A Wedding in Charlottesville, Virginia, with a Quintessentially-Fall Color Palette

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bride and groom stand on grassy hillside outdoors — Branco Prata

It took a little work on Sally's part to convince Luke to give up his single glory days and date her; but once he committed to her as a college sophomore, he was smitten. By the time he proposed more than seven years later, that was still the case—in fact, he was beyond nervous to pop the question. Just before he asked for Sally's hand, "he stepped on my foot and I was annoyed because I had no idea why he was being so weird," she says. But then, "he dropped to one knee and the rest is history."

The Washington, D.C. couple decided to host their October 27, 2018, wedding in Charlottesville, Virginia, making the fête a destination wedding of sorts. "Although Charlottesville isn't the Bahamas, it's not super easy to get to and required a lot of logistical planning in advance for the type of accommodations and vendors we wanted to have," Sally says. "Luckily, we have amazing family and friends from all over the country who were happy to make the trip and they loved the area."

The couple also loves Charlottesville: It's the place they'd often travel to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. And they'd discovered Pippin Hill, their venue, on one of those trips. "When we were there, there was a wedding happening that evening, and I commented this is the exact place I envisioned getting married at," she says.

With 184 guests by their sides, the couple wed in a celebration that embraced fall's boldest hues—red and burgundy, with green accents—and its bounty. "Our wedding day was everything we wanted: elegant details with touches of both our personalities, effortless flow, but most importantly, a hell of a good time," Sally says.

Watch Sally and Luke's wedding video by Shaking Hands Productions.

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An Unparalleled Location

Pippin Hill wedding venue — Branco Prata

Pippin Hill boasted both spectacular outdoor spaces—with views of its vineyards—and elegant indoor spaces; the couple used both for their wedding day.

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Seasonal Invitations

burgundy and gray wedding invitations — Branco Prata

"Our stationary was gorgeous, and it totally set the tone," Sally says of the invitation suite created by Steph B. and Co. Using Pippin Hill and the season as inspiration, the suite featured burgundy envelopes and liners, and was tied with a velvet ribbon.

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Lucky Number Four

long sleeve lace train Ines Di Santo wedding dress — Branco Prata

Sally's Ines Di Santo wedding dress was the fourth she tried on, and she fell for its long, lace sleeves. She paired the garment with a wedge pump and a veil by the same designer.

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A Vintage Bauble

vintage blue stone ring with diamonds — Branco Prata

The bride also donned a statement sapphire ring—the central blue stone was surrounded by diamonds—that was a family heirloom.

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A Groom in Burgundy

burgundy dinner jacket wedding tuxedo — Branco Prata

Luke wore an Enzo tuxedo with a color palette-appropriate burgundy dinner jacket.

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Silly First Look

bride outside during first look — Branco Prata

The couple shared a first look. "We are both really silly," Sally says, " so we took that moment to just be ourselves and let the nerves escape us!"

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Autumnal Bouquet

burgundy and blush floral and greenery wedding bouquet — Branco Prata

Sally's bouquet was designed by Wild Green Yonder, made with seasonal garden blooms—in varying shades of rich burgundy and warm blush—and greenery.

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Wedding Party

Bridesmaids wore red dresses by Katie May, while groomsmen donned suits from Friar Tux.

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A Ceremony Under the Tent

wedding ceremony venue at grounds of Pippin Hill — Branco Prata

The couple held their ceremony on the grounds of Pippin Hill, beneath a sailcloth tent to protect themselves and guests from potential showers. "The ceremony was so perfect and in the most beautiful setting," recalls Sally. "I remember looking around and feeling like the luckiest girl in the world right before we said our vows."

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Walking Down the Aisle

bride walking toward wedding ceremony aisle with her dad — Branco Prata

Sally's father walked her down the aisle as "Canon D in Major" played.

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Religious Vows

bride and groom sharing wedding vows — Branco Prata

Reverend Canon Richard A. Lord officiated the duo's religious ceremony.

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Cocktail Hour

red cocktails on serving platter — Branco Prata

In addition to serving drinks during cocktail hour, Sally and Luke also offered freshly shucked oysters. There was one other highlight of the interlude. "We got to see the sunset during cocktail hour—it was perfectly timed," Sally says.

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Escort Cards

bride and groom drawings escort card display board — Branco Prata

Planner Evoke Design & Creative designed the couple's escort card display, a board on which drawings of Sally and Luke were pinned. The drawings depicted the couple in three ways—as Patriot fans, at their first meeting, and on their wedding day—and were emblazoned with guests' table numbers. "They were the best," Sally says.

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A Glowing Reception

lanterns and garland reception decor — Branco Prata

Inside the reception space, lanterns and garlands hung from the ceiling. Tables were alternately topped with burgundy linens or left bare, and lined with gray café-style chairs. Dozens and dozens of candles made the space glow.

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