Charlottesville Charm {Stephanie & Jay}

This fabulous wedding kicked off my wedding season at one of my favorite venues- Keswick Hall in Charlottesville, VA!

The magnificent Adam and the rest of the staff at Keswick outdid themselves again!  The couple started the weekend off with an intimate rehearsal dinner in the board room, a welcome reception surrounding the pool, as well as golf and skeet shooting the next morning!

The bride started off her morning in my favorite way- running with the hounds!! Every Saturday morning, the Keswick Hunt Club goes for a run... and you can join!  For all of my fellow dog lovers, what a great way to start your wedding morning!

Then we were off to hair and make up with the wonderful Pattie Martin and Abri Harrison of Hair by Jewels.

I ADORE this picture of the bride and her niece!! Keswick's suites provide such a wonderful backdrop for photos and makes it easy on the planner to keep the bride and groom from seeing each other!  Thank you Jack Looney for the beautiful photos! 

The beautiful ceremony by the pool just reflected the calm and peaceful nature of this wonderful couple!

 

After our I do's the couple took some photos around the amazing grounds of Keswick!  

Stay tuned for photos of the gorgeous reception and a romantic surprise with cake cutting!!

xoxo,

Amanda

All in Favor... Say 'Bride!'

What is it about a wedding favor that puts it at the top of a bride’s to-do list?  Simple. It’s a thank you combined with the couple’s own creative flair. I can’t see a better way to make your guests feel welcomed and show your appreciation, especially if they’ve traveled many miles. I’ve found it comforting and unique when couples give gifts that are not only useful, but also shed a light on the couple themselves. I find that the true gift is the personality of the couple, whether it be completely ridiculous and out-of-this-world, or more reserved and quiet.

I love these blankets and handkerchiefs for a chilly end of the summer wedding!  A wedding favor is a great way to tell your guests you’re happy they came…and please take a little bit of us home with you!  If you invest some time and thought into your favor, it will be something your guests use and remember how much fun they had with you on your big day!  

With crab season among us, I love this display!  How much fun (and delicious) would this be for a rehearsal dinner!  

Keeping your favor as something "local" is always a fun idea too!  Love these lobster crackers for a Northeastern wedding or from a Northeastern couple!  

 

 Honey well wishes and rosemary infused olive oil are gifts I would love to receive as a guest!

When it comes to these favors it’s okay to think outside the box…of mints! Think about your story. Where did you meet? How did you meet? Is there something funny involved? Asking yourself questions like these can spark creative ideas for favors that connect you with your guests in more ways than you thought. Keep an open mind!

If there’s one thing I’ve learned through my experience so far, it’s that guests like seeing your personality in every aspect of your wedding. So make sure the favors are personal, too! It’s a small token of the day. Don’t stress about it, it could end up being your favor-ite part! J

Xoxo,

Intern Erica

Photo credits: 1. Ralph Alswang Photography 2. Martha Stewart Weddings 3. Dreamlove Photography 4. and 5. Martha Stewart Weddings

Eccentric Escort Cards

Let's get creative!  Escort and place cards are a great avenue to highlight the overall theme of your wedding and showcase your creativity!  Picking something a little off the beaten path instead of your typical table lined with plain white cards can be a fun way to spark guests interest, create a memory and even have their own special keepsake!

You can do anything from arranging your cards on a vertical frame to using that card as your favor!  For a coastal affair, consider using oyster shells.  They can hold your cards or for a more "cast away" look, inscribe directly on the shell!

For a vineyard themed wedding, try a wine cork or even get seasonal with gold foil leaves attached to a tree for a fall wedding.  In this heat, I'm already dreaming of the cooler weather!  My personal faves though are ones that really show the personality of the couple.  I both of the ideas below of hand-painting Mexican tiles (try Tuscan for an Italian style wedding) with guests' names or creating a paper flower for each table with guests names as the petals! 

Here are just a few ideas to spark your own! 

xoxo,

Intern Meg

Photo credits: 1. Photo by Jessica Lorren Organic Photography via Style Me Pretty; 2. Photo by Caplan Miller Events via Style Me Pretty; 3. Photo by Melinda Morris; 4. Photo by Cuppa Photography; 5. Photo by Gary and Courtney Christenson; 6. Photo by Sarah Ainsworth via CeciStyle Magazine

If Every Wedding Could Be Like This . . .

Denise and Devin's wedding was the perfect one for me in every way. The couple was gorgeous and sweet as could be. Their families may be the nicest ones on the planet (and I'd worked with the bride's family before on Denise's sister's wedding 10 years earlier so I know just how wonderful they are). The bridesmaids were lovely and the groomsmen were mostly strapping men in uniform (which was lovely). The vendors were all amazing and the venue was breathtaking. And to top it all off, everything went flawlessly and it was one of the most flat-out fun parties I've been to in a while.

We started off the day with Denise and her girls getting ready at The Willard with the fabulous Nikki Fraser doing makeup and Remona doing hair. Love these talented ladies!

What a stunning bride and bridal party!

Meanwhile, with the guys . . .

Then it was off to St. Aloysius Catholic Church for a full mass with a gospel choir!

 

Denise was welcomed into the Marines with a traditional sword arch.

Then it was off to the reception at The Mellon with decor by Amaryllis, lighting by John Farr Lighting, rentals by Perfect Settings and DC Rental and catering by Occasions!

The band Nocturne from New York kept the dance floor packed all night!

The couple cut a beautiful cake

Then more dancing . . .

Thanks to Denise and Devin and their wonderful families for sharing their amazing day with us, to my crackerjack assistants Bella and Meg for keeping me sane, to Greg Gibson for the stunning images and to the entire wedding team for creating a truly magical evening!

xoxo
Laura