Coming to pass: A concert-goer’s souvenirs get a place of prominence
As any music fan knows, amassing a collection of concert tickets is almost as fun as going to the show. (If you don’t display them, were you even there?) So when Rit Venerus, a business manager for entertainers with Cal Financial Group, decided to renovate his company’s office in the spring, his wife, Barb, enlisted […]
Love in the time of corona: With their planned weddings on hold, three local couples are making lemonade from lemons
It’s to be expected that one’s wedding day will include a few stressors—the guest shuttle didn’t arrive on time, there’s a stain on the bride’s veil, the band left a crucial instrument behind. What’s less predictable: A global pandemic shuts down the wedding altogether. Here are three local couples embracing the change. May the 4th […]
Where do we vegan? Robin Fetter is leading the charge for vegans in Charlottesville (and beyond)
Robin Fetter had considered herself a “lazy vegetarian” since the age of 13. Until, that is, a few months after her wedding in 2008, when an episode of Morgan Spurlock’s “30 Days” changed her diet (and mindset) forever. In the episode, a hunter from North Carolina was tasked with spending 30 days with a vegan […]
Family meal: A local club cooks up community
You’ve heard of book clubs. But have you heard of cookbook clubs? Neither had Jacqueline Willis, until blogger Kate Arends mentioned her own on her site, and eventually recorded an episode of her podcast explaining how she and her friends made it work. Willis was intrigued. “Jacqueline wanted to create the club for a few […]
Bayou-inspired: The Batteau’s Clayton Butler takes a cue from his Louisiana upbringing
Clayton Butler admits that, since working as a dishwasher at Duner’s in the late ’90s, his culinary journey has been “trial by fire.” He’s traveled and trained throughout the United States, including at a Relais & Chateaux establishment in North Carolina, celebrity chef restaurants in Las Vegas, and destinations in Lake Tahoe. The Batteau owner […]
Sentimental journey: Touching details round out a romantic day
Rachel Baltes & Jay Gaffney October 26, 2019 Streamlined and neutral was the order of the day for Rachel and Jay, who envisioned a classic look for their wedding. That meant the groomsmen wore tuxes, the bridesmaids wore taupe chiffon dresses, and the bride herself was outfitted in a clean-lined dress with a fitted skirt […]
Pretty party: With guests from around the world, a couple hosts a beautiful day
Julia Roberts & Mechelle Marchant April 27, 2019 “Our first priority was to throw a party,” says Mechelle. “Our second priority was to plan a wedding.” Mechelle and her fiancé, Julia, knew they’d have guests flying in from all over the United States, plus the U.K., Switzerland, and Kenya. They wanted the wedding to serve […]
Head over heels: A fun-filled day kicks off a lifetime of happiness
Jamie Richman & Charles Baldwin September 14, 2019 There are so many wedding-day moments to anticipate before the big day approaches: saying “I do,” the first kiss, feeding each other a slice of cake. For Jamie, that moment was the first look. “That morning I was feeling so anxious and just wanted to be with […]
Better together: An Early Mountain wedding embraces multiple cultures
Shante Lane & Asteway Tamerat August 30, 2019 A multicultural wedding presents its own set of challenges—incorporating all the customs into one day means both parties end up making a few compromises. But for AJ, who is from Ethiopia, and Shante, representing both cultures made their special day even more special. Table numbers were written […]
Bounce with me: A new vendor is shaking things up
After 15 years in the business and more than 1,000 weddings under their belts, Charlottesville makeup artist Anne Kibler and her husband, Nate, who owns Photo Booth of Charlottesville, were looking to add even more to the local wedding scene. “We wanted something that utilized our artistic and photographic experience,” Anne says. “Something unique.” What […]
Bright idea: Colorful smoke cans make a big impact at a King Family wedding
There’s no end to the ways you can distinguish your wedding from your cousin’s or your neighbor’s or your best friend from the office who, at her big day last year, hired a live petting zoo for the reception. For Matt Jernigan and Ben Hoelscher, the answer was simple: They’d release a color explosion just […]
Playing dress up: How to make the most of your try-on appointment
Let’s not pretend that searching for your perfect dress is any easier than searching for your perfect match (because it’s not). Between silhouettes, fabric, and your budget, there’s a lot to consider before walking down the aisle looking as dazzling as the Duchess. We asked The One Bridal Salon owner Peggie Donowitz, whose store was […]
Petal preservation: One local photographer’s solution to keep you in blooms
It’s the day after the wedding. You wake up next to your betrothed and your eyes wander over to your bouquet, a mess of beautiful petals you painstakingly chose with your florist only months earlier. What a shame to throw it in the trash, you think. Enter Sera Petras. About four years ago, the Charlottesville […]
Cake imitating art: A Chagall-inspired dessert shows off the bride’s pastry chops
What would a pastry chef create if there were no rules or boundaries? That was the question facing Paradox Pastry owner Jenny Peterson ahead of her wedding to Rob Baker last spring. “I had the basic theme in my head and then pretty much just made it up as I went,” she says. She took […]
On a mission: Planning a wedding is only the first step to your future together
With so many decisions to make before your wedding comes together, where do you begin? For Hope and Mark McCutcheon, it was simple: They started with their vision. “Our wedding was our biggest opportunity to let the people closest to us know that our marriage is more than a romantic relationship,” Hope says. “It’s more […]
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, […]