Benning in Columbus, GA and I was in medical school in Atlanta. We met at a tavern in Atlanta for drinks before going out to Braves game with a couple of his friends. The night continued with dinner, drinks and finally blueberry white chocolate chip pancakes at 2AM. Later, we figured out that neither of us was actually hungry for pancakes at the time, but we were just having so much fun that we didn’t want the night to end! Sam was eventually re-stationed to North Carolina, and I came along later for residency.

We love hiking, camping and enjoying the outdoors any way we can, so we try to spend as much time as possible at my family’s home in the Blue Ridge Mountains outside Charlottesville. On July 4, we drove up to the top of the mountain to grill out and to watch fireworks. During the grand finale of the fireworks, he proposed to me with a beautiful ring that he had designed himself with the help of his hometown jeweler. It was the same spot where exactly one year earlier he first told me he loved me. The whole thing was pretty perfect!

We love the Blue Ridge Mountains—it’s where we fell in love and got engaged—so naturally we wanted to share this with our family and friends. Pollak is one of our favorite wineries in the area. Their wines are really top notch and the setting is just lovely.

One of our main goals was just to highlight the natural beauty of the mountains and Virginia wine country. We tried to do this by selecting a neutral color palate and by incorporating local elements whenever possible.

Designing our own ceremony turned out to be a daunting but very rewarding process. We were able to weave in important traditions while making sure it was personal and meaningful to us. Sam and I love crosswords, so we designed our own crossword puzzle and incorporated it into our program as a way to entertain guests while they were waiting for the ceremony to begin. There were some wedding-themed clues as well as trivia about us. It turned out to be a big hit!

Sam is from Maine and I’m from Virginia, and we tried to incorporate things from both our hometowns to make the celebration more personal. We called our signature drink the “Maine Virginian”, as it featured blueberry vodka from Sam’s hometown of Freeport, ME and locally grown strawberries from Albemarle county. We also had a selection of local beer and cider as well as some of Sam’s favorites from Maine.

Our welcome bags were one of my favorite touches. Almost all of our guests were coming from out of state, so we really wanted to express how grateful we were to have them there. We bottled homemade limoncello, my mother-in-law made small balsam pillows, and my mom made everyone her famous shortbread cookies.

In addition to a traditional guest book, we had a time capsule where guests could leave notes for us to open on our 5 year anniversary. For favors, I made blueberry white chocolate chocolate chip pancake mixes for our guests to take home. We devoured these on our first date, so we thought it would be fitting to offer these to our guests as well!

My favorite photo was taken during our last dance of the night. By that time, my hair was falling down and Sam had taken off his jacket and loosened his tie. We didn’t care. We were just so happy! Exhausted too, but so happy to be married and surrounded by everyone we love. Every time I look at that picture, wonderful memories from that amazing day come flooding back.

Sam is in the military, so we’ve had to spend the majority of our first year of marriage apart. Having photos like this makes me feel like I am with him even when he is on the other side of the world.

Photography: Jen Fariello Photography | Event Planning: Shindig Weddings And Events | Floral Design: Southern Blooms | Wedding Dress: Junko Yoshioka | Cake: Maliha Creations | Invitations: Think Rock Paper Scissors | Ceremony Venue: Pollak Vineyards | Reception Venue: Pollak Vineyards | Bridesmaids Dresses: Adrianna Papell | Catering: Harvest Moon Catering | Calligraphy: If So Inklined | Tent Rental: Sperry Tents Virginia | Bridesmaid Gifts: Just A Little Ditty | D J: Ran Henry | Hair & Make-up: Jeanne Cusick

There are few things better than girl time and tea. And when it happens to take place amongst the one wildly gorgeous tablescape, blush watercolor details, pretty gems from Kira Kira and a bounty of tastefully styled blooms? All the better. Mallory Joyce brought this bridesmaids’ soiree to life, and Elisa Bricker + Shaking Hands Productions captured to perfection. Get your peek right over here.

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From Elisa Bricker… Inspired by the cold chill of winter and the comfort of warm tea and warmer conversation, we designed a space for a girl to gather with her bridesmaids, to play dress up, to adorn herself with jewels, to indulge in some earl grey and cakes. A collection of heirloom china from early 20th century English and French artisans paired with feminine watercolors and lush blooms created an inviting tablescape to sit and linger with friends.

Vintage pieces from the jeweler’s family collection were used on the table including sterling silver flatware in a Gurham pattern called Buckingham 1910, English bone china in a pattern called “Commodore” by Minton, and crystal Waterford glasses.

Photography: Elisa Bricker | Videography: Shaking Hands Productions | Floral Design: Mallory Joyce | Reception Venue: Trump Winery | Jewelry: KiraKira by Suz Somersall | Hair And Makeup: Lora Kelley | China / Flatware / Crystal: Kira Kira | Creative Direction: Mallory Joyce | Dresses: Bella Rosa Bridal | Linen: Festive Fare | Paper Suite And Calligraphy: Stephanie Fishwick | Roses: Fifty Flowers | Sweets: Sweethaus

A fairytale romance deserves a fairytale wedding and this, loves, is both.  A stunning American bride, her dapper English groom and a traditional meets awesome affair that will leave you speechless.  Think a breathtaking Vera Wang gown, a beautiful Keswick Hall setting and teal blue hues that are all kinds of pretty.  See it all captured by the amazing Jen Fariello in the full gallery.

And a beautiful film from Shaking Hands Productions?  Yes, please.

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From Jen Fariello Photography… Ronda and Hugo met during a random chance encounter when Ronda was visiting an American friend who had relocated to London, England. It turned out that Ronda’s friend and Hugo share mutual friends in the UK, so a conversation was struck up. A few days later, Ronda returned to America never thinking she would ever see Hugo again. But over the course of the next few months Ronda and Hugo stayed in touch and developed a friendship, getting to know each other on an emotional level whereby they decided that they wanted to meet again in person. Despite the physical distance between them, they both knew that something just felt right and that an opportunity to have made a connection with someone so special could not go to waste. After over a year of traveling back and forth across the pond between London and Virginia, Hugo proposed to Ronda in London and they began planning their special day.

Ronda and Hugo chose to get married in Ronda’s hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia at Grace Episcopal Church with the reception following at Keswick Hall. The couple felt that the natural beauty of the venues and surrounding area, combined with Southern hospitality for which the area is renowned, would be enjoyable for their US and European guests. The wedding party enjoyed the sense of excitement and camaraderie of all staying under one roof at Keswick Hall. It proved to be a perfect location not only for those guests whom wished to explore the wealth of local attractions but also for those whom just wanted to kick back and relax by the pool.

Ronda and Hugo wanted to have a summertime wedding that hinted at subtle sophistication. Deep turquoise, celadon green, ivory and splashes of metallics were used to devise a rich yet calming palate of colors. Mercury glasses filled with candles throughout the reception room added a special soft glow of light. Tasteful elements of a travel theme were incorporated into parts of the day by creating a custom wedding logo in the form of a passport stamp that adorned welcome booklets for out-of-town guests, personalized napkins, “boarding pass” escort cards and wedding favors (guests took home custom luggage tags and personalized coffee mugs).

Ronda and Hugo wanted to nod to her American and his English heritage during both the ceremony and the reception. At the church, alongside the wedding program, vintage English handkerchiefs were offered to guests as they entered. During the ceremony, the English hymn “Jerusalem” was sung. At the reception, American-inspired hors d’oeuvres including Virginia ham and cheddar biscuits were passed along with the signature cocktail – a favorite English summer punch known as Pimm’s cocktails. Hugo chose to wear traditional English morning attire, consisting of a waistcoat and tails on the big day. Ronda, wearing Vera Wang, was given two pieces of family jewelry from Hugo which she incorporated into her look.

Ronda’s most vivid memories of the day are their first kiss at the alter and an overwhelming feeling of thankfulness and love when she looked around the reception room and saw so many friends, some new and some old, who traveled from very near and very far to be there to celebrate. Hugo’s most vivid memories of the day include Ronda’s entrance in the church and their first dance. Their favorite photos include snaps of them walking down the aisle together after the ceremony, leaving the church amidst a shower of rose petals, seated and posed with their entire wedding party, a private moment in the woods with the Keswick Hall stately sitting in the background, and the energy and fun captured on their guests’ faces dancing at the reception.

Photography: Jen Fariello Photography | Coordination: Soiree | Flowers: Floral Images Design Studio | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Cake: Favorite Cakes | Ceremony: Grace Episcopal Church | Reception: Keswick Hall | Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale | Hair: Top Knot Studio | Lighting: Blue Ridge Light Forms | Bridesmaids Gifts- Custom Hand Bags: Just A Little Ditty | Invitations & Papers: Rock Paper Scissors TN | Make-up Artist: Grace Anderson | Rentals: Festive Fare | Video: Shaking Hands Productions | Wedding Dress Belt For Reception: Oscar De La Renta

Every once in a while, a wedding comes along that makes me seriously wish I was a bride again. Because if my re-do day looked anything like this? Well, I’d probably die and go straight to wedding heaven. From the scenery to the florals from Beehive Events to one amaaazing ceremony arch, there’s a million pretty reasons to start your day with Jen Fariello’s captures right here.

From the Bride… While Peter and I live in New York City, we always knew we wanted to get married away from its fast pace. Both Peter and his father attended law school at the University of Virginia. A few years ago, Peter’s parents purchased a farm near the law school, which allowed us to visit more often. We soon fell in love with Charlottesville, its natural beauty and remarkable culture, and once we got engaged it seemed like the perfect place for our wedding.

We visited a number of potential wedding venues and found that King Family had everything we were looking for. A beautiful location, cradled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a great selection of wine, friendly staff and forever views. We couldn’t wait to bring all of our friends and family together to celebrate in this special place.

When creating the atmosphere for our wedding, we were inspired by the rustic beauty of the surrounding Virginia countryside and the pace of life in Charlottesville. We wanted a romantic vintage feeling that was both rustic and elegant, and which complemented the natural beauty of Charlottesville. We used various shades of soft pinks, blushes, creams and gold. While I love pink, I wanted to cut the sweetness of the color with mauve and rich navy.

Most of our guests traveled a long way to be at our wedding so it was important to us that they have a great time. Rather than a signature cocktail, we served King Family’s Crosé rosé (our favorite wine named for the town of Crozet); the perfect drink on a warm sunny day. We also wanted our guests to be entertained throughout the evening, so we provided a variety of lawn games for guests of all ages (from bocce to croquet to cornhole) to play during the cocktail hour, and were lucky to find an amazing band that kept the evening flowing and everyone on the dance floor. At the end of the night, we had a donut stand making fresh fireside donuts and coffee for guests.

We were very fortunate to have had such wonderful people helping us with our wedding, and we could not have asked for anything more. Our wedding day was truly the happiest day of our lives. Every detail was exactly how we dreamed it would be. We are so grateful for the amazing and talented team of people that came together and put so much care into making our wedding an event we will remember fondly for the rest of our lives.

Photography: Jen Fariello Photography | Videographer: Stone Blue Productions | Planner: Shindig Weddings And Events | Floral Design: Beehive Events | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Cake: Cakes Unlimited | Invitations: Bella Figura | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids Dresses: Marina | Catering: 20 South | Make-up: Rouge 9 Make-up Studio | Hair: Moxie Hair & Body Lounge | Band: A-Town A-List | Favors: Carpe Donut | Wedding Venue: King Family Vineyards | Decor: BHLDN

First and foremost, can I just tell you how thrilled I am that we now have a place for Virginia weddings to shine? They always have this lovely way of making my heart flutter, and now we are revel in all that pretty right here on the Mid Atlantic blog. So before you head off into your (hopefully long) Thanksgiving weekend, join me in cozying up with this quintessential Virginia wedding. One that inspired this very blog. One that is so pretty, so perfectly captured by Morgan Trinker, so filled with the sweetest blooms this side of the Mississippi by Beehive Events, and one that makes me oh-so-thankful Virginia weddings found a place on SMP. See it all here.

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From Morgan Trinker…You may remember Heather and Franklin from their Mad Men-inspired engagement session you featured on your Facebook page last year. If so, it probably won’t come as any surprise that their wedding was equally as stylish and gorgeous! Though these two now call Los Angeles home, they’re both from Charlottesville, Virginia originally and have known each other for most of their lives. In fact, growing up, their families were very close to each other, but Heather and Franklin didn’t start dating until Heather was in college, and they’ve been together ever since!

Their vision for their wedding day was rustic-meets-Gatsby-garden-party, and Castle Hill Cider was the perfect backdrop for such a glamorous affair. Their event planner, Dickie Morris, helped bring all the details together beautifully, from the art deco-inspired invitation suite, to the fresh oysters served out of a canoe during cocktail hour, to the lovely, colorful garden florals adorning everything from the tables to the flower girls’ hair. One of Heather’s good friends (and bridesmaids!) is Caroline Z. Hurley, whose geometric hand-stamped linens have recently been getting a lot of attention from design powerhouses like Domino Magazine and Design*Sponge. As a wedding gift to the couple, she created stunning table runners for the reception. The gold geometric pattern was a perfect counterpart to the soft, romantic florals and ornate candelabras on the tables. As a nod to Heather and Franklin’s careers in television and film (he’s a writer, and she’s an actress), they had a red carpet step-and-repeat photo booth at the cocktail hour and used the titles of their favorite T.V. series instead of traditional table numbers.

Even though there was a rain delay, the weather cooperated just long enough for these two to have the outdoor ceremony under a huge gorgeous tree they had been dreaming of. And if the amount of tears shed was any indication, everyone present was thankful it had turned out just as they had hoped.

Photography: Morgan Trinker | Cinematography: Shaking Hands Productions | Event Design: Just A Little Ditty | Florist: Beehive Events | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Invitations: Landis Stationery | Bride's Shoes: Louboutin | Catering: A Pimento Catering | DJ: Greg Tutwiler | Wedding Venue: Castle Hill Cider | Ceremony Music And Cocktail Hour: Art Wheeler | Ceremony Musicians: Philip Clark String Quartet | Hair and Makeup Artist: Lora Kelley | Musician Provider: Tutti Musicale | Reception Musicians: The Adrian Duke Project | Rentals: Beehive Events | Rentals: Stonegate Event Rentals | Table Linens: Caroline Z. Hurley

When the right vendors partner up with the right couple magic ensues. Fête Studios, Paisley & Jade, Just Write Studios, and so many more fabulous vendors worked perfectly together to create this dream of a day for this dream of a family, and lucky for us, Stephanie Yonce Photography was there to capture every moment!

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From the stunning bride… Eric and I met on Match.com back in May 2011. I had actually contacted him on the site through email. We exchanged emails and phone calls until we went on our first date on June 2, 2011 at Kona Grill. We sat and talked and drank for five hours that night. Made for a tough Friday work morning for both of us! It took us some time to go on our second date. He said I was playing hard to get… I just was a busy single woman :) We both were pretty much smitten from the beginning as we had a lot in common and had both accomplished a lot in our lives. I always teased him that no one ever got a second date so I should have known he would be the one I married.

He proposed on November 16, 2012 at home. We had the kids and had enjoyed a cozy, winter night at home with them. One of the kids was sick so Eric being the amazing Dad he is, ran out to the store to buy a new humidifier. I was in my pjs watching tv in what we call his former “man cave”. Throughout our relationship, I have told him that I don’t need much to make me happy but that I love receiving cards. He came home from the store and handed me a card. I opened the card and it was a “Happy Anniversary” card with the words anniversary marked out and engagement written in. By the time I finished reading the card, he was on one knee with the ring in his hand. It was a sweet proposal in our home with his kids… I could not have asked for anything more perfect!

Having grown up in Virginia, I envisioned an outdoor, garden wedding with vintage and romantic touches. I also wanted to incorporate a little southern charm into the day. My engagement ring that Eric selected has a vintage look to it so it really inspired the entire vision for the wedding! I knew all along I wanted soft colors including ivory, tan, peach, pink and green. It was also very important to both of us that my mom was honored throughout the day and that Eric’s three kids were included in the wedding through the sand ceremony. This represented the blending of our new family! Most importantly, we both wanted to give our families a weekend away from their busy lives to just enjoy each other and help us celebrate our big day. The Clifton Inn provided the perfect setting for this!

The flowers and fruit accents that Sugar Magnolias created were amazing. Each display was exactly what I had hoped for. I was also surprised by the rose petals lining the aisle. We also really liked the “Mr” and “Mrs” napkin rings. So cute! The chandeliers hanging above us during the ceremony were beautiful. The beverage station and the parasols available during the wedding were both the perfect southern touches. Two of my other favorite details was the program chalkboard as well as the surprise for Eric “Here Comes Your Boo” banner carried by Eric’s son, Ben, and my nephew, Colin.

My top three wedding memories would be:

1. Seeing my Dad’s face when I came down the stairs for the first time before the ceremony. I waited 40 years to take that walk with him and it meant the world to me!
2. I was completely focused in on Eric’s face from the minute I rounded the corner from the Main House and could see him standing at the end of the aisle. To see his face filled with so much emotion and love just blew me away! One of the many reasons I married him!
3. The balloon release and song by Laura Winingham in memory of my mom. She was my very best friend and I have missed her dearly every day for the past 14 years. To change the time and have it at sunset, made the moment even more perfect.

I realize now how quickly the day gets away from you and how much you miss as the bride about the details of the day. Try to take a few minutes before, during and after to inhale all of the hard work and vision that went into the day. Do what is best for you and your future husband… it’s truly your day and the one that you both will remember the most!

Photography: Stephanie Yonce Photography | Videography: Ginger Topham | Event Planning & Design: Fete Studio | Floral Design: Nature Composed | Cake: Shyndigz | Stationery: Fete Studio | Ceremony Venue: Clifton Inn | Reception Venue: Clifton Inn | Hair & Makeup: Avenue 42 | Calligraphy: Just Write Studios | DJ: Scratch Weddings | Officiant: Meredith Winn | Bride's Dress & Men's Tuxes: Bella Rosa Bridal | Chair Rental: Festive Fare | China Rental: Graceful Swan | Popcorn: Popcorn Monkey | Speciality Rentals: Paisley & Jade | Specialty Rentals: Stonegate Event Rentals | Tents & Lighting: Skyline Tent Company

After spending the past several days at bridal fashion week, I can say with certainty that pink is the new everything for 2014. (Just look at the miss Wang’s latest collection to walk  down the runway.) And while it can be a tricky hue to hit just right, this Charlottesville affair shows how it’s done. Designed by the bride with the talented Southern Blooms by Pat’s Floral Designs by her side, the full gallery from Jen Fariello will send any pink-loving heart into total swoon.

From the Bride… We met at a bar in our hometown. We met through mutual friends who wanted to introduce us because we worked for the same firm in the same office, but had never actually met each other. Most people think that we met at work and my mother was actually quite surprised when she got the question wrong at the shower about where we met! Steven was able to hold onto the ring for two whole nights before he popped the question while we were driving on our way to dinner at my favorite restaurant in our new hometown.

Steven’s mother found the Clifton Inn online when were researching a drivable “destination” wedding. Steven comes from a large family and has a number of young nieces and nephews. We really liked the Clifton Inn because the whole family could spend the entire weekend together and the kids could just run around! The locale was a few hours from home for us, so it was a little bit of destination and it allowed us to get away for a few days. We also really liked that we could have the cocktail hour and some of the reception outside on such a large property – it was great for the kids.

I am a huge flower person and I love early spring flowers. I really wanted pink flowers and for my bridesmaid’s dresses to match the pink flowers. A little pink on the men look great as well! We had a wonderful day. I liked being able to sneak away with Steven and take pictures together, because we really got to spend some quality, fun time together on a such a whirlwind of a day. Watching everyone you love on a beautiful lawn at the cocktail hour was probably one of my favorite, most vivid memories. The kids were running around around in the yard and boys were playing softball, all while enjoying food and cocktails!

Photography: Jen Fariello Photography | Cinematography: Exhale Productions | Floral Design: Southern Blooms | Wedding Dress: Birnbaum and Bullock | Invitations: Minted | Bridesmaids' Dresses: In White | Makeup: Carolyn Thombs | Venue: Clifton Inn | Bridal Shop: In White | Bride's Bracelet: Bride's Maid of Honor's | Bride's Earrings: Bride's Aunt's | Cake + Desserts: Clifton Inn

Southern weddings are the cream to my coffee. The sweet spot in my hectic days. And when it happens to be the most darling minty pink “I do” captured through the lens of Katelyn James? Even better. Tack on planning from Amore Events by Cody with floral pretties by Couture Designs, and it’s official — today is going to be oh so good.

From the Bride… After dating for over four years, Bob popped the question while we were on vacation in Napa Valley. Since that moment, we knew we wanted our wedding venue to somehow represent that amazing day we shared in California.

In the months following, we immediately jumped into wedding planning mode. Bob and I spent months researching and visiting countless venues. One weekend I suggested we make a trip to Charlottesville, a town I had loved since I visited my cousin at UVA when I was in high school. We toured a handful of locations, but from the moment we drove up the driveway to Pippin Hill, Bob and I knew we found the perfect venue. I remember driving home from Pippin being able to visualize our entire wedding in my head. The breathtaking panoramic views, beautiful architecture, and overall feel was everything we dreamed of; a true reminder of the day we were engaged.

Our inspiration really came from the natural beauty surrounding Pippin Hill along with the venue’s ambiance. We wanted the beautiful view from Pippin Hill to take center stage, so we chose a neutral color palette of gray, peach, ivory and blush, then accented that with coral and mint for a pop of color. Our wedding was intended to be chic, elegant, and a little rustic. Once I finally choose a dress, we added little hints of lace for a soft and romantic feel.

Bob and I wanted our day to be unique and true to our personalities. The details really made this possible. Being a graphic designer, not only was I able to envision these things, but I was lucky enough to be able to create them myself. Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to design hundreds of wedding invitations for other brides, so the true challenge came when I had to create my own. Once we booked Pippin, I had the inspiration to get started. I created a simple and elegant invitation incorporating my favorite color, the soft minty aqua, along with a subtle wood grain pattern. I had so much fun designing the coordinating pieces and making them interactive for our guests. We included a music request card in addition to a “love letter,” where our guests were encouraged to send us advice, share memories, or even draw a picture! Receiving the responses and seeing what our friends and family requested and wrote in the “love note” portion was so exciting. The invitations set the overall tone and the details didn’t stop there, we were just getting started! From the favor packaging to the hand-painted escort sign and the custom corn hole boards to the hand-sewn ring bearer flags, Bob and I designed, cut, painted, assembled and crafted for a good portion of our engagement. The best part of it all was that we tackled all these projects as a team. It was so amazing to see all our hard work come together on our wedding day.

Aside from all the details, we also really tried to incorporate our personalities and thoughtful touches into the wedding. Bob and I are both foodies, so mini bottles of olive oil and soy sauce we the perfect favors for us. Over the course of our engagement, we collected tons of wine corks that were used to create a huge “M” for the welcome table as well as our place card holders. The runner was sewn by my mother out of vintage doilies for the sweetheart table and pieces of lace from her wedding dress were integrated into my bouquet. Bob’s close friend read a Traditional Irish Blessing, a reading that reminded many of the guests of the days of summer camp when they were kids. It was so moving to see how many people were affected by this reading, there wasn’t a dry eye in the audience. We also wrote our own wedding vows for the ceremony. It was so important to us to share those intimate words with the most important people in our lives.

I wish I could have stopped time during our wedding day, but it was filled with so many wonderful memories: getting ready in the beautiful bridal loft, seeing each other before the ceremony, the look in my Dad’s eyes before we walked down the aisle, the amazing speeches given by our childhood best friends, my cathedral length veil blowing right off of my head during the ceremony, and just being surrounded by our loved ones. Our DJ ended the night with “Country Roads,” which has become a tradition amongst our group of friends. I remember dancing with Bob in the middle, as everyone circled around us and sang along. As we were surrounded by all of our closest friends and family, Bob looked into my eyes and said “never forget this moment.”

Our photographer, Katelyn James (and her hubby, Michael!), did such an amazing job capturing all the details and emotions during the wedding. We will treasure those images forever. A big thanks to Cody Grannis, our fantastic wedding planner, and all our other vendors for making our wedding day flawless. We could not have possibly asked for more.

Photography: Katelyn James Photography | Floral Design: Couture Designs | Dress: Casablanca | Cake: Maliha Creations | Invitations: Jess Creates (The Bride) | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids: J.Crew | Hair and Makeup: Faces By Joy | DJ: Derek Tobler | Officiant: Rev. Claire Goodman, Interfaith Minister - Sacred Ground Ceremonies | Transportation: UVA Chapel | Venue: Pippin Hill Farm | Bridal Boutique: TLC Bridal Boutique | Bride and Bridesmaids' Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar | Coordination and Planning: Amore Events by Cody | Mini Pies: Paradox Pastry | Reception Dress: Ruche | Ring Bearer Bow Ties: Apple & Ivy

It’s a fact — Jen Fariello and gorgeous weddings go hand-in-hand. So the very second she sent over this Charlottesville charmer, we knew pretty-filled moments were just a quick click away. And with Southern Blooms by Pats Floral Designs, just a little ditty, and Bella Figura behind every pin-perfect detail, there’s really no reason NOT to spend your whole morning cozied up in the gallery. Grab that coffee and join me!

From the Bride…Travis and I pretty much immediately decided on Charlottesville, Virginia. I am a University of Virginia graduate and Charlottesville is a lovely town  one of our favorite places  and perfect for us given our love for the outdoors. It doesnt hurt that it has one the most beautiful skylines of endless rolling hills and mountains. The east coast location also was favorable for us considering thats where my family resides.  It made it much easier for them to help and get involved. Before we decided on anything, I knew my wedding style: rustic-elegance. I envisioned the wedding to be romantic, intimate, full, natural and soft.

We chose Castle Hill Cider for our wedding ceremony and reception because it completely fit our vision. We loved the rustic elements of the venue– pastoral fields and meadows, a grove of hugely impressive trees, and a classically built post and beam barn. And we had a blank canvas to work, a concept I fully embraced because we wanted to create an event truly our own down to the last little detail. The romantic color palette was determined by the natural setting. Shades of light pink, cream and champagne complemented the natural greens and browns of the landscape. We had pewter accents (e.g., the writing on our personalized cocktail napkins, flower and candle holders, candle filled lanterns, drinking straws) that complemented the softer colors and matched the font color we used for our wedding invitations and calligraphy. The bridesmaids dresses were a favorite of mine! I picked the colors  three of them (blush, opal and vanilla)  and had everyone pick their own style, which ended up all being different. I thought that was fantastic! It reflected them as individuals, and the color and style combination was stunning.

We had several DIY projects that made the ceremony and reception both incredibly beautiful and extra meaningful. The chuppah (canopy) that we stood under during the ceremony was hand built and erected by Travis, while the wood slate boards we used for the escort cards and the wooden boxes that held our late night snack were made by a family friend. I made the ceremony programs that included handmade paper sourced from the Lokta plant in Nepal. The longevity of the paper makes it ideal for preserving important written words.??Many of our guests commented on the uniqueness of our wedding and how it was a perfect reflection of who we are as a couple. Here are a few highlights. We caught the wild Alaskan salmon (yes, its true) that we offered as one of two choices for the main course. We caught the Coho salmon in Kodiak, Alaska at Travis familys lodge (www.kodiaklegendslodge.com). We have been going up to Alaska every summer for the past five years and consider it a very special place. The handwritten menus placed at every guests seat included this detail.

Our guests started and ended the night with family favorites! If you were a beer fan, the night began with bottles of Spotted Cow that was personally driven by Travis all the way from northern Wisconsin. It is produced and sold only in Wisconsin and a favorite of Travis family. Our guests ended the night with personalized individually packaged brownies, my familys favorite, which were served with old-fashioned cartons of milk locally produced in Central Virginia. Most of our guests opted to take the transportation we provided, so it served as the perfect late night snack to enjoy on the bus ride back to town.

My surprise gift to Travis was an oil on canvas painting of our first dance. I flew in an impressionist style painter from California, Rich Flynn, who painted our first dance real-time, and continued throughout the duration of the reception. The painting is truly one of a kind! He managed to illustrate not only the physical elements, but also the emotion. He captured a cherished moment that we now can continue to treasure.

I want to share a few brief thoughts on lighting and florals because the barn was large and vast and from the start these two elements were critical in transforming the space from simply rustic, to rustic-elegance. We decided on bistro lights strung low throughout the barn to bring the ceilings down to create a warm, romantic feel. Amber uplights throughout the barn also helped to warm it up. The canopy of bistro lights extended seamlessly outside to the back of the barn where we had lounge area. Our table centerpieces were low, lush and overflowing arrangements in mercury glass containers surrounded by lots of candles. The mercury glass reflected the light and resulted in an intimate setting with an antique touch.  

We were so fortunate and grateful to have such a talented and creative team of vendors that helped to realize our vision and make our wedding better than we could have ever imagined. Travis and I cant thank them enough! It was an extraordinary day  the best day  and we cherished every moment!

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Photography: Jen Fariello Photography | Ceremony + Reception Venue: Castle Hill Cider | Cinematography: Zachary Shields of Toast Wedding Films | Floral Design: Southern Blooms by Pats Floral Designs | Event Design + Planning: just a little ditty | Invitation Designer: Bella Figura | Calligraphy for invitations, envelopes, menu + place cards: Debi Zeinert of The Blooming Quill | Personalized Paper Accessories (napkins, stickers + straws): foryourparty.com | Cake + Desserts: Cakes by Rachel | Caterer + Rentals: Harvest Moon Catering | Extra Rentals: Stonegate Event Rentals and Festive Fare | Lighting: Blue Ridge AV and Lighting | Artist: Rich Flynn | Reception Band: The Dickens | Hair: Lucas Shaffer | Makeup: Renee Smith | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids Dress: Amsale | Grooms Tuxedo: Custom, Astor and Black | Flower Girls’ Dress: OliviaKateCouture

Farm affairs are the unofficial “cool kid” of the wedding world right now. With bride after bride longing for a slice of that rustic charm, it takes a super special day to stand out in the crowd. But this Pippin Hill wedding did all that and more. Why? Because this couple opted for a modern take on the homespun classic. And with Easton Events, Southern Blooms by Pat’s Floral Designs and Smock Paper by their side, the only thing lovelier than the photos from Andrea Hubbell was the day itself. Have a look here for even more.

From the Bride…My parents were married inside of a courthouse in the Virgin Islands in 1982. They never had the ceremonious wedding party that my mother was born to plan. When Andrew and I got engaged at the beginning of 2012, after knowing each other since 1999, we knew this would be an all inclusive family affair centered around that feeling of closeness. When we found Pippin Hill Farm overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains in Charlottesville, Virginia, the four of us shared a meal and felt so at home. The farm to table menu and blue ridge mountain scenery surrounding the new construction was a huge draw for us as it combines our love for food and the outdoors.

The inspiration for the wedding celebration would be that feel of a wedding at a family estate but with the modern convenience of an all inclusive wedding venue designed by the geniuses at Pippin Hill. We wanted a homespun look with eclectic pieces organically placed within clean lines. We carefully curated individual details over a year to create the idea that we had pulled terra cotta from the shed, galvanized metal from the cellar, grandma’s goblets and enamelware from the shelf, ticking striped napkins from the hutch, herbs and vegetables from the garden, trees from the woods; all the colors were pulled from the skyline.

Collecting all of these pieces was an adventure in itself as my mom and I scoured markets and vintage treasures. I can remember once instance where we carried wire baskets from Brookfarm General Store in Brooklyn New York on 5 different subway trains. So many of the choices we made were conferenced on: my father an architect, built, refinished and painted many of the decor pieces.  Our monogram, designed by Meredith Bullock, was painted on a broken headboard by my Dad. We took a lot of inspiration from Kinfolk, Sunday Suppers and cues from the venues own styling. My husband is a golf course superintendent – essentially, a golf course “farmer,” and  we incorporated some tools and pieces relating to farming along with vintage bulb drying racks, chicken coops, crates and buckets.

As we got closer to the event, family and friends became our number one priority. As a mini-destination wedding, all of our guests would be traveling to Charlottesville and we spent hours working on planning a stress free weekend and wedding day, picking up on anything that might make anyone feel less than at home. It was so important to my parents as this was their ‘big day’ as well. Andrew and I wrote our own wedding vows to one another for the ceremony. It was so important to us to share those intimate words with the most important people in our lives. We wanted them to know how open we are to love and how committed we are to sharing our thoughts and feelings with one another.

Our beagle-dachschund Lloyd was a huge part of the ceremony and the planning required to get him to and from Virginia and to and from Pippin Hill so that he could be there was so worth it. He is family. I can only hope that the day was as full of happiness and hope for our marriage as it was for my parents who were married over 30 years ago inside that tiny courthouse. Now we dream of hosting an event for our own son or daughter one day, at our very own farmhouse, with herbs from the garden, etched glasses from the cupboard, flowers from the field, family and friends.

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Photography: Andrea Hubbell Photography | Flowers + Trees: Southern Blooms by Pat’s Floral Designs | Event Consulation: Easton Events | Day of Coordinator: Amore Events | Ceremony + Reception Location: Pippin Hill Farm | Invitations: Smock Paper | Calligraphy: Meredith Bullock | Dinner Menus: Paper Source with Meredith Bullock | Miniature Pastries: Hot Cakes | Custom Cocktail Napkins: For Your Party | Favors: Moleskine +  Rock Paper Scissors | Decor: Brookfarm General Store, Roxie Daisy | Vintage Found Items: Southern Blooms, Etsy | Hair: Top Knot Studio | Hair Piece: Vintage | Makeup: Charlottesville Makeup Artist | Shoes: Diane Von Furstenberg | Dress: Romona Keveza via  Kleinfeld Bridal | Dress Ribbon: Mokuba New York | Groom’s Suit: Boss by Hugo Boss | Groom’s Tie: Burberry | Groomsmen Suits: Kenneth Cole | Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale

It’s my wedding blogger obligation to warn you that this e-sesh may cause a little envy. Some ring, dress and wish-I-had-engagement-pics-this-cute envy. But fear not, loves. Because while re-creating this Charlottesville photo session from Eric Kelley and Easton Events would be next to impossible, we DO have a few ideas to help you get the look. In fact, we’ve rounded up our favorite LWDs (little white dresses) that’ll have you and glowing just like this gorgeous bride-to-be.

From the Bride-to-Be…For our Engagement Shoot, we wanted the pictures to capture the two of us as a couple, but our home and its surroundings are a huge part of our life together. Our mutual love for our hometown, Charlottesville, its country environment, and our animals – chickens, ducks, sheep, and a couple of dogs – has helped bring us together into our own little family. We wanted this time in our lives to be captured in full; from the formal to the very informal.  These photos to be reminiscent of our real life together.

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Photography: Eric Kelley | Planning: Easton Events | Hair + Make-Up: Lora Kelley | White Dress: BHLDN via Schuyler Fisk Bullock

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From proposal to parties, wedding to honeymoon, we’ve got all your little white dress moments totally covered! Have a look at some of our favorite frocks that are edging all those LBDs right out of the closet.

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1. Alice + Olivia | 2. Zara | 3. Shopbop | 4. Nordstrom | 5. Nordstrom | 6. Shopbop | 7. Nordstrom | 8. Shopbop | 9. Shopbop

Pippin Hill is quickly becoming one of my all-time favorite venues. It’s the perfect balance of Southern elegance and rustic charm, making for a beauty-filled backdrop like you wouldn’t believe. And the latest object of my Pippin Hill obsession? This utterly gorgeous Easton Events’ wedding with to die for florals by Southern Blooms, all captured by the one and only Jen Fariello Photography. It’s a little slice of wedding heaven, and there’s much more to be swooned sitting right here.

From the Bride, Loren… Jake is a resident at UAB in Birmingham, and I am an attorney. We met while I was in law school and he was in medical school in the grove at Ole Miss at football game. Jake’s childhood best friend Camille and one my best friends in law school (and also a bridesmaid) introduced us! We had so many mutual friends but had never met & we clicked right away! Jake proposed two years later at my house in Oxford, MS. He told me to go grab shrimp so that we could make one of our fav dishes, shrimp risotto. I was supposed to call him before I left but I actually forgot to call him so he waited outside my house for 2 hours waiting for me to leave….however, he missed me leaving so I ruined the proposal surprise!! After he proposed, he told me to hurry up and get dressed because both of our parents were on their way into town. It was perfect–I told him before we got engaged that I didn’t want a big fuss and just wanted to celebrate with our families, which is what we did over several nice bottles of wine!

I went to school at UVA and have so many great memories from Charlottesville. My dad also went there so it is a special place. I attended a friend’s wedding at Keswick before I met Jake and knew that when it was my time, I would get married in cville too. After meeting and falling in love with Jake, we went up to Charlottesville for a visit and he fell in love with the place too. There is just something special in the Charlottesville air. Once we got engaged, I immediately called a college friend, Augusta Cole of Easton Events, because I knew I wanted her to do my wedding. She recommended Pippin Hill. We booked it sight unseen because the ambiance and scenery was perfect. Plus, Jake and I are wine lovers so what better place to get married than at a vineyard.

Our inspiration was a tailored european garden or english garden. We chose a palate of the palest pink, gray, and dark green. We used beautiful full bloom pale pink and white florals mixed with the dark greens of boxwood and ivy as well a beautiful stone gray color for the printed suite and containers. Our wedding was intended to be classically elegant with a touch of whimsy – I would say the lacey calligraphy, printed details, cocktail table linens, and loose, romantic florals expressed that touch of whimsy…We tried to incorporate a lot of southern traditions in our wedding-I am from Memphis and Jake is from Jackson, MS. We did a cake pull before Jake and I cut the cake where each bridesmaid pulled out a charm from our cake–each charm had a special meaning and the meaning was placed on a card so that each bridesmaid could keep it.

I carried my deceased grandparents wedding rings down the aisle with me tied to my bouquet as well as my living grandmother’s handkerchief, my something old. My something blue was Song of Solomon 3:4 stitched into my dress in blue. We had two specialty cocktails…mine was the champagne with lavender to compliment the lavender that was tossed by our friends and family after we left the church. Jake’s was the Sazerac, his favorite drink. We also handed out “late night” grab-n-go snacks, croque monsieurs, as people boarded the buses to head home.

Jake’s grooms cake was a chocolate cake in the shape of a case of wine, with all of our favorite bottles. It looked so real that some tried to pick up the bottles to take it with them! Our band played all of our favorite songs and lead the crowd in the Good Ole Song as well as Ole Miss’ Hotty Toddy cheer. They also played Walking in Memphis, my dads request, which was a Memphis crowd favorite! Some of my favorite touches before the big day was our wedding invitations. We had my family crest on the top of it, beautiful calligraphy, and different colored paper for the return address envelope and card, along with vintage stamps. Some of my favorite photos are from our sparkler departure, as well as the ones in front of our vintage car! All of the photographs captured what a beautiful night it was, all thanks to a great photographer & burying the bourbon!

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Photography: Jen Fariello | Ceremony + Reception Venue: Pippin Hill Farm & Winery | Floral Design: Southern Blooms | Event Design + Planning: Easton Events | Invitation Designer: Erika Jack | Calligraphy: Jen Maton, If So Inklined | Cake + Desserts: Favorite Cakes | Groom’s Cake: Maliha Creations | Linens: La Tavola | Lighting: Blue Ridge Lightforms | Car: Albemarle Vintage Limo | Rentals: Festive Fare | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale | Makeup:  Lora Kelley |  Hair: Lucas Shaffer of Bella Hair Studio (Bride) + Moxie (Bridesmaids)

I don’t say this often enough, but it makes my heart so happy to have brides and grooms share their special days with us. That they let us in on their most treasured moments and joyous celebrations. But when a wedding like this comes along–we’re talking about a couple who fell in love in the 6th grade!–it really, truly hits me how lucky we are share in people’s stories every single day. Jen Fariello captured this Pippin Hill Farm affair to perfection, and  you can watch the whole day unfold right here.

From the Bride…Although most people look back on their middle school days and cringe, those days hold a special place in my heart.  Steve and I met on the first day of 6th grade and before we went on to high school were each other’s first love.  We didn’t date in high school but remained friends, as we had several classes together each year.  As the saying goes, absence made our hearts grow fonder, and we reconnected during our freshman year of college even though we went to separate schools six hours apart.  We worked through long distance, studied abroad at the same time, and began a new part of life together when we moved to the Washington DC area.  Seven years later, Steve proposed in front of the Georgetown Christmas tree.
 
We wanted our big day to represent the parts of life we love most and decided that a vineyard setting would be the perfect homage to our fondness of Italy, where Steve studied abroad and where we knew without question that we would honeymoon.  Our research brought us to Charlottesville, a town we quickly grew to love, and after seeing the breathtaking views from Pippin Hill’s cozy porch, we knew we found our perfect venue.   
 
From here, Pippin Hill’s ambience really guided the feel for our day.  I loved the “rustic chicness” of the mercury glass mirrors on the Granary walls and used them as inspiration for our centerpieces, which were comprised of an eclectic mix of mercury glass vases and candles.  The mercury glass theme also extended into the frames we used, and we named our tables after regions in Italy.  Collecting all of these pieces over the months leading up to the wedding was a fun adventure in itself!
 
Steve and I also really enjoyed adding meaningful touches throughout the wedding.  I’ve always loved the art of beautiful writing and took calligraphy classes as a child, so having beautifully written and addressed invitations was important to me.  My matron of honor helped us design the printables for the ceremony and reception to coordinate with our invitation suite; she, Steve, and the ladies at our neighborhood Paper Source were so wonderful in helping to bring my crafting visions to life!  During our ceremony, we included the Prayer of Saint Francis to honor Steve’s parents’ college alma mater, and our violin music was provided by one of my former students.  Instead of offering a signature drink during the cocktail hour, we asked each member of our wedding party to create and name their own signature drink, and we shared their suggestions on menus at the bars.  Our dinner music included the first wedding dance songs of our guests, and we also brought in a photobooth to highlight a tradition from our annual shore vacations.  We also made sure to include tons of candles to help create the “hygge” feeling – one of coziness and candlelight shared with friends — that I loved during my time studying in Denmark.   As our guests left, they each received a bar of Hand in Hand soap.  A “one for one” company created by a college friend of mine, Hand in Hand Soap donates a bar of their sustainable suds to a child in need to prevent against water-related illness for every bar purchased.  Steve and I loved that we were able to donate to an important cause while also giving our guests a fun treat!
 
While nothing can compare to the thrill of being announced as husband and wife, our fantastic wedding-day team helped to prepare a moment before the wedding that is a very close second.  Adhering to the tradition of not seeing the bride on the wedding day was important to Steve, but I really wanted to have a special moment together before the ceremony.  To compromise, we wrote each other notes and exchanged them, using a door as a divider to keep from seeing each other.  It was such an emotional moment for us, and Jen captured our anticipation and excitement so beautifully! 

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Photographer: Jen Fariello Photography | Ceremony + Reception Venue: Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards | Cinematography: Paul Jones | Wedding Design + Planning: Julianne Giuliano, SOIREE |Floral Design: Couture Design | Invitations: Angelique, Ink | Cake + Desserts: Paradox Pastry | Wedding Dress: Paloma Blanca | Bridesmaid’s Dress: J.Crew | Special Jewelry: Mother of the groom’s pearl ring (given to her by the father of the groom for their college graduation)| Hair: Lucas Shaffer | Makeup: Carolyn Thombs