Courtney and Geoff have strong roots in Virginia. Both raised and both attended, met and fell in love at the University of Virginia. They wanted to introduce their guests to their state and love story in an intimate garden setting full of romantic and personal details. Designed beautifully by Fleurish Events and photographed by Abby Jiu, you can see more lovely chocolate brown and aqua blue wedding ideas in the full gallery by clicking here.
From The Bride:
I was raised in Virginia, it's the state my husband and his military family lived the longest, and more importantly, it's the place we met and fell in love at the University of Virginia. We chose to exchange open air vows at the Thomas Birkby House in Leesburg, Virginia. The venue’s 18th century origins, brick walkways, and manicured gardens appealed to our sense of history and home. Inspired by the tint of Southern porch ceilings, painted blue to mimic the sky, we chose dusty aqua as a base color and grounded the palette with a rich chocolate brown, providing a sweet contrast to vintage silver and creamy petal accents. Inside the house, our guests were greeted by a display of family wedding photos, a nod to the great love stories we know by heart, and outside, they were treated to the lush green and heady sunshine of Virginia spring. Carrie Moe applied the most beautiful finishing touches arranging our extensive collection of DIY elements and surrounding the ceremony area with luscious peonies, mercury glass, and custom monogram swags and signage.
My handy groom built a frame to display our handmade escort cards and a sign to guide family and friends to their seats, while I baked cookies from a family recipe to serve as favors, and my mother-in-law scoured her collection of vintage items for antique frames and handkerchiefs to add to the decor. In one daring DIY escapade, I made my first ever mosaic after a case of mercury glass votives arrived broken--and non-returnable. Piecing together those shards of glass reminded me of all the people we love who made us who we are, that life has mysterious ways of leading us to find the perfect fit, and that even when wedding planning hands you lemons (and it may) there’s not one that can’t be turned into lemonade if you keep your eyes on the prize: honoring your partner and the love you share.
In homage to our collegiate beginnings and love of literature, blue-toned books joined varied floral centerpieces on chocolate linens in the reception tent, and handmade posy pins with Alfred Lord Tennyson’s quote, “If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever,” rested on each napkin.
Photographer: Abby Jiu Event Designer: Fleurish Events, Carrie Moe Venue: Thomas Birkby House Makeup: Blend, Ryan Krasney Cake: Market Salamander, Jason Reaves Caterer: Savoir Fare DJ: kirkabee DJs, Kirk Rubley Dress Designer: Essense, Bridals by Elena Flowers: Growing Wild Groom's Attire: Tom James Shoe Designer: Stuart Weitzman Stationery: Deleted Space Creative, Jennifer Olmstead
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