While they may have gotten engaged far away from their families (be sure to read about their sweet Parisian proposal!), Katie and John chose to celebrate their marriage with an intimate wedding at King Family Vineyards that was focused on including all their family members. Even their young nieces, nephews, and cousins felt right at home, thanks to the family-style dinner and kids table! The decorate-your-own pumpkin activity at the kids table does looks like a blast, but personally, my favorite thing about Katie and John’s wedding is their beautiful blue and peach color palette. Katie wanted a spring wedding and John wanted a fall wedding, so they compromised by using bright colors in early fall! I love that!
Big SW hugs to Jillian Michelle for sharing this pretty day with us!
Tell us all about the proposal! For an anniversary/Christmas gift, John took me on a surprise trip to Paris. I love art, so I was thrilled to nerd out at the Paris art museums. We walked several miles in the Louvre, enjoyed the Impressionists at the Musee d’Orsay, visited many cathedrals, and ate far too much delicious French food. On the last day of our trip, we went to the Palace of Versailles. While walking in the stunning gardens and taking pictures of everything from fountains to landscape art to swans swimming in the ponds, John got down on one knee and proposed! I was so surprised (I hadn’t even showered that day!), but I also cannot imagine a more perfect engagement.
We did not do a first look because I wanted to stick to tradition and my favorite part of a wedding is seeing the groom’s expression when he sees the bride walk down the aisle. John was actually in favor of doing a first look initially (more time for pictures before sunset), but he told me later that he was glad we didn’t because my walk down the aisle was his favorite part of the wedding.
What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? We think King Family is one of the most beautiful vineyards in Charlottesville, and we enjoy the wine, too. Since most of our guests were from out of town, we wanted to have the ceremony and reception at the same place. Our minister–a close family friend I have known my entire life–was gracious enough to come from Florida to perform the ceremony, which made it very special to us.
The flowers were in a bright fall palette of orange, peach, cream, and yellows. I had wanted a spring wedding and John wanted a fall wedding, so we compromised by using bright colors in early fall!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? John is a pharmacist and I am a medical resident, which makes our work schedules very difficult to coordinate. Making and attending appointments during regular business hours was a nightmare. Our wedding planner was absolutely incredible at making appointments and working with our hectic schedules. She really helped keep our stress levels down, and she made our wedding day surpass our expectations.
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Our food was all Southern cuisine. We served biscuits with butter and honey, shrimp and grits, collard greens, and succotash. We also had a lemonade stand and sweet, flavor-infused tea as a pre-ceremony refreshment. Our meal was served family-style, which made it feel more like a typical family dinner.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: We wanted our wedding to be small, intimate, and inclusive of our young nieces, nephews, and cousins. One of our favorite details was the kids’ table, where our youngest guests could color and decorate pumpkins. It was a big hit for them and kept their parents entertained, too.
We had a three-tiered cake with cream-colored frosting that progressed to a peach color. It had floral and pearl accents. It was important to us that the cake tasted great too, so our flavors were pumpkin and red velvet.
How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met when I was in medical school and John was working as a pharmacist in a small town in Florida. The average age of that small town is about 65, so we ultimately met online.
When did y’all get married? October 16, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 95
Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I had one weekend set aside to find a dress, so it was a mad dash to find the one. No pressure! Starting out, I pictured myself in a lace dress with straps. The dress that I liked most was lace, but it was strapless, so I ended up adding lace straps to it, which made it perfect for me.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. Our first dance was to “Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole. We think it is a beautiful harmony with lovely lyrics.
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My something borrowed was a lace handkerchief from my grandmother, which also made an appearance at my sister’s wedding. My blue was my navy blue lace shoes, and my new was my dress and jewelry.
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? We did premarital counseling with our pastor, which helped us keep things in perspective. It was one of our favorite pre-wedding activities.
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? We served wine, beer, and cider only. Not having a full bar cut down our costs and also showcased the wonderful wine at King Family Vineyards, as well as local beer and cider.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? Now that the wedding is over, we are looking forward to growing together as a married couple. We are looking forward to our honeymoon, which we delayed for a few months, and we are about to expand our family to include an adopted cat.
Photographer: Jillian Michelle / Event Planning and Design: Tart Event Co. / Venue: King Family Vineyards / Florist: Southern Blooms / Wedding Cake: Favorite Cakes / Caterer: The Catering Outfit / Rentals: Festive Fare / Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Musician: Michael Geddes / Paper Products: Rock Paper Scissors / Bridal Gown and Accessories: Bella Rosa Bridal / Hair Stylist: Moxie Hair Lounge / Makeup Artist: Gohar Ayvazyan Beaver / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Angelo / Menswear: Men’s Wearhouse / Specialty Rentals: Paisley and Jade / Calligraphy: Type Delight / DJ: Shaner Sound
Paisley and Jade is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!
BEAUTIFUL! Jill, you’re the besttttt!
Ahh!! Thank you so much for featuring this beautiful wedding!! :)
We visited King Family Vineyards when we vacationed in Virginia and I fell in love! This is gorgeous!
We loved being part of this gorgeous wedding at King Family Vineyard! John and Katie seem like such a sweet couple and we’re thrilled that you chose to feature their big day! Our blue chairs in that reception venue? Swoon. We just love it all. So much pretty!