Unique Wedding Weekend: Reception First, Ceremony Second!
Kristina and Eric don't play by the traditional rules, they didn't just want a wedding day, they wanted a wedding weekend! On top of that they wanted to mix things up and they decided to have their reception first on Saturday, followed by the Ceremony and brunch on Sunday. With so much love to be shared and so many special moments to be had it only makes sense that they wanted the extra time.
Delve deeper into this wedding in reverse in the full gallery here, breathtakingly photographed by Elisa Bricker.
From the moment Eric proposed (probably before then actually!), we both knew we wanted a unique wedding that was different from every wedding we had seen in blogs, movies, or in person. We also wanted to create a special experience for our closest family and friends so we could truly cherish that special time with those we loved. We were excited about the idea of a wedding weekend because it let us to plan a variety of fun events that represented our style and special parts of our relationship and it gave us plenty of time to celebrate with family and friends, rather than rushing through the experience.
There were so many amazing moments for us during the weekend but the one that stands out the most for me was our first-look before the ceremony. The weekend had been a whirlwind of events and activities and the moment we shared - me in my dress and my groom in his suit - felt like the most perfect, touching moment. At that very second, even though we had a team of photographers and videographers around us, it felt like were completely alone enjoying the love between us. It had always felt like a dream but it felt so real at that moment.
Veritas had special meaning to us since it was the first winery we visited on the weekend Eric proposed last February and the second we saw the Farmhouse, we knew it had to be there. It was a destination wedding for all of our friends and family, who live on various parts of the east coast, but it meant the world to us to have our friends and family celebrate with us in a place that meant so much in our relationship.
Our first date was brunch, so we couldn’t think of anything more perfect than a brunch wedding with yard games. I guess our wedding weekend was a wedding in reverse- a big celebration on Saturday then the ceremony with brunch on Sunday! We also share a love for vintage pieces and antiques, so weaving items into the wedding that we loved made the decor so amazing. There were so many unique touches that had incredible meaning to us, from the French macaroon favors to the table names (named after special places and memories to us) to my 92-year old Grammy who read a poem for us during the ceremony.
Watch all of the tender moments from their wedding ceremony and brunch unfold in the video below, wonderfully filmed by Josh Gooden.
https://vimeo.com/85192717
Following the natural progression of a wedding you would expect the reception to come next that day. However, Kristina and Eric had already done that bit the night before! See their beautiful pre-wedding reception below.
Hosting a wedding weekend gave Eric and I the opportunity to be creative and to work with our wonderful team of vendors to incorporate meaningful touches from our relationship into the weekend’s events. Following a fun, casual rehearsal dinner on Friday evening, we had a pre-wedding celebration on Saturday with cocktails, food trucks, dancing, a photo booth and a tasty (and gorgeous) dessert bar! Eric and I loved the contrast among the elements in the pre-wedding celebration- cocktail attire, gorgeous fall decor, a rustic barn and food trucks!
Some advice for couples planning a wedding weekend: Some of your guests may have to travel for your wedding weekend and spend considerable time or money to celebrate with you. Make the weekend easy for them by including as many details about the weekend as possible in your invitation inserts or on your wedding website, blocking rooms at hotels for your guests, and scheduling transportation to and from hotels and the weekend’s activities.
Make sure that while you’re trying to make your wedding weekend fun and special for your guests, you still remain true to what you both want for your wedding and the meaningful elements that will make it unforgettable to you. A wedding weekend can get a little expensive- know your budget, where you’re willing to be flexible and what your “must-haves” are. Lastly, don’t get so lost in the weekend’s events that you forget to take it all in and enjoy it!
- Bridal Shoes: Jimmy Choo
- Cake: Maliha Creations
- Cinematography: Josh Gooden
- Dessert Display: Eye Candy C'ville
- Event Designer: Barb Wired
- Flowers: A New Leaf Florist
- Jewelry: Kate Spade
- Prop/Furniture Rentals: Stonegate Event Rentals
- Venue: Veralum Farm
- Venue: Veritas Vineyard & Winery