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Even before Christy had a boyfriend, she remembers telling her mama that she would someday be married at Reynolds Plantation…and a little ways down the road, she and Jake made that dream come true! Inspired by the beautiful landscape of Christy’s family’s summer home, Christy and Jake chose to say the vows they wrote to one another right in front of the lake before adjourning to Sandy Creek Barn for the celebration. Not even temperatures in the triple digits could keep the newlyweds and their dearest family and friends from enjoying a gorgeous tented dinner and the wild dance party that followed!

Thank you so much to the talented Melissa Schollaert for sending this dreamy day our way!

I knew from the very first moment of the process that I wasn’t going to try on more than 20 dresses–I knew I would find one that day. My mother, my oldest sister, and my two very best friends went shopping with me in New Jersey. After the first bridal shop, where I almost bought the third dress I tried on, we went to Elizabeth Johns in Morristown, New Jersey. I tried on a few dresses that I had my heart set on prior to visiting the store through online research, but ultimately decided upon a beautiful blush, all-lace Romona Keveza gown. I had it in my head that I would never have a strapless dress, nor did I ever want a blush dress, but this one felt right and made me feel beautiful!

How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? We worked together on all aspects of the wedding. There was not one detail I didn’t run by Jake–he knew it all and definitely had more of an opinion than most grooms. I knew that working together and getting through any differences during the wedding planning process would help us grow as a couple.

Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? Yes, we did! I wanted to see Jake beforehand and have a special moment together before the excitement of the day really started happening. We met down by the water of our venue and had a few nervous giggles together. We also took a moment during the sunset and stepped away from the reception to just be with one another and reflect on the day.

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We wrote our own vows! Our ceremony was very much about us and our love for one another. Our vows were reflective of us a couple–there were a lot of laughs, tears, and reflections.

My parents built a summer home on Reynolds Plantation while I was in college. Ever since my first visit, I told my mom (even before I had a boyfriend) that it was where I wanted to get married. It was beautiful, peaceful, and my dream come true! The Ritz Carlton Lodge on Reynolds Plantation had various beautiful venues we could chose from, but we ultimately chose Sandy Creek Barn. The Barn is located across the lake from the hotel and has the most beautiful landscape with acres of fields and trees. We could party into the morning without disturbing anyone for miles! We had our ceremony down by the water, our cocktail hour inside the barn, and our reception took place in a beautifully decorated sailcloth tent adjacent to the barn.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Our wedding was hot as all get out! Everyone knew they were in the South with those temperatures! We also incorporated a lot of Southern touches with antlers and music. My husband was reluctant at first, but we had some great country music playing at our wedding!

One of my absolute favorite details of my wedding was the flowers. I was blown away by my florist, Kent Duffy of Designs by Kent. I am not tied to any particular flower, but only knew I wanted something that felt light, rustic, and classic. Our farmhouse tables were a mix of round, square, and long, and we decorated them with antlers, succulents, touches of gold, and metallic. I was not tied to any color, but it all just blended in beautifully with the landscape of the barn. He went above and beyond my expectations.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. We had cake and an array of desserts. The more the merrier was our attitude! I am a chocolate girl and Jake loves fruity desserts, so we decided to have both! Our actual wedding cake was a naked cake, which was designed by the pastry chef at the Ritz Carlton. It was exactly what I had envisioned.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met at a Halloween party in 2010! He was a farmer and I was dressed as what was supposed to be a hippie. We both had B- costumes and laughed it off. What started as innocent conversation that night led to a first date over wine and mussels at the Mermaid Inn in NYC. We knew from that first date we were meant to be! We go back every year to order the same thing and sit in the same seats.
Tell us all about the proposal! Jake’s sister, Amy, is an incredibly talented singer/songwriter and was performing at Rockwood Music Hall in the Lower East Side. It was a Saturday night and we had plans to go to the show, and then afterwards, we would head to “a nice dinner” (as Jake put it when I asked what to wear) with his family. Jake was extremely nervous in the car ride to the show and was latching on to his sunglass case for dear life (turns out, the ring was hiding in there the whole time!). After we arrived to a full crowd, Amy did a few songs, and toward the end, she did a cover of Ray Lamontagne’s “Hold You in My Arms.” In the middle of the performance, she invited Jake up to the stage, where he made the cutest speech (that I am not sure I would have remembered given my emotional state if it wasn’t recorded), and then proceeded to propose. While all of this was happening, our family and friends–unbeknownst to me–were watching it all through a projector from the other room. After being surprised by them all, we headed to a a party Jake had put together with all of my closest friends and family!
When did y’all get married? July 18, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? Roughly 200
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. We covered all the bases with music–pop, country, hip hop, and typical wedding songs! I walked down the aisle to a “500 Miles” cover by Sleeping at Last, and for our first dance, Jake’s sister did a beautiful cover of “Dream a Little Dream of Me.” We strayed from typical wedding songs during our procession and ceremony, and wanted it to be fun and light to reflect our personalities.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: I can’t name a favorite detail, but one thing that turned into being the most memorable was how HOT it was. It was about 100 degrees at 5:30 P.M.–the start of our wedding. I was a nervous wreck! We extended our cocktail hour to cool people off inside the barn and I had extra fans and generators brought in for the tent. The fans ended up being “misting fans” and the dance floor at night turned into a slew of people who were soaking wet from the mist, but dancing their hearts out! It was absolutely hilarious and one of my favorite memories.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? When we took a moment to ourselves down by the water while the sun was setting and the reception was in full swing. Our closest friends and family had just been a part of the best day of our lives, and we were officially husband and wife. It was such a special moment that we will never forget.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We have a 10-month-old puppy who is our best buddy! He makes us a family of three and we are hoping to become a family of four in the next few years! We are looking forward to traveling, spending more time with our family and closest friends, and supporting each other as we progress in our careers.

Photographer: Melissa Schollaert | Videographer: Anchor Heart Films | Planner: Ashley Scott of The Ritz Carlton | Venue: Sandy Creek Barn at Reynolds Plantation | Florist: Designs by Kent | Caterer, Cake and Dessert Baker: The Ritz Carlton Lodge, Lake Oconee | Band: Band of Gold | Paper Products: Sideshow Press | Wooden Signs: Country Bliss Designs | Bride’s Gown: Romona Keveza | Hair Stylist: Kathryn Yearwood, Zapien’s Salon | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J. Crew | Groom’s Attire: Tom Ford

lisa Written with love by Lisa
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  1. avatar Paperlust Wedding Invites reply

    Absolutely love those letterpress wedding invitations, what GSM are they?

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Fun fact: the Equestrian Elegance shoot in Southern Weddings V8 has actually been many years in the making! We love working with KT Merry (see past editorials she has shot for us here, here, and here), and have always known that she has a huge passion for all things equestrian. Last year, while driving through the Virginia countryside for a V7 shoot, Emily and I couldn’t stop talking about the beauty of the landscape and that we’d love to highlight it in an upcoming issue. Finally, when we connected with the talented team at Easton Events about creating something magical for V8, all the pieces fell into place for the creation of a truly incredible Virginia horse country shoot. We couldn’t be more thrilled with how it came together!

Biggest thanks to KT Merry, Easton Events, Beehive Events, the team at Pippin Hill, and so many more wonderful folks (see below for the full list!) who brought this gorgeous spring day to life!

As Emily mentioned yesterday, each of our editorials in this issue revolved around the story of a couple we dreamed up. Our Equestrian Elegance bride is an avid horseback rider, and after meeting her groom at the University of Virginia, they decided to tie the knot in Charlottesville at a celebration that highlighted the magic of this corner of the South. This stunning invitation suite by Amber Moon Design perfectly set the tone!

If many of your guests will be traveling to celebrate with you, greeting them with local treats (or simply your favorites) is a thoughtful idea. For this Virginia basket, local wine, apples, and peanuts were musts!

Y’all, how breathtaking is our bride? Beehive Events used plenty of spring blooms (including dogwoods, Virginia’s state flower) in her bouquet, and we love the way they looked against this subtly printed Romona Keveza gown. The pastel shades make a statement, but are still lovely and classic.

We were so excited to finally work at Pippin Hill Farm! The views of the Blue Ridge Mountains make a stunning ceremony backdrop–we used beautiful wicker chairs and two simple floral arrangements that set the space, but didn’t distract from the natural beauty of the venue.

Some of our favorite details from this editorial came out during cocktail hour–from treats for the horses (plus a sign illustrating proper feeding technique, of course!), to local cheeses and meats, to Virginia peanuts, to an ombré display of local wines. As a favor, guests were sent home with “horse feed”–a custom blend of granola served in classic Weck jars.

With the help of natural elements and tons of texture, our neutral color scheme had a big impact. Casa de Perrin kindly sent the most exquisite china, flatware, and glassware for us to use, which were the perfect complement to Beehive Events‘ furnishings and florals.

East West Production also made a gorgeous film to accompany this editorial–take a look below!

For more from this feature, be sure to pick up a copy of V8 online here or on news stands across the Southeast!

Photographer: KT Merry Photography | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab | Videographer: East West Production | Planner and Stylist: Easton Events | Florals, Linens, Rentals, and Props: Beehive Events | Venue and Caterer: Pippin Hill Farm | China, Flatware, and Glassware: Casa de Perrin | Hair Stylist: Yolonda Jones | Makeup Artist: Lora Kelley | Cake: Buttercream Bakeshop | Paper Goods: Amber Moon Design | Calligraphy: Anne Robin | Illustrations: Karina Puentes | Bride’s Gown: RK6408 by Romona Keveza | Vintage Ring: Trumpet & Horn | Groom’s Suit: J.Crew | Bow Tie: Gold Coast Goods | Children’s Clothes: Petite Bebe | Vintage Helmet: Bluebird Creek Vintage

lisa Written with love by Lisa
10 Comments
  1. avatar Marion Blount reply

    This is breathtaking. Easton Events always sets the bar high! Beautiful!

  2. avatar Rhiannon reply

    This is by far one of my fave shoots in V8. It’s beautiful! Kudos to everyone involved!

  3. avatar Erin | Elizabeth Anne Designs reply

    this is absolutely breathtaking—every perfectly planned and styled detail… and captured by the lovely KT Merry!

  4. avatar Katie B reply

    Reasons why this is one of my ALL TIME favorite shoots:

    1) As a horse crazy girl who never quite grew out of it, this really speaks to my heart!
    2) The landscape, wow, I can see why you guys were inspired after driving through this countryside!
    3) Understated Elegance. The beauty of the scenery really took center stage!
    All the hearts for this one :)

  5. avatar Jessica reply

    The couple, the food, the setting is absolutely gorgeous. I love how they included the children in the wedding.

  6. avatar Bethany H. reply

    I can’t get over how gorgeous the bride is! That dress was made for her!

  7. avatar Dana reply

    this is the most perfect virginia wedding shoot in the world!

  8. avatar Southern Peach Summer Wedding Palette | Hey Wedding Lady reply

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  10. avatar Happy 10th Anniversary Southern Weddings! My 10 Favorite Editorials – Kyla Mary reply

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If there’s one thing I’ve learned while choosing details for my own wedding, it’s that when in doubt, I should stick to the classics. There’s a reason things like lace wedding gowns, white tiered cakes, and “Just Married” getaway car signs never go out of style–they have already stood the test of time. I would’t be surprised if Shannon and Andrew heeded this advice as they planned their Maryland wedding, with the help of our Blue Ribbon Vendor, A. Dominick Events, and as a result, I imagine they’ll still love everything about their special day when they’re showing these pictures to their future grandchildren!

Thank you so much to Jodi Miller (another beloved BRV!) for sharing Shannon and Andrew’s wedding with us!

I was supposed to meet Andrew in San Francisco for Valentine’s Day weekend, but was snowed in and all the flights were canceled. My mom and I decided last minute to look at some wedding dresses instead. There was a Romona Keveza trunk show going on at the Nordstrom Bridal Boutique in Tyson’s Corner. My mom begged me to “humor her” and try on a dress which seemed too old fashioned for my taste on the hanger. However, when I tried it on, I immediately fell in love. I went back three times that weekend to try the dress on again. It was such a silver lining to the canceled California trip!

Describe your wedding flowers. I carried a beautiful, naturally shaped bouquet that was slightly untamed. It included café au lait dahlias, David Austin garden roses, Queen Anne’s lace, fresh herbs, and white passion flower vine. The slightly wilder bouquet complemented my very traditional wedding dress. Shawn and her team at Beehive Events hit it out of the park!

Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? No, we wanted to keep it traditional. The groom seeing his bride for the first time walking down the aisle is always one of my favorite moments of a wedding.
What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? We were married at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, a church that has special significance to both of our families. Andrew’s mother’s family and my father’s family both attended the church growing up.

After the priest announced us as husband and wife, we stood on the altar facing the crowd for a few moments before we processed out of the church. We just took it all in–the incredible commitment of marriage we had just made, and the outpour of applause and cheers from family and friends. There was so much love and joy in that church, and I will never forget that moment.

What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? A. Dominick and her team went above and beyond to execute our vision. They were organized, thorough, experienced, and so much fun to work with. They were great advisors, never making decisions for us, but rather, helping us to make the decisions. They kept us on schedule throughout the planning process and left no stone unturned. On the day of the wedding, I was so relaxed. Aimee and her team made our wedding more special than I could have ever imagined.

Kendall’s Cakes created a beautiful “cake bar” for us with an assortment of small white cakes, half filled with white chocolate raspberry cake, the other half with key lime cake. Each one was decorated simply with white frosting. One was designed to look like the buttons and bow on the back of my wedding dress. They stood on vintage crystal cake stands I had borrowed from family members. It was a stunning (and delicious) display!

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. Our first dance was to Ray LaMontagne’s “You Are the Best Thing.” It has a good pace (not too slow, not too fast), was soulful, and the lyrics really spoke to our relationship. The dancing at our wedding was so much fun that my dad (who is otherwise very frugal) paid the band to keep playing!

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Pleasant Pops, one of our favorite local food trucks, brought a push cart outside the dance floor. We had four different flavors of popsicles, including Andrew’s favorite, New Orleans Iced Coffee. It was a great way to cool down after all that dancing!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met through mutual friends at a bar the night before Thanksgiving in 2010. Although we had grown up in the same area and had known of each other, we had never officially met. There was an immediate connection. That first night, we talked for hours about everything from education to family. We saw each other one more time that weekend and exchanged phone numbers, but did not know when we would see each other again, since I was living in New York City at the time. Shortly thereafter, Andrew called me to tell me he was going to be visiting a friend in NYC and asked me to dinner. We went on our first dinner date at a little italian restaurant in Nolita. We had such a great time, we met for brunch the next day and had dinner that night as well. We joke that we had our first, second, and third dates all within 24 hours! For the next few months, we kept Amtrak in business traveling between NYC and DC to see one another.
Tell us all about the proposal! Andrew planned a dinner date under the guise of celebrating “the beginning of the school year.” I had just spent the week setting up my classroom, attending teacher development, and finalizing my first week of school plans. I was exhausted, but thrilled to have an easy, early dinner with Andrew to look forward to. We went to one of my favorite restaurants in D.C., The Blue Duck Tavern. For reasons unclear to me at the time, he had made the reservation at 5 p.m., so I was sure to give him a hard time about such an early dinner. After the meal, we took a sunset walk by the Potomac River and ended up at the Kennedy Center. We walked to the terrace, which has a gorgeous view of the monuments. Somehow, we were the only people there, which is a rarity in Washington. That is when he proposed. It was an incredible moment! He was so nervous that he put the ring on the wrong hand, which was a great moment of levity. Then, we went to his cousin’s restaurant, Beuchert’s Saloon, where all of our family had been waiting. It was such a wonderful night!
When did y’all get married? July 19, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 250
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? We had dinner stations instead of a sit-down meal, and one of the stations was called “Southern Comfort.” It included mini pulled pork sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, and watermelon salad.
How did you plan for your marriage while planning your wedding? We went to a series of marriage preparation classes through our church with a few other engaged couples. We talked about everything from finances to family. It was incredibly helpful.
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? My aunt made bouquets of baby’s breath for the flower girls. We had lots of little girls in the wedding, and knew spending money on fancy bouquets for them would not be worth it. My sister-in-law also made the ribbon wands that were used for our send-off as we exited the church.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? Andrew was offered a job in San Francisco, so we are looking forward to starting an adventure together on the West Coast. While we are sad to leave our family and friends in D.C., it will be a great opportunity for us to explore another part of the country and grow even stronger as a couple.

Photographer: Jodi Miller / Videographer: Blue Sky Films / Planner: Aimee Dominick / Ceremony Venue: Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church / Reception Venue and Caterer: Columbia Country Club / Florist: Beehive Events / Cake Baker: Kendall’s Cakes / Lighting: John Farr Lighting / Band: The Source / Popsicles: Pleasant Pops / Bride’s Gown: Romona Keveza / Bride’s Veil: Nina / Bride’s Earrings: Nadri / Bride’s Vintage Brooch: Glynn Goldsborough Antiques / Hair Stylist: Bridal Hair by Remona / Makeup Artist: Lori Nansi of Le Mariee Makeup / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Monique Lhuillier / Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss

Jodi Miller and A. Dominick Events are delightful members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
2 Comments
  1. avatar Robyn Van Dyke reply

    I’m in LOVE with the bride’s dress! And Jodi Miller’s work is stunning as always. :)

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