Weddings: Summer 2018

THRILL OF THE FRILL

A chic boutique for romantic adornments

Psst... Four not-so-common reading recs from a UVA writing prof

ON THE DOTTED LINE How to make your officiant, well, official

SUMMER 2018

Let’s go!

Come

A monthly guide to the big day

with A stunning view, “I do” and a little red Corvette— the perfect recipe for forever

away PAGE 13

me

c-ville.com/weddings

it’s picture perfect.

c-ville.com/weddings Barracks Road Shopping Center, next to Talbots 434.284.4060 • www.finks.com

Light Therapy Center – Easy Weight Loss using UltraSlim Red Light Therapy UltraSlim’s red LED lights trick the fat cell into opening a temporary pore in its cell membrane.

A large amount of fat is quickly released, processed by the liver, and excreted. Clients generally keep 90% of their weight loss off 1 year later. This painless treatment takes 32 minutes and is once or twice a week.

Brides need to start body sculpting treatments months before the fitting of your wedding dress because you will be sizes smaller. Brides should start to get facials at least 6 weeks before their photos but anytime is good. First treatment is $149. Be generous and give your mother-in-law and bridesmaids treatments.

Our 40 minute red light facials deliver tighter and smoother skin with less wrinkles by creating collagen and elastin. The skin after a treatment series has a consistent color as red light is used to treat superficial, benign vascular, and pigmented lesions. Ladies say they look 5-10 years younger. Everyone benefits.

We can provide private treatments in your home or other location. We recommend a body sculpting and a facial on the same day. Our program requires no diet, exercise, drugs, or commitment. We have package deals for brides and their guests and a money back guarantee. Multiple treatments are necessary.

CoolSculpting

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Side effects and adverse outcomes

Pain (including long-term); umbilical hernia; gaining fat; enlargement of fat; stretch marks; prolapsed bladder, uterus, and rectum; paradoxical adipose hyperplasia; inflammatory colonitis; and deep vein thrombosis. – FDA.gov

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“I used the Light Therapy Center and I was very pleased with my results. I can fit nicely into my clothes and have noticed a big difference.” -Teresa B. “I’ve been very happy with the body sculpting. After the 1st treatment I lost 2 inches overall which motivated me. These, coupled with diet and exercise, have made a very noticeable difference in my figure. Rachael and Brittany are very professional and friendly! I would recommend this to anyone who wants to lose some stubborn fat.” -Isabelle “I love how I feel after my UltraSlim session. My body looks and feels more defined after each treatment.

10/10 would recommend!” -Riley C. “I would highly recommend this therapy treatment. The results are real. The staff is very knowledgeable and accommodating.” -Beth *No one giving a testimonial receives any financial, special treatment, or other benefit.* 973-1115. Free consultation. 3042 Berkmar Dr. office@lighttherapycenter.com Lighttherapycenter.com

Contact us to schedule and unforgettable experience!

Reflections Bridal

51-D Burgess Rd. - Harrisonburg, VA 22801 540-432-8700 - www.Reflectionsva.com Mon-Fri 11am - 7pm

Sat 10am-5pm

c-ville.com/weddings

Sun 1-5pm

M OBI L E M A S SAGE

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Jacob E Gansneder VIII

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Swedish Massage Lessons for one or both of you. $70/hr Wedding Day Therapy Wedding day jitters/hangover cure! acupressure & quick massage - $70/hr Create your own custom massage oil with

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c-ville.com/weddings

Our Vow is to You!

At Boar’s Head Resort, we celebrate what endures — the beauty of the land, the grace of our traditions and the hospitality of our people. Let our staff make your day a day to remember. Say yes to Boar’s Head Resort.

Visit www.BoarsHeadResort.com/weddings or call (434) 972-2227.

c-ville.com/weddings Owned & Operated by the UVA Foundation | Charlottesville, Virginia

TA B L E O F C O NT E N TS

In this issue...

Wedding Planner

Month by month, we help you plan your special day.

19 12 months ahead 19

A not-so-common reception spot

20 Where to splurge (and where not to) 23 How to certify your officiant

27

38

37

55

25 Should you reserve a tent?

27 Six months ahead 27 Rent it: Greenery for décor 29 A new spot for moody accessories 31

Using sheet cake to your advantage

33 Three months ahead 33

Zen Bride on day-of relaxation

35

Unique vow recs from literary folk

37

Your signature cocktail, handled

38 Why you need a day-of coordinator 39 What’s everyone listening to?

98 Making Marry

A bigger, better bouquet toss.

On the cover: Mike and Jane ride off into the sunset. Photo by Jen Fariello.

308 E. Main St. Charlottesville, VA 22902 (434) 817-2749 ■ c-ville.com c-ville.com/weddings

98

C H A R LOTT ESV I L L E W E D D I N GS

You’re invited...

44 Jane & Mike

71 Caitlyn & John

55 Floriza & Jerome

80 Huong & Eddie

And they rode off into the sunset...

It practically designed itself.

DIY plus glam equals perfection.

Simple and elegant, with special details.

63 Patrick & Elliott

89 Sarah & Jonathan

Guests said they were feeling the love.

They let the natural beauty shine.

Weddings, a supplement to C-VILLE Weekly, is distributed all over Charlottesville, Albemarle County and the Shenandoah Valley. C-VILLE Weekly Editor Jessica Luck. Weddings Editor Caite Hamilton.

Contributors Erika Howsare, Lisa Martin, Mary Shea Valliant. Copy Editor Susan Sorensen. Creative Director Bill LeSueur. Editorial Designer Max March. Graphic Designers Tracy Federico, Henry Jones, Lorena Perez. Account Executives Spencer Dole, Erica Gentile, Theressa Leak, Alex Patterson, Kyle Robinson, Cindy Simmons, Beth Wood. Production Coordinator Faith Gibson. Publisher Aimee Atteberry. Chief Financial Officer Debbie Miller. Marketing Manager Anna Harrison.

A/R Specialist Nanci Winter. Circulation Manager Billy Dempsey. ©2018 C-VILLE Weekly.

9

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$Price $495,000

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6 BD, 5.5 BA in quiet, sought after Rugby Hills! Lovingly renovated, there are master bedrooms on both first and second floors, a fully finished basement with a rec room as well as an in-law/au pair suite with a separate entrance. The back yard features a stone patio with brick fireplace, while the detached 2 car garage has a storage loft.

Charming 3 BD, 1 BA ranch on just over 2 acres in southern Albemarle.

Well maintained and upgraded with Pella windows, water filtration system, newer HVAC and stainless kitchen appl. Shed has water, electricity & dog kennel. Large yard, ample room for a garden and backs up to woods for privacy. Enjoy the quiet of the country.

MLS 577433

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$795,000

1398 ALLISTER GRN

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206 SW 5TH ST

Awesome townhome in highly desirable RiverRun just a short walk to Pen Park and Meadowcreek Golf Course & the Rivanna River Trail! Located between downtown Charlottesville & Rte. 29. Freshly painted 2 bedroom, 2-1/2 bath with kitchen, living & dining room plus a finished basement with a potential 3rd bedroom, cedar closet, laundry room & roughed in bath.

Private deck off the living room for outdoor

This hard-to-find, detached cottage is within walking distance to the Charlottesville Downtown Mall, UVA Hospital & Grounds. Soak in the sounds of the city on your front porch or enjoy the privacy of your back deck.

The open floorplan on the main level offers lots of light & features a living room, kitchen, half bath & dining area plus Master Bedroom/Bath!

Upstairs you will

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MLS

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5763 ST GEORGE AVE

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5105 Blenheim Road

This charming historic 5 BR/ 3 BA home was built in 1890 in the heart of Crozet on a large, almost half acre lot that is a unique find in Crozet. The farmhouse style home has 2,757 finished square on 2 floors. On the 1st floor, there is an open kitchen with ample counter space & cabinets & walk-in pantry, DR with a wood stove insert, formal LR, master bedroom, and spacious family room, all have hardwood floors, plus there is a full bathroom, and entrance foyer.

MLS 578674

578174

$444,900

BLENHEIM FARM, in the Farms of Turkey Run subdivision, an all brick Georgian w/over 5400 finished sq/ft, 5 bdrs, 4 full & 1 half baths, 18 mins from Charlottesville. Over 25 acres of open & wooded land, creek & pond site. Features quartz countertops, stainless appliances, hardwoods, 1st floor master suite, fin. walkout terrace level, whole house generator, gated security, paved drive, community walking & riding trails

MLS 495948

$925,000

434.220.5656 | sloanmanis.com | 415 Fourth Street N.E. Charlottesville, VA 22902

Ally Burnett Photography

A Presidential Wedding Venue Boxwood Gardens | Mountain Views Historic Charm | Indoor & Outdoor Facilities

Like what you see?

highland.org | 434.293.8000

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ROUNTON

If you’re planning a wedding, you can’t do better than these folks, who took the photos you see in the pages of this issue.

Michael & Carina michaelandcarina.com

Amy Jackson

Rebecca Keeling

amyjackson.com

rebeccakeelingblog.com

Ashley Cox

Ryan & Rach

ashleypcox.com

ryanandrach.com

Dominique Attaway

Sam Stroud

dominiqueattaway.com

samstroudphoto.com

Jack Looney

Sarah Cramer Shields

jacklooney.com

cramerphoto.com

Jen Fariello

Sarah Goodwin

jenfariello.com

sarahgoodwinphotography.com

Meredith Sledge

The Mallorys

meredithsledge.com

themallorysphoto.com

Meredith Sledge

Aaron Watson aaronwatsonphoto.com

Wedding & Special Event Venue Rustic Elegance-Timeless Beauty

www.rountonfarm.com • 540-661-6635 • mail@rountonfarm.com

11

Golden Horseshoe Inn Simple. Soulful. Weddings.

All Inclusive Weddings and Elopements in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains www.goldenhorseshoeinn.com

434.973.2960 www.todcohen.com

c-ville.com/weddings

WEDDING PLANNER If you’ve just started planning you’re wedding, you’ve likely noticed one thing: There’s a lot to think about (the venue, the photographer, the food, the place settings...) and maybe you’re wondering if you can do it alone. Here’s a secret: You can’t, which is why these pages include a month-by-month checklist of tasks to help you stay organized, plus lots of ideas from real couples who’ve already said “I do.” Happy planning!

SAM STROUD

13

Bridal Party Gifts

Give them something special to remember your special day.

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– on the downtown mall – 319 east main street

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c-ville.com/weddings

A DIVISION OF ALBEMARLE DERMATOLOGY ASSOCIAT ES

Colonial Florist and Antiques

Providing 43 years of service for weddings all over Virginia & surrounding states.

100 N Main St, Gordonsville, VA 22942 540-832-3611 www.colonialfloristandantiques.com colonialfls@verizon.net

Create Your Memories in Old Virginia Avon Hill Lodge, Howardsville VA avonhilllodge.com | 574-596-3407

Kardinal Hall was elegantly designed with large parties and group gatherings in mind.

TENTED PATIO • CRAFT COCKTAILS • LOCAL CRAFT BEERS AND LOVELY WINES • EXPANSIVE BEER HALL AND GARDEN FOR ALL YOUR WEDDING GATHERINGS IN TOWN • CENTRAL LOCATION • PARKING AVAILABLE

722 Preston Ave. • 434-295-4255

www.KardinalHall.com c-ville.com/weddings

Casual Luxury Defined

CASUAL DEFINED CasualLUXURY Luxury Defined

Photography: BottomImages Images--Caroline CarolineLima LimaPhotography Photography (1), Audrey Rose Photography (2-3), Ashley Photography Photography:Top TopImage Image– –Limefish LimefishStudio Studio // Bottom (1), Audrey Rose Photography (2-3), Ashley CoxCox Photography (4) (4)

CELEBRATE THEClifton CLIFTON Celebrate AT at The

Photography: Top Image – Limefish Studio / Bottom Images - Caroline Lima Photography (1), Audrey Rose Photography (2-3), Ashley Cox Photography (4)

• • •Dinners • • • • •• •Wedding Showers • Anniversaries Weddings • Elopements • Rehearsal Delectable farm-to-table dining • Several stunning event spaces Weddings • Elopements • Rehearsal Dinners • Wedding Showers • Anniversaries Celebrate atguest The rooms, Clifton Twenty beautifully renovated cottages & suites Delectable farm-to-table dining • Several stunning event spaces Weddings • Elopements • Rehearsal Dinners • Wedding Showers • Anniversaries Twenty beautifully renovated rooms, cottages & suites Delectable farm-to-table dining guest • Several stunning event spaces weddings@the-clifton.com • (434) 971.1800 • the-clifton.com Twenty beautifully renovated guest rooms, cottages & suites 1296 Clifton Inn Dr. Charlottesville, VA • www.the-difton.com • 434-971-1800 weddings@the-clifton.com • (434) 971.1800 • the-clifton.com

Chandler’s BAKERY says

Thank you CharloTTesville for your voTes! (434) 975-2253 (434) 975-5203 202 Albemarle Square Charlottesville, VA 22901 www.chandlersbakery.com Cakes & Desserts RUNNER UP

47–55 PASSENGER MOTOR COACH The Motor Coach is the largest vehicle type in our fleet. We have two sizes of Motor Coach, 47 Passenger and 55 Passenger, both of which are ideal for large groups. These vehicles enable you to transport a significant number of passengers at one time

25 PASSENGER MINI BUS Our Mini Buses are great vehicles for medium sized groups. These 25 Passenger vehicles, with their large viewing windows and individual seating, are a great way to tour the local area or shuttle guests from one location to another.

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We are a full line scratch bakery that has been providing beautiful wedding cakes for over 23 years.

Call Samantha, our wedding cake specialist, with your wedding cake questions!

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Your happily ever after begins here . . .

12 hour rental Sailcloth tent complete with tables, chairs, lighting, dancefloor, heating, fans, and more. www.keswickvineyards.com For more information or to book a tour of this beautiful all outdoor event venue please call 434 295 1102 or email events@keswickvineyards.com

c-ville.com/weddings

WEDDING PLANNER

YOUR WEDDING CHECKLIST

ONE YEAR AHEAD: PUT DOWN A DEPOSIT FOR THE RECEPTION LOCATION

Uncommon venue

One year before

Work out your budget. Know your limit before considering much else.

Set a tentative date for your wedding.

Decide on your wedding style and formality. This may be determined, in part, by how many guests you want to invite, so think about the guest list now, too.

Settle on a ceremony location. ✓ Put down a deposit for the reception location. ✓ Begin the search for other wedding vendors (transportation, flowers, invitations, music, makeup artist), starting with photographers and videographers.

Once you’ve chosen your wedding photographer, schedule an engagement photo session.

Start shopping for wedding rings. ✓ Reserve your officiant.

If your reception venue doesn’t have a caterer, decide who’ll provide the food and book a tasting.

Choose a rehearsal dinner location.

Shop for a dress. It may seem too soon, but it can take several months for your dress to arrive, and it may require alterations.

A downtown wedding spot with flair

By Erika Howsare

I

Nine months before

Start finalizing the guest list and gathering addresses.

Register for gifts.

If there is a groom, decide to rent or purchase attire for him and the groomsmen. Once that’s decided, place your order.

Finalize all the vendors and secure your wedding date by putting down deposits.

Select the bridesmaids’ gowns.

These’ll take a few months to come in, too.

Send out save the dates.

COURTESY COMMON HOUSE

DOMINIQUE ATTAWAY

After you’ve found the perfect gown, schedule fittings and a delivery date.

Choose your bridal party and invite them to be part of your special day.

f you’d like your rehearsal dinner or reception to have a vibe that leans more “sophisticated” than just plain “pretty,” consider one of the newer kids on the block—Common House, located just off the Downtown Mall.

Common House is a three-story social club—members join in order to have access to food and drink, talks, co-work space and each other—and the venue is also available to rent for private events. Vinegar Hall, the flexible first-floor space with its own entrance to Market Street, is the section usually rented by couples planning wedding brunches, welcome drinks or rehearsal dinners.

With herringbone-patterned wooden floors and attention-getting murals, the Wolf Ackermandesigned space can be configured in a few different ways depending on the size of your gathering. You can bring your own furniture or use what’s there, and redecorate as you like—though most couples will probably want to take advantage of the lively art collection already on the walls. Vinegar Hall can accommodate up to 150 for cocktails or 94 for a seated dinner.

Common House’s Hilary Taylor says that while custom menus are available from the venue’s in-house kitchen, most guests tend to build meals from the set seasonal menus, which offer options including passed hors d’oeuvres and sit-down dinners. For fall, say, a dinner menu might include boneless pork shoulder, braised cranberry beans and kale with butternut ribbons. A full in-house bar takes care of alcohol, or you can pay a corkage fee to bring your own alcohol. Rental

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fees range from $500 to $3,000 depending on size of the space and day of the week.

Vinegar Hall serves by day as the Common House co-work space, where members sink into comfy seats with their laptops, and the remainder of the club—including a library, billiards table and double-sided fireplace—is normally reserved for members. But the second floor and rooftop bar are occasionally available for private events and do convey their own sense of style. From the rooftop, you can look out over Charlottesville from under a pergola topped with solar panels.

During its first year, Common House has hosted at least three events per week and often more—its hip, upscale aesthetic is clearly drawing interest.

WEDDING PLANNER ONE YEAR AHEAD: BEGIN THE SEARCH FOR OTHER VENDORS

Cents-ible spending Making ends meet and avoiding big day budget busters S AV E

PHOTOS: REBECCA KEELING STUDIOS

S PL U R G E

Good food + good music = great time

Centerpieces aren’t the center of attention

“Having good food at our wedding was a no-brainer,” says Ellen. “We adore Charlottesville and are obsessed with the local food scene.” With the help of Harvest Moon Catering, Ellen and Joel sourced as many local items as they could, which the couple says came at a cost. They also hired UVA a capella group Academical Village People for a surprise performance during the reception.

“Entertainers set the mood for the entire event. Food is part of the experience,” says Portnow. “Everything else can be beautiful, but people talk about cold food or if there wasn’t enough food for years to come. It’s money well-spent.”

Portnow says many of her clients, like the Loeshelles, forego flowers. A mid-August wedding means major wilting, and finding alternatives is a good way to trim the budget. Portnow often recommends reusing statement pieces from the ceremony and repurposing them for the reception. And the Loeshelles DIYed centerpieces with flowers and herbs from Trader Joe’s, and filled bread baskets with loaves from Albemarle Baking Company.

“We needed to serve bread anyway, so it seemed like a natural fit,” says Ellen. “Some of our guests took the potted herbs home as favors at the end of the night. The loose blooms saved us a ton of money.”

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WEDDING PLANNER

It’s one of the first questions any planner asks: “What’s your budget?”

But before your wallet starts nervous sweating, take a cue from Anyvent Event Planning’s Jazmin Portnow and newlyweds Ellen and Joel Loeshelle on how to cut corners (and where to splurge). By Mary Shea Valliant S PL U R G E

S AV E

Remember how much a photo is worth

Nobody cares about napkins

Some of Portnow’s couples “don’t care about photography,” she says, but Portnow still recommends a good photographer.

“It’s the only thing that you get to keep forever,” says Portnow.

“I don’t know if people really understand that value.”

Ellen and Joel didn’t compromise on a high-quality, experienced photographer for their August 2017 wedding. That is, once they settled on who they’d use.

“We had a hard time agreeing on a photographer,” Ellen says.

“Once we found one we liked, we worked hard to make it fit in the budget.”

Portnow says rentals and extras like premium linens or chargers can quickly add up to $7 a person, which makes a big difference at a 150-person event like Ellen and Joel’s Castle Hill Cider wedding. They chose to let the venue’s barn and surrounding landscape speak for itself.

“On Instagram and Pinterest, you’re seeing overdone images, like $100,000 weddings or a styled shoot,” says Portnow. “At the end of the day, no one remembers how your napkin was folded.”

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VOTED 2017 BEST REHEARSAL DINNER VENUE

WINNER

Now booking 2019!

Stay and relax in our new Inn, located right on the Brewery property. Whole-house rental sleeps up to 12 guests and provides additional venue options for wedding ceremonies and other small events. E-mail inn@bluemountainbrewery.com for more information.

9519 CRITZERS SHOP RD, AFTON, VA 22920 | 540-456-8020 | EVENTS@BLUEMOUNTAINBREWERY.COM | WWW.BLUEMOUNTAINBREWERY.COM

c-ville.com/weddings

WEDDING PLANNER ONE YEAR AHEAD: RESERVE YOUR OFFICIANT

Make it official If you’re skipping tradition, abide by these rules

By Caite Hamilton

SARAH GOODWIN

C

hoosing the perfect officiant is another great way to put a personal stamp on your ceremony. But if you’re planning to ask a friend to officiate your wedding, in Virginia there are a few rules.

First off, throw out the internet ordination your friend spent 20 minutes obtaining; they aren’t recognized in our area. Now that you’ve done that, you have two routes: You can get a minister (ordained in a church of a legitimate denomination) to present her certificate of ordination and a letter of good standing to the clerk’s office for review. Once it’s approved, you’ll receive an order from the court to perform the marriage.

The second possibility is for laypersons who want to officiate a wedding— your friends, family, boss, basically anyone you choose who isn’t a member of the clergy. To get certified, call the county clerk’s office and ask to make an appointment with the judge to obtain a one-time officiant order. You’ll meet with him, answer a few questions about the wedding and your relationship to the couple and then pay a $52 filing fee, all of which allows you—one time only!—to perform a marriage anywhere in the Commonwealth. One thing to note here, says county clerk Llezelle Dugger: You must get the onetime officiant order in the Virginia county where you reside. (In other words, if you’re flying in your best friend who lives in Australia and expecting her to perform the wedding, you’re outta luck.)

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LOOK

Radiant ON YOUR

Dominique Attaway Photography

BIG DAY!

A memorable location for intimate, eco-conscious, & relaxed events on 129 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Dramatic ceremony views, lakeside air conditioned rustic Event Lodge, & cozy guest cottages.

SPIDER VEIN REMOVAL

WILLIAM FOX, MD, FACP

WF

Aesthetic Medicine

complimentary consultations 434.244.5684 • www.doctorfox.com

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Jane Neldon, LMT

Therapeutic, Deep Tissue, & Oncology Massage Therapy

Relax and de-stress before your big day ALL SESSIONS ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.

WINNER

Best Massage Therapist

Located within the Shala Center at 800 E.High Street • Charlottesville, Virginia 22901

www.CommonwealthMT.com

c-ville.com/weddings

WEDDING PLANNER

ONE YEAR AHEAD: BEGIN THE SEARCH FOR OTHER VENDORS

Gimme shelter How to tent your event (just in case) MICHAEL & CARINA

By Lisa Martin

T

he dreamy vision of a beautiful outdoor wedding goes hand in hand with the reality of weather risk, but both soaking rain and punishing sun can be managed with a little insurance by renting tents in advance of the big day.

“Rain is a factor that can’t be ignored,” says Lee French, project manager for Skyline Tent Company. “The function of a rain plan is both to provide you with what you need and to give you budgetary forecasting, so there will be no surprises.”

Tent companies like Skyline offer options for any size wedding, from a small backyard ceremony to an event hosting hundreds at Montalto, and plans can include not only the overhead covering but also walls, draping, flooring and raised platforms, and even climate control.

Drone photography of the location paired with software templates of the various tent pieces can give clients a good idea of how the installed layout will look on the ground.

As with all insurance, there is a premium for tranquility. Clients put down a deposit of between 25 and 50 percent of the tent plan’s cost (which can start at around $1,500 for a simple

25

framed tent) to reserve the equipment, and then keep an eye on the forecast ahead of their event.

“We like to take the entire rain plan and turn it into a switch,” French says. “The client has until about three days before the event to either flip the switch or leave it down.”

While the bride and groom can avoid the upfront expense and roll the dice on the weather, a last-minute scramble can be costly, especially during the May/June and September/October peak wedding seasons when much of the equipment is spoken for. “I wouldn’t advise [waiting],” says French. “There’s a lot of value to a confirmed rain plan, and no substitute for peace of mind.”

Enclosed Front Porch seats up to 80

ost your Hfairytale event at fairfax hall

National Register of Historic Places waynesboro, virginia built in 1890 weddings, receptions banquets, parties civic events and large meetings

ax

Dining Room seats 188

airfax Hall

gregory britt design floral design | weddings | events | styling | gardens

540-946-2330

fairfaxhall.net/dining-rooms fairfaxhalldiningroom@lumos.net

Includes tables and chairs for seating up to 210 guests

ax Hall

540.522.0531 gabritt05@gmail.com gregorybrittdesign.com That nice guy who creates epic floral artistry

BRINGING NEW ORLEANS TO CVILLE Creole Inspired, Family Owned

Our home is a beautiful setting for your intimate or large event, inside or outdoors. c-ville.com/weddings

WEDDING PLANNER

YOUR WEDDING CHECKLIST

SIX MONTHS AHEAD: MEET WITH YOUR FLORIST

Growing trend

Six months before Prepare all maps and directions for the ceremony and reception. ✓ Meet with your florist and choose arrangements for the ceremony and reception, as well as bouquets.

In and out of pots, plants green up your wedding AARON WATSON PHOTOGRAPHY

By Erika Howsare

I

f you’re looking to add some greenery to your wedding venue, congratulations on your good taste—every space can benefit from some leafy décor. Plants and trees can refresh the eye and add texture and scale, helping you customize your site to the size and feel of your event. Not only that, greenery can be a much more affordable alternative to flowers. Herbs, succulents and leafy garlands are right on trend.

You’ll have no trouble finding ideas online about which plants to use and how to place them. Etsy sells

✓ If your caterer doesn’t provide one,

order your wedding cake. ✓ Begin doing research for your

marriage license.

Meet with both sets of parents to coordinate their day-of attire.

Reserve accommodations for out-oftown guests. (Consider doing this even earlier if you’re planning a wedding on busy in-town weekends like homecoming or during other local events that draw a crowd.)

Order invitations.

Start thinking about honeymoon destinations.

Get creative

What about containers? You can get creative with ways to hide plastic pots; one Etsy vendor offers decorative wraps, or find inexpensive containers at IKEA or Anthropologie. The wedding blogosphere is full of ideas— upcycled aluminum cans making a casual arrangement of plants on a tabletop, even mini terrariums holding air plants that guests can take home. Milmont also rents ceramic containers at the same rate as plants.

You can use plants to line the aisle at your ceremony, to hide anything unsightly at the reception site or to fill in extra space if your venue is a little too big for your number of guests. Garlands can spice up everything from tabletops, to chair backs, to the ceremony aisle, to the posts holding up an outdoor reception tent. Large plants can also dress up a doorway when placed on either side, or define the spot where you’ll take your vows.

For many brides, greenery is even replacing flowers in the last bastion of tradition—the bridal bouquet.

Try eucalyptus, rosemary or jasmine vine.—EH

Four months before

Address and send out your invitations and announcements. Include information regarding the accommodations. (Also consider creating a website with all of the accommodation information. Guests might like to get a head start on making those arrangements and most hotels close your block four weeks out.)

MICHAEL & CARINA

CRAMER PHOTO

Arrange for final dress fittings.

Purchase wedding guest book. ✓ Order your wedding favors, bridal party gifts and other wedding accessories (Champagne glasses, ring bearer pillow, cake knife, etc.).

tiny 2-inch potted succulents, a fun idea for favors or table décor—or you can pot your own in little glass jars saved from your recycling.

If you don’t want to purchase lots of plants, consider renting them. Milmont Greenhouses in Waynesboro offers a great deal on rented plants—25 percent of retail cost. (If Milmont delivers to Charlottesville, there’s also a $40 delivery fee.) The most popular rentals are hanging ferns, ficus trees and palm trees—prices for these range from about $5 to about $18 apiece, depending on species and size, and they’re yours for the whole weekend.

27

Bonnie Sen with Linda Ha Events

WE DD IN GS at COM MO N HO US E

just steps from the

In-house catering can provide exceptional,

historic Downtown Mall, with expertly crafted food and beverage, and spirited decor, Common House is

locally-sourced menus designed by you

Charlottesville’s premium venue for one-of-a-kind celebrations, from seated rehearsal dinners and receptions to

with you to craft and execute an unforget-

cocktail-style welcome drinks and farewell brunches.

and our Executive Chef, Matt Greene, as well as drink menus designed in coordination with Common House’s world-class Sommelier, Erin Scala. Our team will work table event from beginning to end.

All details are provided in-house: service staff, food and drink, event furniture, A/V equipment and more. Consider us also for your engagement party or bridal shower.

www.commonhouse.com/events

c-ville.com/weddings

434—566—0192

206 West Market St.

WEDDING PLANNER FOUR MONTHS AHEAD: ORDER OTHER WEDDING ACCESSORIES

Best tressed

ASHLEY COX

Local hairstylist’s boutique fills a void

By Caite Hamilton

H

aving been in the bridal industry for half a decade as a hairstylist, Brianna Adams was used to getting asked the same questions: “Where can I find pretty hair accessories?” or “Which piece will look best with my hair?” In other words, it was an easy transition from styling to retail, when she launched Mood and Muse boutique in spring of 2017.

The shop—which is online-only (for now, though she says she has plans to open a storefront eventually)—features all things moody and romantic,

from regal crowns with custom metal orchids to whimsical pins with flowers, crystals and pearls.

But the selection doesn’t stop there. Mood and Muse offers adornment for the body, too.

“I just wanted to create a beautiful space filled with unique, handmade hair pieces, lingerie, robes and any other accessory a bride would need for her wedding day and honeymoon,” says Adams, who still works full time as a freelance wedding and editorial hairstylist. And, she notes, she wanted each piece to be distinctive, even if that meant straying from the style of a more traditional bride. “My selection is for the romantic at heart, the whimsy and the boho.”

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A&W Collectables Antique Mall Over 60 booths and shops

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AWCollectables

Beautiful Possibilities...Affordable Elegance

Located conveniently just outside Charlottesville and in close proximity to Richmond, Spring Creek Golf Club is a sophisticated venue that provides a variety of elegant, yet affordable possibilities for your special event. Our Celebration Room and Terrace overlooking the lake are the perfect place to welcome your friends and family; we can accommodate any size party up to 200 guests.

Our experienced and thoughtful staff offer event coordination at a variety of price points. Our Executive Chef will work with you to create an exceptional menu, we can even create a custom wedding cake with our talented in-house pastry chef. The possibilities are unlimited and Spring Creek would be honored to help you create the most memorable events of your life.

Celebrate your next special occasion with us!

Contact Heather at hmott@springcreekliving.com I 540-832-6035

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Rachel May PhotogRaPhy

HomeCare

Jewelry Garden Art Glassware Furniture Table Top Decor

WEDDING PLANNER SIX MONTHS AHEAD: ORDER YOUR WEDDING CAKE

Cheat sheet Stretching the cake budget

By Lisa Martin

T

hough never featured in formal wedding photos and usually tucked behind closed doors during the reception, the humble sheet cake has long played an important role in wedding planning, and for good reason. Sometimes referred to as a “kitchen cake,” a sheet cake can be prepared alongside the main, multi-tiered wedding cake, called the “cutting cake,” and the combo offers several advantages.

“For weddings with larger guest counts, it can be pretty stressful for the caterer to quickly serve the guests after the bride and groom have cut the cake,” says Gerry Newman, owner of Albemarle Baking Company. “With a sheet cake, they can have 100 slices plated and ready to go, so everyone can be served at once.” A sheet cake can match the cutting cake’s flavor or be entirely different, and typically goes without the elaborate embellishments of the main cake.

MORGAN SALYER

31

Beyond the strategic benefits, the cost savings due to the sheet cake’s simpler design can be significant, potentially halving the wedding cake bill. “My sheet cakes are made of three layers, just like the main cake,” says Kathy Watkins of Favorite Cakes in Charlottesville, “but because there is no decoration, it’s priced per serving below the more complicated and detailed wedding cake.”

Designing and building the main show cake is an incredibly labor-intensive process. “For me it’s not necessarily artistic,” says Newman, who bakes one or two wedding cakes per weekend during the busy spring and fall seasons. “I’m a technician—I know just what I need.”

Even so, an experienced chef can spend six or more hours mixing, baking, assembling and decorating the cake, plus additional time corresponding with the clients and transporting the finished creation—carefully!—to its final destination. For couples on a budget, the secret sheet cake can make that dream cake possible.

LOCAL • INNOVATIVE • SUSTAINABLE

We are aren’t married but sometimes it feels like it. We work together to help you

LIVE WHERE YOU LOVE. BobHughesTeam.com

boutique wedding

as

& event catering

homegrown

BOB HUGHES, ASSOCIATE BROKER 434.989.3592 | bobhughes@nestrealty.com

as it gets

www.lundch.com

126 Garrett Street, Suite D, Charlottesville, VA 22902 | NestRealty.com

On The Golf Course At Private, Gated, Glenmore Country Club Overlooking the 12th fairway Walk to the tennis courts, the stables, or the clubhouse for fine dining.

Relax in this well-maintained, updated, one-level, 4 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath home with full, walk-out basement. Enjoy the peaceful view and watch the golfers from the back deck of this Southern Living home. The bright, open, flowing, floor plan displays high ceilings and hardwood floors. Features include delightful, whimsical sunroom and huge palladium window. Kitchen features granite countertops and new appliances. Brand new extra large Spa-tacular master bath and closet. Light filled walkout terrace level features awesome family room with 4th bedroom and full bath.

Large unfinished area for storage or future expansion. 2½ car garage.

Owner/Agent.

MLS# 472477

$599,000

Darla Davies

Cell: 434-960-9610 • darladances@embarqmail.com www.1stdominionpropertymanagement.com

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355 RIO RD W CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22901

WEDDING PLANNER

YOUR WEDDING CHECKLIST

Three months before

Make an appointment with your stylist for wedding day hairstyles for the bride and bridal party, as well as appointments for manis, pedis, massages or other spa treatments.

Schedule a trial with your hairstylist and makeup artist.

Start gathering your RSVPs. Finalize the dates for your last-minute dress fittings. ✓ Meet with all your wedding vendors to finalize any orders and reservations.

Purchase bridal party gifts and a gift for your fiancé.

Finalize the plans for your honeymoon. Update your passport and vaccinations, if necessary. ✓ Finalize ceremony.

DAY OF: GET IN A WEDDING DAY WORKOUT

Pure love

A morning yoga session takes the edge off

One month before

Finalize the details of your rehearsal dinner.

✓ Go over song lists and requests with your

band or DJ. Draw up preliminary seating arrangements for the reception.

Have a trial session with your wedding-day hairstylist and makeup artist.

Start taking dance lessons for your first dance.

Get your marriage license with your fiancé.

Three weeks before Pick up wedding rings.

✓ Confirm all arrival times with vendors.

Confirm hotel arrangements for out-of-town guests.

Have your final dress fitting.

Finalize the seating arrangement for the reception.

Attend your bachelor/bachelorette party.

One week before

Give the caterer your final guest count.

Have final fittings for your groom and groomsmen.

Give gifts to your wedding party, family and fiancé privately, or at the rehearsal dinner.

Make arrangements for your wedding gifts to be brought to your home.

Two days before

Get a mani/pedi.

Get a wax and a spray tan.

Confirm flight, hotel and packing arrangements for the honeymoon.

Make payment envelopes for each vendor and give them to your wedding day assistant along with your marriage license to take care of at the wedding.

Confirm arrangements for the getaway car.

One day before Attend your rehearsal dinner.

Your wedding day ✓ Get in a wedding day workout.

Get your hair and makeup done early.

Make sure you get plenty to eat, and drink a lot of water.

Have fun!

By Caite Hamilton

I

t goes without saying that planning a wedding is stressful. And, on the day of the big day, the nerves are at an all-time high. Enter Liz Reynolds, who in 2014 started offering a yoga service to keep the jitters at a minimum.

Reynolds had recently moved to town and, as a former professional dancer turned yoga/meditation/movement teacher, wanted to bring yoga to the Charlottesville community without opening “yet another yoga studio,” she says. “Plus, many of my friends were starting to get married and I immediately recognized how stressful the process could be for them.” Zen Bride Yoga was born.

33

The service brings the yoga to you—mats, props, music and essential oils included—for a 60-minute class. And it’s not just for the star of the show; the bridal party is invited, too.

At Rebecca Vauter’s wedding in October 2017, about 20 of her friends and family attended the class, an all-levels vinyasa session.

“It was the perfect way to start the day,” Vauter says. “Relaxing and fun at the same time.” She says Reynolds created a calm, friendly vibe—just as it should be.

“The practice of yoga is meant to connect us deeper to living moment by moment and to help us remember our true nature,” Reynolds says, “which is pure love.”

WEDDINGS & ENGAGEMENTS • PORTRAITS

434.996.4128

cbriggsphoto.com

RUNNER UP

luxury wedding design & planning www.orphaevents.com

New Downtown Event Space

We Welcome Outside Catering!

Turnkey Event Space with Full Bar, Kitchen and Catering Amenities Seating for 50 Guests, Cocktail Space for 75 Plus a Large Patio on the Mall!

223 W. Main St • Charlottesville, VA • pennyheartpresents.com • pennyheartpresents@gmail.com c-ville.com/weddings

WEDDING PLANNER THREE MONTHS AHEAD: FINALIZE CEREMONY VOWS

Find the write words Ceremony readings that tell your love story

By Mary Shea Valliant

D MEREDITH SLEDGE

escribing love is hard. Describing the love you and your partner share in front of a congregation of family and friends? That’s hard enough to render any author speechless—even UVA creative writing professor and distinguished poet Lisa Russ Spaar.

When couples ask Spaar for recommendations, her go-to, she says, is poetry. “Everything looks like a love poem, depending on how you read it,” she says.

Spaar’s daughter, Suzannah, will be married this November, and while Spaar hasn’t yet been asked to pen a poem for her daughter’s wedding, there are a few moving pieces on her list of recommendations.

Song of Songs 2:10-12, King James version of the Bible

“My beloved spoke, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away […].

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.”

Passage from Letters to a Young Poet

“The Shampoo”

by Rainer Maria Rilke

“The shooting stars in your black hair in bright formation are flocking where, so straight, so soon? — Come, let me wash it in this big tin basin, battered and shiny like the moon.”

by Elizabeth Bishop, lines 13-18

“I hold this to be the highest task of a bond between two people: that each should stand guard over the solitude of the other.”

35

“Blessing the Boats (at St. Mary’s)”

by Lucille Clifton, lines 1-9 “may the tide that is entering even now the lip of our understanding carry you out beyond the face of fear may you kiss the wind then turn from it certain that it will love your back”

Pippin Hill’s vistas overlooking our lush vineyards and the dreamy Blue Ridge Mountains are complemented by expertly designed event venues. Every detail has been carefully thought through to make your wedding seamless. Our Granary is ideal for seated dinners or dancing, and our Veranda is a romantic alfresco option for cocktails. From bridal showers and postwedding day brunches in the Reserve Room to indoor/outdoor ceremony and reception options, Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards is an all-season, flexible, full-service venue for the ultimate in wine country weddings.

5022 Plank Road, North Garden, VA 22959 434.202.8063 events@pippinhillfarm.com @pippinhillfarm #pippinhill

Fine dining and top-shelf drinks in the midst of downtown Charlottesville’s historic pedestrian mall is the urbane way to begin a celebratory weekend. Red Pump Kitchen’s classic bistrostyle restaurant and bar makes planning and hosting a Rehearsal Dinner effortless. Treat your guests to locally sourced seasonal fare, along with handmade pastas and pizzas that shine on our Tuscan-inspired menu. Host a seated dinner for your family and bridal party and then invite the out-of-town guests to join you for a late-night reception. You take care of the guest list, and we’ll take care of the rest!

401 East Main Street Downtown Charlottesville 434.202.6040 @redpumpkitchen #redpumpkitchen www.redpumpkitchen.com

www.pippinhillfarm.com

WEDDING PLANNER THREE MONTHS AHEAD: FINALIZE ANY ORDERS AND RESERVATIONS (INCLUDING ALCOHOL)

Mr. Good Bar

Local bartender recommends a summery signature drink

By Caite Hamilton

B

uy a few extra bottles of bourbon when you snag the one you’ll bury* before your big day. This summertime cocktail from The Imbible author and Alley Light bar manager Micah LeMon practically sings “Virginia wedding” from the first sip, making it an ideal signature cocktail for your reception.

Says LeMon, “If you’re having a wedding in Charlottesville in the summertime, it would be a shame not to use fresh peaches. And if you’re getting married in general, you’re committed to a certain degree of impractical idealism and hard work. Nothing would be more evocative of these themes than featuring an egg white cocktail with fresh, local fruit picked in season—one that has to be muddled, built, dry shaken and wet shaken individually. If you’re not a fan of the hard

Bourbon Peach Serves one 2 oz. Buffalo Trace Bourbon 1/2 oz. lemon 1/2 oz. egg whites 1/4 cup peaches, macerated Angostura bitters (garnish) Rinse peaches and quarter them, taking out the stones. Measure quartered peaches and toss with sugar. Calculate the amount of sugar to use by multiplying the amount of peaches by half; e.g. if you have 8 cups of quartered peaches, toss with 4 cups of sugar. Let the peaches macerate for at least an hour and try to use them within a day. Muddle peaches in a shaker, then build the cocktail in the shaker, too. Dry shake then wet shake. Decorate with bitters.

MORGAN SALYER

37

work, don’t get married; if you’re willing to roll your sleeves up, you’ll be surprised that the hard work is worth it.”

Here’s how to do it right. *FYI: It’s Southern tradition to bury a bottle of bourbon to ensure good weather on your wedding day. Bury it exactly one year out, or on a day with weather you wouldn’t mind having. After you say “I do,” dig it up and enjoy.

REBECCA KEELING STUDIOS

WEDDING PLANNER

THREE WEEKS AHEAD: CONFIRM ARRIVAL TIMES WITH VENDORS

Someone to watch over you Head off trouble with a day-of coordinator

By Erika Howsare

W

e know, we know: You are a master of organization, and you have this wedding-planning thing totally under wraps. You are hiring your own vendors, crushing every target on your planning timeline and tracking the process in elaborate colorcoded spreadsheets. Good for you! But have you considered what will happen when it’s your actual wedding day, you’re just about dressed for the ceremony, and your sister delivers the bad news that the florist has eloped to Fiji?

Even for those who go DIY in the planning stage, professional help can be a godsend on the day itself. Planner Jazmin Portnow, with Anyvent Event

Planning, remembers a wedding she coordinated where one important thing turned up missing. “There was a miscommunication between the bride and the catering team,” she says, “and they didn’t have napkins.”

Nonplussed by someone’s panicked suggestion to use paper towels, Portnow managed to arrange for a last-minute linen rental—and rendezvous with the vendor on the roadside, miles from the reception site—without the bride ever knowing what was happening. “I told her afterward, and they laughed about it,” she says.

Whereas a full-service wedding planner joins the team early in the planning stages and typically helps contribute to the aesthetics of the design, a day-of coordinator comes on board later and makes sure your vision is executed as smoothly as possible.

Like several other local planners, in addition to full-service planning, Anyvent offers day-of and month-of packages specifically for couples who want help only in the final stages of planning. These services include a consultation at the wedding site to make sure the layout will be practical and not just visually pleasing. “People get obsessed with Pinterest boards,” says Portnow. “I’m kind of there to play devil’s advocate”—tactfully pushing back, for example, when couples propose putting a seating chart next to a door, where it will create a bottleneck in the hallway.

A day-of coordinator also takes responsibility for physically setting up decorative and personal items on the wedding day, serving as the day-of point of contact for vendors—a real boon if you don’t want to be on the phone—and handling unforeseen emergencies. “You can’t even dream of the things that happen,” says Portnow. “You need somebody in your corner.”

Anyvent charges $1,095 for day-of planning services and $1,550 for monthof services, both of which also come with plenty of phone and email support, creating an itinerary for the bridal party, coordinating the rehearsal and making sure your wedding gifts get to the right place at the end of the night.

“Some people think ‘My aunt or my friend can do it,’” she says, “but that’s taking away from their experience. Have somebody behind the scenes who has your back.”

38

ONE MONTH AHEAD: CONFIRM YOUR SONG LIST

Hit list REBECCA KEELING STUDIOS

Work with your DJ to tailor your tunes

By Caite Hamilton

T

hough DJ John Garland once had clients text him a picture of a wedding attendant from whom he shouldn’t take requests, coming up with a playlist is typically pretty stress-free. But that’s just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to hiring a DJ. Garland says, regardless of which DJ they’re interviewing, couples should ask for a list of recent references, a backup plan in case of emergency and what they’ll need to provide (protection from weather, time for setup, power source, etc.). But, it’s also a good idea to talk about the DJ’s level of involvement at the reception. Because a DJ often serves as a reception director—announcing the newlyweds, introducing various highlights of the evening (first dance, cake cutting)—it’s important to be upfront about those expectations.

Ask about his or her ability to liaise with other vendors and how involved the couple can be when choosing the music. From there, it’s just a conversation about what songs (or styles of music) to include or exclude.

As for Garland, he personally doesn’t mind taking requests. “I am a people-pleaser,” he says. “I try my best to make everyone enjoy the event I am working and feel catered to.”

The romance of the estate .. inspiring for weddings, treasured for anniversaries

Top tracks DJ John Garland says these are the most requested songs for first dances.

First dance:

Parent/daughter dance:

Parent/son dance:

■ “You are the Best Thing”

by Ray LaMontagne ■ “Crazy Love” by Van Morrison ■ “You and Me”

by Dave Matthews Band

■ “What a Wonderful World”

by Louis Armstrong ■ “My Girl” by The Temptations ■ “I Loved Her First”

by Heartland

■ “Simple Man”

by Lynyrd Skynyrd ■ “Perfect Fan” by the Backstreet Boys ■ “Mama”

by Boyz II Men

since 1976

c-ville.com/weddings

bbvwine.com

Amanda C. Blake PHOTOGRAPHY

weddings engagements lifestyle amandacblakephotography.com 434-305-4506

Wedding and Corporate Events Venue with Southern Charm and Grace 13528 Sedwick Lane Orange, Va

Janet Sedwick, Owner/Manager • o: 540-672-9029 • c: 540-748-0325

janet@lakelandandfarmva.com • www.thepaviliononlakelandfarm.com

Lisa Barnes Rogers

Your wish comes true —Doubletree Charlottesville

Marriage Commissioner Officiant Commonwealth of Virginia

To have and to hold the memories ...

We make them all special at the Doubletree.

We vow to make all of the celebrations of your new beginning perfect.

• Customized wedding ceremonies to fit your needs, values and beliefs.

• Effortless and affordable.

• Available on short notice

990 Hilton Heights Road Charlottesville, VA 22901 434-973-2121

434-531-0064

www.Charlottesville.doubletreecville.com

lisarogers55@gmail.com

c-ville.com/weddings

Surround Yourself With Something Blue.

Celebrate a day you’ll never forget wrapped in the love of your family and friends and the spectacular beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains at Early Mountain Vineyards.

Let us help you plan a wedding that is all you. Simply choose your something old, something new and email us at ido@earlymountain.com.

Photo: Amy Jackson

earlymountain.com

6109 Wolftown-Hood Road, Madison, VA 22727 c-ville.com/weddings

Create a perfect arrival and departure for the most romantic day of your life. Don't settle for ordinary choose extraordinary, reach for the Top Shelf.

Bentley Get Away Car ~ Wedding Party Transportation

www.topshelftransportation.com 434-295-9462 - info@topshelftransportation.com

c-ville.com/weddings

e v o L stories REA L LO CA L W E DDI N GS

Six weddings with romance, beauty and real-life inspiration

Words by

Caite Hamilton MICHAEL & CARINA

43

Home is Where Your Story Begins.

LET US HELP YOU WRITE YOURS.

Visit us at the Newport Model in Oak Hill Farm at 404 Margrave Way, Charlottesville, VA.

MODEL HOMES OPEN DAILY 12-5 | 434-973-3362 | craigbuilders.com

You’ve taken care of something new and something blue.

Let us do the rest.

From ballrooms to brunch, and all of the festivities in between, we’ll make your big day a breeze.

4000 square feet of meeting & event space Unique bridal dressing room Impressive rooftop ballroom, restaurant and bar

c-ville.com/weddings

l

d e R

y r a e tt d e l Photographs by

o ll e i r a F n Je

A bold hue brightens a memorable spring soirĂŠe

45

46

LOV E STOR I ES

&

Jane Hawkins Mike Webb

It’s a love story

The couple met in 2012 at Rolls-Royce in Indianapolis, while Jane was completing a work-study program for the spring semester.

When she moved back to Indianapolis in 2014, they reconnected and started dating.

He popped the question in March 2017 on a ski trip in Vail, Colorado.

J

ane and Mike knew they wanted their wedding to showcase two main components. First and foremost, the beauty of Charlottesville, which they accomplished with the venue.

“The view at Grace Estate was spectacular, and we liked the fact that it was fairly unique and hadn’t been used for many weddings previously,” Mike says. “We also felt it was a completely blank canvas with minimal rules on what we could and couldn’t do, so we liked the idea that we could make it our own and unique to us.”

Its “blank canvas” quality made it easy to accomplish the second must on their list, too: to utilize the bride’s favorite color, red.

Jane worked with Southern Blooms to create bright bouquets and establish a color palette. From there, they chose the bridesmaids’ dresses, groomsmen’s ties and, with the help of their planner, décor and table linens.

One special detail—a red wax stamp with a W on it—they picked up even before getting engaged.

“I guess we thought we’d use it for Christmas cards at some point,” Mike says, “but it was a fun touch for the wedding day.”

But the most exciting addition, Mike says, was the 1957 Chevy Corvette the couple rented from turo.com. “I am a big car guy and wanted to drive my bride away in a classic car,” says Mike. The couple used it as their getaway car, driving it from the church across Beta Bridge (which his friends had painted for them) all the way to the reception.

“It gave us 30 minutes of just ‘us time,’” he says. “Our first private moments of being newlyweds.”

47

Let Moxie Make You Camera Ready For Your Special Day

Full Bridal Party Services Offered: Hair, Make-up, Waxing, Face & Body Treatments available Call for your appointment today.

Moxie Hair & Body Lounge 608 Preston Avenue Charlottesville, VA 22903 434.979.5556 www.moxiehairlounge.com

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Mon. 9–4pm • Tue.9–8pm • Wed/Thu. 9– 7pm • Fri/Sat. 9–5pm

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AUTHENTIC.

STONE MOUNTAIN Vineyards

PERFECT PL ACE TO START YOUR WEDDING ADVENTURE

JOYFUL. PHOTOGRAPHY

that celebrates your life!

1376 Wyatt Mountain Road • Dyke VA 22935 434.990.WINE (9463) • stonemountainvineyards.com stonemountainvineyards@gmail.com Tasting Room Hours 11am - 6pm Thur-Mon.

www.celestial-sights.com c-ville.com/weddings

434-466-2241

LOVE STO RIES

APRIL 21, 2018, AT GR ACE E S TATE WINERY

Good thought

Rather than have a massive bridal party, Jane asked her friends from college to wear red like the bridesmaids and be what she called the wedding’s “house party.”

49

P L E A S E C H E C K T H E A P P R O P R I AT E B OX , S I G N A N D R E T U R N T H I S P R O O F S H E E T

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Let Old World charm, Virginia hospitality, and rustic romance create the backdrop for your wedding day.

First Colony Winery offers the perfect setting for an intimate celebration that you will remember for years to come.

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Fairytale

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The perfect ending for your

FIRST PLACE: Best Jewelry Store Daily Progress, Reader’s Choice 2017

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Fairytale

Wedding Services · Parades · Holidays · Children’s Groups · Special Events www.lexcarriage.com | 540.463.5647 | www.facebook.com/lexcarriage

Wedding Services · Parades · Holidays · Historical Tours of Lexington · Special Events www.lexcarriage.com | 540.463.5647 | www.facebook.com/lexcarriage 2015-2016 COPYRIGHT© VISTAGRAPHICS, INC. 1264 Perimeter Parkway, Virginia Beach, VA 23454; Phone: 757-422-8979; Fax: 757-422-9092; Artwork, Composites, Speculative Advertising etc. produced by VistaGraphics, Inc. is the sole property of VistaGraphics Inc. and may not be reproduced under any circumstances. VistaGraphics cannot be held responsible for errors appearing in the final printed piece which are not brought to our attention at this time. Time is of the essence. Please review within 24 hours and return.

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F O R O F F I C E U S E O N LY

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FIRST PLACE: Best Jewelry Store Cville Weekly, Best of Cville 2017

LOV E STOR I ES

Farm to table

L’étoile helped the couple select a menu that perfectly showcased spring eats in Charlottesville: strawberry arugula salad, with chicken or salmon as the main course, plus late-night mac ‘n’ cheese snacks. “That went down very well!” Mike says.

The details:

Ceremony venue: Westminster Presbyterian Church Event planner: Marisa Vrooman (Orpha Events) Officiant: Alex Evans (Second Presbyterian Church in Richmond) Catering: L’étoile Catering Flowers: Southern Blooms by Pat’s Floral Design Cake: Sweethaus Music: InsideOut Band (East Coast Entertainment) Bride’s attire: Anne Barge Shoes: Gianvito Rossi Groom’s attire: Ted Baker morning suit Groomsmen’s attire: Ted Baker morning suits Bridesmaids’ dresses: Badgley Mischka (Rent the Runway) Rings: James Allen (Jane), Staghead Design (Mike) Hair and makeup: Daphne Latham Videographer: Ian’s Creations

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a boutigue culinary design firm the catering outfit | www.cateringoutfit.com | charlottesville virginia 22902 | (434) 951-4699

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M a s sa n ut te n

Less than 45 minutes from Charlottesville, VA.

love can move mountains

massanutten Resort sets the scene for a perfect mountain wedding.

Whether you are looking to have 15 guests or 300, our staff can customize a wedding package just for you. Our menu of amenities and options for your big day include: • Personalized event planning services • Custom menus • Venue selection • Group discounts for lodging and activities

massResort.com/Groups Now hosting business and teambuilding events!

Photo by Ashley Cox Photography

C U S T O M W E D D I N G I N V I T A T I O N S . S AV E T H E D A T E S P R O G R A M S . M E N U S . E S C O R T C A R D S . S TAT I O N E RY

give us a call or email to schedule an appointment to discuss your wedding papers historic downtown mall . 321 east main street . charlottesville, virginia . 434.979.6366 hey@thinkrockpaperscissors.com . www.thinkrockpaperscissors.com

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NICKI AHRENS PHOTOGRAPHY

Celebrate Your Unforgettable Wedding At Historic, Waterfront North Point Plantation on Virginia’s Beautiful Mattaponi River

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LOVE STOR I ES

Timeless Photography by

love

Michael & Carina

Classic details let love shine

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LOV E STOR I ES

M

en in classic black-and-white tuxes, ladies in champagne. Gilded details, from the invitations to the cake topper. A reception area with high ceilings and extravagant chandeliers. Floriza and Jerome decided early on that they wanted their wedding to be elegant and timeless, which helped them make certain decisions for the big day.

Their color palette—a mix of whites, blush and gold—was displayed everywhere, from attire to flowers.

“We wanted to keep the flowers lush and romantic,” Floriza says of her rose, hydrangea and eucalyptus arrangements. “We kept the colors with crisp whites and light mauve touches and added gray-greens for a softer touch.”

Another classic choice? The caterer.

“We would do staycations in Charlottesville and dine at C&O every time,” says Floriza. “The staff is always great and the food is just incredible.”

But the best part, the bride and groom agree, was the vows.

Says Floriza, “It was very intimate and truly felt like it was just us in that moment. We were glad to be able to share it with our closest and favorite people.”

56

&

Floriza Hernandez Jerome White SEP TE MBER 9, 2017, AT TRUMP WINERY

Dignified DIY

The bride loves being creative, and felt making a few things for the wedding would add a nice touch. She ended up designing and making the invites, signage, place cards, menus, seating chart, favor boxes and cake topper.

57

English Inn of Charlottesville

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our room nowreserve accepting reservations reserve our private private room now accepting reservations for showers, for wedding wedding showers, for holiday parties in our for holiday parties birthday parties engagement partiesin our newand private dining room & rehearsal business affairs dinners new private dining room new private dining room n for holiday parties in our o fo now accepting reservations n please call 434.972.9463 to reserve in advance 826 Hinton Ave • tavolavino.com email: info@tavolavino.com please 434.972.9463 reserveininadvance advance or callcall 434.972.9643 toto reserve 826 434.972.9463 Hinton Ave • tavolavino.com please call to reserve in advance

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LOVE STO RIES

Time for love The couple met in high school but didn’t develop a real friendship until years later, when Jerome would travel weekly from New York to where Floriza lived in Washington, D.C. “After six years of being together,” Floriza says, “Jerome popped the question.”

The details:

Event planner Amore Events Officiant Dave Norris Catering C&O Flowers Blue Ridge Floral Cake Cakes by Rachel Music TD Layman Bride’s attire Mori Lee Shoes Jimmy Choo Groom’s attire Suitsupply and Salvatore Ferragamo Groomsmen’s attire The Black Tux Rings David Yurman Hair Timothy O’Leary Videographer NST Films Photobooth MoxBox Donut truck Carpe Donut

59

We start with service quality and strive for simplicity. We collaborate with you – the bride, the parents, the planner, the caterer, the florist, the venue.

Be it a trend or a unique look! Our rental products will make your vision a reality on your special day.

Call today 434.296.5496 or visit us online @

High quality event rentals and services for occasions large and small.

PHOTO BY EMILY BARTELL

PHOTO BY SERA PETRAS

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LOVE STOR I ES

All in Photographs by

Ryan & Rach Photography

A community of love buoys a big day

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LOV E STO RI ES

Seeing stars

(previous page)

Amateur astronomers (and the couple’s photographers) Ryan and Rach found out the Milky Way would be directly over the reception on the wedding night. Once the stars were out, they pulled Patrick and Elliott to the hillside for a few pictures beneath a sparkly sky.

Good thought

To save on costs, florist Lauren Thompson created nosegays (rather than full bouquets) for each of the couple’s attendants, which were later reused as décor during the reception.

“It saved us from buying additional arrangements,” says Patrick, “and our attendants didn’t really want to carry the nosegays around all night anyway.”

Close readings

Two couples Patrick and Elliott looked up to gave the readings. “We loved the idea of a married couple reading together, and giving us advice on our wedding day,” Patrick says.

64

&

Patrick McGettigan Elliott Glass SEP TE MBER 23, 2017, AT GR ACE E S TATE WINERY

T

hroughout the night, Patrick and Elliott kept hearing from guests that the love and positivity in the tent was palpable.

That was all the affirmation they needed.

“From the very beginning,” Patrick says, “our focus had been on celebrating love, celebrating our families and celebrating with each other.”

They paid special attention to including family—the grooms’ younger sisters served as “best men,” cousins served as ushers and greeters, aunts and uncles read the prayers. Even the intercessional hymn, “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace,” was a favorite song of Patrick’s grandparents.

“Every part of the service was connected to someone important in our lives,” Patrick says.

“It all served as a reminder that it is the people

65

who have made our lives so blessed and wonderful to this point.”

That’s not to say they didn’t put a lot of thought into the look of the event, as well as the feel of it. The couple, who met through a mutual friend in 2013, knew from the start that they wanted a modern take on a classic Virginia wedding.

“We often said we wanted the wedding to be handsome, rather than beautiful,” Patrick says.

That meant a color palette of black, cream, charcoal and green, colors they felt would pop against the backdrop of both St. Paul’s and Grace Estate.

In the end, though, it was all about the love.

Says Patrick, “September 23 was truly the best day of our lives, and it was all because of the people we were with.”

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LOV E STOR I ES

Great sign

One of Patrick and Elliott’s favorite elements of the ceremony was their Quaker Marriage Certificate. One of the couple’s friends created a custom calligraphic design (incorporating the greens that made up the central part of their florals), and every wedding guest signed on the certificate. “In the Quaker tradition,” says Patrick, “the marriage is solemnified once every member of the community has signed, and we loved the idea of our marriage being blessed by everyone in attendance. The certificate is now framed in our living room, and makes us so happy to see the hand-written names of all of our guests.”

The details

Ceremony venue St. Paul’s Memorial Church Day-of coordinator Cristelle Koerper Officiant Reverend William Peyton Catering: C&O Flowers Bloom Floral Design Cake Sweethaus Music Bachelor Boys Band Grooms’ attire The Black Tux (Patrick); Generation Tux (Elliott) Rings Tiffany & Co. Wedding party hair Face Value Salon Transportation Easy Riders Bus Company Invitations Minted Event rentals MS Events

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we plan

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FUN FROM THE WELCOME PARTY TO THE LAST DANCE With the largest selection of bands, DJs and specialty musicians anywhere, ECE brings your vision to life with our professional talent exceeding your wedding dreams. From the welcome party and rehearsal dinner to the ceremony and reception, we make your wedding weekend a fun and unforgettable experience!

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Your love story deserves a venue worthy of telling the tale. Enter Valley Road Vineyards, located in beautiful Afton, Virginia, just 20 minutes due west of Charlottesville. Whether you envision an outdoor fĂŞte for 300 or a more intimate indoor affair, our event spaces allow for a variety of arrangements - all featuring magnificent Blue Ridge vistas.

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LOV E STOR I ES

y z o C Details fall into place at an intimate celebration

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Amy Jackson

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LOV E STO RIES

Good thought

With little interest in a more traditional vineyard or plantation setting, Caitlyn and John had a light-bulb moment at a favorite haunt: “A few minutes after grabbing beers and ordering food [at Kardinal Hall to watch a game] we were kicking ourselves for not thinking of the place sooner. It was totally our style, had an awesome beer list and plenty of space.” Plus, she says, in a restaurant the atmosphere is already built in.

T

he plan was, there was no plan. A stylist by trade, Caitlyn didn’t want to overcomplicate the planning process by matching patterns and colors.

“I find it more inspiring to let the pieces that you find write the style of what you’re creating, as opposed to coming up with a specific vision and trying to find the exact pieces to fit into it,” she says. “It becomes a creative process, and the end result feels more organic.”

They started with the bridesmaids’ dresses (“they were navy, so they wore navy,” Caitlyn says). The groomsmen already owned dark suits, so that’s what they wore. Caitlyn had been coveting a certain fabric at The Second Yard for more than a year, so she and John’s mom made table runners out of it, and the rest of the table décor was kept simple: just the runners and “a hodge-podge of clear glass votives and vases we filled with candles, pea gravel and air plants.”

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In the end, the specific details hardly mattered—what Caitlyn and John both look back on with the most fondness is less about a what, and more about a who. Many whos.

“We tried to involve as many friends as possible in the day,” Caitlyn says. They have close personal connections to the photographers, baker, officiant and jeweler they worked with for the wedding. “Having so many special details be touched by our friends was an incredible gift.”

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LOV E STOR I ES

Favorite moment

“[The ceremony] was a really emotional part for me.

Up to that point, I had been pretty stoic and calm, but when Micah hit the first few notes of ‘Jupiter’ [from Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” suite], I had a hard time keeping it together, since it meant I was going to see Cait walk down the aisle and it was actually, finally happening,” John says.

&

Caitlyn Stego John Anderson FEBRUARY 18, 2018, AT K ARDINAL HALL

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c-ville.com/weddings

LOV E STOR I ES

Easy does it

Taking a cue from John’s favorite food (sandwiches), the couple opted for a no-fuss menu of beef, chicken or mushroom sliders, plus mac ‘n’ cheese, veggies and salad for sides.

The details

Ceremony venue The Haven Officiant Winn Collier (All Souls Church) Catering Kardinal Hall Cake Arleycakes Ceremony music Micah Hunter-Chang (violin), Caroline Fernandez (piano) Reception music Spotify playlist Bride’s attire BHLDN Shoes ASOS Groom’s attire Banana Republic Bridesmaids’ dresses ASOS Rings Elaine B Jewelry

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Photography

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“the one”

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LOV E STOR I ES

y l p m i Selegant Photography by

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At Keswick, natural beauty takes center stage

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LOV E STO RIES

L

ess is more, and in the case of Huong and Eddie’s wedding, they knew that adding too much to their beautiful venue might detract from its impact.

“We wanted to keep it elegant and simple,” Huong says. That meant a muted color palette that would amplify the natural surroundings, and minimal décor that allowed the celebration to take center stage. Special details—like custom pop tart favors from Wonderment, Fourth of July-themed hand fans for guests in the July heat and wedding day coloring books for the kiddos—added personalized touches.

Still, their favorite moments were ones they couldn’t have planned. Huong loved walking down the aisle and seeing Eddie at the end.

“Another favorite moment,” she says, “was when Eddie and I made our speeches to our guests. We spoke separately about how we met each other.” Speaking of, that was classic Charlottesville, too. The couple met at one of their favorite bars on the Corner during graduation week 10 years ago.

&

Huong Doan Eddie Sniezek JULY 1, 2017, AT K E S WICK VINE YARDS

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LOVE STO RI ES

Local touches

To incorporate as much of Charlottesville as possible, the couple offered Blue Ridge Kettle Korn during cocktail hour and late-night pizzas from giant slice spot Benny Deluca’s.

The details

Day-of coordinator Angelica Laws Officiant Father Antoninus Niemiec Catering Harvest Moon Catering Music DJ Dennis Payne Bride’s attire Reem Acra Shoes Christian Louboutin Groom’s attire Ralph Lauren Groomsmen’s attire Various black tuxedos Bridesmaids’ dresses Rachel Zoe Rings Fink’s Jewelers Hair and makeup Jennifer Saunders Bridal favors Wonderment Bakeshop & Creamery

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August 19, 2018

January 20, 2019

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WEDDINGS AT THE HAVEN Let your love shine in our gorgeous sanctuary and registered historical building, one block from the downtown mall.

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LOV E STOR I ES

W

hen planning a wedding, some people start with a beautiful linen, or a particular prop. For Sarah and Jonathan, the setting was the jumping-off point.

“We knew we wanted to showcase the beauty of Charlottesville’s outdoors,” Sarah says, “and have a wedding that matched our own style.”

No better place to do that, they found, than Panorama Farms.

“We fell in love with [its] stunning views of the Blue Ridge and its rustic barn,” Sarah says.

“It allowed our guests to spend a lot of time outdoors.”

The couple started the evening with a hilltop cocktail hour, then dinner under a tent outside the property’s charming barn. At the end of the night, everyone went inside for dancing.

They rounded out the natural, rustic theme with a color palette of white, gold and green, with wood accents in frames and clipboards for the food and drink menus (made by the groom!).

All in all, it was just what they wanted. The couple was even able to steal a few minutes for themselves to soak it all in.

“We went up to the top of the hill at Panorama to dig up the bottle of bourbon we had buried to ward off rain,” Sarah says. “The sun was setting over the mountains as our guests ate dinner under the tent below. It was a stunning view and we were so unbelievably happy.”

&

Sarah Peck Jonathan Elsasser JUNE 3, 2017, AT PANOR A M A FAR M S

Good thought

The bride had two handkerchiefs pinned into her dress: one from Jonathan’s grandmother, which she wore on her own wedding day, and one that had been passed between her best friends from college. “We’ve gotten it monogrammed with each couple’s initials before their wedding day,” Sarah says. “Each bride carries it down the aisle with her as her something borrowed.”

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best catering RUNNER UP

thank you to the charlottesville community for all of your support!

LOV E STOR I ES

Flower story

Florist Rhea Calpeno incorporated greenery into a lot of the details—garlands of eucalyptus on the farm tables, greenery on the escort card frame, sprigs of rosemary at each place setting. Blue thistles added a bit of color and texture to the palette.

Meet and greet

Sarah and Jonathan met the spring before their first year at UVA, during Days on the Lawn. They became friends right away when they got to school that fall, and went on their first date to Hamiltons’ at First & Main followed by a walk on the Downtown Mall.

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LOV E STOR I ES

Carbo-load

The couple wanted a Southern-style meal, so they filled the menu with barbecue, grits, ham biscuits, chicken, cornbread and mashed potatoes. But they might have gone a little overboard. “At one point, our caterer gently told us that we had packed our menu full of carbs,” Sarah says, “which cracked us up.”

Dome sweet dome Guests got a kick out of the groom’s cake in the shape of the Rotunda. “We had just been next to the actual Rotunda during our ceremony,” Sarah says. “The cake looked just like it.”

After the party is...

The after party, which the bride and groom wanted to be ’90s-themed, showcased White Ford Bronco, a cover band from Washington, D.C. “We passed out glowstick glasses, slap bracelets and Ring Pops to complete the ’90s theme,” Sarah says. “It was such a fun way to end the perfect day.”

The details

Ceremony venue UVA Chapel Event planner Adam Donovan-Groves Officiant Reverend Ann Gillespie Catering The Barbecue Ex​ ​oce (ceremony), change Flowers Photosynthesis Floral Design Cake B​ijou ​B​akery (wedding cake), S​weethaus (groom’s cake) Music T​erra V Horizon (reception), White Ford Bronco (after-party) Bride’s attire Leanne Marshall Groom’s attire The Black Tux Groomsmen’s attire The Black Tux Bridesmaids’ dresses Jenny Yoo Hair and makeup Avenue 42 Calligraphy Anna Sisman

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ATKINSON FARMS

Walden

Reva, Virg

Walde The Barn The Atkinson Barn was newly constructed in 2016, using beautiful reclaimed wood beams from the American Tobacco Company and Dan River Cotton Mills.

There is a full-service kitchen, which will be pleasing to any caterer. This lovely venue, donning two magnificent crystal chandeliers, can host celebrations of any size.

The Barn has three stone, gas fireplaces with stone hearths and massive mantels, allowing for a comfortable gathering place in this very spacious venue. There is an inviting stone and copper bar, where guests may enjoy a cocktail of their choice.

In addition to our beautiful barn, our venue also has a lodge and cabin. Both can be used to get ready on your wedding day, as well as over night accommodations for your guests or wedding party.

777 Atkinson Road Danville, VA 24540 434.489.2653 atkinsonfarms.com

n Hall

irginia

Apple Chancery H Palatino body text

References

Luxurious Wedding and Event Venue

Walden Hall, never Walden Guest Suites or Suites, not roo Guest Spaces, not common spa Lower level, never basement

540-764-8000 waldenhallweddings.com

Key Phrases

Walden Hall

den Hall

- Luxury bed and breakfast - 10 acres of rolling farmland s by green pastures - Gourmet breakfast

Guest Suites

The Emily Dickinson The Walt Whitman Grande Dressing Room Bridal Salon The Longfellow Loft Thoreau’s Pond Suite The Emerson Pool Suite

Guest Spaces The Club The Lounge Banquet Barn c-ville.com/weddings

M AK I N G M A R RY

Look out below!

A wedding at The Paramount Theater offers many perks: history, architecture, even a stage if you want it. But, most of all, as Blair Davenport discovered, a killer spot from which to toss the bouquet. Her August wedding to her husband, Collin, turned the tradition into a sport, as her Whimsical Floral bouquet sailed through the summer air toward a waiting crowd and was nabbed by the groom’s younger sister.

Score!—Caite Hamilton

JACK LOONEY

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Call us to find out about specials for the bridal party

Anna Magee, MD • Deborah M. Elder, MD, Ines W. Soukoulis, MD • Katherine Loose, PA-C 600 Peter Jefferson Parkway Suite 230, Charlottesville, VA 22911

434-984-2400 • cvillederm.com c-ville.com/weddings

For when you know you’ve found the one.

Two distinct venues, plus an on-site Tasting Room & Taphouse perfect for rehersal dinners.

Couples are welcome to provide their alcohol of choice, or purchase wine & beer options from our Tasting Room.

Onsite accommodations and weekend activities available.

To request a tour, call 434-566-5562 or visit us at MountIdaFarm.com.

For more information about our Tasting Room & Taphouse, please visit MountIdaReserve.com