Narrowing down the look and feel of any occasion is a test—especially a wedding day!—and Claire and Will had as difficult a time as any. They ran through different theme options: Where The Wild Things Are? Boutique hotel? One that combined the beautiful with the beastly? “There were times, especially early on, where our ideas […]
Simply elegant: An unfussy country wedding worthy of attention
Jen Costanza and Amy Shopkorn knew they wanted a somewhat rustic vibe for their late summer wedding, so they started with the venue: Panorama Farms in Earlysville provided the ideal backdrop for a few reasons. “It matched our vision perfectly,” Jen says. “As we read about the history of Panorama and its current uses, we […]
It’s in the details: Five Charlottesville wedding ideas we love
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? Take your cues from these brides on everything from transportation to wedding day décor. For your bouquet (above) Your wedding day might feel a little stressful, but this bride had a little trick to ease her way down the aisle: She included calming herbs like mint and […]
Planner, take the wheel: Yes, you do need help coordinating your wedding. Here’s why!
It’s 45 minutes before the wedding ceremony. Your perfect up-do is up. Your airbrushed makeup is cover-model worthy. Your mother helps you slip into your custom-designed wedding gown, carefully laces it up and is tying the final bow when you hear it—the sound of priceless organza tearing. Your wedding dress just ripped from the waist […]
Still the one: Five years in, here’s what’s still useful from a wedding registry
It’s easy to go crazy with the scanner when you’re high on your engagement and planning a life together: That’s the throw pillow you’ll rest your head on while you watch movies together; that’s the wine cooler where you’ll store bottles for romantic nights in; that’s the toilet brush holder that’ll…hold the toilet brush. But, […]
Tag, you’re it: Get creative with your wedding hashtags
Brangelina, Bennifer, Kimye. Celebrity gossip magazines were making Instagram-appropriate hashtags before hashtags were even a thing. Now it’s one of the most fun ways to inject personality into your big day (and wrangle your guests’ photos while you’re at it!). Here are a few we like from the last year. #illbeback (the future Mrs.’ last […]
Pour it on me: Rain on your big day isn’t a big deal—honest!
Like most spring brides, Lindsey Kirchoff spent the week before her June 21 wedding habitually checking the weather, fearing the worst: rain. She had a backup plan (they’d just move the guests to the barn instead), but was insistent that the ceremony be at Mount Ida’s gazebo overlooking the water. When the wedding day arrived […]
One man’s band: A few tips for buying the groom’s ring
Ooohs and aaahs are normal for women’s wedding ring sets, but the same attention isn’t given to men’s wedding bands. In the spirit of gender equality, we spoke with Rob Matthews, store manager of Fink’s Jewelers, about the top five things men should know before buying their bling of wedded bliss. 1. Mix and match. […]
Fill me in: When it comes to cake trends, what’s hot and what’s frosted?
After Kathy Watkins and her now wife moved to Orange, she decided to take a few months off from working before exploring the job market. “I got bored really fast,” she says, and when she saw a sign in a storefront for cake decorating classes, she signed up. “I come from a family of bakers […]
Fancy footwork: Dressing for your wedding means personality—head to toe!
Only one thing stands between you and a perfect wedding day: your shoes. And we’re not talking comfort—we’re talking style! Think Louboutin. Think sparkle. Think like these brides, who had the good sense to put a little spring in their steps.
At first sight: An elegant, easy-going day to remember
Candice Cloos said she met Patrick Haney the old-fashioned way: “in a dive bar.” Truth be told, she was trying to disentangle herself from a conversation with another man, when she noticed Patrick and shouted, “There you are!” “Without missing a beat, he played along that we knew each other, and we spent the next […]
C-VILLE Weddings – January 2015
Click to see the January 2015 issue of C-VILLE Weddings.
Mood for love: Clifton Inn sets the stage for a weekend-long celebration
When they thought about how they wanted to get married, Heather Welch and Greg Arbogast knew one thing: Their wedding should feel like a weekend retreat. The couple sought a “location where our friends and family could enjoy exclusive use of the property and unwind for the weekend, sort of like a mini vacation,” Heather […]
Vintage day: Two wine families come together for one marriage
Ask Rachel Stinson about the early days of her courtship with Nathan Vrooman, and she says, “We were covered in sticky grape juice for the first three months of our relationship.” Not surprising, considering the pair had moved to Charlottesville to help their parents start vineyards and wineries (her: Stinson, him: Ankida Ridge), and met […]
Love wins: When a marriage license is more than a piece of paper
Three wedding photos sit on a small side-table in my parents’ home. The one of my mother, circa late 1960s, has held my wonder and awe since I was a child. Nearby are pictures of my sisters—just as beautiful and radiant as my mother. While mine isn’t there (because it doesn’t yet exist), my mother […]
Making marry: The happiest day on earth
Tavola cook Ian Redshaw fell in love with Allie McGrath when they were both students at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. The pair dated for six years, and last spring Ian decided it was time to propose. When asked why, he said simply, “She’s my everything.” And to make that […]
How sweet it is: Any way you slice it, these five cakes are delicious
Nobody can resist the iconic image of a bride and groom, surrounded by family and friends, ceremoniously feeding each other that first piece of wedding cake as a newly married couple. What makes the picture even sweeter is if the cake tastes as good as it looks, which is certainly true of the five cakes […]
Marrying man: Former Charlottesville mayor Dave Norris swaps the politics for the personal
“I do.” Those words have a special meaning for Dave Norris because when he hears them, his workday is coming to an end. Which is a very good thing, but not for the reason you’d guess: The former mayor of Charlottesville is a freelance wedding officiant, specially chosen to be the person who has the […]
The great outdoors: Camping with a luxurious twist
Weddings and camping go together like…Actually, weddings and camping haven’t traditionally gone together at all. Until now, that is. Welcome to the luxurious, wonderful world of glamorous camping, otherwise known as “glamping.” Think outdoorsy with all the trimmings: heated tents, comfy beds, luxury linens, and upscale furniture, all delivered to the locale of your choice. […]
The view from here
Pippin Hill’s mountain vista is picture-perfect “It’s a blank canvas.” That is the first message Meg Forch, event sales and marketing manager, conveys about Pippin Hill Farm and Vineyards as a wedding venue. Just how versatile is it? One couple brought in magnolia trees for their wedding reception. Forch says they chose really serene green […]
This old ring: How to decide between vintage and custom
When it comes to your wedding band, when you know, you know. Unless you’re still stuck at the first step: deciding on a “look.” Assuming you’re searching for bands with a bit more personality than you might find at a chain retailer, there are, essentially, two options: vintage or custom. We asked local metalsmith Martha […]
Flower power: A children’s book and some natural whimsy set one bride’s floral tone
Simple, natural, and handmade. Those were the words that came to mind when Julie Wallerstedt thought about flowers for her October 5, 2013 wedding to Will McGettigan. “My dress was made of raw silk and devoid of any bling,” she said. “And I wanted my flowers to match.” The dress, a custom-made Tara LaTour gown, […]
Food for thought
When it comes to feeding hungry wedding guests, few are better at it than the folks at APimento and The Catering Outfit. Feast your eyes on some of their recent hits. The bride was from Mexico, her husband Austrian, and together they returned to Charlottesville to marry and celebrate their meeting in the mountains. APimento’s […]