The bride-to-be is a teacher. The groom was in pharmacy school. They wanted to get married at the bride’s grandparent’s home in Northern Virginia. They wanted to do it in April since they’d both be on Spring Break. Oh, and it had to be outside.
This planner admits, I tried to gently push them towards the summer. When it comes to the weather I’m always hopeful for a beautiful day, but also realize that there’s no predicting Mother Nature. Part of my job is to make sure that my couples have a solid Plan B if blue skies turn gray. For Katie and Andy’s wedding that plan included generous tenting, a solid dance floor, and sidewalls at the ready. Because while the April temps in the DMV area can hit the 70’s, they can also plummet to the 30’s.
We set up the day before and that evening it poured rain. But wedding day dawned calm and beautiful, with warmer temps than average.
The tables were set with centerpieces made from logs cut on the property. Not knowing if there would be spring blooms we opted for silk flowers in the wedding colors of purples and spring green. The groom woodburned each of the table numbers, again using wood from the family property.
The bride and her grandparents planted over 1200 tulip bulbs in shades of purple, timed to bloom the week of the wedding. Those flowers decided not to cooperate (although they were gorgeous three weeks later) but a happy surprise was the late forsythia that bloomed all over the property, creating a stunning backdrop from every angle.
After the ceremony guests grabbed a cocktail and wandered this amazing property. Sunscreen was actually applied by a few as the bright sun shone and temperatures climbed into the 70s.
Dinner, toasting and dancing followed. The luscious chocolate wedding cake, frosted to look like a wood log, was devoured by the guests.
No one wanted this love-filled, sun-soaked day to end, but as the sun began to set the bride and groom had their final dance and made their exit, showered with rose petals.
And if a few stragglers wanted to play as we started the cleanup from this sweet wedding, well, what was the harm in that?
P.S. Four days later? Snow showers!
Very, very beautiful!
Thank you! What a difference a few years makes – it’s actually snowing here today!