Even before she was engaged to Evan, Kaitlyn had a few ideas about their wedding. “I first saw a picture of the barn at Big Spring Farm on Facebook and thought, ‘Now that is where I want to get married,’” she says. Luckily, after he proposed, Evan agreed. The couple wanted one venue that could […]
Simple elegance: Tasteful details round out a perfect Keswick wedding
Palmer Pekarek and Kenneth Greer Jr. | October 29, 2016 There were three things that Palmer and Kenny knew they wanted to make sure were perfect: the setting, the food and the music. The setting was easy: Having grown up in Charlottesville, Kenny knew the venue. “The beautiful setting of Keswick in the fall is how […]
Warm wishes: An autumn wedding overflows with love
Jenny and Brendan | October 29, 2016 As they started the task of planning their wedding, Jenny and Brendan began with a basic question: big wedding or small? Ultimately, they opted for the former, realizing that the bigger the big day, the more love they’d get to share with friends and family. And the decision paid […]
Precious moments: With all the pieces in place, a winery wedding comes together
Lesley Wharton and Patrick Kirby | May 6, 2016 Getting married is (and should be) an emotional experience. “You’re just normal people living normal lives, and then all of a sudden you find yourselves in the middle of one of life’s biggest milestones,” Lesley says. “I started crying and hyperventilating and generally going to pieces out […]
Tradition with a twist: Personal touches complete an Indian wedding
Anjali Joshi and Gopi Kumar | August 27, 2016 Planning an Indian wedding, Anjali and Gopi knew, meant incorporating certain traditions when it came to attire, décor and even food. But the couple made their special day their own thanks to a few key details. “The months leading up to the wedding were a little bit […]
You and me together: For their big day, Charlottesville natives go local
Cameron Jones and William Bolton Jr. | October 1, 2016 Both Monticello High School grads, Cameron and Will have known each other since they were teenagers. “In our junior year and senior years we shared a lot of classes together—including the opportunity to take a class at UVA our senior years,” Cameron says. It was during […]
Double feature: Treat your rehearsal dinner as a separate event
From the beginning of their wedding planning, Lizzy and Nik knew they wanted their wedding weekend to be very personal: Lizzy had grown up in Charlottesville and attended the University of Virginia and Nik’s family spent many years living in Mexico City. So, for their rehearsal dinner, the couple decided to merge the two: an […]
In and out: A local planner forecasts Virginia’s next big-day thing
There’s a joke in Charlottesville that, whatever trend is popular elsewhere, it’ll be popular here in a year or so. We decided to put that to the test, asking Charlottesville-based wedding planner Adam Donovan-Groves, who keeps satellite offices in Washington, D.C.’s Georgetown neighborhood and New York City, to tell us what’s hot, what’s not and […]
Give a little: Big-day gifts for your special someone
You’ve pored through the registries, made a list of practical needs for every room in the house and created a honeyfund for that trip to Bermuda. But what about that special from-me-to-you gift for your spouse on the big day? We’ve got some ideas for you. For her Wish bubble bath from Roxie Daisy Light […]
Glamour and glitter: Get graphic with geometric invites
If you’re planning a wedding, there’s no better way to give guests a hint of the tone of your big day than with the invitations (and the save the dates). Rock Paper Scissors’ owners Dani Antol and Heather McNulty Haynie say that when they meet with clients, they take into account every detail: flowers, table […]
Should I invite a new friend to my wedding? Candy Girl, our etiquette queen, answers
I just started hanging out with a new friend. Should I invite her to my wedding? Is that weird? We’ve all been there—the nervous giggles, the pounding heart, the wondering if they feel the same way about fashion trends (honestly, those are just blankets worn as scarves). Candy Girl’s talking, of course, about those fluttering feelings […]
Premarital counseling: For couples in the know or out of date?
Nobody was surprised when Annie Fitzhugh and Bill Scatena decided to get married. The couple met when they were both working at Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards, and they dated for two years before he put a ring on it. What did surprise some of their friends, however, was their decision to participate in premarital […]
Summer C-VILLE Weddings: On stands now!
Here’s what you’ll find in the latest issue of C-VILLE Weddings: a month-by-month guide to planning, a DJ’s top songs, Albemarle’s new venue, real Charlottesville weddings and a sweet proposal at C’ville Pride Fest. Albemarle’s newest venue comes with a layered history. What to consider when hiring a caterer. Candy Girl answers: Who should be in […]
Best of C-VILLE Weddings: Your picks for the area’s top wedding vendors!
Each year, C-VILLE Weekly asks readers to choose the best things about Charlottesville—from swimming hole to steak. This time around, we added a new category: Weddings. We asked local brides to tell us, if they could do it all again (if only!), whom would they entrust with their special day? Behold, the results. WEDDING PLANNER […]
What a weekend: A days-long celebration at Veritas Vineyard keeps the love overflowing
Chloe Hodson AND Elliott Watkins November 1, 2015 It all started with the suit. Elliott had a traditional tweed three-piece made in England, where he’s from, and the wedding planning unfolded from there. “That kind of created a theme for us,” says Chloe. “We tried to incorporate elements of England, like a traditional English wedding […]
Sweet romance: A soft palette warms a winter wedding
Maggie Gill and James Pacana March 12, 2016 It’s fitting that Maggie and James were married at a vineyard. The day the couple got engaged, they had been visiting one Loudoun County winery after another as, unbeknownst to Maggie, James’ surprise proposal was thwarted by a bachelorette party at each location. Once he was finally […]
Easy like Sunday morning: Simple details let love shine
Eileen Sagini and Jamil Jadallah | May 1, 2016 Eileen played hard to get for a little over a year before agreeing to go on a date with Jamil. They had a great time. “I wasn’t surprised,” she says, “because I liked him even when I was avoiding him.” The couple were together six-and-a-half years […]
Southern glamour: Sentimental details fill out an Old Hollywood fête
Sara Snell and Francis Eden | June 4, 2016 With the threat of a storm encroaching on their big day, Sara and Frank decided that, even though they had wanted to wait until they met at the altar, a first look before the ceremony made sense in case it rained (“We wanted to have a […]
Won’t you stay awhile? How to give your guests the best accommodations
Your big day is notable for a few reasons—not the least of which is that it’s a great occasion to gather everyone you love in one room. But they’ll all need somewhere to stay at the end of the night. We talked to folks at Courtyard by Marriott, the Graduate Charlottesville and the Boar’s Head […]
Hit list: Work with your DJ to tailor your tunes
Though DJ John Garland once had clients text him a picture of a wedding attendant from whom he shouldn’t take requests, coming up with a playlist is typically pretty stress-free. But that’s just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to hiring a DJ. Garland says, regardless of which DJ they’re interviewing, couples should […]
Higher love: Three ideas for big-day hair
Even though updos are typically seen as a more formal style, we challenged hairstylist Brianna B. Adams to create three carefree, romantic options for inspiration. Model Amber Griggs wears earrings by Ana Cavalheiro (anacavalheiro.com) and a gown from Sealed With A Kiss (sealedwithakissbridal.com). Makeup by Nikki Benedikt of The Spot Beauty Shop.
Let’s talk food: Harvest Moon guides us through the catering process
One thing we know to be true about wedding food: It’s an important part of a successful day. Harvest Moon Catering’s director of sales, Kelly Mahanes, agrees. “It’s the beginning of your story,” she says. A good caterer is there to guide you through the almost limitless options of cuisine and “bring people together around […]
A historic event: A layered past brings gravitas to nuptials at Seven Oaks
Seven Oaks Farm in Albemarle County has quite the history. From its original owner, Reverend Samuel Black, the first Presbyterian minister in Albemarle County, to a more recent owner, Dave Matthews Band manager Coran Capshaw, the property has had its share of high-profile tenants. And visitors, too: from explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to […]