Emily and Nathan both attended The University of Virginia School of Law, so they knew they wanted to head back to the Charlottesville area when they got married. When we started the wedding planning process, it was important for them to incorporate personal details into their wedding and really showcase their personalities and relationship. Read below to see all of their fun, customized details!
Getting Ready
The morning of the wedding started with getting ready at two Airbnbs. Emily and her bridesmaids and Nathan and his groomsmen got ready for their wedding day at their respective houses; there were a lot of laughs while getting ready, mimosas, bourbon (Nathan’s favorite), and reminiscing. The getting ready portion of the day is such a fun time. You, your friends, and your family get to share in the excitement before walking down the aisle. Renting an Airbnb made the getting-ready space so much nicer than trying to cram everyone into a hotel room. They were able to have brunch catered and spread out their personal belongings. We were able to style their gifts, and there was still room for all of the fun and candid portraits.
The Wedding Ceremony
Emily and Nathan’s wedding ceremony took place at Holy Comforter Catholic Church; if you are unfamiliar with Holy Comforter Catholic Church, this church was the first Roman Catholic church in Charlottesville. Emily’s cousin is the priest there, and it was such a special sentiment that he was the one who married them. Their ceremony was intimate, personal, and filled with so much love.
The Cocktail Hour at Market at Grelen
The cocktail hour and reception were filled with so many unique details. When you walked into the cocktail hour garden, Emily and Nathan’s favorite cookbook was displayed for the guests to sign as the guest book. The guests signed and wrote notes on each page. There were high-top tables stationed throughout the gardens, a full bar, and passed hors d’oeuvre. Throughout the cocktail hour, there was a live jazz band playing. These musicians were actually friends of Nathan from his college music days at UVA. Nathan was in a band when he attended UVA, and during the reception, he got up and played a few songs with the wedding band!
The Reception at Market at Grelen
Their reception tables were wooden farm tables adorned with Grandmillennial pieces such as cut crystal, colored goblets, stunning colorful centerpieces. My favorite detail of all, hand-stitched table numbers that Emily spent months making. They also had homemade limoncello as their favor for their guests to pick up on the way out. Limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur served as an after-dinner drink; the guests loved it. Dinner was a farm-to-table selection that perfectly fit Emily and Nathans’s personalities. Nathan is a whiskey connoisseur, and directly after dinner, a bourbon bar opened with specialized bourbons for guests to do a tasting. The bourbon selections were noted on a watercolor bar sign that had a portrait of their dog.
Emily and Nathan still wanted to have the traditional cake cutting, but they wanted more than just cake. Their favorite dessert is pie, so of course, we had to include a pie bar. There were so many different flavors of pies and also other various desserts. The guests spent the evening dancing to live music, enjoying the mountain views, and spending time with friends and family.
As always, I would love to chat!
Vendor Team:
Venue: Market At Grelen | Photographer: Matt Schmachtenberg | Catering: Exchange Events | Rentals: MS Events | HMUA: Madison Hornsby | Band: Bachelor Boys | Video: Paper Boys Films | Florals: Willow Branch Flowers | Linens: BBJ/La Tavola