Weddings | Summer 2024

See you later

After the party comes the after party—where?

Now serving

Local experts on new big-day food trends

Bells will ring

Going to the (recently renovated) UVA Chapel

Lillie Elliot Photography, Meredith Coe, Michael & jasmine Photography,

Photography, Sera Petras Photography & Sidney Leigh Photography

Wedding Planner

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

9 You may now be (creatively) seated.

12 The Photobooth Company’s cool captures.

12

Honeymoon ideas for the newly wed.

13 At Love Ridge, spend a wedding weekend.

15 A peek at UVA Chapel’s renovation.

16 Experts weigh in: What’s hot in food.

17 Don’t sleep on these post-party spots.

18 Your month-by-month big-day planner

53 The big question

Keeping your wedding eco-friendly: We’ve asked the experts.

54 Making Marry

Writing the next chapter.

CHARLOTTESVILLE WEDDINGS

You’re invited...

25

Kelly & Emily

A stunning black-tie soirée at The Clifton. 30 Ashton & Jack Color, color, color for this couple of UVA alums. 40

Abby & Kalan

A chic neutral palette offers a modern backdrop. 35 Patricia & Isi Nigerian meets Jamaican for a brunch wedding.

46 Blair & Colin At Boars Head Inn, a big day full of fun.

ON THE COVER: Newlyweds Patricia and Isi are ready for brunch. Photo: Carrie Coleman Photography

Now trending in cakes: Citrus! PAGE 16

Historic

Beautifully restored, the historic Jefferson Theater is the perfect place to host your wedding celebration.

Located on the Downtown Mall, you and your guests will enjoy a friendly staff, two full bars, professional staging, technical support and an on-site event manager to make your wedding day stress-free and truly memorable.

We can host up to 200 seated guests for dinners and up to 500 guests for cocktail-style receptions. The Jefferson offers a variety of design options for your event including seating on the stage, use of both balconies and the grand lobby.

ABERDEEN BARN

Like what you see?

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

Barbarah Perttula barbarahperttula.com

Benjamin McLean

Photography benjaminmcleanphotography.com

Brittany Lowe brittanylowephotography.com

Carrie Coleman

Photography carriecolemanphotography.com

Cramer Photo cramerphoto.com

Danielle J. Norton

Photography daniellejnorton.com

Gideon Photography gideonphoto.com

Hunter & Sarah hunterandsarah.com

Jen Fariello jenfariello.com

Jill Meriwether

Photography jillmeriwether.com

Meredith Coe

Photography meredithcoephotography.com

Nicole Clarey

Photography nicoleclareyphoto.com

Nikki Santerre nikkisanterre.com

Sera Petras serapetras.com

Xiaoqi Li Photography xiaoqili.com

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

Weddings, a supplement to C-VILLE Weekly, is distributed all over Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and the Shenandoah Valley. C-VILLE Weddings Editor Caite Hamilton. Contributors Carol Diggs, Maeve Hayden. Copy Editor Susan Sorensen. Creative Director Max March. Graphic Designer Tracy Federico. Account Executives Gabby Kirk, Sarah Smith. Director of Events & Marketing Stephanie Vogtman. Production Coordinator Faith Gibson. Publisher Anna Harrison. Chief Financial Officer Debbie Miller. Operations Manager Maddie Donegan. A/R Specialist Nanci Winter Circulation Manager Billy Dempsey. ©2024 C-VILLE Weekly.

c-ville.com/weddings

Wedding Planner

TIPS, TRENDS, AND BEAUCOUPS OF REAL-LIFE BIG-DAY INSPO

Find your seat (in

style)

Considering printing your guests’ names on tiny folded cards and arranging them alphabetically on the entry table at your reception? Think again.

DESIGN

Goldsmith Mia van Beek

Jewelry Downtown Mall Charlottesville

Master Goldsmith Mia van Beek established Formia® Design Jewelry in 2004, a small, full service jewelry studio in the heart of Charlottesville, Virginia. After 34 years of experience in her trade, she specializes in custom design and redesign of fine jewelry.

“I like to think outside the box and also present a different side to wedding rings than what’s normally offered in generic jewelry stores. Each piece is personalized to fit wearer and the wallet,” says Mia.

Mia will personally consult with you in the process of your jewelry creations. She makes this experience creative and fun while professionally guiding you with possibilities and ideas fitting to you and your needs. Mia has full attention to detail in her work in the process, and most of all, satisfied customers are her priority.

Goldsmith Mia van Beek

420 E. Main St. 434-987-8389 info@formiadesign.com

These inventive couples agree, it’s time to enter your Creative Seating Chart era. From vinyl records to a pint-sized garden, there’s no end to the number of ways you can inject even more personality into this oft-forgotten corner of your big day.

BARBARAH

Say cheese!

Photo booths produce great wedding mementos and memories

By Carol Diggs

Wedding photos can be formal or casual, posed or of the moment. Or you can step into the booth...

Kyle Kirkeide turned his own wedding guest experience into The Photobooth Company. “I went to my sister’s wedding in Florida in 2011, and they had a photo booth set up,” he recalls. “Afterwards, I started thinking about it—my wife had left her job, we had

young kids. I thought it was great idea for Charlottesville—we have so many events and weddings here. I found a company to get the equipment, and started out doing events at UVA [his alma mater].”

A decade later, Kirkeide’s idea for a side hustle now handles about 60 events a year (“roughly one a week”). About half of them are weddings.

One of the things that makes The Photobooth Company perfect for weddings, in Kirkeide’s view, is that “we customize the whole thing to what you want.” The company offers two set-up options: the traditional booth, where people go in and sit before the camera (“although our booths allow for a much closer shot”), and a more open setup with an 8'x8' customized backdrop.

For each “sitting,” guests get photos printed on a strip customized for the big day. The booth produces copies for the guests, and an extra one for the newlyweds. “Then we bind all the photos together into a scrapbook for the couple—many of them use also use it as a guest book and have people sign,” says Kirkeide. The couple also gets a digital version. It’s your day, so if you want formal photos, The Photobooth can produce them. If your wedding leans more to the causal and creative, you can have that too—with a wide range of props and costume items that the company provides. “We end up doing props for most of our events,” Kirkeide says. “People like that,

And we’re off!

WHILE HONEYMOONERS

these days are traveling here, there, and everywhere after their big day—Peace Frogs Travel owner Julie Arbelaez says she’s working on trips to Anguilla, the French Riviera, Hawaii, and Morocco this season—a few things remain the same.

“Overwater bungalows are always in demand,” Arbelaez says, “and they’re popping up in lots of places

apart from Bora Bora, where this trend got started. This allows couples who don’t have the time to fly across the planet the opportunity to still have their dream honeymoon experience.” Word to the wise, though: Book early!

Other spots Arbelaez notes as popular destinations in 2024?

Italy (“Always!” she says), Portugal, Greece, the Caribbean, and the Maldives.

and it can be something that fits with your wedding theme—or it can be your university, or people’s pets.” (And, in case you’re worried about posterity, there’s a television monitor in which guests can check how they look before the camera snaps.)

What makes photo booths so popular? Kirkeide thinks part of the appeal is “a bit of nostalgia” for the days before a camera/phone in your pocket. A photo booth also provides a memento for both guests and the couple, without anyone having to worry about carrying a camera, getting everyone in the selfie, or finding someone willing to take “just one shot for us.”

“Kids love photo booths,” Kirkeide says—a real benefit for anyone who has tried to keep youngsters entertained or get reluctant adolescents into a family photo. “And this gives guests something to do—not everyone wants to dance, so during the music they can come play around in the booth. There are always a few guests who are really enthused about it, and bring other people over.”

Pricing for a wedding is in the $800-900 range for a four-hour rental, says Kirkeide, depending on the guest count and the distance to the venue. Because it is a side business, and there are busy wedding months, Kirkeide prefers a few weeks’ notice to help in scheduling and producing custom graphics.

Then, once the big day comes, all you have to do is smile for the camera.

“Honeymooners seem to have more than a week and seem to value the opportunity to go someplace and truly settle in and explore, whether that is an international city or a tropical island,” Arbelaez notes. Eight to 10 nights is the current average for a post-wedding trip, and she points out that, based on the time of year when they get married, couples are opting to take their honeymoon at a later date.—CH

Keep it going

If your wedding venue starts turning off the lights a little earlier than you’d prefer, Charlottesville’s late-night scene offers plenty of spots post-wedding to keep the good times rolling. Head to the Downtown Mall or to the Corner, if you don’t mind mingling with co-eds.—CH

their

DOWNTOWN

Open until 2am (unless otherwise noted)

Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint jackbrownsjoint.com

Lucky Blue’s luckybluesbar.com

Miller’s millersdowntown.com

Rapture

rapturerestaurant.com

for late-night

The Bebedero (1:30am on Friday/Saturday) thebebedero.com

The Fitzroy thefitzroycville.com

The Conservatory at the Omni (1am) omnihotels.com

The Livery Stable (1:30am) lwsliverystable.com

The Whiskey Jar (2am on Friday/Saturday) thewhiskeyjarcville.com

(and more dancing!).

THE CORNER

Open until 2am (unless otherwise noted) Boylan Heights boylanheights.co

Crozet Pizza at the Buddhist Biker Bar crozetpizzacville.com

The Biltmore thebiltmorecville.com

The Virginian thevirginiancville.com

Following

wedding at The Bradbury, Emily and John brought their party Rapture

snacks

“Great to have a family owned jeweler that you can trust with fair pricing and answers to your questions.”

“ I bought an engagement ring there last Spring. Andy was a pleasure to work with and took the time to help me make sure I made the right purchase. I had visited several other jewelers and there was a huge difference in customer service. I would recommend the store for any jewelry purchase without hesitation.”

Celebrate your love ... in Love, Virginia Make

your big day a mountain getaway for family and friends

By Carol Diggs

You’ve found your life partner. You both share a love of the Blue Ridge and the outdoors, and you want to have family and friends gather and share your commitment ceremony. Enter Love Ridge Mountain Lodging.

The name is no coincidence. The little town of Love sits astride State Route 814 (aka Love Road), close to milepost 16 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The hamlet has been here for almost 100 years, pre-dating the current wedding boom in central Virginia. But now there’s a new event venue right next door.

Love Ridge Mountain Lodging is—in the best wedding tradition—something old and something new. The site opened in the 1960s as Meadow Mountain Campground, then became Royal Oaks when cabins were added in the 1990s. Natasha Sienitsky and her husband Oliver PlattsMills, who run Charlottesville real estate development and renovation firm 6th and Dice, took over the complex in 2022 and re-named it to fit their vision of creating an all-in-one site for getaways, events—and weddings.

“We found this place that needed love and renovation,” recalls Sienitsky; she and her husband are both big nature and Blue Ridge fans and own a renovated cabin in the area. “It wasn’t hard to see its potential. But we needed to keep the place running, so we began renovating one building at a time.”

The accommodation renovations are now complete. Love Ridge has 12 units available (three family houses and nine cabins) that can sleep up to 75. Or more, if you have adventurous guests—there’s also a newly refurbished, smallscale forested drive-in campground with a brand-new camphouse featuring a community kitchen, restrooms, hot showers, and two glamping bedrooms.

While Love Ridge is well suited for single, couple, or family mountain getaways, Sienitsky says they planned from the beginning to make it more workable as a single-event venue. The couple renovated the existing lodge into a 2,000 square-foot event space that can seat up to 120 guests (or handle up to 150 for a reception), with four restrooms and a catering kitchen. The adjacent 3,000 square-foot Gathering Lawn, rimmed

by plantings of multi-seasonal flowering native plants, overlooks the Three Ridges Wilderness Area—making it a wonderful site for the ceremony or a post-wedding social gathering, open-air or tented to accommodate up to 200 guests.

As a fairly new event venue, Love Ridge is still developing relationships with wedding planners and a list of preferred vendors. But its owners are committed to being both flexible and helpful, and Sienitsky notes there will always be a staff person on site for events if help is needed: “We do have a great team up there.”

One added benefit: The setting is amazing for all sorts of outdoor activities. Love Ridge has its own walking trails, and the beauties of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Appalachian Trail, Sherando Lake, and Shenandoah National Park are only a drive, hike, or bicycle ride away. Man-made entertainment is also nearby—Nelson County’s Route 151 and Wintergreen Resort, and, during evening or bad weather, the shopping, dining, museums, and theater in Waynesboro, Staunton, and Charlottesville. And after a full day, Love Ridge is also a dark skies site to enjoy from your front porch or around the fire pit.

Good eats

We already know that when it comes to attire, décor, and florals, personalization is the name if you want to make your big day your own. But your dinner menu and dessert offer myriad opportunities to customize, too, says two local vendors. Below, The Catering Outfit’s Courtney Hildebrand and Commonwealth Cake Company’s Tiffany Rosales share some insight into what couples are asking for this season.—CH

DINNER

Customization

“Menus tailored to the couple’s preferences, dietary restrictions, or cultural backgrounds are very much in demand,” Hildebrand says. “Interactive food stations or DIY food bars where guests can customize their dishes according to their tastes have been trending for a lot of our menus this year.”

Interactive experiences

Speaking of which... Couples looking to keep guests engaged or entertained are opting for live food experiences. “We are doing a lot of weddings that have cooking stations, chef demonstrations, or tasting menus where the guests can interact with the chefs and learn about the dishes being served.”

Sustainability

With growing environmental awareness, ecofriendly catering options are top of mind, including locally sourced ingredients, zerowaste practices, compostable or reusable tableware, and plant-based menu options, Hildebrand says.

Fusion cuisine

“Mixing and matching cuisines creates a unique dining experience that reflects the couple’s backgrounds and interests,” she says. This year alone, The Catering Outfit has served a Vietnamese and French-inspired family-style menu, a Southern and Asian fusion buffet, as well as a stationed-style menu with Virginia- and Indiathemed items.

Non-traditional serving styles

Buffet, plated and family-style dining have always been very popular for weddings, Hildebrand says, but more and more couples are exploring other options: progressive grazing stations opening at different points throughout the evening or tapas-style food bars with different types of small plates for guests to grab and enjoy during an open dining period.

Inclusivity

“A lot of our couples want to ensure that all their guests, including those who don’t drink alcohol, feel included in the celebration,” Hildebrand says. “As a result, many of our couples are incorporating zero-proof cocktails into their wedding menus, either as standalone options or as part of a broader beverage selection.”

CAKE

Color

Just as we’ve started seeing more color incorporated in local weddings’ overall color schemes, so too are we seeing more color on cakes. “I’m getting lots of requests for colorful cakes,” Rosales says. “Soft, muted tones that complement their florals and reception décor, and vintage piped buttercream cakes.”

Texture

Stencils, delicate hand-cut fondant details, hand-piped buttercream petals and foliage, and ethereal wafer paper or sugar paste florals are topping Tiffany Rosales’ current list of couples’ requests. Rosales says that Charlottesville is sometimes “a little behind in the trends,” but she tries to use couples’ inspiration as a starting point and then encourage more updated options. “People don’t know what they don’t know,” she says.

Flavor

When it comes to taste, Rosales says her most requested flavor is a light, refreshing citrus cake with a lemon-flecked vanilla buttercream paired with a fruit component (“usually a tart raspberry jam and our orange honey Swiss buttercream”).

Going to the chapel

Welcome back to a restored and reopened UVA treasure

By Carol Diggs

The historic University Chapel on UVA Grounds underwent a much-needed facelift. The renovation, completed this spring, means the chapel is once again open for weddings and other private events. So if you want a wedding setting that is both Cavalier and historic, you’re in luck.

The compact sandstone structure has always been a special place for UVA students to celebrate, but you don’t have to be a Wahoo or affiliated with the university to hold an event there. “Reservations are first come, first served,” says Katie Dovel of the UVA Events Management Office. The space can be reserved up to 365 days in advance or, if you’re the last-minute type, 14 days out.

The chapel has been part of the university since it was completed in 1890. Thomas Jefferson’s original design did not include a religious building of any sort, given his desire to create an educational institution not tied to any denomination, but over the decades there were several attempts to consider adding a Christian space on Grounds. The chapel provides that, but, in a nod to Jefferson, is non-denominational and in a Gothic style unlike the Neoclassical

buildings around it. “But the building is placed according to Jefferson’s original grid,” says James Zehmer, senior historic preservation project manager with UVA’s Facilities Department, who oversaw the renovation.

There has been major work done on the chapel in the past—a 1910 fire damaged much of the floor and the wooden pews, and a 1950 project upgraded the electricity and covered the wooden floor with cork tile. Zehmer is especially pleased that this 2023 renovation, completed over about a year, included both upgrades to the electric and sound system and a much-needed recovery of the interior’s original appearance.

Over the years, the finishes in the space had all darkened and the walls were repainted in an off-white that seemed to fit what people expected in a church. But the walls have been repainted in a light spring green that’s close to the original color, and it makes the interior come alive. “People don’t realize that bright colors help reflect the light in a space,” says Zehmer. The green coordinates perfectly with the hues in the nave’s stained-glass windows (some original, others from the early 1900s).

All the woodwork in the building has been redone as well. The century-old pews were

removed and blasted with baking soda to scour them down to the original wood, and then refinished. The woodwork on the walls and ceiling was also stripped and refinished. One of the challenges, says Zehmer, was finding finishes for the various woods used (pine, oak, and chestnut) that would highlight each wood’s character while harmonizing across the space. The old cork tile flooring was ripped out and the pine paneling beneath refinished as well.

The result is that the chapel’s interior is now both lighter and brighter. One of the most striking features is the LED lighting that has been installed in the ceiling. The strip lights tucked behind the roof’s wood ribbing shine upward, raking along the warm wood paneling in its alternating diagonals. The whole effect draws the eye upward, which seems suitable in a chapel; the green walls highlighting the triptych window behind the altar space draw you in, which is perfect for a group celebration.

So if you met your intended at UVA and want to get married there, or you just love the university’s Grounds, get your reservation in. But leave out the tradition of throwing rice or birdseed—it’s not permitted.

I

do list

We've made it easy—check the boxes as you get closer to your big day

One year before

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

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

Settle on a ceremony location.

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

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

Start shopping for wedding rings. Reserve your officiant.

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

Choose a rehearsal dinner location.

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

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

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

Nine months before

Start finalizing the guest list and gathering addresses.

Register for gifts.

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

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

Select the bridesmaids’ gowns. These’ll take a few months to come in, too.

Send out save the dates.

Six months before

Prepare all maps and directions for the ceremony and reception.

Meet with your florist and choose arrangements for the ceremony and reception, as well as bouquets.

If your caterer doesn’t provide one, order your wedding cake.

Begin doing research for your marriage license.

If you're a first-timer, schedule a wax or laser hair removal consult.

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

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

Order invitations.

Start thinking about honeymoon destinations.

Four months before

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

Arrange for final dress fittings.

Purchase wedding guest book.

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

Three months before

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

Start gathering your RSVPs.

Finalize the dates for your last-minute dress fittings.

Meet with all your wedding vendors to finalize any orders and reservations.

Purchase bridal party gifts and a gift for your fiancé.

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

One month before

Finalize the details of your rehearsal dinner. Go over song lists and requests with your band or DJ.

Draw up preliminary seating arrangements for the reception.

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

Start taking dance lessons for your first dance.

Get your marriage license with your fiancé.

Three weeks before

Pick up wedding rings.

Confirm all arrival times with vendors.

Confirm hotel arrangements for out- oftown guests.

Have your final dress fitting.

Finalize the seating arrangement for the reception.

Attend your bachelor/ bachelorette party.

One week before

Give the caterer your final guest count. Have final fittings for your groom and groomsmen.

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

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

Two days before

Get a mani/pedi.

Get a wax and a spray tan.

Confirm flight, hotel and packing arrangements for the honeymoon.

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

Confirm arrangements for the getaway car.

One day before

Attend your rehearsal dinner.

Your wedding day

Get in a wedding day workout.

Get your hair and makeup done early Make sure you get plenty to eat, and drink a lot of water.

Have fun!

SARAH CRAMER SHIELDS

Thibaut-Janisson was born from a long friendship that began in a Grand Cru village in the Champagne region of France and continues today in Blue Ridge Mountains of Charlottesville, Virginia.

Thibaut-Janisson Winery | Charlottesville, Virginia | (434) 996-3307 | claude@tjwinery.com

Lovestories

12 PASSENGER TRANSIT LIMOUSINE

The Transit Limousine has all the luxury you have come to expect from a standard limousine, but with enough room for everyone. This is the perfect vehicle to enjoy Charlottesville’s many wineries and breweries with friends and family.

47–55 PASSENGER MOTOR COACH

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

25 PASSENGER MINI BUS

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

A beautiful BEGINNING

Elegant details round out a perfect big day

Photography by Nicole Clarey

Photography

Words by Caite Hamilton

Once Kelly and Emily fell in love with The Clifton for their early summer wedding, it felt like a no-brainer to make it black tie. “Black tie attire just says ‘wedding’ to us,” Emily says. “And what other time are you able to throw a black tie affair?”

They leaned into the venue’s color palette, requesting elegant white and green florals from the bouquets to the magnolia leaf place settings to the hanging installation above the head table.

In all, it was a truly elegant affair—with some seriously fun moments.

“The reception was such a fun time,” says Emily. “We are the couple that is always on the dance floor and that’s where we were most of the night. At one point...Kelly’s cousin’s husband and I were voguing on the dance floor. Everyone kept asking if we choreographed the dance.”

For all of their planning, Emily credits their guests with its success.

“Our wedding was full of love, dancing, great music,” she says. “All of our incredible friends and family really made the wedding as special as it was.”

GOOD TIMES

& Kelly Moses Emily Lentz

JUNE 17, 2023, AT THE CLIFTON

The couple’s “goodest boy,” their dog Banks, got in on the big-day action, following Kelly out to the location of their first look. “Having all of us there was very special,” Emily says. “He had lots of cute moments with us throughout the day.”

WHAT’S THE BUZZ?

“Kelly will say that she saw me from across a bar and sent me a drink but that’s not true!” Emily says. The couple, who dated for three years before getting married, met on Bumble. Kelly sent the first message, “but I made the first move and asked Kelly to go out for drinks.”

THE FINE DETAILS

Event planner Kerri Johnson (Elle Loren & Co.)

Officiant Emily’s best friend Catering The Clifton Flowers Tori Hardy Cake Maliha Creations Music

The Masters of the Ceremony (DJ Adolphus Louis Maples) Brides’ attire BHLDN (Kelly), Noemi gown from Sarah Seven (Emily) Bridesmaids’ dresses Birdie Grey Rings Blue Nile (wedding bands), L. Priori Jewelry (Kelly’s engagement ring), Yadav Jewelry (Emily’s engagement ring) Hair and makeup Emily Tucker of Emily Artistry

Videographer Altamira Film Co.

SPECIAL MOMENTS

As they were getting ready to walk down the aisle, Emily’s father (who has since passed) confessed: “I’m getting nervous now!” “You can’t be nervous, I’m nervous!” Emily replied.

TRIP OF A LIFETIME

The couple combined both of their vacay personalities (adventurous and relaxed) to create the perfect getaway. They started on the beach in Bali, Indonesia, traveled to Sydney, Australia, and the Gold Coast, wine-tasted in the north and south of New Zealand, then finished in a bungalow in Bora Bora.

Maple Crest

circa 1929

Perfect short term rental for your wedding party

Located in Somerset, Maple Crest is just two miles from the popular wedding venue, Grelen and convenient to all things north of Charlottesville. Maple Crest is pet friendly and sleeps 6 in three bedrooms and two and a half baths. Maple Crest has been thoroughly and tastefully renovated with a well stocked kitchen and pick your own veggies and herbs in season. Maple Crest is available through Air B&B and VRBO or you can call directly to John and Gaby Ince, 434-466-9081.

SCAN HERE OR VISIT MAPLECREST1929.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION

JUST SAY...

Photography by Danielle J. Norton Photography

Words by Caite Hamilton

&

Ashton Mann Jack Neary

AUGUST 5, 2023, AT VERITAS

VINEYARDS

Inspired by their vineyard venue, Ashton and Jack decided to create a colorful garden party-themed wedding— with an abundance of florals.

“We wanted to incorporate color and florals wherever we could to create a welcoming and fun environment. We had such a hard time narrowing down what color florals we wanted to go with,” says the bride. “So we just decided to go with them all!” Steelcut Flower Co. put together bountiful bouquets in pinks,

At Veritas, a colorful love story unfolds

oranges, purples, and blues, and created a flower cross at the end of the aisle, which ended up being one of the couple’s favorite details from the day.

Among their favorite moments? When Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” started playing while they were on the dance floor. “Everyone was singing it at the top of their lungs,” Ashton says. As for Jack, listening to his great-uncle Tom, their wedding officiant, deliver a homily about marriage.

“He talked about how sweet marriage is and what a gift it can be to share life with someone,” he says. “Getting to stand by Ashton and hear that beautiful message reminded me how special it was to get to marry my best friend and get to spend the rest of my life with her.”

BELLY UP

The couple created the Jack & Ashton Bar, an outdoor spot for guests to relax and enjoy a cigar (Ashton was named after a cigar brand) and a sip of Jack Daniels.

SOUTHERN EATS

Veritas’ Southern-inspired menu appealed to the couple. They had the most fun picking out appetizers for cocktail hour—Virginia ham biscuits with apple butter, buttermilk fried chicken with spicy ranch, fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese and green onions.

THE FINE DETAILS

CROSSING PATHS

Both University of Virginia alums, Ashton and Jack were in the same friend group, lived next door to each other, and were involved in the same college ministry group before they started dating in February 2020.

BRING THE FUN

Now that they’re married, the couple says they’re enjoying everyday life. “Even mundane tasks and errands can be joyful and filled with laughter,” says Ashton.

Event planner Emily King (Just a Little Ditty) Officiant The groom’s great-uncle Catering Veritas Vineyards Flowers Steelcut Flower Co. Cake Cake Bloom Music Morwenna & Jay (ceremony); DJ Derek Tobler (reception) Bride’s attire Suzanne Neville from Zoya’s Atelier Shoes ALOHAS Groom’s attire Ralph Lauren Groomsmen’s attire Vera Wang Bridesmaids’ dresses Birdy Grey Rings Brilliant Earth Hair and makeup Avenue 42 Videographer Travel House Films Rentals Emerson James, BBJ La Tavola, Argent Events Ice cream truck Rookie’s Paper suite Rock Paper Scissors Calligrapher Calligraphy by Carole Transportation Albemarle Limousine

HOLLYMEAD

Je t’aime

An enchanting French-inspired fête in Keswick

Photography by Meredith Coe Photography

Words by Caite Hamilton

& Abby Conley Kalan Patel

OCTOBER 6, 2023, AT KESWICK VINEYARDS

Abby’s passion for interior design gave her an advantage when it came time for her and her then-fiancé to plan their Keswick Vineyards wedding: She simply drew on her own aesthetic.

“I aimed for an elegant, timeless wedding with organic textures and colors,” she says. That meant a palette of white, brown, and green, manifesting everywhere from vintage Turkish vessels at the altar to an ethereal hanging installation in the reception tent to the wedding party’s attire.

Keswick Vineyards provided a timeless setting for the festivities, echoing the romantic setting of Kalan’s proposal in Aix en Provence, France, and offering the backdrop for all of the couple’s favorite moments: having a first look and exchanging vows privately, sipping mezcal margaritas with guests during cocktail hour, taking tequila shots at the behest of the couple’s parents.

And since the wedding? The couple is enjoying their new life together.

“Kalan and I have always made a great team, but getting married has strengthened our partnership in surprising ways,” Abby says. “Despite my inherent independence, I’ve come to appreciate the profound value of relying on one’s partner and confronting life’s trials together.”

LOVE STORIES

GOOD EATS

C&O created a menu that combined vegetarian items like mushroom ravioli with chicken, beef tenderloin, and halibut entrées.

ALL IN ONE

Not only did Keswick remind them of where they got engaged in France, the couple liked how all of the events—ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception— could be in the same location, making it easier for guests.

SIGNS POINT TO YES

The bride worked with an Australian designer to create signature cocktail signage—drink illustrations with a limewash background—that tied closely in design to the food menus.

WILD TIMES

The couple, who met through a mutual connection while Abby was on a trip to Los Angeles, spent their honeymoon on safari, visiting South Africa and Seychelles.

THE FINE DETAILS

Event planner Kelsey Mayo Ros (Donovan Groves Events) Officiant Dr. Joel Jenkins Catering C&O Flowers Steelcut Flower Co. Cake Cakes by Rachel Music Valente Haynes from AstroDJ Bride’s attire Huntleigh Dress from Jane Hill Bridal shoes Khaite Groom’s attire Black Tux Groomsmen’s attire Black Tux Bridesmaids’ dresses Various Rings Blue Nile (engagement ring and groom’s band), Ring Concierge (bride’s wedding band) Hair and makeup Avenue42 iPhone pictures/videos Follow the Bride Custom bar Happily Ever After Rentals Custom outfit-change skirt CassB By Designm Outfit-change top Loho Bride (Alex Perry) Alterations Mara Toonyan Cocktail signage Paige Tuzee

LET’S DO brunch

A morning wedding blends families and cultures

Photography by Carrie Coleman Photography

Words by Caite Hamilton

Patricia Dunbar

Isi Azeke

JULY 30, 2023, AT THE BRADBURY

With an elegant backdrop like The Bradbury, Patricia didn’t feel the need to include too many embellishments in her and Isi’s summer wedding. She left the flowers up to Tourterelle, only giving a direction for neutral colors; the bridesmaids wore pale pink one-shoulder gowns; and Patricia chose warm tones for décor, with gray tablecloths and shimmering candles. “I felt this was timeless and easy to match,” she says.

The unfettered scheme set the scene for a beautiful brunch wedding, where each guest—from Isi’s Nigerian side and Patricia’s Jamaican—

could enjoy “good food, company, and music,” says Patricia. Plus, she notes, everyone seemed to enjoy the money spray—a Nigerian wedding tradition during which guests shower the couple with more and more cash the longer they dance. It symbolizes showering the couple with blessings. It must have worked.

“[I love] learning new things about each other and growing together,” the bride says. “Having someone to share all the large and small joys from day to day and all the accomplishment and disappointments along the way.”

LOVE IN LOCKDOWN

The couple met online in April 2020 during the height of COVID. Their first date was that May, and they dated long-distance for two and a half years before getting engaged in Paris in November 2022.

LET’S GO

Patricia and Isi are planning a trip to Croatia in May 2024 for their honeymoon.

THE FINE DETAILS

Event planner Sarah Fay Waller (Day By Fay) Officiant Quentin Washington Catering Harvest Moon Catering Flowers

Tourterelle Floral Design Cake Cake Bloom Music Wemi-Mo Bride’s attire Ava Laurenne (Fredericksburg) Shoes Badgley Mischka Groom’s attire Custom by Commonwealth Proper Groomsmen’s attire Suit Supply Bridesmaids’ dresses FancyVestido Rings Jared (groom), Mark Pallanche (bride) Makeup Rouge 9 Videographer CY Wedding Films

KIRK SHOE SHINING

Sunny

DAYS AHEAD

A summer wedding goes all in on a bright palette

Photography by Jen Fariello

Words by Caite Hamilton

DINNER BELL

The Boar’s Head offered up a menu of Southern fare—ham and pimento cheese biscuits, Chesapeake crab cakes, local greens, molasses salmon, succotash, and Southern smashed potatoes.

THE ANSWER

The couple met at a bar in High Point, North Carolina, while they were in college. It was trivia night and they ended up on the same team. They dated for five years before getting married.

MAIS OUI!

For their honeymoon, Blair and Colin traveled first to Paris, then to Budapest for a cruise up the Danube River.

THE FINE DETAILS

Event planner Pamela Barefoot Events Ceremony and reception venue

Boars Head Inn Officiant Rev. Robert J. Robertson III Catering Boars Head Inn Flowers Darling and Daughters Cake Cakes by Rachel Music Melodious Strings (ceremony), East Coast Entertainment (reception) Bride’s attire

Monique Lhuillier from Carine’s Bridal Shoes Loeffler Randall Groom’s attire Jos. A. Bank Groomsmen’s attire Jos. A. Bank Bridesmaids’ dresses

Bella Brides Rings Jamie Grasso JG Jewelry Hair Top Knot Studio Makeup Rouge 9 Videographer Yeattes Productions Paper goods Paper Refinery

Rentals Something Vintage, BBJ La Tavola, Gibson Rental, Lola Valentina, Emerson James, Maison de Carine, Stradley Davidson Linen Collective, The Lighting and Sound Company, Nüage Designs

& Mackenzie Blair FitzGerald

Colin Jones

JUNE 24, 2023, AT BOAR’S HEAD INN

With a “summer celebration” theme in mind, colorful flowers were the key, says Blair. Washington, D.C.based floral company Darling & Daughters took on the task, arranging bountiful bouquets that mixed flowers of yellow, pink, purple, and blue. Not to mention creating two overlapping arches arranged with bright blooms and romantic greenery.

“The flowers were the showstopper,” Blair says. “Colorful, vibrant, plentiful.” And, for the bride in particular, they were an ode to her grandmother Gogo, who loved crafting arrangements for her home.

The couple agrees, though, that the best part of the day was catching each other’s eyes while Blair walked down the aisle. That, and what came after.

“Right after I married Blair,” Colin says of his favorite moment. “I was so happy I finally got to call her my wife.”

Photo by Lyn Waldrop Photography

Small footprint, big impact

When it comes to weddings, sustainability is always in. Thrifting centerpieces, upcycling a secondhand gown, and asking for charitable donations in lieu of gifts (do you really need that new set of silver?) are just a few easy swaps you can make that will have the planet—and your wallet—thanking you. To help you get started, wedding planner Marilyn Speight of Just a Little Ditty shares her green tips on everything from food to flowers. Maeve Hayden

The big question: How can I make my wedding more eco-friendly?

From Marilyn Speight: Sustainability is an incredibly important factor in event planning. Reducing the effect of a celebration on the environment is crucial when navigating a typically high-waste moment like a one-off party. No matter the area or scale, there are so many ways you can be sustainable that are intentional and thoughtful, while still designing a moment that meets your vision. Here are a few areas we consider when trying to make our client’s weddings and events more eco-friendly.

Food & beverage

Here, we really lean into your catering team. Focusing on local or seasonal food and beverages is huge. We’re lucky to live in the heart of Virginia wine country, so many weddings we produce are connected to or take place at vineyards. Serving wine to your guests that was created on-site is about as sustainable as you can get.

Plated dinners require less food than a station or buffet approach. If your goal is to produce less, this is often the way to go. Sometimes, we’ve also been able to donate leftovers to homeless shelters (make sure to check your local health codes).

Florals & décor

The majority of floral designers we work with takes great strides to source their flowers locally, which reduces travel and shipping impacts. We’ve also had couples who incorporate potted plants instead of fresh-cut blooms. From orchids to herbs, there are so many gorgeous options that can be easily reused or transplanted into soil after the shindig is over. That’s always a top goal with any floral approach—to repurpose as much as possible on-site and then give them a second life post-event.

As for other décor, using a solid rental company is one of the No. 1 ways you can positively impact the carbon footprint of your big day.

Buying 200 new chargers that you’ll use one time, versus renting that same charger from a company, is inherently sustainable.

Gifts

Welcome or celebration gifts for your guests are one of our favorite ways to show hospital-

ity, and be environmentally conscious. Reusable items made of quality materials go a long way. Fabric bags over paper, glass bottles over plastic, minimal packaging over all the bells and whistles. You can make a big impression on your guests while keeping your impact on nature small.

JEN FARIELLO

MAKING MARRY

A very happy ending

Lindsey Hall and Akash Sinha can recall their very first conversation, when they met at work in 2010: “It was about books and our shared love of Russian literature,” Akash says. It was only fitting then that when it came time to choose a venue for their wedding, they were thrilled to find New Dominion Bookshop was an option for the ceremony.

The “I dos” were shared at the back of the store, taking advantage of the sweeping staircase (which Hedge Fine Blooms decked out with floral arrangements), high ceilings, and natural light. Following the ceremony, the wedding party headed to Old Metropolitan Hall, where a reception with plenty of book-themed details

awaited: an antique typewriter in the display window, New Dominion bookmarks with each guests’ name, arranged alphabetically in a leather-bound dictionary passed down from Akash’s grandfather in India.

For place cards, the couple used library loan cards in sleeves, typing the guests’ name and stamping each card with “Out of circulation” and “Due date,” with the wedding date. Framed pages from some of the couples’ favorite novels served as table numbers, and stacks of their own books, paired with flowers and tea lights, became centerpieces.

GOOD READS

Lindsey’s

Akash’s

The theme even spilled over into their welcome reception at Tilman’s, where they served specialty cocktails with named like Catcher in the Rye (a riff on a Manhattan) and A Clockwork Blood Orange.

Says Akash, “We live close to the Downtown Mall and loved keeping our whole wedding weekend celebration centered around downtown Charlottesville businesses.”

SERA

PETRAS

Lindsey Hall and Akash Sinha were married June 3, 2023.

favorite book: Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin

favorite book: The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

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