Southern Weddings

I can’t help but have a soft spot for today’s wedding–I fell head over heels in love with the venue, King Family Vineyards, during the venue search for my own wedding, and it is so much fun seeing the way Leah and Will made the space their own! These UVA alumni planned their big day from Texas, so their families and a wonderful team of vendors pitched in to help bring this sweet day to life. The pastel stripe theme that ran through so many of the details, from the bridesmaid dresses to the wedding cake, was such a fresh, summer-y twist on this traditionally rustic venue!

Thank you kindly to Jon Schaaf for sharing Leah and Will’s wedding with us!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. Our families met for the first time at Will’s family’s beach house on Oak Island in North Carolina shortly after our engagement. One morning, the ladies decided we should make the short drive to Wilmington for some preliminary wedding dress shopping. I had absolutely no expectations of finding my dress that day, but the first dress I tried on took my breath away, and I knew it was the one. The cherry on top was that the floor model was on sale for $500!

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. We used pretty traditional music during the ceremony. We actually hired a local high school string quartet to play. They were great, and we saved a lot of money!
Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We decided not to do a first look. Will really wanted to do it so that we could take pictures around Charlottesville, but I was adamant about not seeing each other before the ceremony. The look on Will’s face made it so worth the wait! He definitely got a little misty-eyed, which was priceless.

On our wedding day, it rained most of the morning. Around noon, the weather cleared up and we made the call to keep the ceremony outside. While we were saying our vows, a warm, light rain started. The temperature was perfect and the Virginia mountains looked beautiful in the mist. After spending so much time worrying about the weather, it was really an awesome moment.

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Our biggest challenge was planning the wedding from Austin, Texas. Thankfully, our families and vendors were incredibly helpful and made the process as painless as possible. We only made one weekend trip to Charlottesville, and the rest of our planning was done over the phone. Heather Boe, our day-of coordinator, was a huge help on the wedding weekend.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. We had a three-tiered cake with mint stripes. Each tier was a different flavor. We also had our cake designer make a chocolate cake for my grandfather to celebrate his birthday, which was the same day as our wedding!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met at a bar called the Biltmore in Charlottesville, Virginia. I had recently graduated from the University of Virginia and was about to start working as a nurse at the medical center. Will had just returned to Charlottesville for his second year of business school at UVA. He was out with friends on his first night back in town and noticed me and some friends at the bar. He worked his way over to us and eventually asked for my number. We went on our first date a few days later. The rest is history!
Tell us all about the proposal! In April 2012, we took a trip to Cozumel, which we had been planning for quite some time. Although I thought Mexico would be a perfect place to get engaged, Will and my best friend did a great job convincing me that it wouldn’t happen until the summer. At the suggestion of his brother, Will waited a few nights after we got there, in order to throw me off. On the third night that we were in Cozumel, Will told me that he wanted to watch the sunset from a terrace over the ocean. Unfortunately, it turned out to be too cloudy to see the sunset (which I quickly pointed out). Unfazed by the weather, Will announced that he wanted to take a picture. He sent me over to the edge of the terrace while he pretended to set the camera timer (he actually turned it on video mode). I was looking out over the ocean, and when I turned around, he was down on one knee. It was perfect!
When did y’all get married? July 27, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 150
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? I would say one of the biggest cost-savers was buying our own liquor. We were lucky that our venue and caterer allowed us to do this. After the wedding, we were able to return the unopened bottles, minimizing waste.
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? I can’t say enough good things about our photographer, Jon Schaaf. Throughout the weekend, he made everyone feel incredibly comfortable. Countless family members and friends commented on how personable and funny he was. Our photos are absolutely beautiful–they exceeded all of our expectations. Taking wedding photos can definitely be awkward at times, so having a photographer who puts you at ease is really important!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? It has been a big year for us! I finished grad school, we both have new jobs, and we’re building a house. Our move-in date is scheduled for our one-year anniversary and we are beyond excited!

Photographer: Jon Schaaf / Videographer: Doug Stanford / Day-Of Coordinator: Heather Boe / Venue: King Family Vineyards / Florist: Sugar Magnolias / Wedding Cake: Albemarle Baking Company / Caterer: The Local / Rentals and Lighting: MS Events / Band: Hipshack / Paper Products: Minted / Hair and Makeup: Moxie Hair Lounge / Bride’s Shoes: Lilly Pulitzer / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: “Sassy Stripes” by LulaKate / Men’s Attire: Jos. A. Bank

Written with love by Lisa