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Though I have lived all over the country, I have always felt that there is something magical about the South. Of course, I am sure I’m a bit partial having grown up below the Mason-Dixon, but if Veronica and Patrick are any indication, my love is justified! Veronica and Patrick visited Trump Winery while dating and were quite smitten, so post-engagement, they didn’t have to look around much before deciding to invite their friends and family there to celebrate their marriage with a destination wedding. These two might not have a drop of Southern blood in them, but with the help of Cinda Hoege of White Birch Events, they planned a sweetly Southern soirée, complete with a family-style dinner that’d make even a born-and-bred Southerner feel right at home!

Thanks to Ashley Cox for sharing this Charlottesville beauty!

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! Yes! My something borrowed was a pair of beautiful earrings from my mother-in-law. My something old was my veil, which is about 180 years old and has been worn by every bride in Pat’s family! My something new was easy, my dress. We kind of forgot the something blue, so we took a piece of baby blue string from a pair of pajamas and tied it around my bouquet for a bit.

I had a pretty precise idea of what I wanted. I actually went to a few different shops with friends, but ended up finding my dress by myself during my lunch break. My mom didn’t even see it until my first fitting!

Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? We did not. For as long as I can remember, at every wedding I’ve gone to, when the bride comes down the aisle, I always watch the groom instead of the bride. The look on the groom’s face when he sees the bride for the first time is so telling, it’s so hard to hide your emotions at that point! That moment was really important to me, and I didn’t want to miss out on it.

I had a pretty specific vision for the flowers, and Amy at Blue Ridge Floral Design executed it perfectly. I didn’t want anything too put together or perfect. I wanted something that looked like it was just picked from a garden–very natural and beautiful with lots of greens and more muted tones. My bouquet was my favorite, full of peonies, garden roses, jasmine and Veronica flowers, which Amy included as a surprise.

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? While Pat was in law school in D.C. and I was still living in Miami (long before we were engaged), we made an effort to try and take short trips on the weekends I came to visit. We visited Charlottesville during a long weekend and did a winery tour. Our driver snuck us up to the top of the Trump Winery, and we loved it. When we got engaged, we didn’t look around much.

This is a little embarrassing, but our cake was so good that I took a tupperware full of it on my flight to our honeymoon! Rachel from Cakes by Rachel is apparently some sort of magician. The cake was really beautiful, and simply decorated with fresh fruit and some of the flowers we used. I’ve been eyeing the top part in the freezer for a few weeks–not sure if it’ll make it to the one-year mark!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Patrick and I met when we were 15 years old. Two of our best friends were dating and they introduced us, but sparks didn’t fly just yet. A few years later, we became Words with Friends opponents. Funnily enough, I read an article about a couple that met and got married via Words with Friends, and I jokingly sent him a message letting him know I wouldn’t be able to play with him anymore because I needed to play others in order to find a husband. Fast forward a couple of years, I was moving into my new apartment with my best friend (who was really excited for us to have this awesome bachelorette pad together). Patrick’s friend lived in the building, and when we asked him for help bringing up a couple of things, Patrick was there. Within a few weeks, we were dating, and my best friend’s bachelorette pad dreams vanished.
Tell us all about the proposal! Oh, this is a good one! Pat is from Peru, and we took a family trip to Machu Picchu. The day before we hiked up the Huayna Picchu, Pat watched a three-hour video of a guy who recorded his entire hike up with a GoPro strapped to his head. I was pretty annoyed, but I didn’t realize he was trying to stake out a good spot to propose! The next morning, we woke up at 4 A.M. and took a bus up a very narrow, winding path to the mountain. His sister insisted on braiding my hair, but I was so tired, I didn’t protest. When we got to the top of the mountain, I peered over a rock to look down at the bottom. When I turned around, Pat had gotten down on one knee, and his brother and sister were behind him photographing and videotaping us!
When did y’all get married? April 23, 2016
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 180
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. All of our songs were pretty special to us–music is an important part of our relationship. Pat and I decided on “Something” by The Beatles for our first dance. For months before the wedding, I searched for songs that would be fitting for my dad and I. We are both huge Pink Floyd fans, and a few days before the wedding, we decided that we didn’t really care to be traditional and chose “Wish You Were Here.” Pat surprised us and played the guitar during our dance! Pat and his mom danced to “God Only Knows” by the Beach Boys, which was so fitting for them.
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? My family is from Nicaragua and Pat’s is from Peru, and for the most part, our friends are all Latin as well. We don’t have a drop of Southern blood in us, so it was a lot of fun to have our wedding in Charlottesville because it was such an adventure for everyone! I’d say the most Southern thing was the cuisine, especially because it was served family-style! Harvest Moon did an amazing job–we had chicken and waffle skewers, salted butter corn bread, beef short ribs, and mac and cheese.
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? I think the biggest way I cut costs was actually by hiring a wedding planner. Cinda at White Birch Events is truly a wizard. She reviewed all of my estimates and told me where I could cut costs, figured out where to repurpose my flowers with my florist, and simply brought me back down to earth when I would mention something that was outside of my budget or unnecessary.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? Travel! We have a huge list of places we want to visit, but limited PTO…

Photographer: Ashley Cox | Videographer: Carly Rae Productions | Planner: Cinda Hoege of White Birch Events | Venue: Trump Winery | Florist: Blue Ridge Florals | Wedding Cake: Cakes by Rachel | Caterer: Harvest Moon Catering | Band: The Finns | DJ: Slable | Bride’s Gown: “Calla” by Monique Lhuillier | Hair Stylist: Top Knot Studio | Makeup Artist: Rouge 9 Makeup Studio | Bride’s Shoes: Gucci | Groom’s Attire: Ermenegildo Zegna | Groomsmen Attire: Hugo Boss and Armani | Photo Booth: Mox Box | Get Away Car: Albemarle Limousine | Buses: Easy Riders

marissa Written with love by Marissa
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  1. avatar VERONICA + PATRICK | Ashley Cox Photography reply

    […] So honored to have this gorgeous wedding featured on Southern Weddings! […]

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Amy and Evan’s love story is what summer romance dreams are made of–they first started dating at 13 and 15 while on the same swim team, and although they rarely spoke during the school year, their young love reignited every time summer rolled around again. Since that very first year, Evan knew Amy was the one, and twelve years later, they were finally married! Y’all, it just doesn’t get sweeter than that. The decision of where to tie the knot was a no-brainer–Amy’s parents and aunt and uncle had both been married at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, and her grandfather served at the church for many years, even ensuring that each brick was laid perfectly when the new location was built. Amy and Evan’s wedding added one more beautiful layer of family history to the church, and Amy recalls that it was so special to be married in a place already full of memories!

Thank you so much to Kristen Gardner for sharing this lovely day with us!

I credit my sister, Katy, for finding my wedding dress. She stumbled upon a picture on Pinterest and sent it to me in a message saying “This is the one.” We shopped around at a few places, but nothing seemed just right. Finally, we found a boutique near Baltimore that carried the dress from the picture. The store ended up being the perfect place to find my wedding dress–Garnish is a small, intimate boutique, and it is beautifully decorated. Mia, the owner, is incredibly knowledgable, and Jessica, the sales associate, was so very sweet and positive, and made me feel gorgeous in every dress I tried on. I knew as soon as I put my Tara Keely dress on that it was absolutely perfect and exactly the way I wanted to look on my wedding day. The whole experience was so easy and I have such amazing memories of choosing my dress because of this adorable boutique!

Describe your wedding flowers. Our wedding flowers were gorgeous blooms in shades of blush pink, cream, and ivory, combined with lush greenery. We also tastefully included my favorite flower, baby’s breath, into the centerpieces, bouquets, and wreaths.

We were married in the church where my parents and my aunt and uncle were married. The church also meant so much to my grandfather, who passed away several years ago. He was the congregation president for many years, and when the church moved to its current location, he went by the church each day after he got off of work to ensure that every brick was laid perfectly. It was so incredibly special to say our vows and begin our marriage in a place with so many memories. Evan and I stumbled upon King Family Vineyard while we were vineyard hopping for his birthday one year. Evan works in the restaurant industry and is incredibly passionate about wine, and I thought the venue was absolutely stunning. It was an easy choice for us.

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My something old was an old penny that I wore in my shoe–it has been worn by every woman in my family on her wedding day. I ended up having to tape it in to my shoe because I was so nervous about losing it! My something borrowed was my grandfather’s wedding band that I tied into my bouquet. My something blue was a blue monogrammed hankie that I kept in my dress pocket–yes, my wedding dress had pockets! I used the hankie to dry my happy tears.

Our wedding included many Southern details, such as our farm tables, monograms, and Southern cocktails. I think what made our wedding truly a Southern wedding though was that it was so very centered around family. Our day celebrated not only us as a couple, but also two families joining together. We were sure to include traditions from both sides.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Aside from having the ceremony in my grandparents’ church, my favorite wedding details were the garlands and flowers draped down the centers of our long farm tables. It was the exact vision I had in my head, and I was speechless when I saw how flawlessly Cody executed them. I will be forever grateful to her for making our wedding floral dreams come true!

Our wedding cake was as delicious as it was beautiful! Our cake was almond cake filled with alternating layers of raspberry curd and triple cream, iced with a delicious Chambord buttercream. I loved the simple textured layers accented with natural greenery and flowers. We also had an adorable doughnut truck that served fresh, hot doughnuts and hot chocolate and cider. It was so fun and our guests absolutely loved it!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Evan and I grew up swimming for the same summer swim team at Franklin Knoll’s pool. Although we had seen each other around the pool for years, the first conversation we remember having was when Evan asked me to cover one of his swim lessons. In 2002, when I was just 13 years old and Evan was 15, Evan officially became my boyfriend. Although that first relationship only lasted several months, it was the spark that ignited our summer romance that would last for many years to come. Although we rarely saw each other during the school year, Evan and I would be reunited every summer. Each summer, we spent every waking moment together, from our 7:30 AM swim practices until late at night when they closed the pool and our parents finally made us go home. Once we were finally separated, Evan would call me and we would spend hours talking on the phone until we fell asleep. I remember our parents asking us what we could possibly have to talk about on the phone for two hours when we spent every day together! In 2006, Evan and I finally turned our summer romance into a year-round relationship. Over the years, Evan and I have gone through so much together and have truly grown up together. Since that first summer when he was just 15, Evan was always so sure that we were meant to be, and that we would get married one day. Twelve years later, we finally are!
Tell us all about the proposal! Evan proposed to me on Thursday, July 25, 2013 on the beach in Emerald Isle while we were on my family’s annual beach trip. Evan woke up early that morning to begin his planning, and when I woke up, he asked me to go for a walk with him. I agreed, but since I had no idea what he had in store for me, I spent the entire morning running around doing errands and giving Evan just enough time to get really nervous. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to him, I was ready for a walk. We walked several houses down, and Evan got down on one knee. I was in utter shock, but of course, I said yes! We are so grateful for my brother-in-law, Chris, who was hiding in the dunesand captured some amazing photos of the magical moment. My family was able to watch the entire proposal through the windows of our beachfront rental. After we walked back down to the house, we were greeted by the entire family with tons of hugs, kisses, and tears. His proposal was topped off by toasting with a bottle of 1993 Moet Chandon Dom Perignon that Evan had been saving for years, just for the occasion. It was the most perfect day.
When did y’all get married? May 9, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 135
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We chose to use the same readings and hymns used at my parents’ wedding ceremony. It was so special!
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? It was so important for us during the wedding planning process to keep in mind that we were not only preparing for one day, but preparing our hearts for the rest of our lives. We thoroughly enjoyed our pre-marriage counseling with our pastor, and topics from our sessions sparked deep conversations during our road trips home from Charlottesville.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Hands down, the most amazing part of the evening was our getaway. We rode in a 1940s vintage limo to our bed and breakfast, which was about 20 minutes away from our venue. We were still on such a high from the amazing day and we spent the entire car ride completely wrapped in each others’ arms, reliving every magical moment from the day. It was the happiest I have ever felt, and I know we will both carry that moment with us for the rest of our lives.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Make sure you take time to connect with yourself and be truly present and in the moment on your wedding day. Do whatever you need to do, whether that is yoga or just spending 20 minutes alone together to slow down and enjoy the moment. It is so surreal to be surrounded by everyone that you love. You will want to bottle that amazing feeling up and carry it with as you enter your marriage and the rest of your life.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We are just taking time to let all the newlywed bliss soak in, and we truly enjoy being married. We are excited to get ready to start looking for our first house, and hopefully, adding a furry friend to our family!

Photographer: Kristen Gardner / Planner and Florist: Amore Events by Cody / Ceremony Venue: Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church / Reception Venue: King Family Vineyards / Cake Baker: Cakes by Rachel / Caterer: Harvest Moon Catering / Rentals and Lighting: MS Events / Band: Ignition / Calligraphy and Signage: Linda Sung of Amore Events by Cody and Remember November / Bride’s Gown: “2357” by Tara Keely / Hair Stylist: Top Knot Studio / Makeup Artist: Shirin Ratner / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale in Blush, Champagne, and Bellini / Groom’s Attire: J. Crew / Groomsmen Attire: Jos A. Bank / Doughnuts: Carpe Donut / Yoga: Zen Bride Yoga / Transportation: Albemarle Limousine

Amore Events by Cody is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
6 Comments
  1. avatar Wedding Venues and Honeymoon Places reply

    Awesome VIneyard Wedding ! thx for sharing the photos !

  2. avatar Dana reply

    Love their story and bunting flags, of course!

  3. avatar Rachel Nordgren reply

    I’m a sucker for barn weddings! Those horseshoe hooks are such a fun detail!

  4. avatar Edgar Vs. Surrey videographer reply

    Great images! Love the atmosphere of the day!

  5. avatar Kristen Gardner reply

    This was truly one spectacular wedding! Thank you so much for sharing it!!

  6. avatar featured | southern weddings « Kristen Gardner Photography | the blog. reply

    […] Family Vineyard’s wedding was featured on Southern Weddings! You can view the full feature HERE. Southern Weddings is one of my favorite sources of wedding-day inspiration, and it was such a […]

Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

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