credits
venue: The Alpine Club
florist: Wildflowers
shoes: Valentinos, Tom Ford
You’re married! Help me tell your story…
How did you meet?
We met through mutual friends
How did you choose your venue?
We chose our venue because we knew whether indoors or out, it would be a beautiful setting with personalized service.
Tell us about your dress, shoes and other accessories!
I wanted a simple and elegant dress. I had an idea of how I wanted it to look but couldn’t find it so I had it made. I was shopping with my daughter for shoes for her dress and saw those Valentinos. They didn’t have my size and was told after they looked on line that they were sold out all over the country. Just wasn’t meant to be I thought. Then we went to a smaller store locally and they had one pair left in my size so that was that. The outfit was almost complete. Then my best friend asked if I wanted to wear some of her special jewelry so I had my borrowed. The earrings and bracelets were just beautiful.
Describe your decor and how you chose it!
I’ve always loved the look of an all white room so that’s what I went with. I told the florist I wanted full, lush, and white with lots of candles so it would feel romantic. He went through his book with me and I combined pieces from a few different centerpieces that I saw and I loved what he put together for me.
What was your favorite moment during your wedding day?
We both feel that we couldn’t even pick one particular moment that stood out because it was all so incredibly meaningful. There was so much love and happiness from beginning to end. From the moment we first saw each other after getting ready to the photos with our families and friends it just got better and better. The ceremony was filled with emotion, the cocktail hour fun and fabulous, and the reception was a dream. The speeches/toasts were so heartfelt, our first dance so special, and the whole night was just a great celebration. We were the last ones on the dance floor and sadly the party was over. It was truly a night and room filled with love and there wasn’t a thing we would have done differently.
Tell us about your food and cake!
I looked at pictures on line of fondant cakes and I wanted to keep simple. Because it was a small wedding I knew I only needed two tiers. We both love carrot cake so that’s what we went with and it was delicious. I told the baker that I just wanted it to be all white with white cascading flowers down the side and then left it in her hands. She did an amazing job. It was perfect.
Why did you choose Allegra’s Studio for your photography?
Allegra was recommended by another photographer who does a lot of work at the venue but was unavailable that night. Allegra was kind enough to travel to be with us for our special night. She was such a pleasure to work with. So easy going and professional and from what I’ve seen so far it looks like she truly captured the feeling of the evening. So thank you Allegra, for sharing our night with us. (It was a true pleasure! You and your family and friends were so kind and gracious!)
What’s next on your calendar as a couple?
Packing up my house and moving to S’s!
See more on the slideshow below and log into to their ordering gallery to see the entire day. Password is bride’s maiden name.
I cannot WAIT for this rustic meets elegant meets outdoors wedding this fall. In the meantime, enjoy a few favorites from their engagement session!
credits
minister: Claire Goodman, Sacred Ground Ceremonies
venue: Veritas
florals: Couture Design, Ken Ward
cake: European Pastry
ceremony musicians: Matty Metcalfe
band: Soul Expressions
dress designer: Elizabeth Fillmore
videographer: The AV Company
invitations: Paper Divas
You’re married! Help me tell your story…
How did you meet?
(From our website mikeandrachelgetmarried.com) Our story actually goes back almost ten years, when we first met while working for the federal government in the fall of 2003. At first, we were colleagues and over the years developed a strong friendship. It wasn’t until 2008 that we actually started dating, with Mike living in Phoenix and Rachel in Virginia – yes, we know, the perfect way to start off.
We did, however, manage it. Since we both travelled extensively for our jobs, it didn’t seem that much of a stretch to throw in an extra trip to DC or AZ every month. Crazy, right? I guess we knew from the beginning (and many hours on the phone) that the sacrifices were worth it. We lived apart for two years until Mike made the move to Virginia to be with Rachel on a more regular basis. At this point, you all probably want to know how Mike proposed to Rachel. Well, it all started in October of 2011, when Mike decided that he wanted to ask Rachel to marry him. He spent two months “sneaking” out of the house so that he could design the engagement ring. In early March, after Rachel unknowingly cancelled Mike’s first attempt at the proposal, Mike proposed (yes, on bended knee) at the very fine L’Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls, VA. In case you don’t already know, she said “yes”.
How did you choose your venue?
We love Veritas Vineyard and Winery– from the first time we came to the winery after competing in Tough Mudder held at Wintergreen in 2010 and prior to our engagement) to the many times since then, we knew that this beautiful location with breathtaking vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains was the perfect venue for us. We also wanted to find a venue that was a ‘one stop shop’ that included caterer on site with outstanding food, Chevari chairs for indoors, chairs for outdoor ceremony, china, glassware and so on so it minimized the number of decisions we had to make. I also liked that there was a great bridal suite on site to get ready.
Tell us about your dress, shoes and other accessories!
Gown: Elizabeth Fillmore “Adele,” San Francisco (http://www.elizabethfillmorebridal.com/)
Shoes: Badgley Mischka (Heels), Kate Spade (Flats),
Birdcage: Bride’s Head Revisited http://www.bridesheadrevisited.net/ Purchased at Hitched Georgetown, DC
Earrings: Nina
Bracelet: Nadri
Makeup: Face Value (Lucinda Riley)
Flowers: Couture Design (Ken Ward)
Mike: Jos. A Bank Tux;
Shoes: Johnston & Murphy
What detail did you like best about your wedding day?
I love how it all came together- the flowers, photo ops, gorgeous weather, all the attendees there for our special day; but most of all I loved the music which was the most important detail– ceremony and cocktail by Matty Metcalfe (mix of accordion and acoustic guitar) and ridiculously awesome music of Soul Expressions– Everyone was on the dancefloor!!! LOVED seeing everyone having a blast.
Describe your decor and how you chose it!
Modern Vintage; Mix of natural colors and finishes through the flowers and exposed farm tables, milk glass given to me by my mother; the flower vessels were vintage silver and the pastry platters were vintage silver as well; in lieu of table numbers we did cities that we traveled to together along with photographs we took and short stories about each trip. Not overdone, just right for us and a good complement to the venue
What was your favorite moment during your wedding day?
Rachel: When I was preparing to walk down the aisle with my dad, it was absolutely surreal; the weather and the scene was so incredible; we were standing inside the reception hall at the double doors and the breeze was blowing through the opened french doors and the sun was shining through the sheer drapes. I could see several familiar faces and Mike at the end of the aisle– I was so incredibly happy! As Matty Metcalfe starting playing “Something in the Way She moves” on acoustic guitar, I was so emotional!
Mike: When Rachel walked down the aisle
Tell us about your food and cake!
Caterer: Veritas; outstanding food!!! It was amazing; Five entree options, four hors d’oeuveres; savory and sweet table: mini mac and cheese, burger sliders, truffle fries
Cake and pastries: Giancarlo Fine European pastries (Cake for head table: chocolate cake with hazelnut cream guindua, fresh strawberries, vanilla buttercream; for dessert tables: napoleans, chocolate eclair, strawberry fruit tarts
Why did you choose Allegra’s Studio for your photography?
Incredibly artistic photos; enjoyed her eye for detail and the element of artistry I saw in all her photographs; mix of vintage, photographic art
What’s next on your calendar as a couple?
Honeymoon to Fiji; Barcelona this winter!!!
Find the complete gallery at this password protected link.
Find their FACEplace station images available for download at this link.
from the Velveteen Rabbit
‘What is REAL?’ asked the Rabbit one day… ‘Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?’
‘Real isn’t how you are made,’ said the Horse. ‘It’s a thing that happens to you. When someone loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.’
‘Does it hurt?’ asked the Rabbit.
‘Sometimes,” said the Horse. ‘When you are Real you don’t mind being hurt.’
‘Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,’ he asked, ‘or bit by bit?’
‘It doesn’t happen all at once,’ said the Horse. ‘You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand… once you are Real you can’t become unreal again. It lasts for always.’
Some of their favorites from their DC Tidal Basin engagement session
West Manor Estate, one of the Lynchburg area’s amazing wedding venues, offered a tasting from their chef Stephanie Fees! A selection of preferred vendors provided their services including tablescapes, cakes, music, up lighting, balloons and a sweets table for the lucky couples with upcoming weddings at the Manor!
credits
West Manor Estate
Cheryl’s Secret Garden
La Bella Torta
Love is in the Air Events
Max & Dexter Event Design
Perfect Arrangement
R S Exclusives
Sorelle Papers
The Arrangement Company
not shown
Coffey Cakes
Len Barry DJ
Wendell Witt DJ & Uplighting
Did you get something like these yesterday or recently?
Contact our studio to find out about our engagement sessions, bridal portraits and of course, wedding day coverage! 434-384-0138
In honor of my husband – we met 26 years ago on this date during a huge snowstorm. This is one of my most treasured photos – it was taken the night after we met when I had already bought tickets for a ball with the Marines from Quantico and invited my sister to attend so no way to get out of it. Someone (who shall remain nameless) waited around the entire night outside where the ball was being held for me to be finished!
Tell me in the comments below how you met your honey!