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Bride Bethann shares her magical garden wedding at Keswick Vineyards!

I am delighted to introduce you to today’s bride, Bethann! While I am admittedly not a flower person myself, Bethann sure is, and she knew she wanted the flowers at her Virginia wedding to have a “wow factor.” Southern Blooms sure delivered — I would even venture to say Bethann and Graham’s wedding has me reconsidering just how lovely blooms can be! I think the addition of lush florals perfectly complimented the gorgeous backdrop of Keswick Vineyards, wouldn’t you agree? Of course, Bethann’s silk Temperley London gown (a completely different choice than she had imagined herself wearing!) simply added to the magical combination.

Thanks to Rachel May for sharing this lovely day with us!

Tell us your love story in one sentence. After years of unsuccessful dating, we decided to give online dating a try and had an instant match!
Tell us all about the proposal! We were on vacation in Kill Devil Hills, NC and Graham insisted we wake up early our first morning there to watch the sunrise. I was somewhat suspicious, as Graham is not a morning person, and he jumped out of bed at 5:30am when the alarm went off! We took our two dogs for a walk along the beach and right after sunrise, Graham got down on one knee and proposed!

I really struggled with the idea of doing a first look, but ultimately decided to and am so glad we did! I had always dreamed about walking down the aisle and watching my soon-to-be husband’s expression as he saw me in my wedding dress for the first time. I was afraid the first look would take away from that, but it didn’t. My photographer was able to capture me walking up to Graham, tapping him on the back, and him turning around to see me. It was a magical moment and she was able to capture it all. We were also able to complete our bridal party photos prior to the ceremony, which allowed for us to head straight to cocktail hour after the ceremony and enjoy more time with our guests.

Exactly one month prior to our wedding date, we buried a bottle of bourbon upside down at Keswick Vineyards, which we then dug up prior to our ceremony. This tradition definitely worked, because we had the most beautiful, sunny day! It was also important for me to wear my mother’s veil and also my paternal grandmother’s engagement ring. My grandmother passed away in 1995 and I was very close to her. Wearing her ring on my wedding day was a tangible reminder that she was there with me on such an important day. Graham and I also chose to write letters to one another and exchange gifts prior to our first look. He had a sterling silver necklace made with my new married monogram and also gave me a pair of diamond earrings. I gifted Graham a new watch.

My mom, matron-of-honor, and her mother accompanied me in Georgetown for a day of dress shopping. I had always envisioned an A-line, lace dress but also wanted to wear something different that I had never seen on another bride. My matron-of-honor’s mother, Angie Cavallaro, was well-known (she’s now retired) in the Northern Virginia/DC area for her bridal alterations, and suggested I try on a more form fitting dress. It was my last appointment of the day and the store was featuring a trunk show for Temperley London. I selected a silk, draped bodice v-neck dress with flutter sleeves and open shoulders (definitely not A-line or lace) and cried as soon as I put it on. I just knew it was my dress!

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Graham and I are wine club members at Keswick Vineyards and spend a lot of our spare time there. The winery has a fenced in area specifically for dogs, so we’ve always enjoyed taking our two dogs and allowing them to play while we do a wine tasting and enjoy the scenery. Additionally, I would take Route 231 traveling back and forth to college and would drive past Keswick Vineyards. I remember thinking to myself at the time that Edgewood Estate at Keswick Vineyards was gorgeous, and that one day I wanted to be married there!

What were some of the most meaningful or special parts of your ceremony? We did not write our own vows but instead combined a couple options our officiant provided us. My favorite phrase from our vows was, “I will celebrate your joys and victories and rejoice in your achievements.” It is so easy to become selfish in a relationship and only focus on your own feelings, and this verse is a reminder to also continuously praise and support my husband’s achievements. We also chose two readings. Graham’s cousin read an excerpt from “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin” by Louis de Bernieres and my good friend read Colossians 3:12-17.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. We used a string quartet during our ceremony. Bach’s Air was played for the wedding party entrance. Pachelbel’s Canon was played during the processional. I have always loved both of these pieces, and it was an easy decision to incorporate both into the ceremony. For the recessional we chose the Beatles “All You Need Is Love.” Both of us grew up listening to the Beatles, and agreed that this would be such a fun way to exit the ceremony as husband and wife! For our first dance we chose Ray LaMontagne’s “You Are the Best Thing.”

For cocktail hour, we had a custom signature cocktail sign made with drawings of our two dogs. The “Roo” was Graham’s signature drink – an old fashioned – and the “Lula” was my signature drink – a classic mojito. For the reception, I wanted the flowers to be the wow factor. We had a ladder suspended horizontally over our head table and our florist decorated it with greenery, flowers, vines, and hanging prism lanterns. We felt as if we were sitting underneath our own little magical garden!

When did y’all get married? August 19, 2017
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 110
What was your favorite thing about wedding planning? I really enjoyed the wedding planning process and the many occasions it allowed for us to share with family and friends. From the food tasting with our parents, to bridesmaid dress shopping with my bridal party, we really enjoyed the time spent with loved ones.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $50,000-$75,000
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? I absolutely love flowers and knew from the start they would be one of the most expensive costs of the day. I price shopped a few different florists and also incorporated a lot of greenery in the bouquets and centerpieces to cut costs. We also brought a ton of plastic containers so we could take the majority of the flowers home the day after the wedding. Additionally, we felt that having quality photos was more important than spending money on a videographer. While it would have been nice to have our wedding day captured on video, it was an easy decision to save money by not using a videographer and instead using the best photographer!
What was your most memorable moment from your wedding day? In addition to doing a first look with Graham, I also did a first look with my father. I am a daddy’s girl and extremely close to my father, so it was important to incorporate this before he walked me down the aisle.
What advice would you give to someone currently planning a wedding? With the popularity of social media and sites like Pinterest, it is very easy to become overwhelmed with so many wedding ideas. Stay true to yourself and what is important to you and your groom. While the options are fun, you don’t have to have the photo booth or food truck at your reception if you don’t want to!

Photographer: Rachel May Photography | Venue and Day-of coordinator: Keswick Vineyards | Florist: Southern Blooms | Wedding Cake Baker: Cakes by Rachel | Caterer: C&O Restaurant | Rentals: MS Events | Lighting: Skyline Tent Company | DJ:
DJ Dennis Payne | Welcome sign: Oaky Designs | Signature drink sign: GG Prints | Paper products: Papetrie Fine Stationery and Gifts | Bride’s gown: “Tabitha” by Temperley London | Bride’s jewelry: Ti Adoro from Lovely Bride | Hair stylist and makeup artist: Avenue 42 | Bride’s shoes: “Abigail” in blush by Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaid dresses: “Parker Long” and “Catherine Long” in Tiny Dancer by Ceremony by Joanna August | Groom and groomsmen suits: Custom from Indochino | Custom cookies: Sweet Bella Bakery | Ceremony and cocktail hour music: Encore String Quartet

marissa Written with love by Marissa
3 Comments
  1. avatar Jeremy Wong reply

    Yeh so these wedding photos are seriously gorgeous!

  2. avatar Rachel May reply

    Thank you so much for the feature! It was a joy to work with Bethann & Graham and I’m thrilled to see their wedding highlighted on the SW blog!

  3. avatar Colleen reply

    Hi! I’m not trying to not pick, but in your first sentence you said that this is at Keswick Hall, but it’s at Keswick Vineyards. Love your blog!

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Year after year, our sweet real wedding brides have proclaimed that their most memorable wedding day moments occur during their ceremonies. This year is no exception: from exchanging of specially written vows to walking back up the aisle as husband and wife, wedding ceremonies tend to hold treasured moments that are made even more special with sweet details. Everything from jaw-dropping ceremony backdrops to very special reserved seating for the parents of the bride. Our 2016 real weddings were overflowing with incredibly meaningful details and moments, and we’re excited to share ten favorites with you!

Abigail + Ben’s ceremony under the trees by Callie Davis from Nancy Ray Photography

Veronica + Patrick’s chapel ceremony by Ashley Cox Photography

Nicole + Tyler’s ceremony seating by Jennifer Blair

Katie + John’s ceremony arch by Jillian Michelle

Katie + Alex’s chapel doors designed by Blue Ridge Floral Design (Photograph by Rachel May )

Jenna + Dom’s love story walk by Molliner Photography

Oliva + Scott’s ceremony backdrop designed by Leigh Pearce (photograph by Anna Paschal)

Jessica + Zach’s wedding party signage by Simply Jessica Marie (Photograph by Perry Vaile)

Amy + Mike’s ceremony aisle designed by Sapphire Events (photograph by Arte De Vie)

Corinne + Eric’s ceremony getaway by Graham Terhune

kristin Written with love by Kristin
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I’m not sure anything makes a wedding celebration more special (or Southern!) than when family is weaved through the entire thing! Such was certainly the case for Katie and Alex, starting with their ceremony venue–these two followed in Katie’s parents’ footsteps by getting married at the University of Virginia chapel. Along with drawing inspiration from their families for their wedding details (they especially loved their family photo display and the groom’s cake designed in honor of their dog!), Katie and Alex’s loved ones also came through in a big way to bring this special day to life. The perfect example: when they couldn’t make it to Virginia a month before the wedding to bury the bourbon, Katie’s cousin took the task into her own hands! As you can see in these photos by Rachel May, the tradition was a great success, leading to many new family memories being created as Katie and Alex celebrated their marriage.

P.S. Don’t miss the stories of Alex’s Christmas proposal or Katie’s most memorable wedding day moment below–both are stories for the books!

The vendor that truly set our wedding apart from others was the very talented Kristy Rice from Momental Designs. Her team hand-painted all of our save the dates, invitations, ceremony programs, menu cards, table numbers, and welcome bag inserts. The designs they created for us were works of art that not only captured Charlottesville’s beauty, but also told our story as a couple. I also have to mention Jodi Macfarlan, who did the stunning calligraphy for our seating chart and place cards at the reception. Her work is seriously the prettiest calligraphy I have ever seen, and her ability to match the designs of our paper goods was beyond impressive.

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! I did not have something borrowed, blue, old, and new. My mom told me that she didn’t partake in the tradition when she got married, and my parents have been married for over thirty-five years, so I didn’t feel the need to either!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. It has always been a struggle for me to find dresses that fit well, so to be honest, I was sort of dreading the whole process. My parents were planning a trip from Atlanta to Houston to meet AY’s parents for the first time, so I thought it would be the perfect time to look for a dress with both of our moms and his sisters. We went to Ivory Bridal Atelier in Houston and I tried on several dresses. While every dress the store had was so beautiful, nothing seemed to fit me the right way. Just as I was losing hope, the store manager mentioned that a Fall 2015 Anne Barge dress had just come in. At first glance, I wasn’t in love–it was a light blush color and had an antique look to it. I wanted an ivory dress, but at that point, I was willing to give it a shot. As soon as I stepped into the gown, I got that first feeling of “this might be the one.” It had all this gorgeous lace on the bodice and at the very bottom of the dress. When I saw the matching veil, I was blown away. I knew this was my dress when I found out that I could order it in ivory! With a few magic touches from Linda’s Couture Alterations in Houston, it became everything I was hoping for. Looking back on the whole wedding planning process, dress shopping was absolutely one of my favorite memories and is such a special occasion that every bride should look forward to!

Our fabulous wedding planner, Cody Grannis of Amore Events, created the bouquets for the wedding party and the floral arrangements for the reception. Cody did an amazing job arranging different types of roses with dark greenery to accentuate the light pink in the bridesmaids’ dresses and really make them pop. For my bouquet, I wanted something that looked natural and almost messy, as if the flowers were picked from a wild garden. It came out even better than I had envisioned and was truly unlike any bouquet I’d ever seen. The flowers for the ceremony were designed by Amy Webb from Blue Ridge Floral Design. Amy completely got my vision when I told her that I wanted to have an entrance for the Chapel unlike anything that has ever been done there before. She created this gorgeous floral arch with white roses and greenery that surrounded the front doors of the Chapel. It was such a dreamy piece that perfectly established the entire look and feel for our ceremony.

The most memorable moment for me was seeing my grandfather at the front of the Chapel. My grandfather suffers from Parkinson’s and had a few rough days leading up to the wedding–so rough that we were concerned he might not be able to make it to the ceremony. When I met AY at the altar, I looked to my right and saw a light shining through the stained glass windows of the dark chapel right onto my grandfather. Tears immediately came to my eyes. It was such an unforgettable moment because it was everything that my family had been praying for leading up to the wedding. That same light beam later moved over to me and AY, shining down on us as we said our vows. I remember hearing gasps from the congregation right when it happened, and several guests even came up to us afterwards asking if we had planned it, but perfection like that can only be explained as a gift from above!

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? This is an easy one! My parents also graduated from the University of Virginia and were married at the University Chapel on June 28, 1981, so from the moment AY and I started dating during college, I dreamed of following in their footsteps. The University Chapel is so beautiful and rich in history and is such a meaningful place for my family–I really couldn’t imagine us getting married anywhere else. For the reception venue, Charlottesville has so many stunning venues for brides to choose from. AY and I wanted to pick somewhere memorable to us from our time together at UVA. Wine tasting at King Family Vineyards was always one of our favorite activities, and, their views of the Blue Ridge Mountains are breathtaking and second to none!

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Is it okay if we have two favorites? A detail we were really excited about was the Moscow mules, which were passed during cocktail hour. Served in a cute copper mug, they seem to always bring smiles to faces. That’s how we knew Moscow mules would be the perfect signature drink for our wedding–plus, they are also really refreshing on a hot summer day! Another detail that was definitely a wow-factor was the wedding memory table, a display of old family wedding photographs designed by my mother. It was a special way to remember our history and give a presence to our loved ones who have passed. It turned out so beautifully and was something our guests really enjoyed.

A Southern tradition we included in our wedding was burying the bourbon, believed by Southerners to keep the rain away. I tend to worry about silly things like the weather, so when I heard about this tradition, I had to find a way to make it happen, especially because every wedding planner will tell you that Charlottesville weather is the most unpredictable. My cousin and a bridesmaid in our wedding, Jayne Anne, is currently a student at UVA, and offered to bury the bourbon for us at King Family Vineyards, as we live in Dallas, Texas and couldn’t find time to make the trip. In true UVA fashion, she chose to bury Jefferson Reserve, and exactly a month later, we had the most beautiful weather for our big day. To Jayne Anne’s surprise, AY and I asked her to do the honors and dig up the bourbon at the reception, too! We owed her big time for bringing us sunny skies and high-70 temperatures at the end of June! It was such a funny sight to see Jayne Anne trying to dig up the bourbon with the massive shovel provided by King Family–an image we will continue to laugh about for years to come! Once the bourbon was retrieved, AY and I said cheers with two antique sterling silver shot glasses from Tiffany’s, given to us by my mother as a wedding present a few days before the wedding. Each shot glass had our new initials engraved on the front and are keepsakes we will forever cherish in remembrance of the tradition.

What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Especially when times get stressful, try to remember what the day is really about. A dear friend of mine would remind of that by saying, “No more or no less married” when I would start to worry or compare our wedding with others. It’s easy to get wrapped up in it all and lose sight of what’s really important, but your wedding will be perfect in its own way. As you make it about the love that you have for each other, it will, without a doubt, be the best day of your life.

The cake mastermind, Anita Gupta of Maliha Creations, made both our wedding and groom’s cakes. Our wedding cake was a four-tiered cake with roses and gold leaf flakes decorating the rim of each tier. The cake flavors were hummingbird cake with cream cheese frosting and vanilla butter cake with French vanilla buttercream. I was so blown away by our wedding cake–it was beautiful inside and out and looked like something out of a magazine! Our groom’s cake was designed to look like AY’s beloved family dog, Ellie B. Young, who wasn’t able to travel to Charlottesville to celebrate with us. The cake was around two feet tall and featured chocolate cake with Oreo chocolate icing. It was such a sweet surprise for the Youngs that Ellie B. could make an appearance at the wedding, even if it was just in cake form! Having parents that grew up in Charlottesville, there are several local spots that are sentimental for my family. One of those places is The White Spot located on the Corner. It serves an infamous dessert called the “Grillswith,” a grilled and butter-brushed Krispy Kreme donut with vanilla ice cream on top. Our caterer, C&O Restaurant, replicated the recipe perfectly and served Grillswiths to our guests as the late night snack at the reception. I swear, I’ve never seen people react in such a way to a dessert! Everyone couldn’t stop talking about how delicious they were and it was definitely a fun treat for our guests who also know and love The White Spot.

Our first dance was to “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy” by The Tams. We thought this song was perfect for us, as AY’s last name (and now mine) is Young. The song also has a great Motown beat and is super easy to dance to!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We first met at the Foxfield Races, an annual horse race in Charlottesville, during our first year at the University of Virginia. I was introduced to him as “AY,” short for Alex Young, and continue to call him AY to this day. We really didn’t get to know each other until we had a class together our second year. He was in the 8:00 A.M. class section of Commerce 180 and I was in the later section that everyone wanted to be in at 11:00. On the first day of class, AY slept in and missed his section, so he snuck into the later one. During the class, our professor asked the students to divide into groups for the semester. To this day, I can still picture the moment AY walked down the classroom hallway over to me and nervously asked to be in my group. I told him that he had to ask the professor for permission, once he admitted to being in the earlier section. Thankfully, the professor said yes, because I truly believe that our love story began with that study group. I spent more time laughing at his terrible jokes than actually doing work, but I also got to see what a great guy he was…and, he did most of the work. We were both dating other people at the time, but we became great friends because of the class. We finally started dating a month before graduation, and have been together since!
Tell us all about the proposal! AY came to Atlanta to spend Christmas with my family. On Christmas morning, he pulled me aside and told me that I needed to open my present early. He described it as “Christmas-y” and hinted that he wanted me to have a chance to use it before the day was over. He handed me a medium-sized box, and inside were six ornaments holding pictures of special moments during our relationship. I thought it was such a sweet present and understood why he wanted me to open it early. As I started to hang the picture ornaments on my parents’ Christmas tree, AY mentioned that he forgot to include one ornament in the box before he wrapped it. He hung the last ornament on the tree and asked me to look at the picture. Busy trying to find vacant spots on our very full tree, I just said, “Oh, that’s very cute” without really examining the picture. AY laughed and told me to look closer. When I did, I screamed, as I realized it was a picture of AY down on one knee in front of his family’s Christmas tree back home! He then got down on one knee and asked me to marry him in front of my family, who ran into the room as soon as they heard me scream. My mom was just as surprised as I was–she thought we had knocked over the Christmas tree!
When did y’all get married? June 25, 2016
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 175
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. Having a male vocalist sing “Ave Maria” by J.S. Bach was one of the most important parts of the ceremony for us. My grandfather, who was a professor at UVA and a big reason why I went to school there, has always loved that song. His father (my great-grandfather) was a self-taught opera singer and sang “Ave Maria” at my grandparents’ wedding. We hoped it would evoke special memories, while also creating new ones for our families, and it certainly did!
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? Father Stephen Alcott, a priest from my grandparents’ church in Charlottesville, officiated our ceremony. Leading up to the wedding, AY and I met with Father Stephen several times for marital guidance and counseling. I would definitely encourage other couples to do so as well. Getting to know Father Stephen better and talking through our plan as a married couple put us completely at ease during our ceremony, allowing us to really enjoy and appreciate the moment.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We were very fortunate to have a wonderful wedding and a dream-come-true honeymoon. Now that we are officially the Youngs, we are looking forward to having some down time and getting the chance to be newlyweds. I also have to admit that our wedding diet kept us from trying the hot new restaurants in town, so we are pretty excited about not having to be good anymore!

Photographer: Rachel May Photography | Planner and Florist: Amore Events | Ceremony Venue: University of Virginia Chapel | Reception Venue: King Family Vineyards | Ceremony Florals: Blue Ridge Floral Design | Wedding Cake: Maliha Creations | Caterer: C&O Restaurant | Rentals: MS Events | Lanterns: Blue Ridge A/V and Lighting | Cocktail Hour Guitarist: Peter Richardson | Band: Attraction via Sam Hill Entertainment | Calligrapher: Jodi Macfarlan Calligraphy and Joie de Vivre Calligraphy | Paper Products: Momental Designs | Bride’s Gown and Veil: “Avallon” by Anne Barge | Bridal Salon: Ivory Bridal Atelier | Bridal Gown Alterations: Linda’s Couture Alterations | Bride’s Hair Piece: Lila Accessories | Hair Stylist: Brianna B. Adams | Makeup Artist: Gohar Makeup | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Various styles in Bellini by Amsale | Bridesmaid Dress Salon: Bella Bridesmaids | Groom’s Tuxedo: Suit Supply | Groom’s Cuff Links: Ledbury | Groom’s Bow Tie: The Cordial Churchman | Bride’s Robe: Girl with a Serious Dream | Bridesmaids’ Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar | Bridesmaids’ Earrings: Erwin Pearl | Maid of Honor’s Hair Accessory: Twigs & Honey | Bouquet Ribbon: Silk & Willow | Wedding Dress Hanger: Poppy and Scooter | Custom Napkins and Drink Stirrers: Laura Hooper Calligraphy | Transportation: Ambassador Limousine and Albemarle Limousine | Ring Box: The Mrs. Box | Stage: Skyline Tent Company

lisa Written with love by Lisa
2 Comments
  1. avatar Rachel May reply

    Thank you so much for the feature! It’s an honor to be on the SW blog! :)

  2. avatar Rosie reply

    Lisa this is beautiful! thank you for sharing.

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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