You’ve chosen the escort card display and the fold of your napkins. But what about the cake topper? If So INKlined’s Jen Maton has that covered. After nearly two decades as a professional calligrapher, she started thinking about creating her own product line.
“The light bulb went off and I realized that cake toppers would be a fun and creative way to sell my art,” she says. She saved up from wedding jobs for a year and purchased a laser/engraving machine to create custom toppers from her studio.
Maton says that she can create a custom topper using anyone’s artwork. (We like the idea of utilizing handwriting from a loved one who can’t attend. Imagine “love always” in Grandma’s script atop the cake, for example.)
She’s cut toppers, which cost $34.50 and up, with all phrases imaginable—including “Yaas queen” and “Mutual weirdness forever”—but the most unique cake topper is the one she’s currently working on.
“The bride’s request was a silhouette of the bride and groom on an antique bike with their last name and date in glitter gold,” Maton says. “I can’t wait to cut this one.”
Betsy Bilharz and Dan Savage were married in a small civil ceremony with their parents present, and will have the big wedding they’d planned in June. Photo: Carly Romeo
On a Sunday last September, Betsy Bilharz and Dan Savage were dropping off the welcome bags for their wedding guests at a hotel in Charlottesville when her parents called to say that the weather report was looking pretty bad. The couple’s wedding day was supposed to be the following Saturday, September 15, and a hurricane was headed right for central Virginia.
“We played it off as, ‘Well, the weather is unpredictable; maybe it’ll turn,” says Betsy. They drove over to Keswick Vineyards, where for 18 months they’d planned an outdoor wedding for around 110 guests, and checked in with the venue’s coordinator. The news wasn’t good. Because of the severity of the predicted storm, Keswick didn’t feel it was possible to go ahead with the wedding.
The couple spent a couple of days scrambling to relocate the wedding to an indoor location in Richmond, where they live, but guests began calling to say that they wouldn’t be able to make it because of canceled flights. And vendors needed to know whether to order food and flowers. “By Tuesday we just had to make a decision,” says Betsy. “We didn’t want to do it without everybody there. The right decision was just to call it and say we’re going to have the wedding we planned on, but later.”
Naturally, a range of emotions followed. So did a daunting list of practicalities. Wedding planner Steph Saunders, who’s based in Charlottesville, says that in the case of a postponement or cancellation, “The quicker you can tell people, the better.” Dan and Betsy activated a phone tree to announce the change, Betsy says, with the couple’s closest friends and family dividing up the guest list. She and Dan also sent an email to all their guests.
As for vendors, Saunders says, you can explain the situation and ask for leniency regarding the deposits you’ve already paid, but if you haven’t purchased cancellation insurance for your event, you may not be able to recover those costs. Since Betsy and Dan were postponing and not canceling, and kept the vendors they’d originally hired, they didn’t lose any deposits. “All of our vendors were very understanding,” says Betsy.
They’d hired Richmond-based coordinator Heather Clark with The Hive Wedding Co. to help in the final stages of planning, which turned out to be key. “She really stepped in and took charge of emailing updates to our vendor list,” Betsy says. “She coordinated with Keswick and polled vendors, and she found one date in June that worked with everybody. If we hadn’t had a planner we would have had to do that all ourselves and I think that would have been incredibly overwhelming.”
Life is funny: Hurricane Florence ended up turning to the south, and September 15 was a sunny day in Charlottesville. But Betsy and Dan kept on rolling with it. They got legally married in December in a small civil ceremony with only their parents present, and in June, they’ll hold the big wedding at Keswick they’d originally planned on. The whole process, Betsy says, helped keep their focus on what’s really important. “The storm hit North Carolina instead and we saw the devastation there,” she says, “so we felt lucky that we were safe and our family and friends were safe.”
The 1940 Senior Packard limo from Albemarle Limousine is the only one of its type known to be on the road today. Photo: Rachel May Photography
The getaway car is the last thing wedding guests see as the happy couple is whisked away into marital bliss. And there are several options to rev up that final impression—modern limos, slick sedans, and vintage classics.
“It is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and a museum-quality vintage limousine helps create a magical and unforgettable experience,” says Eric Bryant, sales and logistics manager for Albemarle Limousine.
1949 Fleetwood Cadillac Limo from Albemarle Limousine
Bryant says his black 1949 Fleetwood might not be the most popular model in the Albemarle portfolio, but it’s certainly the most unique. Only 595 of the Caddys were produced, but a handful are still in working order.
“[The] spacious and elegant limousine has a country music legacy like no other,” he says, referring to its history transporting greats like Patsy Cline, Chet Atkins, Brenda Lee, and Johnny Cash. “It’s a true treasure.”
The ’49 Fleet is air-conditioned and recently renovated, Bryant says, making it as comfortable as it is classy. albemarle limousine.com
Chrysler 300 Luxury Sedan from Camryn Limousine
For cost-conscious wedding planners, a modern corporate sedan delivers comfort and convenience without backbreaking cost. Camryn Limousine offers jet-black Chrysler 300 corporate sedans with professionally trained and licensed, uniformed chauffeurs.
“Getaway sedans really make a lot of sense after you’ve been having a good time at your wedding,” Camryn principal Bill Kerr says. “The last thing you want to worry about is driving home.”
Kerr says sedans are available for as little as $85, depending on the destination. camryn-limo.com
1957 Porsche 356 Speedster, Cville Classic Cars
Let’s say you do want to worry about driving yourself home after your wedding. Cville Classic Cars has a rotating stock of restorations and replicas that might put your budget on E, but will certainly fill your heart with glee.
The white 1957 Porsche 356 replica currently available from Cville Classic was built in 1998 but offers all the high-quality details of the original—tan leather interior, square tube frame, fully independent front suspension, rack and pinion steering, and a 2,007 cc engine.
Don’t have tens of thousands of dollars to spend on your wedding getaway? Get it on the registry ASAP. cvilleclassiccars.com
Ray and Adam were married at Carter's Overlook on the Monticello Trail on September 15, 2018. Photo: Amy Jackson Smith
Big weddings are great, but for some of us, less is more. As in, less expense, less stress, less planning. And there’s something thrilling about getting married without a net. Okay, we’ll just say it: Why not elope?
Taking your vows with only a handful of witnesses means that you really can forego nearly all the conventional planning and simply show up, often with no reservations or official say-so regarding your chosen spot. Mildly risky? Yes. Wildly romantic? Yes, yes, yes!
Here are a few suggestions for local off-the-grid wedding spots.
UVA pavilion gardens
Real people do reside in the large “pavilions” that punctuate the long rows of student rooms along UVA’s Lawn. But in fact the public is welcome to picnic, lounge—or get hitched—in the gardens behind the pavilions, and they are enchanting spots, with their serpentine walls and carefully tended plantings. Just be considerate of the folks who call these historical buildings home, and visit ahead of time to scout your favorite of the 10 unique gardens.
Saunders-Monticello Trail
This lovely trail starts at Kemper Park on Route 53. After a short stroll you can access the Palmer Woodland Theater, a pretty collection of wooden benches arranged among venerable white oak trees. A smaller landmark along the trail is Carter’s Overlook, which has a great view of Charlottesville and the mountains. These two spots are not reservable, but check the Monticello website to make sure no events are planned there for the hour of your nuptials.
20 Minute Cliff Overlook
Located at mile marker 19 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, this small overlook offers one of the best mountain views around. The panoramic vista sweeps south, west, and north, meaning the sunsets here are especially sweet. (Panoramic photo, anyone?) Technically, the National Park Service would like you to obtain a permit for your Parkway wedding—Google “Blue Ridge Parkway permits” for details.
Wedding planner Marisa Vrooman says, more and more, couples are looking for a “residential feel” for their big day, like at this Blue Ridge Farm wedding. Photo: Sera Petras
Of all the details that go into planning a wedding, local experts say one shines as the difference-maker between perfection and paltry—lighting.
“Lighting touches everything,” says Jake Anderson, owner of Lighting Professors. “And we’re seeing increased awareness of recognizing how important lighting is as an enhancement. We’re one of the first vendors couples are booking sometimes.”
According to Anderson, mastering illumination means understanding all three of its elements: ambient, focal, and decorative lighting. Ambient light is all around you; focal lighting directs attention toward the cake, dance floor, etc.; and decorative lighting adds that finishing touch on tables and accent pieces.
Marisa Vrooman, lead designer, planner, and owner of Orpha Events, says with increased awareness of lighting has come an exploration of new styles. Custom chandeliers and pendants have become popular to complement traditional sources of ambience like bistro and café lighting, she says. Tapered candles and votives have come on strong as decorative pieces.
Vrooman says clients in general are looking for statement pieces to make their lighting their own. But lighting is highly venue-specific, she says. For tent or barn weddings, where you’re working with a blank canvas, draped lighting can add layers and “really change the mood.” In ballrooms, where Vrooman might only be complementing existing chandeliers and uplighting, she favors pinspots to bring focus to critical areas.
Overall, Vrooman finds more and more customers want a “residential feel” for their big day. Anderson adds that his customers seem to be looking for modern, clean looks—straight lines and geometric shapes.
Vrooman and Anderson agree it’s all part of a move toward maximizing detail through luminous highlights.
“For a high-end wedding, there are so many different pieces, so something people underestimate is the importance of lighting,” Vrooman says. “It’s critical for good photographs, it enhances mood and your first dance, and your flowers are going to show better.”
Vrooman also says finding the right lighting vendor to execute your vision is critical. “You have to be really collaborative with the lighting professionals,” she says. In addition to understanding the different elements of lighting, she says having some general ideas about what you want before you approach your preferred purveyor is critical.
“I started doing weddings in 2012, and the market is completely different now in terms of education,” Anderson says. “My clients do have a lot more familiarity with lighting now than they ever did.”
Among the many ways to show the love to your wedding guests: Help them figure out where to stay when they travel from out of town. Some folks may appreciate a group rate at a big hotel; others might look to you to recommend a unique rental property. Depending on where your wedding is happening, and how much free time guests will have before and after, you can help them turn your wedding weekend into a fun getaway, sampling all the good stuff Charlottesville and environs have to offer. Here are a few highlights from the rich local selection of lodgings.
Green Acres
If you’re getting married at King Family Vineyards, or if you just want guests to have easy access to the wine- and beer-related delights of western Albemarle and Nelson, the Greenwood location of this Stay Charlottesville property (above) is ideal. A modern farmhouse that sits atop an open hillside, the house sleeps up to eight people in its four crisply styled bedrooms. High ceilings, natural light, and mountain views bring the outdoors in, and a patio and large lawn expand the living space in good weather. Indoor types will enjoy the wet bar and super-comfy TV room. A full kitchen means guests can cook up their own breakfast before heading out to explore—or book one of Stay Charlottesville’s private chefs. staycharlottesville.com
Photo: Courtesy The Omni Charlottesville
Omni Charlottesville
If you want to show off the Downtown Mall scene to out-of-town friends—or if your reception is downtown—your guests couldn’t do better than the Omni, standing at the west end of the mall and offering luxury amenities like free newspapers, same-day dry cleaning, and an indoor swimming pool. Rooms are quietly tasteful, many overlooking the Omni’s signature indoor atrium, filled with greenery and glass. Some suites even include a wet bar. Ten or more rooms constitute a block, for which the Omni will negotiate a 15 to 30 percent discount depending on the season. omnicharlottesville.com
Photo: Courtesy Graduate Hotel
Graduate Charlottesville
The Graduate is a good place for guests who attended UVA or want to fantasize that they did—its big draw is its location within spitting distance of the Rotunda and UVA Chapel, plus its retro college-themed décor. (Think rotary telephones, taxidermied fish, and yard-sale knickknacks.) Given its height, the hotel offers stellar views from some of its rooms, ditto the ninth-story pub called Camp Ten Four. Amenities include free bike rentals and a game room with ping pong—plus, for brides, a special suite for getting dressed on the wedding day. If you reserve at least 10 rooms, the Graduate offers 10 to 25 percent discounts, depending on the season. graduatehotels.com/charlottesville
Canterbury/Farmington
For quick access to Farmington, UVA, and the Ivy area, guests wanting to experience the upscale side of Charlottesville would do well to book this Stay Charlottesville location—especially if they have kids. With four bedrooms and an au pair cottage, the property sleeps up to 10 people and includes a private swimming pool with a poolhouse designed by hip local architecture firm Alloy Workshop. There’s even a treehouse in the yard! High-end kitchen appliances and flawless décor will appeal to the grownups. staycharlottesville.com
Photo: Courtesy Inn at the Crossroads
Inn at the Crossroads
Housed in a brick tavern that’s accommodated overnight guests for its entire 200-year history, the well-preserved Inn at the Crossroads is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, it offers more luxury than early travelers likely enjoyed (600-thread-count sheets and spa showers), even as the ambience harkens back to earlier days with antique furnishings and, in one room, a working fireplace. Room rates include a hearty breakfast with local ingredients. The Inn sits right next door to Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards and an easy drive from Albemarle CiderWorks and Loving Cup Vineyard & Winery—and if you’re using one of those three sites as your wedding venue, the Inn offers an average of a 20 percent discount for parties booking the entire property. crossroadsinn.com
Christie Jones and Mary Klavin got married at Raven’s Roost, with a crowd full of guests in hiking gear. “It was very intimate, and easy to be present without the formal pomp and circumstance,” Klavin says. Photo:
Amanda Maglione
Is the standard wedding format a bit too—well, standard for you? “A lot of who we are is somewhat unconventional,” says Christie Jones of herself and her wife Mary Klavin. As they researched options for their April 2018 wedding, they realized that many venues were not only expensive, but “formulaic, and just not us,” she says. “Early on we said we’re going to make sure the ceremony is true to things that are important to us.”
Since the couple got together about three years ago, they’ve shared a mutual love for the outdoors and especially the Blue Ridge. They got engaged during a 2017 hike in Shenandoah National Park. And when they’re ready to relax, eat in restaurants, and listen to music, Charlottesville is one of their favorite getaway spots (they make their home in Alexandria, where Mary works for Adobe and Christie is a JAG officer in the Air Force).
Photo: Amanda Maglione
Wanting to share their favorite place with their guests, they initially thought of getting married atop Humpback Rocks, but realized some loved ones might not be able to make the climb. The solution: a brief, early-morning ceremony at the Raven’s Roost overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway, followed by an optional Humpback Rocks hike.
“The ceremony was very much centered on us,” says Jones, “but neither one of us are real comfortable in the spotlight.” Officiant Kate Adamson kept the ceremony brief and meaningful, and guests wore their hiking clothes. “I very much was in the moment,” says Klavin. “Our friends and family were standing around us and we were looking at the sunrise coming up over the edge. It was very intimate, and easy to be present without the formal pomp and circumstance.”
It was inexpensive, too; the “venue” cost around $60 for a permit. The couple also rented vans to transport guests from Charlottesville.
Between 45 and 50 guests joined the pair for the hike, which kicked off with Bodo’s bagels and Starbucks coffee at the trailhead. “People would group up and hike with different people and have an opportunity to really talk,” says Jones. “And people were really excited about making it to the top. One person said, ‘I didn’t think I could do that.’”
The trek culminated in a whiskey toast—a nod to a Klavin and Jones’ usual tradition at the highest point of a hike. Later that evening, the crowd gathered again at The Space downtown for dinner and dancing—“the most traditional thing we did all day,” says Klavin, adding that everything about their wedding, including the relatively short planning process, felt right to her and Jones. “Don’t be dissuaded by the wedding-industrial complex,” she says. “We don’t regret a single thing.”
Nothing says “instant keepsake” like a hand-lettered invitation, and plenty of local calligraphers are up to the challenge.
Michelle Streeter of Ma Belle Calligraphy (above) works in a modern style and offers invitation suites along with fun extras, like a handwritten version of your vows, to display at the wedding and, later, in your home. mabellecalligraphy.com
Photo: Sue Corral Ink
If So INKlined’s Jen Maton can letter your invitations in casual or classic style. Taking the DIY route? Maton also offers downloadable fonts and a suite of calligraphic wedding words you can arrange on your self-designed goods. ifsoinklined.com
Heather Belle Ink, headed by Heather Belle Rolfe, has been around for 35-plus years and frequently serves the likes of Monticello and Montpelier. Classically trained, she can also add watercolor ornamentation and gold leaf to invitations or other paper items. heatherbelleink.com
Photo: Amy Cherry
Named after a term meaning “literary-minded woman,” Bluestocking Calligraphy is Abby Farson Pratt, who’s been studying the art of lettering since grade school, and now provides calligraphy in a range of looks. Her work’s been featured on Style Me Pretty. bluestockingpen.com
Photo: Brooke Images
Jodi Macfarlan entered the calligraphy world on the occasion of her own wedding in 2011, and now letters professionally in a contemporary, carefree style. Other offerings: chalk lettering on signboards and even calligraphy for candles. jodimacfarlancalligraphy.com
Supporters of Confederate statues line up to speak at a House of Delegates subcommittee January 30.
Staff photo
Ultimately, no one was surprised that a House of Delegates subcommittee, made up of eight white men, killed a bill that would let Virginia localities decide what to do with Confederate monuments–not even the bill’s sponsor, Delegate David Toscano.
“They knew when we walked in what they would do with that bill,” said Toscano following the January 30 meeting. The subcommittee has five Republican and three Democrats, and one of the Dems joined in the 6-2 vote against the bill.
About a dozen Charlottesville supporters of the bill, including two elected officials, came for the 7:30am meeting of Counties, Cities and Towns Subcommittee #1. Some held signs during the proceeding: “Local authority for war memorials,” “Truthful history heals,” and “Lose the Lost Cause.”
And five opponents of the bill, none of whom were from Charlottesville, spoke against local control of Confederate monuments in public places.
Following the August 12, 2017, Unite the Right rally that brought hundreds of white supremacists to Charlottesville, ostensibly to protest City Council’s vote to remove the statue of General Robert E. Lee in what’s now called Market Street Park, Toscano carried a bill to give localities control over their own war monuments. Current state law makes it illegal for anyone to remove a memorial commemorating any war. That bill died a quick death in subcommittee in 2018, and this year’s version specified Confederate monuments only.
“It’s about local control,” Toscano told the subcommittee. “We give localities control of the cutting of weeds, but we haven’t yet given them control of monuments that might have a detrimental effect on the atmosphere and feelings of this community.”
The 1902 statute protecting war memorials “popped up just at the time of Jim Crow,” said Toscano, at the “height of the so-called Lost Cause celebration of the Confederate contribution to the Civil War.”
Subcommittee chair Charles Poindexter asked about the monuments, “Weren’t they also concurrent with the dying out of Confederate veterans?”
Toscano rejected the notion that Virginia was involved in a “heroic battle” during the Civil War. “This was an effort to destroy the Union.”
Justin Greenlee, who studies art and architectural history at UVA, told the subcommittee Confederate statues are “a monument to white supremacy,” and portray a “false story of history. They continue to intimidate.”
Lisa Draine, whose daughter was injured when self-proclaimed neo-Nazi James Fields accelerated into a crowd, killing Heather Heyer, said, “I couldn’t imagine that the statues brought this to our town.”
And Don Gathers, who served on the city’s Blue Ridge Commission on Race, Memorials and Public Spaces, implored the subcommittee: “Please recognize the hatred these statues brought to descend upon our city.”
Ned Gallaway, Albemarle Board of Supervisors chair, and City Councilor Kathy Galvin both stressed the importance of local control over Confederate monuments.
Richmond native Ed Willis said a bill to allow localities to remove Civil War monuments discriminated against his “Confederate national origin.” staff photo
Among the bill’s opponents was Chesterfield resident Ed Willis, who said the bill was unconstitutional. “It’s painfully clear that discrimination based on national origin—on Confederate national origin—is the purpose of this bill.” He also said the legislature couldn’t do anything that would affect the ongoing lawsuit against the city and City Council for its vote to remove both the Lee and General Stonewall Jackson monuments.
Virginia Beach resident Frank Earnest, who is a plaintiff in the lawsuit and “heritage defense coordinator” for Virginia’s Sons of Confederate Veterans, warned that like “other socialist takeovers, it’ll be Confederate statues today, but don’t think they won’t be back next year to expand it to another war, another time in history.”
He said it was the “improper actions of the city government of Charlottesville” that caused the events of August 12, and that he resented anyone saying Confederates were there. “They were not.” He presented the officials with what he said were 2,000 signatures of Virginians opposed to removing Confederate monuments.
One of the three Democrats on the subcommittee made a motion to move the bill forward, to no avail.
Toscano called the vote “disappointing but not surprising.” He said the “discrimination” objection was “unbelievable,” and joked about whether people would be checking a Confederate national origin box on their census forms.
A bill that would allow localities like Charlottesville to relocate Confederate statues failed in a House of Delegates subcommittee January 30. staff photo
UVA professor Frank Dukes, who also served on the Blue Ribbon Commission, said he was surprised the vote “wasn’t even close. I think it’s so hypocritical from people who constantly talk about local control.”
Nor was Gathers surprised, except for the one Democrat—Portsmouth Delegate Stephen Heretick—joining in with Republicans to vote against the measure.
UVA prof and activist Jalane Schmidt pointed out that it took 10 years to get the “Johnny Reb” statue erected in front of the Albemarle courthouse, and that it could take 10 years to remove Confederate monuments.
“It’s about changing hearts and minds,” she said. “It’s about changing representation.”
The General Assembly is held by a slim Republican majority in both houses, and all legislators are up for reelection this year.
For the moment, however, Confederate supporters had a victory they could savor. As they headed to the elevators, one expressed his thoughts: “Those people in Charlottesville are crazy.”
A selection of Caromont Farm goat cheeses. Photo: Bill Parrish
Finally, a real Jewish deli in town
It’s about time, right? After a soft opening on January 26, Modern Nosh will be fully up and running at 111 Water St. on February 5. Owned by Stephanie Levin, a Norfolk native who graduated from UVA in 1990, the restaurant will serve corned beef and brisket cooked in-house, pastrami imported from New York, and other traditional Jewish fare, such as tongue, latkes, and homemade matzo ball soup. A specially selected marbled rye made in Baltimore will be trucked in every day the restaurant is open (Tuesday-Saturday, from 11am to 8pm).
Levin is pulling a Paul Newman, and donating 100 percent of Modern Nosh’s profits to local charities. “Our tagline is ‘you dine, we donate,’ and it’s combining two important things in my life—giving back to the community and food.”
Kidding around
Equally famous for its artisanal cheeses and baby goat-snuggling events, Caromont Farm will host a summer program bringing 8- to 12-year-olds together with their kid counterparts—you know, goats. The Field-to-Fork Day Camps will provide instruction on local food and sustainability, and include activities such as cheesemaking, vegetable gardening, foraging, and cooking.
“Kids should have an opportunity to see the whole picture,” says Caromont owner Gail Hobbs-Page, who will hold the four-day camps at the farm in Esmont, Virginia, this June. “There are so many teachable moments in farming.”
Hip-hop with your BBQ?
In what may be a first for a Charlottesville restaurant, Ace Biscuit & Barbecue has posted a parental warning. It’s for Wu-Tang Wednesday, a weekly event featuring classic hip-hop and rap. “Due to the nature of the music, there may be language which may offend you or your kids,” the posting says. “Unless, of course, you take parenting advice from Ol’ Dirty Bastard, in which case, WU-TANG IS FOR THE CHILDREN.” (That’s a tongue-in-cheek reference to rapper Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s declaration at the 1998 Grammy Awards.)
“Every Wednesday we play unedited hip-hop music, anything of lyrical value, nothing that’s ‘drug use, drug use, drug use,’” says Ace Biscuit manager Andrew Autry, who’s better known as Wolf. “We’re trying to get back to ground level—we want fun customers in here.”
