A Classic Farm Wedding in Charlottesville, Virginia

November 04, 2013
Amanda Marsalis

Their romance may have blossomed when they were neighbors in a small Charlottesville apartment building, but when it came time to throw their big bash, this couple headed for the wide-open beauty of her family’s bucolic Virginia spread.

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Kennedy and Gregory

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Kennedy and Gregory were involved with other people when they first met through friends in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2007. Greg soon moved into the apartment above Kennedy’s and during the next two years, both of their relationships ended, and their friendship deepened over kickball, game nights, and the spicy mexican-chocolate cookies that Kennedy made and tied to his door. When a mutual friend died in 2009, Greg drove Kennedy to the funeral. “Even through my tears, I was suddenly quite aware that Greg was much more than a dear friend,” said Kennedy. On June 2, 2012, the pair wed at North Wales Farm, Kennedy's family’s 1,466-acre Warrenton estate in the heart of Virginia horse country. A family friend officiated before a huge window in the airy century-old hay barn.

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Old North Wales

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Tying the knot anyplace but at North Wales Farm was unthinkable. It’s where Kennedy trained as a junior hunter-jumper champion, and it’s where Greg popped a bottle of bubbly and proposed atop the old steeplechase tower overlooking the Blue Ridge mountains. Now a Virginia landmark, the 18th-century farm and manor house are steeped in Revolutionary and Civil War history.

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Historical Invites

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The Rock Paper Scissors stationery included an architect’s Jeffersonian-style drawing of the manor house and was based on the story of North Wales Farm, which played a role in the Revolutionary War.

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The Bouquet

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Clematis, lavender, passion flowers, peonies, garden roses, umbrella ferns, and dusty miller made up Kennedy's bouquet.

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Bridesmaids in Teal

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Kennedy's bridesmaids chose their own styles of Joanna August silk-chiffon evening gowns. The bride’s sister and best friend each wore crystal sashes so they would stand out as maids of honor.

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Formal Fashions

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The bride wore a strapless Vera Wang dress with a trumpet silhouette and tiered fans of cascading Spanish lace. Her groom chose a bespoke Alton Lane tuxedo.

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Father and Daughter

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A vintage car transported the bride and her father to the ceremony.

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Home Grown

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Guests received little burlap bags filled with the farm’s own dried organic lavender, which was tossed in lieu of rice.

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Altar Space

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Climbing roses, open cut roses, clematis, jasmine, and tulip poplar transformed the barn for the ceremony. Hanging lanterns filled with water and floating candles were suspended from wagon wheels attached to the beams.

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Antique Getaway

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The smooching couple departed the ceremony for a private photo session. “A neighbor kindly lent us a carriage horse,” said Kennedy. The antique buggy belonged to her father.

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Double-Duty Escort Cards

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Matchboxes with table numbers tucked inside served as unexpected escort cards. Partygoers used them to light the candles inside the tent when the sun began to sink behind the mountains. “It was 100 percent illuminated by candlelight!” says Kennedy.

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Unique Tablescapes

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Each of the 30 tables held a one-of-a-kind arrangement of flowers, fruits, and objects such as porcelain parrots, nests, glass orbs, and antlers.

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Dinner is Served

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The 260 guests dined on organic, locally sourced dishes, such as chicken and spring lamb chops. The menus, letterpressed onto the same handmade, deckle-edge paper as the invitations, were finished with a wax seal.

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Buttercream Confection

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Five tiers of lemon-butter cake with fresh meyer lemon curd and lavender mousseline buttercream were covered in ivory fondant and topped with edible flowers.

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The Groom's Cake

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Designed to look as if a breeze had blown ferns and flowers onto a woodland scene, the Guinness Stout dark chocolate groom’s cake featured sugared edible flowers identical to those on the more delicate white wedding cake.

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Special Delivery

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After dinner, small scrolled notes tied with leather summoned guests outside for “a pleasant surprise”—the fireworks display!

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Fresh Favors

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Blue Ridge Kettle Korn from Charlottesville and sachets of field-fresh lavender were among the treats given to guests in simple kraft boxes tied with grosgrain ribbons.

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Sources

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Event Design and Production: Easton Events

Catering: Design Cuisine

Rentals: DC Rental

Floral Design and Rentals: Beehive Events

Photography: Patricia Lyons Photography

Stationery: Rock Paper Scissors (VA)

Calligraphy: Tara Jones

Cake: Paradox Pastry

Music: Piedmont Chamber Players (ceremony); Pop Rocks (reception)

Tent and Lighting: Skyline Tent Co.

Hair: Moxie Hair and Body Lounge

Makeup: Lora Kelley

Transportation: Albemarle Limousine

Welcome-Bag Items: Feast snacks; Jam According to Daniel jam; The Welsh Garden at North Wales Farm lavender products

Videography: Shaking Hand Productions

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There's More!

Whether you decide to go big or small, seaside or mountainside, bohemian or black tie, find more wedding inspiration in our fall Real Weddings issue by downloading our app and buying the digital issue for only $.99.

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