Love local: A bevy of Charlottesville goods round out a romantic wedding
Elaine Butcher and Bradley Jaeger September 30, 2017, at Highland Orchard in Covesville, Virginia Photography by Katie Stoops Having lived and launched a business in Charlottesville, Elaine Butcher was aware of the city’s wealth of talented artisans. So when it came time to design her wedding to Brad Jaeger, she knew where to turn: everywhere. […]
Falling for you: A rustic winery wedding rings in the romance
Kara Jones and Taylor Hogge October 13, 2018, at Septenary Winery at Seven Oaks Farm Photography by Cramer Photo The choice of venue can dictate a lot of other decisions about your big day—the flowers, the caterer, even your DIYed elements. It was no different for Kara and Taylor, whose Septenary Winery setting enhanced what […]
Oh, happy day! Bright blooms and distinctive details enhance a Keswick wedding
Adria Wilson and Amanda Septien April 27, 2018, at Keswick Vineyards Photography by What Em Sees While Adria calls it “a jumble of bright details,” Amanda says their wedding had “a romantic vintage feel that mixed in personal touches of our cultures and past.” However it’s described, one thing is clear about the couple’s spring […]
It takes two: Dutch details enrich a classic American fête
Jenna Hartin and William de Hoop Scheffer July 28, 2018, at Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards Photography by Jen Fariello The groom is Dutch, the bride is American. How to bridge the gap? Says Jenna, “We decided to honor William’s Dutch heritage with our color palette and styling.” Shades of orange and Delft blue (a […]
Perfect match: Tennis-themed details spell love-all for this big day
Bailey Logan and David Hardy April 27, 2019, at The Clifton Photography by Bethany Snyder Bailey and Dave met while playing tennis, so it felt natural to utilize elements from the game in their big day. “Angelica [Laws] came up with an alternative idea for a guest book inspired by the Paris lock bridge,” says […]
Petals aplenty! Your guide to adding (even more) flowers to your wedding
One of the first details to work out as you begin planning your wedding is, of course, the flowers. You’ll need arrangements for the altar, for the aisle, for your wedding party, for the tables, for the cake… The list goes on and on. But savvy couples know there’s more than one way to sneak […]
Heirloom variety: Beloved Thread’s custom pieces are meant to be cherished
Talk about happy accidents: Seven years ago, Jeannine Lalonde Smith got the notion to learn how to make curtains. She didn’t expect it would go beyond that. “I never thought of myself as especially crafty,” she says, “but this untapped creative side of me came roaring out when I looked at a combination sewing and […]
Treat me right: A few sweet ideas to end the night
Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but if all you’re doing is copying the last couple, how do you, well, do you? Here are some unique dessert-related details we’re digging this season. Steal at your own risk. Front and center If you’re like us and cake ranks as one of your top three […]
Trip of a lifetime: Best spots for honeymooners
Peace Frogs Travel owner Julie Arbelaez says that, when it comes to honeymoon spots, California’s Napa and Sonoma valleys are popular right now. But where else might you travel once you’ve said your I Dos? Here are some other spots Arbelaez says the newly betrothed are flocking to lately. St. Lucia “It has some wonderful, […]
Brew-nique engagement: A custom beer takes personalization to the next Notch
The rolling hills of Albemarle, the verdant pavilions of UVA, the lush vines of neighboring wineries—there’s no end to the picturesque backdrops for your engagement photos. But we love a couple who thinks outside the box. Take it from Danielle Peacock and Josh Laseter, who shot their engagement session at Three Notch’d Brewing Company—while creating […]
Serene romance: An easy, breezy summer wedding
Michelle Cheng & Yang Zeng | August 10, 2018, at The Market at Grelen Photography by Jen Fariello The happiest days comprise many little moments—some unexpected details and some planned. For Michelle Cheng, one of the best moments of her wedding day was an ATV ride with her photographer, planner, and new husband, to the top of a […]
A wild, magic mood: An at-home wedding and a forest full of love
Delilah Ohrstrom & Alexander Harris | August 25, 2018, at home Photography by Ashley Cox While Delilah Ohrstrom and Alex Harris met in the fifth grade, they didn’t start dating until they were 19. But growing up in the same town meant that their families were already well-acquainted, so a wedding at Delilah’s parents’ Virginia home made sense, […]
Natural and cheerful: Claudia and Jim at Sweet Greens Farm
Claudia Seixas & Jim Marzluff October 7, 2018, at Sweet Greens Farm | Photography by Amy Jackson Smith Perfect moments Among the couple’s favorite moments from the day? Planting a magnolia tree—to symbolize their growing love—during the ceremony (“We’ll always be able to remember that moment as we take care of our tree,” Claudia says) […]
Classic romance in Lexington: Kayla & Quinn at House Mountain Inn
Kayla Foust & Quinn Matthew September 22, 2018, at House Mountain Inn in Lexington | Photography by Ashley Cox Get on the floor Having taken a few ballroom lessons prior to the wedding, the couple’s first dance—a waltz to The Piano Guys’ version of “A Thousand Years”—was no problem. And, it inspired others to hit the […]
Keeping it classic: Virginia takes center stage at a Pippin Hill fête
Kate Robinson & Dante Schiavo | August 11, 2018 at Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards Photography by Shannon Moffit “Looking out at everyone from the altar, walking through the crowd during our introduction into the reception hall, being cheered on by everyone during our sparkler farewell,” says Kate Robinson of her wedding day, “the whole night was filled […]
Classic, romantic, fun: At James Monroe’s Highland, elegant meets down to earth
Isabelle Marshall & Andrew Giordano | September 15, 2018, at James Monroe’s Highland Photography by Beth Seliga Not wanting to look back in a few years and cringe at the trendy choices she made, bride Isabelle Marshall worked hard to choose details and décor that wouldn’t go out of style. And, she says, she wanted a mix […]
Love finds a way: Lindsay and Kristin at Lydia Mountain Lodge
Lindsay Schimpf & Kristin Beers May 12, 2018, at Lydia Mountain Lodge | Photography by Amanda Maglione Unexpected inspo When Lindsay Schimpf and Kristin Beers started dating, gay marriage wasn’t legal in many states, including Virginia. So neither bride had a vision for their dream wedding. Turns out, they got the perfect day anyway. “We had […]
Easygoing elegance: Erin and Dominic at Gaie Lea
Erin Mahoney & Dominic Desmond August 25, 2018, at Gaie Lea in Staunton | Photography by Christy McKee Perfect pick With the help of Erin’s sisters and friends, the couple filled five five-gallon buckets with wildflowers from Pebble Hall Wildflowers in Weyers Cave. “Some more friends helped arrange them in Mason jars on the morning […]
Finishing touch: A personalized topper takes the cake
You’ve chosen the escort card display and the fold of your napkins. But what about the cake topper? If So INKlined’s Jen Maton has that covered. After nearly two decades as a professional calligrapher, she started thinking about creating her own product line. “The light bulb went off and I realized that cake toppers would […]
Yaaaasssss, dessert: Go ahead, give in to your sweet tooth
There’s only one right way to eat dessert: at every meal. Start with breakfast—a sticky, gooey donut (okay, fine, you can put bacon on it)—then a sip of a sugary shake, and later, a pillowy pile of tiramisu and a mug of cocoa before bed. In this issue, we’ll show you how to appease your […]
Honest goodness: A new Lovingston shop offers up high-quality wares
Restoration has always been important to the Ramsey family: There’s Luke, whose company Ramsey Restoration focuses on the construction and preservation of historical property, and who learned how to build log cabins from his father. And there’s Adrienne, who formerly served as a spokesperson for the Food Routes Network (the same folks who developed the […]
A taste of luck: Three ways to start the new year
New Year’s is more of a drinking-and-kissing holiday than one meant for feasting. But don’t let a good start-of-the-year meal go overlooked, especially if you might leave some luck on the table. We asked some local food folks to cook us up New Year’s Day nosh that was traditional (to capitalize on all that good […]
Material possessions: Instant heirlooms from three local leathercrafters
There’s just something about leather: It’s at once rugged and polished. And always cool. Plus, it’s a material that’s easy to source in our area, thanks to local saddle shops and nearby tanneries. Here are three hand-crafters making your next favorite accessory. Stamp of approval Siberia native Daniel Foytik became fascinated with leather as a […]
Heart in hand: Handmade accessories lend a personal touch
What’s not to love about a handmade piece of jewelry? Here are five local gems worth wearing. Direct from nature As a kid, Rebecca Perea-Kane would play with Fimo clay, sculpting tiny animals with her sister (“we must have made hundreds of them,” she says). No surprise, then, that her line of delicate jewelry celebrates […]
Tastes just like homemade (because it is): From sauces to sweet snacks, Charlottesville makers get cookin’
Maybe our eyes are bigger than our stomachs, but these five cooks, bakers, and concocters make an extra helping hard to resist. It’s all gravy No one knows the phrase “food is an international language” more than Yvonne Cunningham. The sauce-maker developed the recipe for her “Italian gravy” (so-called because it’s so thick) while living in […]
Food stars—they’re just like us!
Around here, the folks cooking your favorite foods are as close to celebrities as some of us get (unless you’re lucky enough to corner Dave Matthews on the mall). So, for this year’s annual Food & Drink Issue, we decided to take a look behind the scenes—beyond your pork belly tacos and pain de campagne—at […]
Native flavors: Priya Mahadevan brings a taste of South India to Charlottesville
Birthdays are always special, but growing up in Priya Mahadevan’s family of nine, birthdays came with an extra privilege: choosing the day’s menu. “We always asked for this lentil and vegetable stew called sambar, with roasted potatoes and masala vadais, which are a fried lentil snack,” Mahadevan says. “Payasam (also called kheer) was the dessert […]