Category: Weddings

If you’re having a wedding in Charlottesville, you already know all of the wonderful things about the area—the wineries and restaurants, the music venues, the art galleries. But you should assume your guests—many of them from out of town—don’t have a clue what the town has to offer. Consider this an official guide to helping your guests feel right at home. (Feel free to stick it in your welcome basket!)

Friday

If your guests arrive this afternoon for the rehearsal dinner, direct them to…

• The Downtown Mall, where they can visit Ting Pavilion for Fridays After Five.
• Peruse a few of the city’s best bookstores (Daedalus Bookshop, for its labyrinthine selection, or New Dominion, Virginia’s oldest independent bookseller).
• A quick drink (social lubricant for all that inevitable small talk!) at Tilman’s or Zocalo.
• An after-dinner nightcap at local favorite C&O, or Miller’s—if that’s your end-of-night vibe.

Saturday

Likely this is the day of the wedding. Instruct your guests to… 

• Visit IX Art Park farmers’ market, where they can snack on a pastry from Baker No Bakery while deciding where to go for breakfast. 
• Get breakfast. Recommended: Belle for breakfast sammies, Farm Bell Kitchen for banana beignets, or Oakhurst Inn for smoked chicken hash.
• Try a winery, brewery, or distillery. We couldn’t possibly recommend just one—pick whatever suits your mood (urban? Mountain views? Dave Matthews’ seal of approval?). 

Nap, then suit up!

Sunday

Your visitors will need a come-down after all the fun they had last night. Try…

• Grabbing a quick Bodo’s breakfast. 
• Taking in an exhibit at one of Charlottes­ville’s many galleries: McGuffey Art Center, The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia, Les Yeux du Monde… Pick your pleasure.
• Picking a lunch spot on UVA’s historic Corner (The Virginian is a classic choice) before…
• Buying a bottle of wine at Market Street Wine—owner Erin Scala will recommend the perfect souvenir to stash in your checked luggage until the return home.

If you think the devil is in the details, you’re not alone: Local events rental firm Eventide strongly agrees. For your special day, these folks want the décor, from bowers to umbrellas, to fit your vision. Whether it’s tables and chairs, linen, cutlery and glassware, service trays, or tents, the firm provides a range of choices on … well, everything.

Who knew there were nine kinds of ice troughs, more than three dozen varieties of platters (wood, ceramic, melamine, and metal), and 21 options for baskets? But Eventide’s objective isn’t to overwhelm you with choices—it’s to provide a wonderfully specific, curated setting for your occasion. The firm’s specialty is its customized wood pieces: bars, bowers, canopies, serving pieces and platters, and decorative items. 

When it comes to custom bars, Eventide offers three customizable options. The Belmont features a semi-circular or circular bar, which can be adapted to your wedding’s look/color scheme with variations in color, panels, and countertop—and then accessorized with shelving, food displays, and umbrellas. The more casual Carleton is a two-server bar with more than 20 variations of front panels and countertops to fit your setting, as well as built-ins to provide everything the bartenders need. The rustic Avon features a striking restored wooden canoe with optional display stands, serving as the centerpiece for buffets of charcuterie, breakfast, or desserts.

Eventide was launched about two years ago, as a sister company of The Catering Outfit, a local boutique culinary design firm started in 1999 by executive chef Walter Slawski. While the rental firm started out handling wedding events, it’s starting to build a clientele in corporate events and private parties as well. Eventide just recently moved into a larger warehouse space, and now has a dozen employees.

Charlottesville native Sheri Scaminaci, Eventide’s rental director and warehouse manager, has “been here since the beginning,” she says. With a background that includes restaurants, catering, and carpentry, she would seem to have been custom designed for her job, which includes everything from consulting with planners, designers, and couples to going out on deliveries. And, her father runs the firm’s woodshop, designing and constructing many of its custom products.

Eventide’s current client mix is about 50 percent planners (they have worked with Hannah Rose Design, Day by Fay, Magnum Opus Events, and several others around town) and 50 percent individuals and their designers. “We’re always open to your ideas,” says Scaminaci. 

While Eventide doesn’t do total wedding planning, its services are designed to mesh seamlessly with the logistics of your party. Luckily, Scaminaci’s background also includes volunteer firefighting—so she can handle just about anything. “Each event can get to be a lot of work,” she says, “but I love it.”

More and more, couples are viewing their wedding not only as an opportunity to declare their love for one another in front of everyone who feels important to them, but also—let’s face it—as an opportunity for the best party they’ll ever throw. To that end, here are three local vendors who can add that extra something to make your big day truly stand out. 

Picture this

Photo booths are fine for some, but Parlor the Studio can do you one better. The creative duo of photographer Anna Kariel and stylist/retailer/designer Annie Drury work with clients to create a bespoke photo “set” curated and fabricated to the style and ethos of the event. Think paper moon in a Prohibition-era speakeasy, or a sailboat braving dramatic seas. “During the ideation phase of the design process, clients are invited to present ideas and provide feedback,” says Kariel. “We gush over a fun theme, and we are equally excited to pitch our own ideas when requested.”

Just your type

You may have spotted Charlottesville Poem Store’s Laura Frantz parking her tent (and her vintage typewriter) at the Farmers Market at Ix, The Doyle Hotel (total Algonquin Round Table vibes), and special events around town like the Crozet Arts & Crafts Festival and Common House’s Writers’ Happy Hour. But she’s also for hire. Have her set up at your wedding and craft an on-the-spot poem for each of your guests based on a set of agreed-upon prompts. Now that’s poetry in motion.

Beautiful discovery

On such a perfect day, it’s easy to see that your future looks bright. But your guests may want a peek at what’s to come for them, too. Enter tarot. “A different language that speaks through images,” as Sealed in the Stars’ Jess Bronson writes on her website, tarot is a tool for self-discovery. Let Bronson lay all her cards (she carries multiple decks and matches them to each recipient’s vibe) on the table.

Choosing a life partner is a really big decision. Having a wedding, on the other hand, is a hundred smaller ones. And for many couples, the primary decision is ‘where?’ Which brings up the question of a destination wedding—how do you decide?

“The first question is, why are you thinking of a particular destination?” says planner Mary Andrews, principal of Mary Elizabeth Events (just back from her own wedding in Tuscany). “Does that place mean something special to the two of you? Or are you seeking an experience you’ll share with you guests? Or do you want a getaway?”

Part of that decision is considering who you want to share in your special day. “A destination wedding may mean lots of people you have invited won’t be able to attend,” Andrews points out. You should consider your guests’ ability to travel (for example, elderly family members or pregnant friends), as well as their financial situation.

One way to include a wider group in your big day, says Andrews, is to hold wedding-related events (such as the bridal shower, or a pre- or post-wedding reception) locally. Or you could borrow a pandemic tactic: livestreaming or video-recording the ceremony and/or part of the reception, like the speeches and the father-daughter dance.

If you’ve decided on a destination wedding, prepare for more decisions. Do you want an all-inclusive resort that provides transportation to and from the airport, accommodations for your guests, a space for the ceremony, and facilities for the rehearsal dinner, post-wedding reception/dinner, and the next-day breakfast or brunch? That kind of convenience is attractive, but usually more costly for both you and your guests. 

A more casual, less-structured approach may enable your guests to save money (on hotel rooms, for instance). But the destination you have chosen is key—an all-inclusive resort may be more sensible if you are gathering in the Costa Rican rainforest, while if you’re getting married inside the Eiffel Tower, guests can likely find their own accommodations. Another way to hold costs down is to plan for the off-season, or hold your events midweek.

As with any wedding, “the guest count is one big factor in your costs,” Andrews says. Since guests are paying for airfare and accommodations, they expect you to provide the event meals. Here, your style could help you keep to your budget—having a reception rather than a sit-down dinner, or providing buffet breakfast and a trip to a local winery instead of a formal brunch. And don’t forget to factor in the local economy, everything from hotel rooms to meals, entertainment, and food taxes (for example, VAT in Italy is 22 percent). 

Then there are the practical details to consider. If a health emergency arises, are there medical facilities nearby? Do you want a friend to officiate at your wedding? If so, check out the local regulations first thing; in many places, Andrews points out, if you aren’t getting married in a church, you have to marry in a registry office first. And be realistic—is it safe for your guests to travel there?

Now you’re really down to nuts and bolts: Will your guests need a visa or vaccinations? Do they all have current passports or REAL ID cards? What about dietary restrictions (not all destinations have kosher or halal caterers)? How will the bridal party get their dresses there? (As for gifts, Andrews suggest that for a destination wedding, your invitation should make clear gifts are optional, or should be sent to the couple’s address rather than brought to the wedding.)

By this point, it’s clear that one thing you will need is a wedding or event planner who has experience in your destination. This can be someone local (logistically easier, and more likely to understand expectations) or someone who is actually on site at the destination, although that person may be harder to reach given time zones. Another option, Andrews points out; The venue you choose may have relationships with local event consultants. 

“People have big dreams [about their wedding day,]” she says. “The challenge is managing those dreams versus reality.” But it can be done. “You need a good understanding of what you want and what’s needed—and a good Plan B,” says Andrews.

Abby Conley & Kalan Patel

October 6, 2023, at Keswick Vineyards

Photography by Meredith Coe Photography

Abby’s passion for interior design gave her an advantage when it came time for her and her then-fiancé to plan their Keswick Vineyards wedding: She simply drew on her own aesthetic. 

“I aimed for an elegant, timeless wedding with organic textures and colors,” she says. That meant a palette of white, brown, and green, manifesting everywhere from vintage Turkish vessels at the altar to an ethereal hanging installation in the reception tent to the wedding party’s attire.

Keswick Vineyards provided a timeless setting for the festivities, echoing the romantic setting of Kalan’s proposal in Aix en Provence, France, and offering the backdrop for all of the couple’s favorite moments: having a first look and exchanging vows privately, sipping mezcal margaritas with guests during cocktail hour, taking tequila shots at the behest of the couple’s parents.

And since the wedding? The couple is enjoying their new life together. 

“Kalan and I have always made a great team, but getting married has strengthened our partnership in surprising ways,” Abby says. “Despite my inherent independence, I’ve come to appreciate the profound value of relying on one’s partner and confronting life’s trials together.” 

Good eats

C&O created a menu that combined vegetarian items like mushroom ravioli with chicken, beef tenderloin, and halibut entrées. 

All in one

Not only did Keswick remind them of where they got engaged in France, the couple liked how all of the events—ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception—could be in the same location, making it easier for guests.

Signs point to yes

The bride worked with an Australian designer to create signature cocktail signage—drink illustrations with a limewash background—that tied closely in design to the food menus. 

Wild times

The couple, who met through a mutual connection while Abby was on a trip to Los Angeles, spent their honeymoon on safari, visiting South Africa and Seychelles.

 The fine details

Event planner Kelsey Mayo Ros (Donovan Groves Events) Officiant Dr. Joel Jenkins Catering C&O Flowers Steelcut Flower Co. Cake Cakes by Rachel Music Valente Haynes from AstroDJ Bride’s attire Huntleigh Dress from Jane Hill Bridal shoes Khaite Groom’s attire Black Tux Groomsmen’s attire Black Tux Bridesmaids’ dresses Various Rings Blue Nile (engagement ring and groom’s band), Ring Concierge (bride’s wedding band) Hair and makeup Avenue42 iPhone pictures/videos Follow the Bride Custom bar Happily Ever After Rentals Custom outfit-change skirt CassB By Designm Outfit-change top Loho Bride (Alex Perry) Alterations Mara Toonyan Cocktail signage Paige Tuzee

Mackenzie Blair FitzGerald & Colin Jones

June 24, 2023, at Boar’s Head Inn

Photography by Jen Fariello

With a “summer celebration” theme in mind, colorful flowers were the key, says Blair. Washington, D.C.-based floral company Darling & Daughters took on the task, arranging bountiful bouquets that mixed flowers of yellow, pink, purple, and blue. Not to mention creating two overlapping arches arranged with bright blooms and romantic greenery. 

“The flowers were the showstopper,” Blair says. “Colorful, vibrant, plentiful.” And, for the bride in particular, they were an ode to her grandmother Gogo, who loved crafting arrangements for her home.

The couple agrees, though, that the best part of the day was catching each other’s eyes while Blair walked down the aisle. That, and what came after. 

“Right after I married Blair,” Colin says of his favorite moment. “I was so happy I finally got to call her my wife.” 

Dinner bell

The Boar’s Head offered up a menu of Southern fare—ham and pimento cheese biscuits, Chesapeake crab cakes, local greens, molasses salmon, succotash, and Southern smashed potatoes. 

The answer

The couple met at a bar in High Point, North Carolina, while they were in college. It was trivia night and they ended up on the same team. They dated for five years before getting married.

Mais oui!

For their honeymoon, Blair and Colin traveled first to Paris, then to Budapest for a cruise up the Danube River.

The fine details

Event planner Pamela Barefoot Events Ceremony and reception venue Boars Head Inn Officiant Rev. Robert J. Robertson III Catering Boars Head Inn Flowers Darling and Daughters Cake Cakes by Rachel Music Melodious Strings (ceremony), East Coast Entertainment (reception) Bride’s attire Monique Lhuillier from Carine’s Bridal Shoes Loeffler Randall Groom’s attire Jos. A. Bank Groomsmen’s attire Jos. A. Bank Bridesmaids’ dresses Bella Brides Rings Jamie Grasso JG Jewelry Hair Top Knot Studio Makeup Rouge 9 Videographer Yeattes Productions Paper goods Paper Refinery Rentals Something Vintage, BBJ La Tavola, Gibson Rental, Lola Valentina, Emerson James, Maison de Carine, Stradley Davidson Linen Collective, The Lighting and Sound Company, Nüage Designs

Patricia Dunbar & Isi Azeke

July 30, 2023, at The Bradbury

Photography by Carrie Coleman Photography

With an elegant backdrop like The Bradbury, Patricia didn’t feel the need to include too many embellishments in her and Isi’s summer wedding. She left the flowers up to Tourterelle, only giving a direction for neutral colors; the bridesmaids wore pale pink one-shoulder gowns; and Patricia chose warm tones for décor, with gray tablecloths and shimmering candles. “I felt this was timeless and easy to match,” she says. 

The unfettered scheme set the scene for a beautiful brunch wedding, where each guest—from Isi’s Nigerian side and Patricia’s Jamaican—could enjoy “good food, company, and music,” says Patricia. Plus, she notes, everyone seemed to enjoy the money spray—a Nigerian wedding tradition during which guests shower the couple with more and more cash the longer they dance. It symbolizes showering the couple with blessings. It must have worked. 

“[I love] learning new things about each other and growing together,” the bride says. “Having someone to share all the large and small joys from day to day and all the accomplishment and disappointments along the way.”

Love in lockdown

The couple met online in April 2020 during the height of COVID. Their first date was that May, and they dated long-distance for two and a half years before getting engaged in Paris in November 2022. 

Let’s go

Patricia and Isi are planning a trip to Croatia in May 2024 for their honeymoon.

The fine details

Event planner Sarah Fay Waller (Day By Fay) Officiant Quentin Washington Catering Harvest Moon Catering Flowers Tourterelle Floral Design Cake Cake Bloom Music Wemi-Mo Bride’s attire Ava Laurenne (Fredericksburg) Shoes Badgley Mischka Groom’s attire Custom by Commonwealth Proper Groomsmen’s attire Suit Supply Bridesmaids’ dresses FancyVestido Rings Jared (groom), Mark Pallanche (bride) Makeup Rouge 9 Videographer CY Wedding Films

Kelly Moses & Emily Lentz

June 17, 2023, at The Clifton

Photography by Nicole Clarey Photography

Once Kelly and Emily fell in love with The Clifton for their early summer wedding, it felt like a no-brainer to make it black tie. “Black tie attire just says ‘wedding’ to us,” Emily says. “And what other time are you able to throw a black tie affair?” 

They leaned into the venue’s color palette, requesting elegant white and green florals from the bouquets to the magnolia leaf place settings to the hanging installation above the head table.

In all, it was a truly elegant affair—with some seriously fun moments. 

“The reception was such a fun time,” says Emily. “We are the couple that is always on the dance floor and that’s where we were most of the night. At one point…Kelly’s cousin’s husband and I were voguing on the dance floor. Everyone kept asking if we choreographed the dance.” 

For all of their planning, Emily credits their guests with its success. 

“Our wedding was full of love, dancing, great music,” she says. “All of our incredible friends and family really made the wedding as special as it was.”

Good times

The couple’s “goodest boy,” their dog Banks, got in on the big-day action, following Kelly out to the location of their first look. “Having all of us there was very special,” Emily says. “He had lots of cute moments with us throughout the day.” 

Special moments

As they were getting ready to walk down the aisle, Emily’s father (who has since passed) confessed: “I’m getting nervous now!” “You can’t be nervous, I’m nervous!” Emily replied. 

What’s the buzz? 

“Kelly will say that she saw me from across a bar and sent me a drink but that’s not true!” Emily says. The couple, who dated for three years before getting married, met on Bumble. Kelly sent the first message, “but I made the first move and asked Kelly to go out for drinks.” 

Trip of a lifetime 

The couple combined both of their vacay personalities (adventurous and relaxed) to create the perfect getaway. They started on the beach in Bali, Indonesia, traveled to Sydney, Australia, and the Gold Coast, wine-tasted in the north and south of New Zealand, then finished in a bungalow in Bora Bora. 

The fine details

Event planner Kerri Johnson (Elle Loren & Co.) Officiant Emily’s best friend Catering The Clifton Flowers Tori Hardy  Cake Maliha Creations Music The Masters of the Ceremony (DJ Adolphus Louis Maples) Brides’ attire BHLDN (Kelly), Noemi gown from Sarah Seven (Emily) Bridesmaids’ dresses Birdie Grey Rings Blue Nile (wedding bands), L. Priori Jewelry (Kelly’s engagement ring), Yadav Jewelry (Emily’s engagement ring) Hair and makeup Emily Tucker of Emily Artistry Videographer Altamira Film Co.

Ashton Mann &  Jack Neary

August 5, 2023, at Veritas Vineyards

Photography by Danielle J. Norton Photography

Inspired by their vineyard venue, Ashton and Jack decided to create a colorful garden party-themed wedding—with an abundance of florals.

“We wanted to incorporate color and florals wherever we could to create a welcoming and fun environment. We had such a hard time narrowing down what color florals we wanted to go with,” says the bride. “So we just decided to go with them all!” Steelcut Flower Co. put together bountiful bouquets in pinks, oranges, purples, and blues, and created a flower cross at the end of the aisle, which ended up being one of the couple’s favorite details from the day. 

Among their favorite moments? When Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” started playing while they were on the dance floor. “Everyone was singing it at the top of their lungs,” Ashton says. As for Jack, listening to his great-uncle Tom, their wedding officiant, deliver a homily about marriage. 

“He talked about how sweet marriage is and what a gift it can be to share life with someone,” he says. “Getting to stand by Ashton and hear that beautiful message reminded me how special it was to get to marry my best friend and get to spend the rest of my life with her.”

Belly up

The couple created the Jack & Ashton Bar, an outdoor spot for guests to relax and enjoy a cigar (Ashton was named after a cigar brand) and a sip of Jack Daniels. 

Southern eats

Veritas’ Southern-inspired menu appealed to the couple. They had the most fun picking out appetizers for cocktail hour—Virginia ham biscuits with apple butter, buttermilk fried chicken with spicy ranch, fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese and green onions.

Crossing paths

Both University of Virginia alums,
Ashton and Jack were in the same friend group, lived next door to each other,
and were involved in the same college ministry group before they started dating in February 2020.

Bring the fun

Now that they’re married, the couple says they’re enjoying everyday life. “Even mundane tasks and errands can be joyful and filled with laughter,” says Ashton.

The fine details

Event planner Emily King (Just a Little Ditty) Officiant The groom’s great-uncle Catering Veritas Vineyards Flowers Steelcut Flower Co. Cake Cake Bloom Music Morwenna & Jay (ceremony); DJ Derek Tobler (reception) Bride’s attire Suzanne Neville from Zoya’s Atelier Shoes ALOHAS Groom’s attire Ralph Lauren Groomsmen’s attire Vera Wang Bridesmaids’ dresses Birdy Grey Rings Brilliant Earth Hair and makeup Avenue 42 Videographer Travel House Films Rentals Emerson James, BBJ La Tavola, Argent Events Ice cream truck Rookie’s Paper suite Rock Paper Scissors Calligrapher Calligraphy by Carole Transportation Albemarle Limousine

We already know that when it comes to attire, décor, and florals, personalization is the name if you want to make your big day your own. But your dinner menu and dessert offer myriad opportunities to customize, too, says two local vendors. Below, The Catering Outfit’s Courtney Hildebrand and Commonwealth Cake Company’s Tiffany Rosales share some insight into what couples are asking for this season.—CH

Dinner

Customization

“Menus tailored to the couple’s preferences, dietary restrictions, or cultural backgrounds are very much in demand,” Hildebrand says. “Interactive food stations or DIY food bars where guests can customize their dishes according to their tastes have been trending for a lot of our menus this year.” 

Interactive experiences

Speaking of which… Couples looking to keep guests engaged or entertained are opting for live food experiences. “We are doing a lot of weddings that have cooking stations, chef demonstrations, or tasting menus where the guests can interact with the chefs and learn about the dishes being served.”

Sustainability

With growing environmental awareness, eco-friendly catering options are top of mind, including locally sourced ingredients, zero-waste practices, compostable or reusable tableware, and plant-based menu options, Hildebrand says.

Fusion cuisine

“Mixing and matching cuisines creates a unique dining experience that reflects the couple’s backgrounds and interests,” she says. This year alone, The Catering Outfit has served a Vietnamese and French-inspired family-style menu, a Southern and Asian fusion buffet, as well as a stationed-style menu with Virginia- and India-themed items. 

Non-traditional serving styles

Buffet, plated and family-style dining have always been very popular for weddings,
Hildebrand says, but more and more couples are exploring other options: progressive grazing stations opening at different points throughout the evening or tapas-style food bars with different types of small plates for guests to grab and enjoy during an open dining period.

Inclusivity

“A lot of our couples want to ensure that all their guests, including those who don’t drink alcohol, feel included in the celebration,” Hildebrand says. “As a result, many of our couples are incorporating zero-proof cocktails into their wedding menus, either as standalone options or as part of a broader beverage selection.”

Cake

Color

Just as we’ve started seeing more color incorporated in local weddings’ overall color schemes, so too are we seeing more color on cakes. “I’m getting lots of requests for colorful cakes,” Rosales says. “Soft, muted tones that complement their florals and reception décor, and vintage piped buttercream cakes.”

Texture

Stencils, delicate hand-cut fondant details, hand-piped buttercream petals and foliage, and ethereal wafer paper or sugar paste florals are topping Tiffany Rosales’ current list of couples’ requests. Rosales says that Charlottesville is sometimes “a little behind in the trends,” but she tries to use couples’ inspiration as a starting point and then encourage more updated options. “People don’t know what they don’t know,” she says.

Flavor

When it comes to taste, Rosales says her most requested flavor is a light, refreshing citrus cake with a lemon-flecked vanilla buttercream paired with a fruit component (“usually a tart raspberry jam and our orange honey Swiss buttercream”).