credits
venue: West Manor
florals: Petal Flower Company
cake: La Bella Torta
dj: Music, Music and more music
dress salon: Nitsa’s
dress designer: Monique Lhuillier
shoe designer: Jimmy Choo
stationery: emDOTzee Designs

Whitney and Johnathon had a gorgeous June day for their outdoor wedding in Forest, VA.  Another one of my international couples, they came back home from Scotland for their big weekend.  Let me show you some of the fantastic details and emotional moments from their day while they tell you a little bit about it in their own words.

How did you meet?

We met in the 6th grade and were always good friends until we started dating our senior year of high school!

Tell us about your dress, shoes and other accessories!
My gown was one of my favorite things about the wedding. After going to countless bridal salons in Virginia and North Carolina, I finally found my Monique Lhuillier gown at Nitsa’s in Charlotte. It was the perfect combination of classic and modern with an alencon lace bodice and peplum over the tulle skirt. I found just the right sparkly belt and Jimmy Choo heels to accent my gown.

Whitney and Johnathon decided to have a First Look and do their pictures beforehand!

What was your favorite moment during your wedding day?

I think our favorite moment of the day would have to be walking back down the aisle at the end of the ceremony!

What was your favorite detail about the day?

I don’t think I could choose just one detail because there are so many that I loved. I was just so excited to see everything finally come together!

Describe your decor and how you chose it!

Our goal from the beginning was for our wedding to have a theme of “Old Southern Elegance.” Our historic venue served as the ideal backdrop for our navy, blush, gold, and silver color palette, and it really set the tone for the look we wanted. After that, I knew I wanted our flowers to make the biggest impact, so we had blush and white floral arrangements in every space. One of my favorite details was having each guest’s napkin tied with a pale pink ribbon on their place setting.

How did you choose your venues?

Choosing our venue was such a difficult process! Things started out a little bumpy, but everything fell perfectly into place when West Manor Estate was purchased by new owners and started booking weddings again just in time. It couldn’t have worked out better for us!

Tell us about your food and cake!

Our catering started with a light cocktail hour spread of fruits, cheeses, and our signature cocktails, which were great for guests to cool down a bit after the ceremony out in the hot sun. For dinner, we had chicken, steak, and pasta options, and I’ve heard that everyone especially loved the summer salad with pecans, peaches, and poppy seed dressing.

We ended up having three flavors for our wedding cake, which were all so delicious! Our favorites were the yellow butter cake with strawberry filling and the chocolate cake with a layer of brownies in the middle.

What’s next for you as a couple?

We just got home to Edinburgh, Scotland after our honeymoon in Santorini, Greece, and we’re busy getting settled back in after traveling for almost a month. Johnathon just started back working on his Ph.D., and we’re making plans for exploring the U.K. in the next few months. After that, we’re planning to travel through Europe as much as possible!

Watch the slideshow for many more images and click on this link to view the complete ordering gallery (password required).