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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
One of Ashley Dodson’s first paying jobs was in a coffeeshop in Culpeper, where she learned two big lessons. Number one, “The process of producing coffee is amazing. We did a lot of courses on how to make good coffee and where coffee comes from.” Number two, “I love serving people and bringing them fun […]
A hair trial appointment in advance of your wedding day can ease your mind and assure that your look will be lovely and cohesive. You don’t have to know a bun from a chignon or a weave from a braid to make your trial a success—just follow these tips from the pros. Choose a stylist […]
Wedding rings might not be the first thing your guests will notice, but they’re still important—after all, they’re going to ride around on your hand for a long time. Lots of couples head to a big chain jeweler to pick out rings, but is there a better route? Locally owned jewelry stores and artisan jewelers […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Thinking of hiring vendors from beyond Charlottesville to help put together your big day? Maybe you want to source some Victorian furniture from Richmond-based Paisley & Jade, for example. Or maybe, like one of Adam Donovan-Groves’ former clients, you just happen to know a great photographer from Ireland. This artist, remembers Donovan-Groves, “had worked at […]
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 […]
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 […]
It’s not hard to see why a ceremony backdrop is a key visual element for your wedding. If you’re on the hunt for a truly unique photo op at the moment of that crucial kiss, perhaps a custom-made backdrop is in order. Local artists and makers will create one just for your day—whether it’s a […]
Eric Kelley graduated from UVA in 2006, founded his own photography business in 2008, and in 2018 was named one of the 40 best wedding photographers in the world by Harper’s Bazaar magazine. Kelley attributes his meteoric rise in part to the generous help of established photographers when he was just starting out. “The biggest […]