FALL/WINTER 2014
volume 6, issue 2 published by New South Media, Inc. 709 Beechurst Ave., 14A, Morgantown, WV 26505 304.413.0104, mywvwedding.com
editor Nikki Bowman, nikki@newsouthmediainc.com graphic designer Carla Witt Ford, carla@newsouthmediainc.com managing editor Laura Wilcox Rote, laura@newsouthmediainc.com assistant editor Pam Kasey, pam@newsouthmediainc.com office & circulation manager Sarah Shaffer, sarah@newsouthmediainc.com writers Katie Griffith, katie@newsouthmediainc.com Shay Maunz, shay@newsouthmediainc.com Mikenna Pierotti, mikenna@newsouthmediainc.com web manager Elizabeth Roth, liz@newsouthmediainc.com interns Jack Baronner contributors Rachel Coon advertising account executives Amanda Eskew, Christa Hamra, Season Martin wvweddings@newsouthmediainc.com advertising assistant Bekah Call, bekah@newsouthmediainc.com back issues Back issues may be purchased at mywvwedding.com or by calling 304.413.0104. editorial inquiries Unsolicited photos are not accepted. Please send queries to wvweddings@newsouthmediainc.com.
WV Weddings is published by New South Media, Inc. subscription rate: $10 for 1 year, $18 for two years. Subscribe online at mywvwedding.com or call 304.413.0104.
frequency: Biannual Š New South Media, Inc. Reproduction in part or whole is strictly prohibited without the express written permission of the publisher.
4 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
EDITOR’S LETTER
“You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” dr. seuss
FALL IN LOVE
Love this. . . I fell in love with this necklace ($62.95) at Harmony Ridge Gallery in Lewisburg during a recent visit. Wouldn’t it make a great bridesmaid gift? Visit Harmony Ridge at 209 West Washington Street in Lewisburg. harmonyridgegallery.com
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6 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
We fall in love with every one of our WV Weddings issues and hope you do, too. Beautiful couples, stunning wedding venues, and breathtaking gowns—what’s not to love? I thought it was interesting when we asked our readers to name their dream romantic engagement spots (page 28) that the most popular locations were scenic outdoor ones with lots of rocks around. Of course, the most important rock is the one you’ll be wearing on your finger. In this issue we announce the Best of WV Weddings awards (page 36). Our readers voted for everything from their favorite photographer to wedding planner to venues. Congratulations to the winners! Choosing a bridal gown is one of the biggest decisions a bride makes when planning her dream wedding. We are fortunate in West Virginia to have some amazing bridal boutiques—small, locally owned businesses that pride themselves on exceptional service and a wide range of choices. About half of the brides in this issue purchased their gowns from West Virginia boutiques. Our story on page 44 showcases a handful of our popular shops, so before you head out of state looking for the perfect dress, make sure you visit them. Speaking of dresses, mark your calendar for October 10, 2014. We are celebrating the launch of this Fall/Winter WV Weddings issue with an amazing wedding gown giveaway at The Boutique by B.Belle Events on Virginia Street in Charleston. Bring your best gals and join our editors and photographers as we celebrate this beautiful new bridal shop. In the name of research, for the last several months I’ve been watching movies looking for wedding inspiration. I share with you a few of my takeaways in the Editor’s Notebook on page 27. Before I got married many moons ago, I was inspired by Steel Magnolias and Julia Robert’s wedding that took place in an old church drenched in flowers. (I said it was many moons ago). Today I would be drawn to a more simple affair—I love the idea of a pop-up wedding. Inspiration is everywhere. We hope this magazine inspires you to personalize your big day and that your reality far exceeds your dreams.
nikki bowman, Editor Follow us on
,
, and
facebook.com/wvweddings twitter.com/wvwedding pinterest.com/wvweddings
.
CONTENTS 36 BEST OF WV WEDDINGS Thousands of votes later, the opinions of our readers are in. See the results of everything from best bridal shop to best florist inside.
44
36
44 BRIDAL BLISS
Visit some of our favorite bridal stores in the state and you’ll discover more than beautiful gowns. 52 TAKE ME HOME
Having a West Virginia wedding takes on a whole new meaning for this Ravenswood bride—with tons of Mountain State details.
62
62 SO US This sweet couple celebrates with a reception on the bride’s parents’ property in Morgantown. 68 THE BRIDE WORE BLUE
This Charleston couple weds in a personal, colorful ceremony overlooking New River Gorge.
52
76 FULL CIRCLE
68
A Snowshoe Mountain Resort wedding combines modern elegance with natural beauty on the mountaintop. 84 TESTIMONY OF LOVE
A court reporter and a sheriff ’s deputy get a second chance at love in Harrison County.
76
AL /WINTER 2014
BEST OF
WV WEDD NGS
WINNERS
REVEALED!
84
THE ULTIMATE WEDDING GUIDE
Plus hundreds of venues bridal shops florists cake designers and more!
cover photo Rachel Lake & Ryan Miller just got hitched in Dryfork. Photo by Photography by Amanda
Just Hitched mywvwedding.com | 9
CONTENTS 14 WEDDING WOWS Here are our picks for favorite bouquet, bridal portrait, cake topper, and more. 27 EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK
Be inspired by notable wedding movies, great getaways, and even our readers’ favorite places to propose. 91 WEDDING REGISTER
Meet 50 couples and see how they celebrated their real West Virginia weddings. 192 ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
These West Virginia couples recently took the leap.
196 RESOURCE GUIDE
Access countless vendors across the state who are waiting to make your big day memorable.
192
204 VENUE GUIDE
Whether you want to marry outdoors, in a historic setting, or in an elegant ballroom, our venue guide has it all. 208 BRIDAL REGISTER INDEX Looking for a friend’s wedding? Find it in our index.
27
91
10 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
14
CONTRIBUTORS
THE OBERPORTS
ALLIE BENNETT WEDDINGS
Emily and Bobby (The Oberports) are a married photography team based in Charleston. They approach weddings with the idea that there is a greater story to be found in every image. Emily and Bobby are inspired by their diverse clientele, classic cinema, and traveling. During the last six years they’ve photographed 150-plus weddings together and they’ve both won international wedding photography awards (ISPWP, WPJA, Fearless). theoberports.com
Allie is a West Virginia-based international destination wedding photographer. She has a passion for authenticity with a laid-back style. She has photographed weddings from New York City to Colorado to Jamaica, and of all the beautiful places she has been, she believes nothing is quite as beautiful as a vulnerable moment. Allie thrives on spontaneity and just the right amount of inappropriate jokes. She believes her calling in life is using photography to help people see the beauty in their own lives. alliebennettweddings.com
12 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
MICHELLE WATERS PHOTOGRAPHY
Michelle follows her heart. Recently transitioning from 15 years exclusively in the wedding and portrait photography industry, she has jumped head first into a full-time, already award-winning fine art career, focused on photographic image transfer work. Still available for a maximum of five weddings per year (with an emphasis on fun, compassionate, edgy couples), Michelle is now creating custom, one-of-a-kind pieces from her personal work, as well as work from private commissions. michellewaters.com
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SOOZIE
Susan Harrison of Photography By Soozie was born and raised in California. She moved around until she met Prince Charming and planted seeds in western Pennsylvania, where she pursued her love of photography. After years of photographing friends, she quit her day job to gamble with the possibility of being a full-time photographer. She collaborates with clients to capture precious memories in the form of photographs. From newborns to seniors to the wedding day, a camera in her hands is her work, her love, and her vocation. photographybysoozie.com
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Great Resources
I really love this magazine! I have found great resources from WV Weddings that have inspired the plans of my future wedding. It’s a wonderful magazine. megan grisolano, via mywvwedding.com CLARIFICATION : In “Courting Romance”
in the spring/summer 2014 issue, Joy Lager of Beauty by Joy provided makeup for model Hayley Carlin.
BUFFY DEKMAR
Buffy is a fine art wedding and family photographer, dually based in Atlanta and Boston, serving clients along the eastern coast of the United States and worldwide. Widely featured in wedding publications, Buffy’s work is known for its organic and playful style. Her approach centers around love, emotion, and real life, with an emphasis on creating timeless, authentic, personal artwork that will represent the highlights of her clients’ family histories, becoming heirloom pieces throughout the generations. buffydekmar.com
Great Places and People
I now live in North Carolina, but am from Hurricane. I love your work and really appreciate all the great places and people you feature in your magazines. My girls were loving your latest Weddings issue in the car. ashley rottey, via Facebook
Rush to the Stands
WV Weddings magazine has played a huge role in my wedding planning since day one! I’ve rushed to the stands to buy the newest issue each time! briana olthaus, via mywvwedding.com
Let us hear from you. We want to know what you think about the magazine, and we’d love to hear your suggestions. Email: info@newsouthmediainc.com Call: 304.413.0104 Mail: 709 Beechurst Avenue, Suite 14A, Morgantown, WV 26505 Take WV Weddings with you:
mywvwedding.com | 13
UNVEILED Best Bridal Portrait
NOW PRODUCTIONS
From the wedding of Brittany Holstein & Daryl Hammonds
Wedding Wows! The editors of WV Weddings share their favorites from this issue’s submissions—from the best bridal portrait to their favorite bridesmaid dresses. WOW!
FALL/WINTER 2014
BEST OF
WV WEDDINGS
WINNERS
REVEALED!
1
fall/winter 2014
fall/winter 2014
fall/winter 2014
THE ULTIMATE WEDDING GUIDE
Plus hundreds of venues, bridal shops, florists, cake designers, and more!
Just Hitched
fall/w nter 2014
fall/winter 2014
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3
2
fall/winter 2014
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Fall/Winter 2014
8
Cover fall/winter 2014
9 16 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
fall/winter 2014
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FINALISTS
1. Rachel Lake & Ryan Miller, photographed by Photography by Amanda 2. Courtney Turner & Steven Funk, photographed by Country Charm Photography 3. Kassie Ice & Matthew Kime, photographed by Rebecca Devono Photography 4. Maryn Shreve & Tyler Graves, photographed by Photography By Soozie 5. Elizabeth Boyers & Frank Roberts, photographed by Photography by Amanda 6. Stacey Gleason & James Fraley, photographed by Michelle Waters Photography 7. Courtney Turner & Steven Funk, photographed by Country Charm Photography 8. Katherine Moore & Yason Allie, photographed by The Oberports 9. Kathleen Saine & Jonathon Maynard, photographed by Lavender Photography 10. Racheal Tanner & Tony Morrison, photographed by Photography by Amanda
unique
BOUTONNIERE Carrie Schneider & Christopher Oliver, photographed by Melissa Perella Photography
most notable
INVITATIONS
FROM TOP Stacey Gleason & James Fraley, photographed by Michelle Waters Photography; Katherine Moore & Yason Smedy Allie, photographed by The Oberports mywvwedding.com | 17
WEDDING WOWS UNVEILED
OUTRAGEOUS
outtake
Racheal Tanner & Tony Morrison, photographed by Photography by Amanda
18 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
romantic RINGS FROM TOP Carrie Schneider & Christopher Oliver, photographed by Melissa Perella Photography; Lydia Dockery & Justin Parkey, photographed by Candice Petrunger mywvwedding.com | 19
BRIDAL PARTY
portrait
Kassie Ice & Matthew Kime, photographed by Rebecca Devono Photography
Sarah Boso & Jerry Roy, photographed by Photography by Amanda
Kolby Keister & Forrest Rice, photographed by Rebecca Devono Photography
20 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
mywvwedding.com | 21
bridal
BOUQUET
Lauren Hayes & Caleb Deats, photographed by Sam Stroud Photography, bouquet by West Farm Flowers
BRIDESMAID
shot
Paige Merrifield & Brian Moffitt, photographed by Leah Vance Photography
22 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
CAKE topper Emily Williams & Christopher Miller, photographed by Darrell McDavid Photography
attention to
DETAIL
FROM TOP Courtney Turner & Steven Funk, photographed by Country Charm Photography; Kandace Kirby & Brian Duggan, photographed by Allie Bennett Weddings mywvwedding.com | 23
adorable
ATTENDANTS
Sydney Chico & Timothy Smith, photographed by Herrinton Weddings
Unique Gifts for Your One-of-a-Kind Event
FARM
rustic
DECOR
West Virginia Pure Maple Syrup Friendly, WV (304) 684-7936 CedarRunFarm.com 24 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
Leslie Queen & Dixon Pruitt, photographed by Buffy Dekmar
DRESS
shot
Brittany Holstein & Daryl Hammonds, photographed by Now Productions
groom’s
CAKES
ABOVE Samantha Knight & David Hansen, photographed by Amberlee Christey Photography LEFT Maryn Shreve & Tyler Graves, photographed by Photography By Soozie
mywvwedding.com | 25
ceremony
IDEA
Maryn Shreve & Tyler Graves, photographed by Photography By Soozie
genius
GUEST BOOK
Leslie Queen & Dixon Pruitt, photographed by Buffy Dekmar
26 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
wedding
CAKES
ABOVE Paige Merrifield & Brian Moffitt, photographed by Leah Vance Photography LEFT Kassie Ice & Matthew Kime, photographed by Rebecca Devono Photography
mywvwedding.com | 27
The Editor’s
ELIZABETH BOYERS & FRANK ROBERTS BY PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMANDA
—— Ideas, Advice, and Inspiration ——
mywvwedding.com | 29
EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK UNVEILED
Engaging
ENGAGEMENTS
1
Some of the most romantic spots in West Virginia to pop the question. Don’t forget the ring!
4
1. BLACKWATER FALLS STATE PARK Fall in love at this Tucker County treasure. 2. BEAUTY MOUNTAIN OVERLOOKING NEW RIVER GORGE Take her breath away with a heart-stopping backdrop. 3. DOLLY SODS Your affections will reach new heights. 4. SENECA ROCKS Hike to the top and see her jaw drop. 5. BEARTOWN STATE PARK Get a panoramic view of your future together. 30 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
5
NIKKI BOWMAN; RANDALL SANGER
3
2
SPRING FORWARD Pantone’s Top 10 colors for 2015
AQUAMARINE
SCUBA BLUE
LUCITE GREEN
CLASSIC BLUE
TOASTED ALMOND
STRAWBERRY ICE
TANGERINE
CUSTARD
MARSALA
GLACIER GRAY
mywvwedding.com | 31
EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK UNVEILED
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FEATHER your NEST Set up your new home with these West V irginia-made items.
1. Small Pie Baker, Fiestaware, fiestafactorydirect.com, $10.99 2. Child’s Vase, Ron Hinkle Glass, ronhinkle.com, $19.50 3. Salt, J. Q. Dickinson Salt Works, jqdsalt.com, $9 4. 10-inch Spaghetti Fork, Allegheny Treenware, alleghenytreenware.com, $13 5. Placetile Scroll Message Boards, The Front Porch, frontporchwv.com, $27–$36 6. Sushi Serving Platter, Thomas|Work, thomaswork.com, $52 32 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
JOY RIDES
Limousines have lost their luster. Make your exit as memorable as your entrance. Here are my suggestions to get your wheels turning.
Love Lifts Us Up
You Balance Me
HELICOPTER
SEGWAY
Pedaling away with a “Just Married” sign on your handlebars is a picture-perfect escape.
Who wouldn’t want to be whisked away to their honeymoon from the lawn of their reception?
This hip mode of transportation would work well for a city wedding with sidewalks, although Snowshoe’s Segways are cross-terrain.
Maiden Voyage
Love is in the Air
Fly Away with Me
FIRE ENGINE
SPEEDBOAT
HOT AIR BALLOON
HANG GLIDING
Do you have firefighters in your family? A parade-style escape will leave an impression.
Getting married near the ocean or on a lake? Speed off into the sunset.
This would be my pick for a romantic departure.
For hose who get married on the beach or at an outdoor venue with a cliff overlook, fly away.
I Choo Choose You
Just Hitched
Hooked
You Stopped Me in My Tracks
TRAIN
CAMPER
CANOE
TRACTOR
I’ve always thought it would be a great idea to get married in a depot and then hop on a train after the reception.
Plan on spending your honeymoon in the great outdoors, then take your leave in an RV.
Married near a lake, river, or pond? Don’t miss the obvious. Just make sure the boat doesn’t have a leak.
Have a farm wedding? Chug away into the sunset for a memorable departure.
Fore...ever
GOLF CART Get married on a golf course, then make your exit in a cart.
I Burn for You
I Do Me, Too BICYCLE FOR TWO
mywvwedding.com | 33
Big Screen INSPIRATION Think DOWNTON ABBEY. OK, we don’t have many manor houses or castles in West Virginia on par with Downton Abbey, but we do have a few grand spaces— Graceland Inn and Conference Center in Elkins, Berkeley Castle in Berkeley Springs, and Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park in Parkersburg. The takeaway: Not much decor is needed when your surroundings are opulent. Simple floral garlands and understated but elegant arrangements gently complement the home’s interior. A statement staircase is a must. As for the bridal ensemble, feminine with no fuss and lots of tulle can easily be replicated, and you can even rent Lady Mary Crawley’s 45-carat diamond tiara for $2,000 a day. And in case you were wondering, it costs around $25,000 to have your wedding at Highclere Castle in Newbury, U.K. Pop-up wedding? Have you seen THE VOW? Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams’ pop-up wedding at the Art Institute of Chicago got us thinking. What public locations lend themselves to pop-up weddings? State or national parks, public spaces with courthouses in the background, and museums come to mind.
WANT MORE HOLLYWOOD INSPIRATION? Here are a few of our favorite matrimony-laden flicks.
34 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
SWEET HOME ALABAMA
THE WEDDING CRASHERS
HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU
MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING
FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL
MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING
27 DRESSES
A WALK TO REMEMBER
MADE OF HONOR
TWILIGHT PRINCESS BRIDE THE DUCHESS MAMMA MIA!
COURTESY OF RICHARD MUNCKTON
RUNAWAY BRIDE. This movie by the same name pairing Richard Gere and Julia Roberts gives us five weddings to be inspired by. Want to make an entrance? Jump to the altar via a trampoline or ride a horse down the aisle. Or better yet, shun the crowds and opt for a simple ceremony with just you, your groom, and your officiant at the top of a hill.
in your dreams, your wedding is perfect;
the reception is amazing, and the food exquisite. It’s all about you and your special day. Express your individuality, honor your cultural heritage and create memories that will last a lifetime. Our beautiful facilities provide the backdrop for incredible memories and outstanding guest experiences right in the heart of Charleston. Call today to begin planning your Happily Ever After! Special room rates for out of town guests 253 room all-suite hotel located in the heart of downtown 10,000 square feet of ballroom space Receptions Rehearsal ● Dinners Engagement Parties ● Brunch Intimate Celebrations to Traditional Grand Ballroom Receptions Accommodating 25–450 Professional Culinary Staff Wedding Packages Available For a complete Embassy Suites Wedding Kit and site tour call Hayley Tighe, Director of Event Sales at 304.720.5561 or email: hayley.tighe@jqh.com
Embassy Suites Hotel 300 Court Street | Charleston WV 25301
B
t eofs
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WV WEDDINGS AWARDS written by Elizabeth Roth
When you’re planning the most important day of your life, you want only the best. For the second year in a row, our readers have chosen the best in the West Virginia wedding industry—from florists and photographers to salons and venues. Wedding planning is made easy with this list in hand, but if you still can’t find what you’re looking for, our venue and resource guides in the back of the magazine are also filled with top-notch companies that will make your wedding dreams come true. Read on to see who took this year’s title of The Best of WV Weddings.
INVITATIONS & STATIONERY
REGISTRIES & UNIQUE GIFTS
YOURS TRULY INVITATIONS
TAMARACK
Designer Lindsey Smith founded Yours Truly in 2007 in Parkersburg. Since she started selling online, Lindsey has shipped her custom creations around the world— from Iceland to Australia. In addition to invitations, Yours Truly offers save-the-date cards, day-of stationery like place cards and programs, and stationery for other events like bridal showers, birthdays, and bar mitzvahs. 304.893.3760, yours-truly-invitations.com
With thousands of handcrafted items, the shopping experience at Tamarack is one of the best in the state. Works of art, specialty foods, and West Virginia-made novelties fill every inch of the uniquely shaped building, and often artists can be observed at work. 1 Tamarack Park, Beckley 304.256.6843, tamarackwv.com PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO SERVICES
REBECCA DEVONO PHOTOGRAPHY Rebecca Devono’s photos have twice appeared on the cover of WV Weddings, and her unique style of capturing wedded bliss has made her a favorite among West Virginia’s wedding photographers. Although weddings are her main focus, Rebecca also does family portraits, newborn photography, and commercial photography. rebeccadevono.com
BRIDAL SHOPS, TUXEDOS, & ACCESSORIES
OLIVERIO’S BRIDAL & PROM BOUTIQUE The massive selection of wedding dresses, veils, shoes, and jewelry at Oliverio’s makes it easy to find something for every bridal whim. Bring the bridesmaids and get everyone ready for the big day. Oliverio’s has an impressive hall of fame—they’ve dressed quite a few winning pageant girls—so rest assured they can handle anything you might throw their way. 118 Emily Drive, Clarksburg 304.623.6006, oliveriosbridal.com
WEDDING EXPO
WV WEDDINGS EXTRAVAGANZA The annual WV Weddings Extravaganza is an affair not to be missed—if we do say so ourselves. Now in its fourth year, the Extravaganza delivers inspiring sessions and easily replicated ideas to brides and wedding industry insiders across the state. Next year’s event will be held at Canaan Valley Resort & Conference Center from May 15–17, 2015. For more information, see page 50. 304.413.0104, mywvwedding.com/extravaganza mywvwedding.com | 39
CAKES & SWEETS
THE CUPCAKERIE Decadent, adorable, and fork-free, cupcakes are becoming a popular alternative to the traditional wedding cake. With a firm belief that there’s a cupcake for every occasion, The Cupcakerie has invented a variety of recipes. The company offers more than 70 cupcake flavors—from sweet to savory—in a variety of sizes. The Cupcakerie even has sugar-free, vegan, and gluten-free cupcakes. Custom designs are available. 194 Willey Street Morgantown, 304.212.5464, thecupcakerie.com
BEST HISTORIC VENUE & BEST RESORT VENUE
THE GREENBRIER A wedding at The Greenbrier is truly something special. This breathtaking venue has an endless array of wedding locales, top-notch catering, and an on-site florist— not to mention 200 years of history. 300 West Main Street, White Sulphur Springs 304.536.7836, greenbrier.com
BEAUTY & WELLNESS
TUSCAN SUN SPA & SALON
CATERING
BRIDGE ROAD BISTRO One of Charleston’s favorite restaurants is a favorite caterer, too. With more than 50 years of experience, the team at Bridge Road Bistro can handle anything from small gatherings to elaborate affairs. They offer a farm-to-table dining experience at any location, complete with customized menus, event planning, and even ice sculptures. 915 Bridge Road, Charleston 304.720.3500, thebridgeroadbistro.com 40 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
An inviting, relaxing atmosphere is just what a frazzled bride-to-be needs. Tuscan Sun Spa & Salon offers services for hair, nails, makeup, massage, facials, body treatments, advanced skin care, and medical spa treatments like laser and Venus Freeze in both Clarksburg and Fairmont. Customized programs are available to ensure you look and feel your best on your wedding day. 482 Emily Drive, Clarksburg 304.326.2204; 1013 Fairmont Avenue, Fairmont 304.333.0281 tuscanspaandsalon.com
ENTERTAINMENT
THE WEST VIRGINIA BRASS QUINTET Stirring and regal, the music of The West Virginia Brass Quintet provides a classy soundtrack to any wedding. It’s a versatile group—with a repertoire that spans five centuries of music from the Renaissance to Dixieland Jazz—and can easily adapt to personal tastes. The quintet has been performing all over West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania since it formed in June 2009 and regularly performs at The Greenbrier, Tamarack, and Lewisburg’s Carnegie Hall. wvbrassquintet.com
AK
14
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ES & SWEE
FLORIST
BLOOMS FLORIST Fresh, modern, and distinctive designs have made Blooms Florist the choice for hundreds of West Virginia brides. A full-service florist that offers rentals and event planning as well, Blooms serves North Central West Virginia and beyond from its home base in Bridgeport. Before opening Blooms in 2007, founder Cara Ewald studied floristry in the United States and London and now regularly sends event designers to educational conferences so they can stay upto-date on the latest trends. Blooms offers free consultations with event planners and a variety of packages from bulk DIY flowers to full-on event planning. 103 West Main Street, Bridgeport 304.842.3639, bloomswedding.com
REBECCA DEVONO PHOTOGRAPHY
COSMETIC DENTISTRY
GHAREEB DENTAL GROUP Get your pearly whites in tip-top shape—you’ll be flashing them a lot on your wedding day. Ghareeb Dental Group is a full-service dental office that can address a variety of cosmetic issues. This family of dentists opened its first office in Poca in 1978 and has since expanded to four additional locations in the Kanawha Valley, including Cross Lanes, South Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley. ghareebdentalgroup.com mywvwedding.com | 41
HAIR & MAKEUP
NICO SPALON
JEWELERS
JOYCE’S JEWELRY Choosing an engagement ring can intimidate even the most determined of shoppers. Luckily, friendly staff stand ready to assist at Joyce’s Jewelry. Cases of glittering jewels and gleaming metals guarantee you’ll find just the right thing—even if you want to design it yourself. In addition to engagement rings and wedding bands, Joyce’s carries watches, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, making it easy to outfit anyone in the wedding party. 1070 Suncrest Towne Centre, Morgantown 304.599.6981, joycesjewelry.com
The dream team at Nico Spalon have seen their fair share of weddings, and their welcome advice for looking your best at the altar has guided more than a few of the brides in WV Weddings. Owner Nicholas Romanoli has more than 30 years of experience in the industry, and in October 2014, Nico Spalon will celebrate its 10th anniversary. Services at Nico include hair, color, keratin, extensions, deep conditioning, traditional and airbrush makeup, and waxing. The salon also offers on-site services, subject to availability. 80 South Pierpont Road, Morgantown 304.594.1550, nicospalon.com
BEST HOTEL OR CONFERENCE/CONVENTION CENTER VENUE
THE BLENNERHASSETT HOTEL The stately Blennerhassett Hotel has been serving guests and the Parkersburg community alike for more than 100 years. The hotel offers a number of options for receptions—from an elegant ballroom to a tented patio outside—and those in the know say the staff is extremely accommodating and helpful. With a gourmet restaurant on-site, The Blennerhassett offers catering, too. 320 Market Street, Parkersburg 304.865.8657, theblennerhassett.com
HOME FURNISHINGS
WELLS HOME FURNISHINGS RENTALS & PARTY SUPPLIES, WEDDING PLANNING & COORDINATING
LITTLE BLACK DRESS EVENTS & RENTALS Brides and grooms alike rave about the team at Little Black Dress Events & Rentals, led by event planner Misti Sims. From cake tasting to venue layout, invitation design to choosing flowers, Little Black Dress handles every aspect of wedding planning, listening closely to client needs and coordinating an unforgettable event. A new headquarters in Charleston promises to make the Little Black Dress experience even better. 33706 Maccorkle Avenue Southeast, Charleston, littleblackdressevents.net 42 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
Plan the home of your dreams at Wells Home Furnishings. Customers applaud the top-notch service, white glove delivery, and helpful sales staff. With everything from foundation pieces like couches, tables, and bed frames to accents like rugs, lamps, and pillows, Wells can help you fill every room with your own unique style. Start a registry and make gift-giving easy for friends and family. Currently located in Charleston, Wells plans to open an additional store in Morgantown in the spring of 2015. 101 Bowers Road, Charleston 304.343.3600, wellhome.com
AMPD PHOTOGRAPHY
REBECCA DEVONO
REBECCA DEVONO
Est. 2004
Specializing in
(304) 594-1550
VIDEOGRAPHY
MCCOMAS VIDEO PRODUCTIONS This husband and wife team based in Huntington has an undeniable passion for weddings. Their videos capture and flawlessly bring together the memorable moments that define a wedding—all while keeping the personal style of each couple in mind. McComas Video Productions offers everything from a la carte items to fullservice packages, and shoots all videos in high-definition. 41 Fairfax Drive Huntington, 304.654.0025, mccomasvideo.com
BEST OUTDOOR VENUE
STONEWALL RESORT Amidst the mountains surrounding Stonewall Lake, Stonewall Resort is a breathtaking setting for an outdoor wedding. Guests will find plenty to do with activities like golf, boating, hiking, and biking available, not to mention the peaceful spa. Couples can choose from a number of settings for a ceremony and reception, from the resort’s grand hall to the lakeside lawn to the large patio overlooking the lake. 940 Resort Drive, Roanoke 304.269.8841, stonewallresort.com
REAL ESTATE
BEST OF CANAAN Best of Canaan offers vacation rentals and property management in the beautiful Canaan Valley. Perfect for a honeymoon or pre-wedding retreat, their mountain cabins are comfortable and cozy. 5546 Appalachian Highway, Davis 304.866.8680, bestofcanaan.com
BEST B&B, LODGE, OR INN VENUE
On the banks of the Elk River, Café Cimino Country Inn is a quaint, secluded setting for an intimate wedding. It’s quite luxurious, too. The inn has nine guest rooms, a full bar, spa services, and award-winning cuisine. Located in the middle of the state, Café Cimino is easily accessible from Interstate 79 and has an event capacity of up to 125 guests. 616 Main Street, Sutton 304.765.2913 cafeciminocountryinn.com
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COURTESY OF STONEWALL RESORT; STEVE SHALUTA
CAFÉ CIMINO COUNTRY INN
BRIDAL BLISS
Let the celebration begin by finding the perfect wedding dress at one of West Virginia’s finest shops. Shay Maunz photographed by Elizabeth Roth written by
BY B.BELLE EVENTS
at the boutique by b.belle events, brides shop in a sun-drenched room lined with gowns and three walls of solid windows—two face the street, and the third faces the elegant stone interior of the historic Woodrums’ Building in downtown Charleston. Tables are stacked with a collection of antique books and draped shadow boxes display sparkly new jewelry. A bar cart offers sparkling water, and champagne chills in the back. “I describe the space as being very elegant and lovely,” says owner Belle Manjong. “It’s almost like going to your favorite aunt’s house where everything is very pristine and valuable, and your mom’s saying, ‘No, don’t touch anything.’ And your aunt is like, ‘Oh, she’s fine.’” Belle sells upscale wedding dresses—prices start around $1,750—but she goes out of her way to welcome all brides who come into the shop. She doesn’t want to put on airs or give off an exclusive vibe. “It’s lovely, but it’s not stuffy,” she says. The boutique opened in May of 2014 as an extension of Belle’s event planning business, B.Belle Events. She’d been helping brides plan their weddings for seven years and realized there was an opening for an upscale shop in the Charleston bridal market. “We opened to fill a need,” she says. “People kept asking me when I was going to open a shop, so I finally
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folded and did it.” Now she sells dresses from designers like Lazaro and Pronovias, bride favorites that made up a lot of the requests she used to get from customers who were going elsewhere to shop. All the dresses in the store are made with natural fabrics in places like Barcelona or New York City. Belle makes it a point to accommodate plus-sized brides— another lesson from her wedding planning experiences. “I saw the angst of full-figured brides who are scared to death they will walk into a shop to look for a dress and not be able to find anything that fits,” she says. She hand-picks every dress in the store and keeps in mind women of all shapes and sizes when doing so. “I try to imagine being a plus-sized woman, and then I try to imagine being 6 feet tall and rail thin,” she says. “I shop for both of those and all things in between.” The dresses at B.Belle are custom-made from measurements taken in the shop, which also helps secure a great fit, no matter the size of the bride. A trip to B.Belle often starts with an appointment—walkins are welcome, but Belle encourages you to call ahead. Then there’s a consultation with Belle on your personal style and the plans for your wedding day, and she’ll invite you to explore the dresses on display—but she’ll probably pull a few things for you to try, too. “We’ll try on what you think you want,” she says. “I just ask that you keep an open mind.” Often, she says, brides walk out the door with the perfect dress they didn’t know they wanted. Belle’s background in wedding planning helps as she makes suggestions because she understands the intricacies of wedding planning. “I don’t want to just sell you a dress,” she says. “I want your wedding dress to tell a story. I want your guests to look at you and see how it fits into the story of your relationship and of your big day.” 602 Virginia Street East, Suite 101, Charleston, 304.382.6200, bbelleevents.com
NIKKI BOWMAN
The Boutique
Oliverio's
BRIDAL AND PROM BOUTIQUE oliverio’s is a surprising boutique tucked into a shopping center with a massive selection of dresses—owner Angela Patsy estimates they have somewhere between 500 and 600 wedding gowns in stock at any given time. “And they’re all different,” she says. “We keep just one dress in each style in the store, so every single dress is different and you can look at the whole range before we order it in your size.” There’s even more on top of hundreds of wedding gowns—the shop also carries a huge selection of bridesmaids’ dresses and can handle the rest of the bridal party, too. “We can do a wedding start to finish with the wardrobe,” Angela says. “From the wedding gown to the bridesmaids to the mothers and flower girls. We have everything here, even as far as the shoes and jewelry go.” Angela and her staff are flexible—they try to bend to the whims of each bride. “Every bride is different,” she says. “Some people want your help constantly and other people want to be left alone for a little bit. We can help them shop or let them browse alone. We can stay there with
them to help them dress or we can let their bridesmaid help them dress—it’s whatever they prefer.” They’re happy to help a bride find a gown that looks like a photo she brings in, listen to her describe her dream dress, or make suggestions of their own. They especially love doing that last one. Angela opened Oliverio’s in 1989 after helping her sister plan her wedding just after the last bridal store in Clarksburg closed. Her parents own a floral shop, and she’d been working there for years. “My mom did weddings all the time, and I would help her go set up the flowers and watch the brides getting ready,” she says. “I was just drawn to the wedding business.” She started with a few gowns in the corner of her mom’s shop, but soon outgrew that space and moved into the storefront she has now—Oliverio’s has been a mainstay in North Central West Virginia’s formal wear market ever since. A few years ago she outgrew even that larger space and expanded again, into an adjacent storefront. Now, thanks to that expansion, the bridal department has its own section of the store, away from the portion that houses prom and pageant dresses. “That makes it really nice for the brides,” Angela says. “They can come in with their friends and family and have room to shop without bumping into younger girls. It makes it more special. 118 Emily Drive, Clarksburg, 304.623.6006, oliveriosbridal.com mywvwedding.com | 49
Coni &Franc
connie merandi knows what she’s doing. Her store, Coni & Franc in Morgantown, has been selling formal wear since 1982 and bridal wear since 1987, and in that time Connie has counseled countless brides with the composed kindness that is her trademark. The boutique has everything from wedding gowns to bridesmaids’ dresses and tuxedo rentals. Connie is especially passionate about dressing the mother of the bride. “She deserves to feel beautiful on that day,” she says. The shop has sportswear and cocktail dresses, too, so brides can choose every outfit they need for that flurry of activity leading up to and following a wedding, from the wedding shower to the rehearsal dinner and reception. “So when they come we can make it a trouble-free experience,” Connie says. “It isn’t just that we sell a dress, we do everything.” Connie and her sales team spend a lot of time with brides, and Connie in particular brings years of experience to the task of choosing a dress. She knows to ask questions that brides would never have thought of on their own: Does she get warm easily? Then she shouldn’t wear sleeves in the warmer months. What kind of surface will she be standing on during the ceremony? That’s critical when choosing shoes. She has a great eye for knowing what dresses will look good on a woman’s body type, a huge asset when a woman is sifting through the sea of gowns. “We figure out what their best attributes are, what the most beautiful part of them is—the part we want to showcase,” she says. “And then we go from there.” 422 High Street, Morgantown 304.296.9466, coniandfranc.net 50 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
vienna wedding boutique elizabeth michaels is a 12-year veteran of West Virginia’s wedding shop scene, but it’s been swirling with renewed energy in the last year, ever since Kristina Snider and her mother, Donna McKinnis, bought it from its previous owner in 2013. Kristina had worked at the shop for years, ever since she was 15, and didn’t feel the need to make big changes— Elizabeth Michaels has a great reputation—but she did want to make it her own. “Basically it’s just carrying on what we were doing—we carry the same brands and everything,” she says. “But we have made some small changes.” They tweaked the logo and have started offering some special wedding services, like a day-of wedding planner. Kristina comes to the shop from a background in public relations and beauty pageants—she just stopped competing in them a little over a year ago. Both of those things contribute to her careful approach to customer service, which is what she says makes Elizabeth Michaels a special place to shop for a wedding dress. “I do think I look at customers differently because of my background, because I actually learned how to relate to the public and people,” she says. “I don’t come from a fashion background but my fashion sense does come from all those pageants—I’ve picked out thousands of dresses for myself, and I’ve made huge mistakes and had big hits.” Kristina places special emphasis on stocking dresses at a variety of price points—the store carries dresses anywhere from $100 to $2,500. And she doesn’t force brides into dresses they aren’t in love with just because they’re newer or more on trend. “You can’t think about the make or the price. It’s what looks good on you and what you like,” she says. “My philosophy is that I have something for everybody.” 1505 Grand Central Avenue, Vienna 304.865.2670, elizabethmichaels.net
REBECCA DEVONO PHOTOGRAPHY
E lizabeth Michaels
House of Fashions bridgeport’s house of fashions is literally that—a big twostory house, reinvented to become home to an array of formal wear in all shapes and sizes and to feel like home to anyone who shops there. “We wanted to have a place where girls of any age could come and feel comfortable,” says Keri Hays, who owns the store with her mother, Melissa. “That’s part of the reason we went with the house, so it would feel homey—it’s the most horrible feeling in the world walking into a place where you need help, you need expertise, and you feel completely out of your element.” House of Fashions was born from a desire to create a better kind of boutique, a place that was good at all the things Melissa and Keri wanted to see when they were shopping, and steered clear of all the things they hate. Melissa has been sewing for more than four decades—and we’re not just talking about casual hemming and mending. She sewed her own prom dress in high school, made her husband’s business suits for years, and has supplied a huge chunk of Keri’s clothing her entire life. When Keri started entering pageants in high school, it was only natural that her mom would make most of the clothes she needed— mainly gowns and interview suits. “You get a little bit spoiled, always having everything fit really nicely, being able to envision what you want and get it exactly,” Keri says. But they were less satisfied with their experience buying formal wear at boutiques and always thought they could run a shop better. In 2010, after talking about it for years, they finally decided to test their theory and opened House of Fashions. Keri handles customers and Melissa is the primary seamstress.
That means House of Fashions places a unique emphasis on alterations and the fit of each dress—Melissa and Keri think it’s just as important as the fabric a dress is made of or the way it’s styled. “People pay a lot of money for gowns, and they expect to get a quality product even after it’s altered,” Keri says. “Not to toot my mom’s horn, but she’s amazing at it.” They also keep 10 to 15 sizes of each style of dress in stock, so there’s no guesswork involved when you’re looking in the mirror, trying to imagine what you’ll look like on your wedding day. Keri is committed to accommodating brides of all shapes and sizes—they carry wedding gowns from size 4 through 30, and as many as they can on the far ends of that spectrum, where there are so often fewer options. “There’s nothing more disheartening than a girl coming in and she can’t get anything to fit her,” she says. “I don’t ever want to put someone through that.” Keri admits she and her mom are picky, which means they put a lot of energy into getting little details right. They keep every wedding dress in a bag, for example, so it doesn’t get dirty or damaged on the rack—they want it to feel pretty and special when the bride puts it on for the first time. And they only schedule one bridal appointment at a time, so every bride has the house’s entire top floor to herself. “We want you to feel like it’s special,” Keri says. “It’s not just any other shopping trip.” 121 Daniel Drive, Bridgeport, 304.672.5490, hofwv.com
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More
SHOPPING*
BRIDAL CENTRAL, 310 Locust Street, Suite 1, Princeton 304.425.1188, bridalcentral.com DINAH’S BOUTIQUE, 385 Bridal Ridge Road French Creek, 304.924.6462, dinahsboutique.com
The Vow
at the vow in morgantown, shopping for your wedding gown is treated as an event in and of itself, not just a precursor to the wedding. The shop is dedicated entirely to brides, and owner Kristen Frodelius is intent on making their experience shopping for a wedding dress almost as memorable as their wedding day. Brides are celebrated and congratulated. They’re offered champagne. When they step into a fitting room, the staff adds their fiancés’ last names to a chalkboard that reads, “Future Mrs.” When a bride chooses her dress, they snap a photo and put it on display, like something a proud friend would do. “We just try to make it really special,” Kristen says. “We want it to be a really personal, intimate experience.” Kristen opened The Vow in November of 2013 after living in New York for a few years working in the fashion industry—she has degrees in fashion, fashion merchandising, and business. She was one of those little girls who dreamed of her wedding. “I used to have a composition notebook, and I would just draw wedding dresses in it,” she says. As an adult, she’s been a bridesmaid in nine weddings, and with every one she learned a little bit more about what she likes in a wedding boutique and what she doesn’t like. “The more weddings I was in, the more I wanted to do this,” she says. Now Kristen treats every customer like they’re a dear friend, and her brides often come to see her as a trusted confidante. “We’ve had brides come in and ask our opinion on linens,” she says. “Or they come to us with bridesmaid drama—anything like that, we become the go-to.” Kristen has formed real friendships with some clients, and even been invited to their weddings at the end of it all. “That’s my favorite part,” Kristen says. “Becoming friends with these girls is really special.” 4 Suburban Court Morgantown, 304.291.7333, thevowwv@gmail.com thevowwv.com 52 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
FULL CIRCLE WEDDING CONSIGNMENT SHOP 7 Elm Terrace Shopping Plaza, Wheeling 304.905.4515, fullcircleweddingshop.com HARVEY’S FASHIONS AND BRIDAL 104 Beckley Plaza, Beckley 304.253.2055, harveysfashionsandbridals.com J&J’S PERSONAL TOUCH, 2805 Murdoch Avenue Parkersburg, 304.422.7707, jandjspersonaltouch.com JEAN ANN’S BRIDAL AND PROM FASHIONS 310 Beckley Crossing, Beckley, 304.255.0002 jeanannsbridal.com NANDEL’S, 98 Roosevelt Boulevard, Eleanor 304.586.4132, nandelsbridalprom.com SERENDYPITY, Grand Central Mall, Vienna 304.422.7434, serendypity.com THE BARN, 1406 Sam Mason Road, Bunker Hill 304.229.3388, thebarn-bridal.com THE DRESSMAKER’S CLOSET, 1020 Bridge Road Charleston, 304.720.1949, dressmakerscloset.com WANDA’S BRIDAL SHOPPE, 102 Main Street West Oak Hill, 304.469.9531, wandasbridal.com
*NOTE: This list is in no way comprehensive. For an even longer list of shops, visit mywvwedding.com.
Me TAKE
HOME
She never left home, he never stayed put—a West Virginia native falls for a wanderer from Ohio and the two plan a wedding in Ravenswood. Mikenna Pierotti photographed by Michelle Waters Photography written by
S
she was on her way to tennessee, watching the green mountains melt into farms and fields, when it hit her—she was in love. “I’d never really traveled in my life, and I have a big fear of driving,” says Cottageville native Stacey Gleason. “But I overcame it by driving six-and-a-half hours just to see him. I think that was the moment for me.” Unlikely though it may have seemed from the outside, homebody Stacey and the man she’d fallen for—an Ohioan named J.R. Fraley, who traveled widely but shared her love of music, family, and faith—turned out to be perfect for each other. “We both play guitar and love to sing. We both collect records,” she says. “I tell people that inside we are exactly the same person. I’m just very type A and he’s very type B.” Turns out these seeming opposites had luck on their side from the beginning. They met in a casino in Cross Lanes, both celebrating bachelor and bachelorette parties, and bonded over a mutual interest in agriculture—she in education, he in manufacturing. “One of my friends had noticed Stacey’s party, had got to talking to them, and learned that she was an agriculture teacher. I’m in agricultural implements, so he thought we should meet. We eventually sat down and played blackjack for most of the night,” J.R. says. For Stacey, the whole meeting was a new experience. “I had never played blackjack before in my life. I’m not a gambler at all,” she says. “J.R. taught me how to play and I ended up winning $300.” Despite J.R.’s penchant for travel and his distant position as manager at Taylor Pittsburgh Manufacturing, part of his family business, Stacey wasn’t daunted. And J.R. was eager to show her the world. “I grew up traveling. Anytime I wasn’t in school I followed our family business around. I was in Italy and Amsterdam when I was 15,” he says. At the end of the night J.R. gave Stacey his number. They talked the very next day. That spark they’d both felt from across a crowded casino didn’t fade with distance. “At the time J.R. was living in Tennessee, so it was already a long-distance relationship,” she says. “We started texting and talking on the phone, and he would drive in on the weekends to see me and we’d always go on a date. Then his sister had a wedding in June about a month later.” J.R. says sharing that memory with Stacey convinced him she was the one. A few months after that, he whisked her off to Hawaii and New Zealand, and her fear of leaving home fell away completely. “I’d spent all my life in West Virginia. Honestly, I didn’t travel much at all in my life,” she says. “But I knew as long as I was with him I’d be OK.” J.R. had already shown Stacey a bit of the wider world she’d never experienced, but it was back in West Virginia, at Tu Endie Wei State Park overlooking the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers, where he decided to show
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The groom’s boutonniere, a bullet casing and blush rose ties with twine, reflected both his love of gun collecting and the event’s chic feel. After
a heartfelt ceremony, the couple was married in a historic white church in Ravenswood near where the bride once lived.
Stacey wore an ivory lace and champagne satin Maggie Sottero gown with a ribbon sash. She added emerald-cut
green amethyst earrings, a gift from the groom, and a cathedrallength veil. Guests entered a reception at the historic
McIntosh Building, decorated with vintage country decor, antiques, fresh flowers, and West Virginia glass.
mywvwedding.com | 57
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her what she really meant to him—on one knee. “I told her whether it was a cabin in the woods or a mansion on the river—wherever we were—as long as she was with me, we’d be home,” J.R. says. Although he was asking her to give up her life in West Virginia and her job at Ripley High School to marry him and move to Tennessee, Stacey didn’t hesitate. “It had always been my dream to marry my Prince Charming and start a family,” she says. “It was a really easy decision.”
this is the way
Stacey’s “yes” threw the couple into a frenzy of planning. They were engaged in February 2013, set the date for the following September, and started looking for the perfect church right away. “We set up appointments with two or three, but we didn’t really like any of them,” J.R. says.
“Then someone told us about the First Baptist Church in Ravenswood.” Ravenswood already occupied a special place in Stacey’s heart—she’d once lived just a block away from the grand white church, with its steeple reaching for the sky. “It had always stood out to me, but I’d never imagined getting married there,” she says. “In that same city block is the McIntosh building, which is a big Victorian house owned by the city of Ravenswood. It was just a very short walk from the church.” Even though they couldn’t explore the interior, the couple knew the moment they peeked in the church’s windows. “It just fit us,” J.R. says. With the ceremony and reception venues chosen, the couple moved on to the details. Stacey knew she couldn’t leave her first love— West Virginia—without a proper send-off, so the state would need its own place of honor in the celebration. “I was giving up my home state, my career, everything to come and be with J.R. I really wanted to showcase all the things we love about West Virginia,” she says. From the invitations—screen-printed handkerchiefs wrapped around hand-stamped vintage West Virginia postcards—to the assortment of local antiques and West Virginia glass Stacey collected to display at the reception, the theme was undoubtedly Mountain State, with a little country flair in touches of lace, antique tea sets, florals, and burlap. Above all the couple wanted the event to be a celebration of both their love and the merging of their families. And despite the time crunch, Stacey pulled it all off with ease. “I was very busy, but ever since my wedding, everyone’s been telling me I should be a wedding planner,” she says. When it came time to choose a dress, however, Stacey was hesitant. “Growing up I was in a lot of pageants, so I’ve been to a lot of dress stores and I’ve tried on a lot of dresses,” she says. “I thought picking out my wedding mywvwedding.com | 59
From blue Ball Mason jars and West Virginia glass to garden flowers and homemade pie, the Fraley wedding had a vintage garden feel that was highly personalized.
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keep calm and say i do
The church was standing room only when Stacey took her father’s arm. Her maids stood waiting in lavender knee-length dresses accented with vintage brooches and added West Virginia details like Fenton glass earrings and bouquets of pink roses set in Fenton silver crests. The groomsmen stood by in matching charcoal tuxedos. After a musical introduction courtesy of guitarists Dickie and Chuck Thacker, the bride’s stepfather and uncle, the bride started down the aisle to a classical rendition of “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” But for J.R., everyone else faded away the moment he saw his wife-to-be. “This might be typical, but that moment stood out,” he says. “I was feeling a lot of things. Some can be put into words, some can’t.” After a reading by J.R.’s childhood pastor, and with Stacey’s pastor officiating, the couple said their vows and became man and wife—surrounded by more than 270 loved ones—before making their exit in the bride’s father’s 1931 Ford Street Rod. “When we got into her dad’s car and had the opportunity to get away for just a minute—to get away from the 250 or 300 or however many people made it—and it was just me and her for the first time in about three days, that was perfect,” J.R. says.
sitting on a rainbow
After a short walk from the church, guests entered a catered reception at the McIntosh Building, where they laughed and mingled on wide porches, in sitting rooms, and in the dance hall. True to her desire for a chic yet vintage garden feel, tables displayed arrangements of blue Ball Mason jars, antique books and handkerchiefs, floral teacups, lush flowers, and West Virginia glassware, including 150 special hand-blown Blenko Glass Company pieces created in honor of the state’s 150th anniversary. Photo arrangements, postcards, and tea-stained programs made to look like parchment added an even more personal touch to the event. The bride and her grandmother even dress would be very stressful because I’d compare it to all the made strawberry jelly and apple butter from local produce for all others I’ve had on. But we randomly picked through one rack at 270-plus guests. Elizabeth Michaels in Vienna and it was the second one I tried Stacey and J.R. later joined the party for a hot, home-style on.” Stacey’s eye had landed on an ivory lace and champagne dinner, followed by pie and an elegant two-tier cake decorated satin Maggie Sottero gown with a ribbon sash. It was perfect. with textured icing, garden roses, and two Fenton glass birds. “As soon as I walked out, I knew, and everyone else—my mom The Ohio-based StillWater band kept the party moving, while and a longtime family friend who came with me—did too.” dancing, speeches, Mountaineer football on TV, and a special To finish the look, Stacey added emerald-cut green amethyst bride-and-groom performance of John Prine’s comedic, “In Spite earrings—a gift from the groom—and a cathedral-length ivory of Ourselves,” kept the crowd laughing and crying all night. veil. She carried a bouquet of cascading blush pink garden roses “I don’t think anyone expected it, which was what made it so and ranunculus arranged in a vintage Fenton Art Glass epergne perfect,” J.R. says of the their unforgettable duet. Stacey laughs horn. And for luck, she slipped a sixpence in her shoe. even now as she recalls it. “The song sort of picked fun at our Although Stacey took the reins when it came to wedding flaws in a way, but in the end it says, in spite of all that, we’re planning, J.R.’s choice of attire—a charcoal tuxedo with a perfect for each other.” champagne tie and vest—perfectly accented the muted colors Although the event was bittersweet for Stacey—she’d soon be of their shabby chic affair. On his tux he also wore a unique leaving her home state, her family, and her country roads—the boutonniere—a pink rose displayed in a bullet casing and future gleamed bright. “Whenever I think about West Virginia, I wrapped with twine. think about home. It’s everything I am. It’s all of my memories. It’s Then, on September 7, with their 5 p.m. wedding on the everything I’ve ever experienced,” she says. “With J.R., I know we horizon, the couple had their first look alone on a tree-lined drive haven’t been together that long, but looking back at my life I feel at the cozy bed-and-breakfast where they’d stayed the night. like he’s been there every step of the way. It’s like he is my West “We’d been rushing around all day but when we saw each other Virginia. I feel comfortable now flying around the world or living in for the first time, that was what made it all real,” Stacey says. “It Tennessee because he’s with me.” was the happiest moment for me.” mywvwedding.com | 61
Us
SO
A sentimental backyard barbecue was just the thing for one Elkins native and her Pennsylvania beau. Mikenna Pierotti photographed by Photography By Soozie written by
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R
romance was the last thing on maryn shreve’s mind when Tyler Graves fell into her life. It was December 2008 and she had just returned home after filming a promotional 4-H project in Chile. Knowing she’d have to work long hours as a night operations building supervisor at the student union, and that her dream of becoming a videographer and photographer would require a lot of work, she arrived back at West Virginia University determined to keep distractions to a minimum. Enter: the cute new hire from Pennsylvania. “I hadn’t met all my coworkers yet, but I’d heard good things about Maryn,” Tyler says of the Elkins native he fell for. “Then she walked into the room and pretty much blew my mind. I didn’t really believe in love at first sight until she came through the door and knocked me off my feet. I pined for her for a few months until I got her attention.” Maryn, on the other hand, tried her hardest to ignore him. “I thought he was really, really cute and charming and so funny,” she says. “But I was not looking for a relationship. He would ask and ask and ask, but I would say, ‘No, maybe another time. I don’t date coworkers.’” Luckily, Maryn’s and Tyler’s respective bosses saw something Maryn didn’t—their chemistry. “They sat me down and asked about him. I thought I was in trouble for flirting, but they were really pushing it on us, as were our other friends.” Maryn finally relented and, on Tyler’s 22nd birthday, she took a chance and decided to stop by his birthday party. “He was so cute, showing me off to all his friends,” she says. Later that night Tyler saw his opening as he walked Maryn out and went in for a sweet goodnight kiss. “I had never been somebody who says, ‘You’ll know at the first kiss,’ but it was so powerful,” she says. “I guess it was good that I gave him a shot.”
more ups than downs
Maryn, from Elkins, met Tyler, from Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, at West Virginia University. In honor of his impromptu proposal under an apple tree, the couple incorporated a sapling into their unity ceremony.
“We went through a lot of challenges,” Maryn says. Tyler’s decision to join the Army and their busy lives tested their love, but they came out stronger than ever. She saw him through training, the two moved in together, and she started working and attending classes while pursuing a master’s degree. “He eventually got a job in Virginia, in the Washington, D.C., area, and he invited me along.” That was when she realized how serious they were getting. Then Tyler got his deployment papers and things took a turn. “I think that was the clincher for him,” she says. “We had been together for a few years at that point and I knew I had to seal the deal,” Tyler says. “We had talked about getting married and I knew I wanted to, but I just didn’t have the money saved up to get her the ring I wanted.” Finally, the Saturday before his Monday deployment, things fell into place. “Just before we were getting ready to leave, I finally got one of the payments from my enlistment bonus and I knew it was time. It was the last weekend I was going to be home before I went overseas.” Although he didn’t have much time to arrange a romantic proposal, Tyler managed to come up with a plan on the fly. “I told her I was going out to get a haircut in the morning and run some errands.” Maryn offered to go with him, but he insisted she stay behind. Tyler spent the morning sitting in the jewelry store before returning home and promptly disappearing. “I was trying to be cute and tie the ring to our dog’s collar. Maryn was in the other room getting ready for this family thing we were going to, asking me what I was doing,” Tyler says. “Meanwhile, I’m trying to reel the dog in and the dog’s not
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cooperating. Then she comes in and I have to shove the ring in a bag behind my back.” Apparently Tyler’s performance wasn’t very convincing, and his hair was very obviously not cut. “He just bolted,” Maryn laughs. “He went down into our backyard and sat down under our apple tree. I was already feeling sad because I’d asked if he wanted to take a walk before our family got together and he’d said we didn’t have time. But then there he was playing with the dogs outside. I was jealous.” Maryn followed him outside and sat down under the apple tree to confront him about his strange behavior—and lack of haircut—and found him a bundle of nerves. “I said, ‘Hey, you didn’t get a haircut. What were you doing all day?’” He said, “Do you really want to know?” And pulled out the ring. “I didn’t even give the poor boy a chance,” Maryn says. “I grabbed the ring and knocked it out of his hand. It was perfectly imperfect. It was so us.”
CLOCKWISE Maryn’s ivory lace Maggie Sottero Tabitha gown fit her country chic wedding perfectly. Tyler asked to help choose three things—his attire, the food, and the cake. He wore a gray Calvin Klein tuxedo.
His bride’s love of sentimental heirlooms was reflected in family photos and antiques. The bride’s parents’ home was perfect for an outdoor wedding. Maryn surprised her groom with a cake made to resemble the couple’s dogs.
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The bride, a wedding photographer and videographer, incorporated vintage cameras and old family wedding photos in the decor.
feels like home
With Tyler headed overseas and a Labor Day weekend wedding circled on their calendars, Maryn fearlessly took charge of wedding planning on the home front. “We had one day to plan together and then he went off and there was no contact for about a month, so he gave me complete trust and free rein,” she says. “But I’m such a planner, by the time he was able to call me almost everything was done.” As a wedding photographer and videographer, Maryn already knew what she liked and didn’t like. Thankfully, Tyler had only three things he knew he wanted to be involved in choosing—the food, the cake, and what he and his groomsmen would wear. “Everything else, I told her to let me know if she needed help but to have at it,” he says. And she did, though she frequently sought his opinion. “Almost everyone I knew, their grooms didn’t want to be involved, didn’t care, or didn’t get a say. I had this wonderful husbandto-be who would actually give me the time of day. Even though we could only Skype once or twice a week, he would actually entertain wedding ideas. I was lucky,” she says. Tyler spent nearly 15 months away, and during that time Maryn pulled together a sentimental, yet rustic romantic outdoor wedding on her parents’ property—a ranch with a covered wraparound porch set on four rolling acres in Morgantown. “We wanted something that was casual and comfortable, that didn’t feel like work, where we could involve our dogs,” she says. “A lot of the details that went into the wedding were very sentimental—antiques we had, family photos—but beyond that, I tried to incorporate a little of what everyone else wanted as well. Because yes, it was our day, but our parents were so excited to see their little ones get married,” Maryn says. With plenty of input from family and friends, Maryn added touches of 1950s décor and family mementos— including a 1952 Dodge Power Wagon as a backdrop for photos, antiques borrowed from family members’ basements and attics, as well as tables decorated in antique lace from the bride’s grandmothers, old cameras, and family wedding photos that spanned several generations.
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This vintage feel spilled over into the attire. “For my dress I knew I wanted something country and lace, but we were having sort of a backyard barbecue feel, so a ball gown wouldn’t work.” While shopping in Pittsburgh, Maryn spotted a dress that made her heart skip a beat. “It was the very first dress I tried on. As soon as I had it on, I fell in love with it,” she says. Her perfect dress was an ivory lace Maggie Sottero Tabitha mermaid-style gown with a jeweled belt and a sweetheart neckline. She added a touch of her Italian heritage with a long lace-edged veil and carried a bouquet of ivory roses, lisianthus, calla lilies, mini green hydrangeas, hypericum berries, fiddleheads, and gray lamb’s ear with a blue rosary passed down from her great-aunt Pauline. But for the reception, Maryn wanted something a bit more relaxed and vintage. For that she picked out a short Maggie Sottero Isadora Ann ivory satin and lace fit and flare dress. Her bridesmaids matched that 1950s feel in their own pleated gray cocktail-length dupioni silk Alfred Sung dresses with cap sleeves, pearl jewelry, peep toe gray satin shoes, and flowers in their hair. Tyler chose a gray two-button Calvin Klein tuxedo. His groomsmen matched him, but with added whimsy in their green striped ties and argyle socks. Even the pups were decked out to the nines. Louie, their blue merle border collie, wore a green striped bow tie, while their beagle, Sukie, made her appearance in a handmade gray dupioni dress found on Etsy. “I’m not one for dressing up our dogs, but I couldn’t resist for our wedding,” Maryn says. “I went all out.”
perfectly imperfect
The Graves were married outside surrounded by loved ones just as they’d planned. Rather than a typical unity candle, the couple watered a sapling apple tree and planted it on the spot where they were married. After saying their own unique vows, the couple joined guests for a reception decorated with antiques, rustic chic decor, and family details. True to Tyler’s word, he chose some of his favorite backyard barbecue food for the party, and Maryn surprised him with a special groom’s cake—which was made to resemble the couple’s two dogs. For Maryn one of her favorite memories was the moment her grandmother walked through the door of her dressing room. “She’d been in the hospital and I was told she wouldn’t be able to make it, but as soon as I put my dress on they opened the door and she was there. She’d always loved us as a couple and was adamant with the doctor about being there,” Maryn says. “She passed away just recently, and I’m so thankful she was able to make it.” After dancing and laughing and staying up until the wee hours, Maryn wasn’t the least bit concerned that the bottom of her dress was caked in mud by the end of the night. It added to the laid-back, country theme. But the moment that stands out the most for this couple is one that many West Virginia natives have shared—singing “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” “It’s something you anticipate your whole life. It’s a regional tradition. And I was looking forward to it so much the whole night. When it was finally us, when it was finally our time, when they started playing it and we were dancing, it really solidified it for us. It was our day. It really happened.”
Bride THE
wore BLUE
One couple shirks tradition in favor of a colorful, personal wedding in the mountains. written by
Shay Maunz • photographed by The Oberports
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katie moore and yason allie liked each other as soon as they met. “He had a bowl cut and I had a fanny pack,” Katie says. “So it was perfect.” Of course, that was way back in 1995, when Yason (pronounced “Yuhsawn”) moved to Charleston to start middle school at the private school where Katie was already a student. She was drawn in by the exotic new kid. “He was the cute boy with an accent,” she says. He liked her, too. “We had crushes on each other, off and on, starting in the sixth grade,” Yason says. But they didn’t start dating in the sixth grade, or even the eighth. Then high school came and went and they were still just friends. They kept in touch throughout college, even while they were at schools that are 300 miles apart from one another—Yason was at the University of Pittsburgh, Katie at Virginia Tech. For all those years, they didn’t broach relationship territory. They dated other people, kept their crushes to themselves, and quietly wondered if they would ever be able to make good on their fondness for one another—until the summer before their senior year of college. “It was after one too many late-night phone calls,” Yason says. Katie chimes in. “We were finally like, ‘What the hell?’” she says. “And we were nearing the end of undergraduate school, so if we wanted it to happen, we could probably make it work.” They made it work, through the senior year of college all those miles apart, through graduate school at West Virginia University, and through a move to Pittsburgh together. And then, more than eight years after they started dating—and 18 years after they met—they got engaged.
the proposal
By 2012 they were definitely committed to one another— they’d been living together for years and had recently bought a house. But they weren’t really talking about marriage that much—Katie didn’t even realize Yason was thinking about a ring. Then one night he came home and asked Katie what she was cooking for dinner. “And that usually means he wants to go get Asian food,” she says. So they went to their favorite Korean restaurant, a holein-the-wall takeout place, picked up food, and walked to the Cathedral Lawn on Pitt’s campus to eat. “We’re walking around forever because he wants to find a nice place to eat,” Katie says. “I’m starving and just want to sit down.” Finally Yason settled on a nice spot under a tree, and the couple sat down to eat their takeout and talk about the house they’d just purchased—a nice conversation that involved a lot of reminiscing and talking about their future together. “And then we get up to throw away the trash, and he’s just standing there, posing,” Katie says. “I’m looking at him wondering what he’s doing, and all of a sudden he just grabs my hand and gets down on one knee.” She was shocked. “I think instead of saying, ‘Yes,’ I asked if he was 72 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
Yason and Katie are from West Virginia, but were living in Pittsburgh when they got engaged. They knew
they wanted to return to their home state for the wedding to show off its beauty at the New River Gorge.
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serious,” she says. Yason got the idea anyway. “I didn’t want to do anything big or orchestrated,” he says. “We have a really simple relationship, and that’s how I wanted the proposal to be.”
the plans
They didn’t worry about tradition, or about checking off the list of things you’re expected to do at your wedding— they just don’t care about that stuff very much. “I wanted it to be fun, and I wanted it to be simple—that was sort of the theme for me,” Yason says. “We didn’t want things to seem so planned and rigid and orchestrated. We wanted to get our closest friends together and have a big party.” So instead of obsessing over a ton of traditional details they didn’t care about, they tried to pare down the entire production and made decisions based on what they like instead of what was expected of them. “The wedding was exactly who we are,” Katie says. They
didn’t have a wedding party, because they’d both been in enough weddings to know they always have more fun as guests. “My friends all thanked me for not making them bridesmaids,” Katie says. They didn’t do favors, though guests did take home photo strips from the photo booth. And they didn’t have cake, because they like doughnuts better—they went with a tower of doughnuts filled with flavors like maple bacon, coconut, and Samoa cookie. The most visible departure from tradition may have been Katie’s dress: She wore blue, just because she wanted to. She doesn’t look good in white, she says, and had never pictured herself in it on her wedding day. “I just didn’t get excited thinking about a white wedding dress,” she says. “But I got excited thinking about a beautiful gown.” For a while she was looking for a more subtle color, like gray, but then she spotted a photo of a bride in a bright orange dress, fell in love with the idea, and started thinking about something bolder. “I did it without telling anyone,” she
The couple broke from tradition in myriad ways, including choosing
doughnuts in lieu of a cake and doing without a wedding party.
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says. “I didn’t want all of their opinions on it.” Katie bought her dress online from Nordstrom—she saw it, loved it, and ordered it on the spot. To make it a little more special, she had a seamstress sew on a heart made from a handkerchief that had been her grandfather’s— he passed away several years ago. “It was kind of like he has my back,” she says. For the venue, they went to Adventures on the Gorge, an adventure resort on the New River Gorge in Fayette County. They wanted to show off West Virginia and couldn’t think of a better place to do that. “Have you seen that view?” Katie says. They were married on a deck overlooking the gorge and moved to a tent for the reception. The colors of the autumn leaves supplied a natural backdrop that played off Katie’s blue dress in an unexpected and lovely way. She wore a fresh, orange flower in her hair, too—another thrilling dash of color. Katie and Yason cared more about the ceremony itself than any of the frills surrounding it. Neither is particularly religious, but they also didn’t want to be married by a stranger, so they asked Katie’s close friend and mentor to officiate. “She is this fabulous woman who could take center stage anywhere,” Katie says. She had to get ordained for the occasion, which meant jumping through a lot of hoops to make sure the whole thing was legal, but the effort was well worth it in the end. “It was so great because it was really personal, having someone who was one of my best friends standing up there and marrying us,” Katie says. Katie wrote the script for the ceremony, but her friend said a few of her own words, as did the couple’s parents.
the day
Looking back, some of the fondest memories are from the smallest moments. Katie still laughs when she remembers the last minutes with her dad before he walked her down the aisle—which in this case was a path through the trees. “I was freaked out because I was terrified I was going to trip and fall,” she says. “He was trying to calm me down, and he started to talk about the Gettysburg Address. I can’t remember what he said now, but I have this memory of walking through the trees and saying to him, ‘I’m going to always remember that you started talking about the Gettysburg Address while you walked me down the aisle.’” Yason’s favorite memory takes that same moment of the day and looks at it from another angle. “I was waiting for Katie to come out, and I don’t usually get nervous in situations where people typically would,” he says. “But she just kind of appeared from the woods with her dad, and I felt like I was going to lose it. I was looking at my parents and all of my friends and thinking, ‘I’m going to start to cry. I’m going to turn into a giant man-baby.’” In the end the wedding was just like they hoped it would be—fun, laid-back, and uniquely their own. “We were the worst wedding planners,” Katie says. “But we did have a hell of a party with our friends.” 76 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
“There are a lot of traditional things we didn’t do just
because we didn’t want to,” Katie says.
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Full CIRCLE
One West Virginia couple returns to the scene of their proposal for an elegant autumn wedding. written by
Shay Maunz • photographed by Allie Bennett Weddings
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kandace and brian duggan have one of those stories that isn’t all that remarkable—until you hear them tell it. They met through mutual friends, at an ordinary party that would surely have faded from their memory had it not played such an important role in the story of their romance. But Kandace and Brian relish the memory of that party, take such pleasure in remembering it that the feeling is contagious—by the end of the story you’re convinced it’s one of the best stories you’ve heard. It goes like this: Kandace grew up in Teays Valley but, in 2008, was living in Columbus. Brian was living in Morgantown but visiting some friends in Columbus and, somehow, the two ended up at the same party. “We were all around a fire pit, and he was talking about the Steelers, defending the Steelers to some guy,” Kandace says. “I’m a huge Steelers fan, too, so I came to his defense. We automatically hit it off.” When they realized they were both from West Virginia something clicked, and they’ve been together ever since. Kandace and Brian dated long distance for a while, until she moved back to West Virginia for graduate school at Marshall University—she’s a preschool teacher now. Brian, a sales representative, was living in Scott Depot by then, just 35 miles from Huntington, so they were finally able to be together full-time. Pretty soon it was time to take the next step.
the engagement
They’d been dating for more than four years and talking about marriage for at least one, but somehow Kandace was still surprised. “I had no idea when or where or what he would do,” she says. Then one Friday in late September Brian picked up the ring and the couple left town for a 80 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
weekend at Snowshoe Mountain Resort. “He was having trouble trying to figure out a place to hide it,” Kandace says of the ring. “It was in his bag, it was in his pocket—it ended up in his sock.” Brian knew he wanted to propose that weekend, but he also didn’t want to plan every last detail. He wanted the moment to be just right, but he didn’t know when or how that would happen. “Sometimes the places there can get a little busy, so we had dinner reservations but I didn’t want to do it there,” Brian says. “I had the idea of doing it outside.” But then the conditions on the mountain didn’t cooperate. “It was so foggy you couldn’t even see any of the beautiful scenery,” Candace says. “So it wasn’t that romantic scenic thing you would think of when you think of a proposal.” Undeterred, Brian led Kandace back to their room after dinner to hang out and a football game was playing on TV in the background. “We were kind of back to how we met,” Brian says. “There was football and there was a fireplace just like there was a fire pit back then.” The moment was starting to feel right, and then something happened that put it over the edge: Kandace’s iPhone was playing music on shuffle when one of their favorite songs, “Heavenly Day” by Patty Griffin, came on. “That song came on and he got down on one knee,” Kandace says. “It was perfect.”
For their wedding Kandace and Brian returned to Snowshoe Mountain Resort, the scene of their engagement,
exactly one year after Brian proposed. “We fell in love with it and wanted to come back,� Kandace says.
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The bride wanted lots of details to reflect the natural beauty of the mountains on
her wedding day, and she even included feathers in each bouquet.
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stand to choose only a few. “I really struggled with that in the beginning,” she says. “We thought about just having our family and keeping it really intimate, but then when I sat down and really thought about it I realized I wouldn’t be who I am today without every single one of those girls, and I couldn’t imagine them not being right there with me.” So she filled her bridal party with the women and girls closest to her—all 13 of them. The gaggle of bridesmaids dwarfed Brian’s party of men—he used seven—but in the end the couple realized they cared less about symmetry than they did about having their loved ones with them at the altar. Kandace dressed all those bridesmaids in pale pink chiffon, letting them choose their favorite dress from four she had selected. “I wanted them to be able to pick out what they wanted to wear, but I wanted what I wanted, too,” she says. She bought her own gown during a trip to Columbus when she went to a half-dozen stores and tried on dozens of dresses. In the end she got one of the first she put on, at the first store she went to—a Martina Liana dress with a sweetheart neckline and ruffled bottom that extended into the train. “I got a little emotional when I put it on the first time,” she says. “By the end of the day I was just so stressed out I didn’t know what I wanted. So we went back and when I tried it on again I got emotional again—and then I didn’t even know why I fought it in the beginning. It ended up being magical.”
the day the plans
They were engaged for exactly one year—it happened a few minutes before midnight on Friday, September 28, and they were married on Saturday, September 28, 2013. The engagement came full circle that day, because they returned to Snowshoe for the ceremony and reception. “I was enamored by the beauty of Snowshoe,” Kandace says. “When we got engaged the trees were starting to turn, and we had that cool, crisp weather. And it was secluded up there—I just thought it would be perfect.” They had the ceremony on a landing overlooking the mountains, and went inside the Soaring Eagle Lodge for the reception. Kandace’s approach toward wedding planning was calm and professional. During those years she was living in Columbus she had been working as an event planner—she knew what she was doing. “Outlines,” Brian says. “She had a lot of outlines.” Kandace laughs. “I knew what I wanted,” she says. “I had a lot of lists and I was very prepared.” It didn’t hurt that she was one of the last people to get married out of a huge collection of friends—she’d been to a lot of weddings and had a good idea of what she liked and didn’t like. For her own wedding she wanted an elegant but intimate feel, with lots of details that reflected the natural beauty of the mountains around them. Kandace’s big network of friends meant she was faced with a dilemma when it came time to settle on the wedding party. She had so many friends she loved so much she couldn’t 84 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
It started—just like the engagement did, and the relationship before that—with football. Kandace and her bridesmaids took great care to set a serene tone for the day—they put the WVU game on in the background, but they muted it and elected instead to play soothing music. Meanwhile, the guys were watching the same game in the couples’ suite. And they weren’t quite so reserved. “The noise was permeating from the balcony of our room,” Kandace says. “People commented on it—they could hear them cheering.” Brian chimes in, “They beat Oklahoma State that day—so they actually ended up winning a game they weren’t supposed to,” he says. “That set a really good tone for the day.” But at the end of the day, their favorite moments included some sweet times as well as some more silly things—like an impromptu dance-off during the middle of the reception. “We took over the dance floor,” Kandace says. “It was just fun and crazy.” They also prize the day’s more sentimental moments. Brian cherishes the first time he saw Kandace that day, when she was walking down the aisle. “A lot of emotions came over me—mostly calmness,” he says. “All of the nerves went away when I saw her.” Kandace remembers a bird flying overhead while the couple was planting a tree to represent their unity—she thought of Brian’s grandmother, who passed away a few months before the wedding. “We felt like she was there with us,” she says. And they were both moved by their first dance as husband and wife, to the same song that was playing when they got engaged, “Heavenly Day.” “I felt like it all came together in that moment,” Brian says. “And I think at the wedding everyone got away and had their own little piece of heaven when we were all there together.”
Testimony of LOVE A court reporter says “I do” to her deputy at this laid-back celebration on the farm. written by
Rachel Coon • photographed by Buffy Dekmar
New York City to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2012 in Times Square. Though the couple had talked about getting engaged and even looked at rings, Leslie had no idea what the new year would bring. To avoid having to carry the ring through airport security, Dixon sent the ring ahead with his soon-tobe fiancée’s sister and niece. “Everyone knew but me. My niece later sent me a picture of the ring going through the metal detector at the airport,” Leslie recalls. When it was time for the ball to drop, Dixon pulled Leslie behind the barriers in Times Square (a special arrangement he’d made in advance with the New York City cops) and dropped to one knee as the crowd cheered.
the case for love
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they say they’re laid-back country folk, but Leslie Queen and Dixon Pruitt sure know how to have a good time. By day she’s a court reporter for the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and he’s a deputy for the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department. But by night, they’re a couple of Harley-Davidson riding, Times Square New Year’s Eve celebrating, Mardi Gras going youngsters at heart. The pair grew up in Clarksburg but never knew of each other until 2008 when Dixon started testifying in Leslie’s courtroom on cases he was working. It took years for the pair to spark. “He was always complimenting me on how pretty I was,” Leslie remembers. One day in the courtroom, they finally clicked. “I remember she was wearing a beautiful dress the day we really started talking,” Dixon says. He was surprised to learn Leslie had her own Harley-Davidson motorcycle. “We started talking about going on a ride together, but we’d tease about whose bike we would take,” Leslie laughs. They had their first date March 22, 2012, at Clarksburg’s famous Ritzy Lunch Hot Dogs Thursday Bike Night. “We went on his Harley, not mine,” Leslie confesses. Shared interests turned into attraction. “Dixon describes me as beautiful and intelligent with a sense of humor, while I would describe him as handsome and very funny, and I admire that he’s a retired veteran.” As love blossomed, Dixon hatched an extravagant plan. He, Leslie, and some friends and family would go to
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This wasn’t the first marriage for Leslie or Dixon, but that didn’t stop them from celebrating this second chance at romance. “I’d basically given up and never thought I’d find love again, but I did,” Leslie says. Dixon agrees. “I finally met my soul mate,” he says. “I am truly happy.” Choosing an officiant was simple— Leslie has worked with the Honorable Thomas A. Bedell, a Harrison County circuit judge, for more than 20 years, and his courtroom was where the bride and groom first met. “We thought it would be special to have Judge Bedell marry us, and when we asked, he graciously agreed.” The venue was just as much a given. “We knew all along we wanted a laid-back, country wedding on the farm,” Leslie says. They chose the bride’s twin sister’s family farm in Mount Clare. The setting was informal, though spectacularly adorned with country chic flowers and greenery—roses, hydrangeas, mums, and more in warm autumn colors— and the schedule was without restrictions. When it came time for the ceremony, Leslie says, “We just said, ‘OK, everybody, we’re going to walk up to the barn and get married now.’ It wasn’t a formal wedding where we had to do things at certain times. It was such a fun day.” The bride and groom’s friends and family—including four sets of twins, two of which are Dixon and his twin sister, Lisa, and Leslie and her twin sister, also Lisa— took their seats on hay bales and sipped champagne, kept chilled in a classic flat-bottom jon boat set with mums and a silver bucket of bubbly between the benches. “The boat was my brother-in-law’s dad’s boat and it’s always on the pond there on the farm,” Leslie explains. “It’s a part of the scenery, a part of the farm, and we wanted to incorporate as many original farm things as we could to make it look like true country living.” The ceremony lasted only a few minutes as Leslie, in a knee-length ivory lace dress and cowgirl boots, stood below custom-made moss letters and vowed to love and
“We were just going to do something small, but my sister made it a dream wedding,” Leslie says of her twin sister, Lisa.
From flowers to decor to a homemade Italian cookie display, Dixon and Leslie had everything they wanted and more for their fall
celebration. Guests even signed a wooden bench in lieu of a guest book, and it now sits in the newlyweds’ home.
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The couple chose an autumn wedding because fall is their favorite season. “We thought it’d be pretty—a fall wedding on the farm, with all the leaves. We just hoped the leaves would have changed more by our wedding day,” Leslie laughs.
cherish Dixon for the rest of their days. As the newlyweds turned toward the reception tent, their guests showered them with confetti the bride’s niece had collected from their engagement night at Times Square.
holding court
The most important thing for Leslie and Dixon as they began planning their wedding was making sure his family would be there to celebrate with them on October 12, 2013. Many traveled from Mississippi and Tennessee, and the couple managed to have all four sets of twins in attendance. “We took pictures with all the twins in the family—that was special,” Leslie says. Her twin sister, Lisa, also had a great part in the wedding planning. “We were just going to do something small, nothing extravagant, but my sister got involved and made it magical—a dream wedding. There was nothing left undone.” From the catering by Bridgeport Conference Center to the flowers and decor, like the draping and floral garland framing the barn doors for the ceremony, provided by Blooms Florist, Lisa attended to every last detail. “She even had a fancy indoor/outdoor toilet brought in on a trailer,” Leslie laughs. “This porta-potty type thing with extra restrooms for the guests—with a radio and air conditioning.” Golf carts and drivers were on hand to bring guests from remote parking spots up to the reception tent. Handled Mason jars inscribed with the bride and groom’s names and filled with coffee beans and candles were given as favors to each guest to help light their way around the evening festivities. Family favorites like fritti, an Italian pastry and Queen family tradition made by Leslie’s aunt, were served. “Dixon’s family isn’t Italian, so they’d never heard of fritti,” says Leslie. “It was a huge hit.” Renee from Torchia’s Bakery also created a beautiful display with all kinds of homemade Italian cookies, many of which went home with guests at the end of the night. The groom had an oh-so-fitting cowboy
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boot cake, and the newlyweds cut into a four-tier traditional white cake with unfinished icing, a perfect touch for their country theme with its bark-like look.
the verdict: a perfect day
Having fun with family and friends was what Leslie and Dixon were ultimately after, and accomplish that they did. Their celebration went on for days with dinner Friday, brunch Saturday, a photo session with their pups (his 20-pound shih tzu and her 160- and 230-pound English mastiffs), a late lunch Sunday afternoon, and plenty of reminiscing. By the time the wedding day arrived, in all of its splendid autumn glory, the bride, groom, and their loved ones were primed to party. “My brother, Mike, and Dixon’s brother, Wayne, gave a really nice—and very funny—toast where we all had to wear cowboy hats and everybody who took a drink got a sheriff ’s badge.” John Angotti, a Clarksburg native whose mother once taught piano to Leslie and her siblings, traveled with his band from Nashville to provide entertainment and had everyone on the dance floor all night long, doing the traditional Italian chicken dance and trains around the tent. Several guests ended up on stage with their instruments, and the band even worked with Leslie and Dixon on a surprise first dance. “We had a few toasts and a few drinks, and we were afraid we’d get too tipsy to pull it off,” Leslie laughs. But they did. “Nobody realized what we were doing.” They began slowly dancing to “God Gave Me You,” then broke into a fast routine to “You’re the One That I Want” from Grease, and before guests knew it, Dixon was doing pushups on the dance floor. “It was probably one of our most special moments,” Leslie says. The night ended with surprise fireworks over the pond. “Everything was perfect,” she says. “I can’t imagine one thing we could have wanted that we didn’t have.”
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THE REGISTER
RACHEL ANN HENDERSON & MARK EDWARD COON
BOZEMAN MONTANA | 5 25 13
BRIDE S PARENTS
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Ed & Jan Coon PHOTOGR APHED BY
Amberlee Christey Pho ography
mark and rachel met on match com in Oklahoma City in April 2010 and moved to West Virginia that August He graduated from the West Virginia University law school and s now a U S Air Force JAG capta n, and she completed her master’s at WVU and was assoc ate editor for New South Media, Inc , before Mark’s dut es took them to Cheyenne, Wyoming The couple was engaged at Rachel’s childhood home in Yaak, Montana She wore a tea length vory taffeta dress with a gold cardigan while her maids dressed in coffee and metallic colored dresses and cardigans The groom and groomsmen wore jeans, dress sh rts, and ties, with a jacket and Flying WV socks setting Mark apart A paper br dal bouquet and boutonnières were made from pr ntouts of their love story from their wedd ng website Rachel and Mark enhanced the majestic Montana setting with pine bough place cards, log rounds in the décor, and a riverside fire While the couple used many West Virg nia vendors, Montana was present in details like elk meatballs served w th huckleberry syrup The dessert table was the bride’s pride and joy, laden with family favorites Because Mark’s a b rd lover, tables were named for birds and cake toppers were wooden bird ornaments A heart garland was made by the bride with old dictionary pages, and other heart details made from maps were a nod to the couple’s bi coastal backgrounds and love of traveling, which was also incorporated w th map invitations For the guestbook, everyone signed playing cards for the newlyweds, avid Cribbage players A photo booth included Scrabble coasters and hunting gear also acknowledging the couple’s pass ons With only 35 guests, the celebration was marked by Rachel’s dad officiating and lots of dancing They honeymooned in St Lucia
BRIDE S GOWN
Coni & F anc Mo gantown GROOM’S ATT RE
Daniel’s Morgantown INVITAT ONS
Elm Leaf Design Morgantown PLANNER
The bride’s mother Time of Your Life Events Bozeman MT FLOWERS
Ambe lee Ch istey Photography Morgantown CATERER & CAKE
Rockin’ TJ Ranch Bozeman MT LOCATION
Rockin’ TJ Ranch Bozeman MT
192 | WV WEDDINGS Spring/Summer 2014
mywvwedding com | 193
SEE YOUR WEDDING in the WEDDING REGISTER
and become a memorable part of the only statewide collection of real West Virginia weddings.* SPRING/SUMMER 2015
FALL/WINTER 2015
March 1, 2014 – August 16, 2014
August 17, 2014–March 1, 2015
early bird deadline October 3, 2014
early bird deadline March 31, 2015
final deadline December 4, 2014
final deadline June 1, 2015
On newsstands and in mailboxes by the end of March 2015.
On newsstands and in mailboxes by the end of September 2015.
Engaged or Married Between:
• Photos must be submitted by December 4, 2014, for Spring/Summer 2015 and June 1, 2015, for Fall/Winter 2015. • Couples will receive two complimentary copies of the WV Weddings magazine in which they appear.
Engaged or Married Between:
• Pre-order to receive a discount on extra copies of the issue of WV Weddings magazine in which you have submitted your wedding. • Submit only 12 images, including a selection of horizontal and vertical photos. • You may submit up to five additional images for cover consideration.
WEDDING REGISTER FEE: $475 Register by the Early Bird deadline and save $50.** *Someone in the couple must be from West Virginia to be included. **Early Bird fee is $425. Refunds for submissions will not be given after 10 days from purchase date.
QUESTIONS? Email us at wvweddings@newsouthmediainc.com or call 304.413.0104.
ENGAGEMENTS
HILARY ELIZABETH JOHNS & MATTHEW TYLER DEAN THE COUPLE IS FROM MORGANTOWN. ENGAGEMENT DATE : 2/8/2014 WEDDING DATE : 5/30/2015
Tyler is a petroleum engineer and Hilary is a nurse. The couple met in high school when Hilary was a freshman and Tyler was a sophomore. They became high school sweethearts shortly after meeting. Hilary and Tyler continued dating all throughout college at West Virginia University. After years of dating, Tyler proposed to Hilary on her family’s farm. He took the bride-to-be to the top of the mountain after a heavy snowfall to watch the sunset. As Hilary was watching the sunset on the hillside, she turned around to find Tyler on one knee. WHERE THEY RESIDE
Morgantown
PHOTOGRAPHER
Rebecca Devono Photography
ASHLEY NICOLE MURRAY & ROBERT LOUIS HOLLAND III THE BRIDE IS FROM TUNNELTON ; THE GROOM IS FROM GREENWOOD. ENGAGEMENT DATE : 12/24/2012 WEDDING DATE : 9/13/2014
Ashley and Robert met during their junior year of college at West Virginia University when they were both working at the Sports Page, a bar near campus. Robert was working as a bar back and Ashley was a bartender. They had many mutual friends through work, and they began spending time together in group settings until, eventually, they went on their first date to dinner and a movie. Ashley loves Christmas more than anyone she knows, so Robert saw the holiday as the perfect time to propose. Right before bed on Christmas Eve 2012 at Robert’s family’s home in Greenwood, he told Ashley he had hung Christmas lights around the patio and asked her to go outside to see them. When he plugged in the lights, they spelled “Marry Me.”
PHOTO LOCATION
Valley Falls State Park, Fairmont
WHERE THEY RESIDE
Morgantown
PHOTOGRAPHER
Amberlee Christey Photography PHOTO LOCATION
Coopers Rock State Forest
96 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
ENGAGEMENTS
EMMA MARIE CARVER & JAY DENNIS MASON
THE BRIDE IS FROM BAY SAINT LOUIS, MISSISSIPPI ; THE GROOM IS FROM CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA. ENGAGEMENT DATE : 7/19/2014 WEDDING DATE : 4/18/2015
Emma is a registered nurse at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown. Jay is the program coordinator for the West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute at WVU. The two were set up by mutual friends, Matt Armistead and Dr. Ruth Kershner, during the summer of 2011 at a back-to-school party. Ruth, a longtime professor at WVU, always had a welcome back party at the start of the fall semester. Emma had been in Ruth’s classes previously, and she always tried to set her up on dates. Jay worked with Ruth during his time in the Department of Community Medicine, where she also tried to set him up, and Matt was his officemate. When Matt and Ruth got together they decided the couple would be a match made in “Almost Heaven.” Emma and Jay were getting ready to try out a new restaurant in Morgantown after an emotional week—Ruth had passed away suddenly, and the couple decided they needed a night out to lift their spirits. Emma was about to walk downstairs when Jay said, “I have something I want to give you first.” She looked and there he was with a little white box. Emma was so caught off guard she immediately said, “Wait! What are you doing? Wait! Did you ask my parents?” After she realized what was happening, Jay was able to get a few words in and the pair excitedly went on their first date as an engaged couple. WHERE THEY RESIDE
Morgantown
mywvwedding.com | 97
The Fall 2014 Wedding
GUIDES
JESSICA ELLIS PHOTOGRAPHY
Dream Makers The vendors in the WV Weddings resource and venue guides will create the day of your dreams, down to the last detail.
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
RESOURCE GUIDE MYWVWEDDING.COM
Before you begin planning your special day, let WV Weddings help you narrow down your options. And don’t forget: When you choose one of our advertising vendors, make sure you mention the magazine!
BEAUTY & WELLNESS METRO VALLEY AMY A. VAUGHAN DERMATOLOGY PLLC Adult and pediatric dermatology, acne treatment, non-invasive facial rejuvenation, and cosmetic services. 6007 U.S. Route 60 East, Suite 130 Barboursville, WV 25504 304.733.3333 dramyvaughan.com GHAREEB DENTAL GROUP Full-service dentistry in Poca, Corrider G, Cross Lanes, St. Albans, and Teays Valley. 800.GREATCARE ghareebdentalgroup.com TURNER MEDICAL SPA Laser hair removal, facials, makeup applications, advanced aesthetic procedures, massage, and injectable treaments. 816 Cross Lanes Drive Cross Lanes, WV 25313 304.776.1611 turnermedicalspa.com
NORTH CENTRAL NICO SPALON Services include hair, color, keratin smoothing, extensions, deep conditioning, traditional makeup, airbrush makeup, and full body waxing. 80 South Pierpont Road Morgantown, WV 26508 304.594.1550, nico@nicospalon.com nicospalon.com RIVERSONG SPA Riversong Spa offers facials, body treatments, full-service waxing, lash extensions, and makeup artistry for bridal, special events, and every day. The spa even offer on-location services for brides and wedding parties, and now offers airbrush makeup for a flawless look that lasts all day. 147-C West Main Street 100 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
Bridgeport, WV 26330 304.997.5356 riversongspa@gmail.com riversongspawv.com TUSCAN SUN SPA & SALON This spa and salon accommodates bridal parties and provides essential services for the day of—updos, makeup, manicures, pedicures—as well as services to prepare for the big day, including advanced skin care, hair removal, and hair treatments. 482 Emily Drive Clarksburg, WV 26301 304.326.2204 info@tuscanspaandsalon.com tuscanspaandsalon.com
BRIDAL SHOPS, TUXEDOS, & ACCESSORIES METRO VALLEY THE BOUTIQUE BY B.BELLE EVENTS The region’s premier event planner anticipates your every need for your big day, beginning with your wedding gown. Our passion is styling and dressing dreams. Award-winning and available worldwide. 602 Virginia Street East, Suite 101 Charleston, WV 25301 304.382.6200 boutique@bbelleevents.com bbelleevents.com
NORTH CENTRAL CONI & FRANC Voted best place to buy a wedding dress three years in a row. For a personalized, one-on-one shopping experience, visit Coni & Franc and find sizes 0 to 30. The shop dresses clients from head to toe and is a one-stop shop with something fabulous waiting just for you. 422 High Street Morgantown, WV 26505 304.296.9466, coniandfranc.com
HOUSE OF FASHIONS Formalwear for all special occasion needs. Custom orders are available. 121 Daniel Drive Bridgeport, WV 26330 304.672.5490 keri@hofwv.com, hofwv.com
NORTH CENTRAL
THE CUPCAKERIE The Cupcakerie is proud to provide more than 70 flavors to choose from for cupcakes or small cakes. The Cupcakerie loves to cater weddings, bridal showers, bachelorette parties, or any other event. It’s not just a OLIVERIO’S BRIDAL & cupcake—it’s a Cupcakerie cupcake. PROM BOUTIQUE 194 Willey Street The hottest styles and widest variety Morgantown, WV 26505 in prom, pageant, and bridal gowns. 304.212.5464 118 Emily Drive, Clarksburg, WV orders@thecupcakerie.com 26301, 304.623.6006 thecupcakerie.com bridalprom@aol.com oliveriosbridal.com
SOUTHERN BRIDAL CENTRAL Retail sales of wedding gowns, formal wear, and tuxedo rentals. 310 Locust Street Princeton, WV 24740 304.425.1188 bridalcentral@hotmail.com bridalcentral.com
CAKES & DESSERTS METRO VALLEY PAULA VEGA CAKES Paula Vega Cakes features delicious specialty cakes and desserts designed and baked fresh for your special occasion. Open Monday to Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 308 9th Avenue Huntington, WV 25701 304.972.CAKE paula@paulavegacakes.com paulavegacakes.com
CATERING
METRO VALLEY BRIDGE ROAD BISTRO The Bridge Road Bistro is one of WV’s premier dining spots. The same commitment to quality, guest service, and professionalism has earned the bistro recognition for its personalized catering service. The Bridge Road Bistro caters to any venue within a two-hour radius. 915 Bridge Road Charleston, WV 25314 304.720.3500 sandy@thebridgeroadbistro.com thebridgeroadbistro.com WELLINGTON’S CAFE & CATERING This luncheon destination is open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. All-purpose catering for any occasion. China service for 300 people. 2153 Greenbrier Street Charleston, WV 25311 304.343.3222, dfraz11574@aol.com
NORTH CENTRAL
OLIVERIO’S RISTORANTE ON THE WHARF SWEET CONFECTIONS Oliverio’s is a large full-service restaurant CATERING & BAKERY in Morgantown’s wharf district. Private Sweet Confections offers wedding rooms, covered patio, and catering are planning, event decorating, catering, available for all of your needs. Cakes and and cake. Barboursville, WV 25504 cookies from Almost Heaven Desserts. 304.733.6622 Oliverio’s can cater everything from BBQs tina@sweetconfectionsshop.com to sushi bars and, of course, serve up the sweetconfectionsshop.com classic Italian fare the restaurant has been
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
known for in the area for 50 years. 52 Clay Street, Morgantown WV 26501 304.296.2565, info@oliveriosrestaurant.com oliveriosristorante.com
COSMETIC DENTISTRY METRO VALLEY GHAREEB DENTAL GROUP Full-service dentistry in Poca, Corrider G, Cross Lanes, St. Albans, and Teays Valley. 800.GREATCARE ghareebdentalgroup.com
ENTERTAINMENT METRO VALLEY A CLEF ABOVE Playing in many venues, including the Charleston Civic Center, Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences, weddings, banquets, parties, and with popular artists like The Drifters. Unlimited styles of playing allows A Clef Above to perform a variety of music for any occasion. A Clef Above hopes to make every opportunity to perform and teach a unique and enjoyable time for all. 908 Hughes Drive Saint Albans, WV 25177, 615.477.6296 creese.music@gmail.com, aclefabove.com
NORTH CENTRAL VIVA STRING QUARTET Classical string quartet musicians for weddings, receptions, and all social occasions. The quartet also performs dinner music for corporate events and holiday party music. All styles of music. Viva String Quartet loves what they do and wants you to love it, too. 1029 Elkins Drive Morgantown, WV 26505 304.599.7534, vivastqt@gmail.com
FLORISTS EASTERN PANHANDLE FLOWERS UNLIMITED With a fresh approach, Flowers Unlimited’s design team offers uniqueness in floral design. This team’s design style portrays serene elegance, which is a feast for the eyes. Flowers Unlimited offers a rare quality of workmanship in floral design, simply put, bringing together the best for the best. 144 North Queen Street Martinsburg, WV 25401 304.260.5770, eflowersunlimited@yahoo.com flowersunlimitedwv.com
METRO VALLEY B.BELLE EVENTS The region’s premier event planner anticipates your every need for your big day. Chic and sophisticated, B.Belle Events is more creative than conventional. More stylish than stuffy. More boutique than company. Award-winning and available worldwide. mywvwedding.com | 101
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
602 Virginia Street East, Suite 101 Charleston, WV 25301, 304.382.6200 boutique@bbelleevents.com bbelleevents.com
NORTH CENTRAL BLOOMS Full-service florist, wedding, and event design. 103 West Main Street, Bridgeport, WV 26330 304.842.3639, bloomswedding.com
SOUTHERN GILLESPIE’S FLOWERS & PRODUCTIONS Since 1923 at The Greenbrier and in the village of White Sulphur Springs. 130 West Main Street & The Greenbrier White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986 304.536.1881 gillespiesflowers.com facebook.com/gillespiesflower WEST FARM FLOWERS Local producer of specialty cut flowers. Wedding designs and unique floral designs available. HC 34, Box 373, Lewisburg, WV 24901 304.497.3840, westfarms@frontiernet.net westfarmflowers.com
HAIR & MAKEUP METRO VALLEY
Viva String Quartet Duo, Trio or Solo Violin
Classic and Elegant Music for Your Social Event Professional Musicians Preferred and Referred by Event Planners and Wedding Coordinators Wedding and Reception Specialists Also Available for Corporate Functions and Special Events, including Holiday Parties Based out of Morgantown, WV Also Performing Deep Creek, MD and Southwestern PA
Contact us for availability and rates: vivastqt@gmail.com 304.599.7534 Virginia Cox, Violinist & Leader
102 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
KISS AND MAKEUP Kiss and Makeup is a freelance M-A-C cosmetics makeup artistry service, specializing in airbrush makeup. Available for weddings, pageants, photo, print, and film. Kiss and Makeup also travels anywhere clients need them. 845 Somerset Drive, Charleston, WV 25302 304.741.2210 kissandmakeupwv@gmail.com kissandmakeupwv.com TURNER MEDICAL SPA Laser hair removal, facials, makeup applications, Botox, fillers, massages, and more. 816 Cross Lanes Drive, Cross Lanes, WV 25313 304.776.1611, turnermedicalspa.com
NORTH CENTRAL BEAUTY BY JOY Joy Lager is an airbrush, bridal makeup artist available for on-location work, servicing all areas between Pittsburgh and Morgantown. With more than 12 years in the business, bridal makeup is not only her specialty, but her passion. 724.366.3312 joylager@gmail.com, beautybyjoy.com NICO SPALON Services include hair, color, keratin, extensions, deep conditioning, makeup, and waxing. 80 South Pierpont Road, Morgantown, WV 26508 304.594.1550 nico@nicospalon.com nicospalon.com
RIVERSONG SPA Riversong Spa offers facials, body treatments, fullservice waxing, lash extensions, and makeup artistry for bridal, special events, and every day. The spa even offers on-location services for brides and wedding parties, and now offers airbrush makeup for a flawless look that lasts all day. 147-C West Main Street Bridgeport, WV 26330 304.997.5356 riversongspa@gmail.com, riversongspawv.com THE SPA AT THE WATERFRONT Begin your walk down the aisle with The Spa at The Waterfront, located in The Waterfront Hotel. The Spa has a bridal consultant on staff to ease the process. The Spa also includes complimentary beverages and cupcakes for your party. Relax and renew. Bachelorette and group parties available. 2 Waterfront Place #200 Morgantown, WV 26501, 304.906.4380 azehner@waterfrontplacespa.com waterfrontplacespa.com TUSCAN SUN SPA & SALON Tuscan Tun Spa & Salon accommodates bridal parties and provides essential services for the day of—bridal party updos, makeup, manicures, and pedicures—and also provides services leading up to the wedding to prepare the bride for the big day, including advanced skin care, hair removal, hair treatments, and more. 482 Emily Drive Clarksburg, WV 26301 304.326.2204 info@tuscanspaandsalon.com tuscanspaandsalon.com
HOME FURNISHINGS METRO VALLEY CONTEMPORARY GALLERIES Contemporary Galleries is a full-service furniture dealer in Charleston, West Virginia. Visit the store on Facebook at Contemporary Galleries of WV, Inc. 1210 Smith Street Charleston, WV 25301 800.292.6984 304.344.1231 cgwv.com WELLS HOME FURNISHINGS Wells Home Furnishings is West Virginia’s premier furniture store offering customers furniture from some of the best quality brands. Their wedding registry is a perfect way to start your new life together—call for details today. The Wells In-home Design program allows you to create the room of your dreams on any budget. 101 Bowers Road, Charleston WV 25314 304.343.3600 jmw@wellshome.com wellshome.com
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
INVITATIONS & STATIONERY
appraisals. 1012½ Bridge Road Charleston, WV 25314, 304.343.0003 gspetit@petitjewelrydesigns.com petitjewelrydesigns.com
METRO VALLEY
NORTH CENTRAL
EGGPLANT Shop Eggplant for fun, unique items for gift-giving, personal use, and home décor. Make a statement or exemplify your personality with every purchase. Eggplant carries handbags and accessories, jewelry, entertaining/tabletop, invitations and stationery, baby, collegiate, one-of-a kind West Virginia items, and more. 1011A Bridge Road Charleston, WV 25314, 304.346.3525 eggplant@suddenlinkmail.com, eggplantshop.com
JOYCE’S JEWELRY For more than 30 years, offering high-quality and distinctive jewelry at the best prices. 1070 Suncrest Towne Centre Morgantown, WV 26505 304.599.6981, joycesjewelry.com
MUG AND PIA MUG and PIA is an acronym for Most Unique Gifts and Paper Items Anywhere. This beautiful shop in downtown Huntington offers a registry, gifts, invitations, and stationery. Custom, in-house, and designer products. 939 Third Avenue, Huntington, WV 25701 304.525.7880, kim@mugandpia.com mugandpia.com
NORTH CENTRAL ELM LEAF DESIGN, LLC Elm Leaf Design blends art, design, and craft to create fully customized, artfully sound paper goods. From vintage botanical designs to clean modern abstraction, these design services and stationery collections offer a wide variety of styles that can reflect the nature of any celebration or event. 796 Greenbag Road, Morgantown, WV 26508 304.288.4533, ask@elmleafdesign.com elmleafdesign.com
OHIO RIVER VALLEY YOURS TRULY INVITATIONS Custom stationery for any event including save the dates, invitations, programs, seating charts, place cards, signage, and more. P.O. Box 1432 Parkersburg, WV 26101, 304.893.3760 lindsey.yourstruly@gmail.com yours-truly-invitations.com
JEWELERS METRO VALLEY CALVIN BROYLES JEWELERS Calvin Broyles Jewelers is a third generation familyowned jewelry and bridal store. Since 1947 the store has been dedicated to providing the highest quality jewelry and customer service. The shop features a vast selection of diamonds and 20-plus designers, including Verragio, Hearts on Fire, and Tacori. Expert gemologists and knowledgeable design department will guide you to the ring of your dreams. 4708 MacCorkle Avenue Southwest South Charleston, WV 25309 304.768.8821, calvinbroyles.com PETIT JEWELRY DESIGNS Custom jewelry, diamonds, sapphires, tanzanite, emeralds, repairs, engraving, monogramming, and
PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO SERVICES METRO VALLEY ALAN FRENCH PHOTOGRAPHY Alan French Photography is a West Virginia wedding studio specializing in full-day wedding coverage, quick turnaround time, designer wedding albums, and wall products for your home. If you are looking for stunning wedding albums and heirloomquality photographs of your special day, then this is your photographer. 5868 Rocky Step Road Winfield, WV 25213, 304.610.8479 photos@alanfrenchphotography.com alanfrenchphotography.com MCCOMAS VIDEO PRODUCTIONS Providing brides breathtaking films that capture every detail of their big wedding day in beautiful high definition. 41 Fairfax Drive, Huntington WV 25705, 304.654.0025 booking@mccomasvideo.com mccomasvideo.com THE OBERPORTS Emily and Bobby are experienced, awardwinning photographers focused on telling a greater story. hello@theoberports.com theoberports.com
NORTH CENTRAL BRITTANY ANDERSON PHOTOGRAPHY Specializing in wedding photojournalism. Clarksburg, WV 26301, 304.629.3891 brittanyandersonphotography@gmail.com brittanyandersonphotography.com REBECCA DEVONO PHOTOGRAPHY Specializing in high-end portraiture and weddings. 237 East Main Street Bridgeport, WV 26330, rebeccadevono.com
OHIO RIVER VALLEY MICHELE COLEMAN PHOTOGRAPHY Voted Best Photography Studio in the Parkersburg News & Sentinel Reader’s Choice Survey in 2010, 2011, and 2013. Voted one of WV’s High Five Wedding Photographers 2013 by WV Executive. 820 Market Street, Suite 100 Parkersburg, WV 26101, 304.295.7427 mcolemanphoto@gmail.com mcolemanphotography.com mywvwedding.com | 103
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SOUTHERN
NORTH CENTRAL
LEAH VANCE PHOTOGRAPHY Wedding and portrait photography. Offering custom framing, invitations, save the dates, guest books, and more. 331 George Kostas Drive Box 118, Logan, WV 25601 304.687.1439 leahvancephotography@yahoo.com leahvphotography.com
MICKALINA’S PERFUMERIE Custom artisanal perfumerie for fragrance and skincare. Full-service private label branding and design for stores, weddings, and events. Appointments for one-on-one, birthday and bridal parties, wedding favors, couples, sisters, best friends, and more. 235 High Street Suite #506 Morgantown, WV 26505 304.216.4836 taramcoit@gmail.com mickalinas.com
REAL ESTATE POTOMAC HIGHLANDS BEST OF CANAAN Rentals include hot tubs, fireplaces, lovely master bedrooms, secluded settings, and more. 5546 Appalachian Highway Davis, WV 26260 Amy Barb, broker 877.484.8680, 304.866.8680 bestofcanaan.com
REGISTRIES & UNIQUE GIFTS METRO VALLEY CONTEMPORARY GALLERIES Contemporary Galleries is a full-service furniture dealer in Charleston. Visit the store on Facebook at Contemporary Galleries of WV, Inc. 1210 Smith Street Charleston, WV 25301 800.292.6984 304.344.1231 cgwv.com EGGPLANT Shop Eggplant for fun, unique items for gift-giving, personal use, and home décor. Make a statement or exempl fy your personality with every purchase. Eggplant carries handbags, accessories, jewelry, entertaining/tabletop, invitations, stationery, baby, collegiate, West Virginia items, and more. 1011A Bridge Road Charleston, WV 25314 304.346.3525 eggplant@suddenlinkmail.com eggplantshop.com MUG AND PIA MUG and PIA is an acronym for Most Unique Gifts and Paper Items Anywhere. This beautiful shop in downtown Huntington offers a registry, gifts, invitations, and stationery. Custom, in-house, and designer products. 939 Third Avenue Huntington WV 25701 304.525.7880 kim@mugandpia.com mugandpia.com
104 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014
OHIO RIVER VALLEY CEDAR RUN FARM West Virginia pure maple syrup makes unique gifts for your one-of-a-kind events. 2032 Point Lookout Road Friendly, WV 26146 304.684.7936 cedarrunfarm.com
SOUTHERN TAMARACK Shop the very best in West Virginia crafts, art, and foods. 1 Tamarack Park Beckley, WV 25801 304.256.6843 tamarackwv.com facebook.com/tamarackwv
RENTALS & PARTY SUPPLIES METRO VALLEY A TO Z RENTALS This company rents tents, lighting, tables, chairs, linens, staging, dance floors, china, catering equipment, and more. 826 7th Avenue Huntington, WV 25701 304.529.6253 haley.linkous@azrentwv.com azrentwv.com B.BELLE EVENTS The region’s premier event planner anticipates your every need for you big day. Chic and sophisticated, B.Belle Events is more creative than conventional. More stylish than stuffy. More boutique than company. Award-winning and available worldwide. 602 Virginia Street East, Suite 101 Charleston, WV 25301 304.400.4979 info@bbelle-events.com bbelleevents.com LITTLE BLACK DRESS EVENTS AND RENTALS Little Black Dress Events and Rentals provides a modern, diverse selection of products and services in Charleston and surrounding areas. The company prides itself on a genuine commitment to customer
satisfaction and a willingness to go the extra mile to make the client’s dream a reality. Dedicated staff supply every client with personal service and creative inspiration. 304.400.4989 misti@littleblackdressevents.net lbdrentals.net
TRAVEL EASTERN PANHANDLE MARTINSBURG-BERKELEY CVB The CVB will connect you to venues, caterers, tuxedo rentals, flowers, rings, photographers, limos, carriages, hotels, and more. The center’s location on I-81 and close to four airports makes this an ideal location to host your wedding. 126 East Race Street, Martinsburg, WV 25401 304.264.8801 laura@travelwv.com, travelcvb.com
MOUNTAIN LAKES LEWIS COUNTY CVB In Stonewall Country, wedding options range from hip and trendy to vintage and historical. Venues include outdoor, historic, and four-diamond resorts. Lewis County has all your wedding needs and wants here in Stonewall Country—where heroes were raised, legends were born, and memories are made. 499 U.S. Highway 33 East Weston, WV 26452 304.269.7328 crichards@stonewallcountry.com stonewallcountry.com SUMMERSVILLE CVB Information on accommodations, dining, parks, recreation, and shopping in Summersville. Free visitor guide and vacation itineraries available. 3 Armory Way Summersville, WV 26651 304.872.3722, 866.716.0448 summersvillecvb.com
NORTH CENTRAL MARION COUNTY CVB Plan your wedding in Marion County. Embrace the outdoors and tie the knot in a scenic mountain locale, then whisk your guests away to a rustic cabin retreat with an open dance floor. 1000 Cole Street, Suite A Pleasant Valley, WV 26554, 304.368.1123 info@marioncvb.com, marioncvb.com
POTOMAC HIGHLANDS CANAAN VALLEY RESORT & CONFERENCE CENTER Start life’s greatest journey at West Virginia’s most breathtaking destination wedding venue. Convenient, affordable banquet services available, bachelor, and bachelorette parties, seasonal recreational activities, 160 new hotel rooms, and fireplace guest suites. 230 Main Lodge Road Davis, WV 26260 304.866.4121, Ext. 2685 canaanresort.com
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
CARPE VITA TRAVEL Romance travel is a growing trend: destination weddings, honeymoons, vow renewals, anniversaries, bachelor parties, and bridesmaid getaways. On a beach or at a resort—the location is your choice. Carpe Vita Travel can help you plan memorable romance travel as well as land vacations worldwide, all-inclusive packages, and cruises. 304.460.0326 P.O. Box 724 Buckhannon, WV 26201 jmdavis@cruiseplanners.com carpevitatravel.com
SOUTHERN MERCER COUNTY CVB From romantic historic locations to beautiful outdoor settings and one-of-a-kind, distinctive venues, you’re sure to find just the place for the wedding of your dreams in Mercer County, West Virginia. From photographers to florists and caterers, the Mercer County Convention and Visitors’ Bureau is available to make your day as special, unique, and exciting as you are. 800.221.3206 kmorris@visitmercercounty.com visitmercercounty.com
WEDDING PLANNING & COORDINATING METRO VALLEY B.BELLE EVENTS The region’s premier event planner anticipates your every need for your big day. Chic and sophisticated, B.Belle Events is more stylish than stuffy. More boutique than company. Award-winning and available worldwide. 602 Virginia Street East, Suite 101 Charleston, WV 25301, 304.400.4979 info@bbelle-events.com, bbelleevents.com LITTLE BLACK DRESS EVENTS Little Black Dress Events is a full-service event styling and planning company devoted to creating and coordinating custom weddings that are as special as you are. The company tailors each event to fit your personality, style, and investment and is constantly on the lookout for the most innovative ideas and fresh perspective so your event will not only look unique, but feel that way, too. 704.568.8552 misti@littleblackdressevents.net littleblackdressevents.net
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WV WEDDINGS MARKETPLACE
WV WEDDINGS MARKETPLACE
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Downtown Huntington Custom catering and Design jennifer sturgeon, Event Planner
304-696-5563 www.bigsandyarena.com
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
The Ultimate
VENUE GUIDE Ceremonies intimate or grand, receptions historic or modern, upscale lodging for guests and cozy honeymoon getaways—our guide to venues in West Virginia has it all.
VENUE NAME
CAPACITY
CONTACT
CHECK IT OUT
Adventures on the Gorge, Lansing
50–300
855.972.6763 j.campbell@onthegorge.com weddingsonthegorge.com
With multiple wedding venues, planning services, catering, lodging, and breathtaking scenery to boot, Adventures on the Gorge is primed to host your destination wedding. Pair all of this with adventure options from mild to wild and lodging from four stars to under the stars and you’ll satisfy just about everyone.
Big Sandy Superstore Arena Convention Center, Huntington
Up to 600
304.781.8329 info@bigsandyarena.com bigsandyarena.com
With more than 15,000 square feet of exhibition space, full-service catering, and an on-site coordinator to guide you through your planning needs, the Big Sandy Convention Center is sure to impress.
The Blennerhassett Hotel, Parkersburg
Up to 175
Catered receptions at this historic hotel can be 304.865.8657 edavenpost@theblennerhassett.com bu lt into a number of comprehensive weddings packages. Choose from a lavish ballroom or an theblennerhassett.com outdoor tented patio.
Bridgeport Conference Center, Bridgeport
300
304.808.3000 bridgeportconference.com
Planning a wedding reception, reunion, formal dinner, or other type of social event? Fulfill your dreams with Bridgeport Conference Center, which offers intimate space for a group dinner or a full-service ballroom for your wedding reception or banquet.
Canaan Valley Resort, Davis
400
304.866.4121 polinga@canaanresort.com canaanresort.com
Create a mountain destination wedding with year-round options. Offering a variety of accommodations for your guests and customizable wedding packages for 20 to 400 guests.
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VENUE GUIDE
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
CAPACITY
CONTACT
Charleston Conference Center/Holiday Inn & Suites, Charleston
Up to 300
This elegant, versatile space hosts cockta l 304.414.0449 jdery@discovercharlestonwv.com receptions, showers, brunches, rehearsal dinners, CharlestonConferenceCenter.com and bachelor or bachelorette parties at Comedy Zone Charleston. Find a charming outdoor courtyard that can be used for ceremonies, receptions, and rehearsal dinners. Preferred group wedding block room rates are ava lable.
Charleston Marriott Town Center, Charleston
700
304.353.3600 sheree.gayman@marriott.com charlestonmarriottweddings.com
100
Catering to weddings, families, and groups 304.366.5500 kthompson@clarionfairmontwv.com for 40 years. clarionhotel.com/hotel-fairmontwest_virginia-WV102
The Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia, Charleston
Varies
304.561.3560 lfrancis@theclaycenter.org theclaycenter.org
The Confluence Resort, Fayetteville
200+
304.573.4900 info@confluenceresort.com confluenceweddings.com
Embassy Suites, Charleston
650
304.720.5561 hayley.tighe@jqh.com embassysuitescharlestonwv.com
VENUE NAME
Clarion Inn Fairmont, Fairmont
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Dream weddings don’t just happen, they’re planned. This team is trained to help with everything from setting an event budget and deciding on the menu, to arranging table settings and much more. And, with both indoor and outdoor event spaces in the heart of downtown Charleston, the opportunities are endless.
The Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia offers spaces intimate or vast, and catering is provided on-site by the Embassy Suites Hotel. The Clay Center is centrally located with beautiful views of downtown Charleston.
The Confluence is a spectacular outdoor venue, specializing in elegant, rustic outdoor tented events. Packages begin at $5,500. Facility rentals include on-site lodging, multiple ceremony locations, and tent with equipment. Confluence features a rustic barn, overlooks, and personalized service. On-site catering, decor, and floral packages are available. In beaut ful downtown Charleston, leave the details and planning to the Embassy sales team. This venue will host your wedding guests in its 253 all-suite, full-service hotel. It's the perfect place to host a wedding, rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, and wedding brunch for 50 to 600 guests.
The Erickson Alumni Center, Morgantown
80–350
304.293.4731 mary.kinsley@mail.wvu.edu alumni.wvu.edu/eac
This beautiful facility offers on-site catering by an award-winning chef. The Erickson Alumni Center is a one-of-a-kind setting with space for indoor and outdoor events.
Fairmont State University, Fairmont
Up to 400
304.367.4950 cathy.basagic@fairmontstate.edu fsuforme.com/conferenceservices
Conference Services on the campus of Fairmont State University and Pierpont Community & Technical College provides banquet and meeting space. Catering is available through Aladdin Food Management Services.
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VENUE GUIDE
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
VENUE NAME
CAPACITY
CONTACT
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Four Points by Sheraton, Charleston
Up to 250
304.344.4092 jclarke@fourpointscharleston.com fourpointscharleston.com
Downtown Charleston’s newest full-service hotel with experienced planning and catering teams to create your dream wedding. Nearly 9,000 square feet of banquet space, free local shuttle service, WiFi, and bottled water. 176 guest rooms and suites, new indoor heated swimming pool, and fitness center.
Hamilton Round Barn, Mannington
100
West Augusta Historical Society P.O. Box 414 Mannington, WV 26582 304.986.1252
Host your wedding at one of West Virginia’s most unique venues, the Hamilton Round Barn. This special spot can hold up to 100 guests, creating an unforgettable day you’ll cherish forever.
Heston Farm, Fairmont
200
304.366.9463 info@hestonfarm.com hestonfarm.com
The Pavilion at Heston Farm is open May through October and can accommodate wedding seating for 200 guests, plus bridal party. Included is a full indoor kitchen, gas grill, indoor fireplace and outdoor fire pit, electronic hookups, screen, restrooms, shower room, playground, parking, and more. Private cabana is also available.
Historic McFarland House, Martinsburg
225
304.263.1890 info@historicmcfarlandhouse.com historicmcfarlandhouse.com
Like the gem adorning your finger, weddings at the Historic McFarland House are dazzling, distinctive, and definitely you. From your grand entrance to your last spin on the dance floor, this venue will help you define your moment and make it last. Pampering is paramount on your wedding day, from start to sublime finale.
Jackson’s Mill, Weston
50 to 400
304.406.7005 jmbishop@mail.wvu.edu jacksonsmill.ext.wvu.edu
WVU Jackson’s Mill, home to West Virginia 4-H camping, is a rustic-style conference and event facility in a historic, heritage-based setting a few miles outside of Weston. See the website for this lovely and unique setting for your wedding.
Lakeview Golf Resort & Spa, Morgantown
400
304.594.1111 info@lakeviewresort.com lakeviewbride.com
Say “I Do” on the 10th tee of this exquisite golf course. Celebrate with your guests in one of Lakeview’s picturesque ballrooms overlooking Cheat Lake. The experienced wedding specialists will assist you in personalizing your special day.
Lambert’s Vintage Wines, Weston
140 to 150
304.269.4903 lamberts.weddings@gmail.com lambertsvintagewine.com
This picturesque winery, with rolling hills and vineyard, is a unique venue option. The Vintage Room can host up to 100 people, wh le a wraparound deck offers additional seating. Catering and tent rental options are available.
Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort, Chester
Varies
410.484.6882 bill@gaganation.com moreatmountaineer.com
Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort is a one-stop destination in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia. Mountaineer provides a full menu of resort amenities including slots, table games, live poker, live and simulcast racing, a hotel, spa, headline entertainment, fitness center, and full-service banquet and meeting facilities.
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VENUE GUIDE
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
VENUE NAME
CAPACITY
CONTACT
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The Resort at Glade Springs, Daniels
350
855.999.4120 achoutaylor@gladesprings.com gladesprings.com
The Resort at Glade Springs’ scenic 4,100-acre property provides the perfect West Virginia wedding location for your ceremony and reception, rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, and departure brunch. Choose indoor or outdoor sites with spectacular views and unique settings.
Snowshoe Mountain Resort, Snowshoe
300
304.572.5825 mmcgee@snowshoemountain.com snowshoemtn.com/planyour-trip/groups/destinationweddings.aspx
Snowshoe Mountain is the perfect setting for your special day. Come visit the top of our mountain and see why we are a popular location for your wedding.
Summersville Arena & Conference Center, Summersville
800
304.872.3722 marianne@summersvillecvb.com summersvillearena.com
This state-of-the-art facility is located in the heart of West Virginia, with an experienced staff and award-winning catering services. The nearby Summersville Lake offers many exciting recreational activities. Let the friendly staff of the Summersville Arena & Conference Center make your day stress free and memorable.
Tamarack Conference Center, Beckley
700
304.256.6843 ataylor@tamarackwv.com tamarackwv.com
Tamarack is the ideal setting for every part of your wedding celebration. The venue’s unique ambiance, intimate service, and superb catering will make your special day even more unforgettable.
Waterfront Place Hotel, Morgantown
1,100
304.296.1700 deborah.matthews @waterfrontplacehotel.com waterfrontplacehotel.com
With over 40,000 square feet of event space, the Waterfront Place Hotel and Morgantown Event Center present a picturesque setting sure to leave an impression. With a beautiful ballroom, exh bit hall, elegant banquet rooms, and an extensive outside patio and deck overlooking the river, the venue is the perfect West Virginia wedding location.
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Fall/Winter 2014
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BRIDAL INDEX Adkins & Swartz 92
Mahan & Broyles 142
Boso & Roy 94
McCue & Allen 144
Boyers & Roberts 96
Meeks & Gray 146
Chico & Smith 98
Melton & Toliver 148
Deliere & Savilla 100
Merrifield & Moffitt 150
Dempsey & Meeteer 102
Miller & Broyles 152
Dockery & Parkey 104
Monaghan & Stephenson 154
Femia & Seitz 106
Moore & Allie 156
Friend & Farmer 108
O’Hara & Goldsmith 158
Fulaytar & Porter 110
Pearson & Arnold 160
Geist & Shaffer 112
Perrine & Boyce 162
Gleason & Fraley 114
Queen & Pruitt 164
Hall & Streets 116
Robinette & Maranto 166
Harper & Cook 118
Saine & Maynard 168
Hayes & Deats 120
Schneider & Oliver 170
Hefner & Bobby 122
Shreve & Graves 172
Holstein & Hammonds 124
Simpson & Raynes 174
Ice & Kime 126
Tanner & Morrison 176
Keister & Rice 128
Thorn & Thomas 178
Kirby & Duggan 130
Turner & Funk 180
Knight & Hansen 132
Victorson & Scheinbach 182
Lake & Miller 134
Williams & Miller 184
Lauffer & Champe 136
Wolfe & Milam 186
Lawless & Weiss 138
Woodall & Kinch 188
Lockhart & Gilkerson 140
112 | WV WEDDINGS Fall/Winter 2014