This Picturesque Garden Wedding—Held at a Manor House in Virginia—Was Full of Nods to Scotland

Sara and Charles can't remember the exact moment they met, but they know when they first connected; the bride says it is likely that they first crossed paths when she started at a Virginia-based investment bank in 2015, where Charles was already working. But they didn't truly hit it off, she says, until the company's holiday party in 2016. A few weeks later, Sara asked Charles out via email. Naturally, he said yes.

Three years after it all began, the groom popped the question during a romantic trip to Scotland. Neither Sara nor Charles wanted a long engagement or a large wedding; they originally planned a small California destination celebration for June 2020. Come May, they decided to postpone the California wedding to September—and come July, they realized they would have to keep it local if they wanted to tie the knot at all in the midst of the pandemic.

They made it work: Sara and Charles were finally wed on October 3, 2020, at The Virginia House, a stately manor—brought over from England, stone by stone, in the early 20th century—overlooking the James River in Richmond, Virginia. The property's eight acres of gardens provided the perfect pastoral backdrop for the 14-person affair. With a blush, rose, and cream color palette, the event perfectly complemented the lush, natural locale.

As for Sara's best advice for engaged couples currently navigating the pandemic? "As hard as it may seem, at first, to just go with the flow, try to do so. You may be surprised to find out that the switch in plans may be better than your original idea," she notes. "I can't imagine not having my wedding in Richmond at the Virginia House now that it's all said and done. And hire someone really talented and trust them—they do this for a living!"

Sara worked with Chloe from English Tea Paperie to craft the duo's big-day stationery. The deckle-edged invites, which featured charcoal blue calligraphy by Sophia Loves Letters, were printed on hand-made paper infused with dried pink flower petals as a nod to the color palette. The envelopes were enclosed with a monogrammed blush wax seal, also by Sophia Loves Letters.

"Had I not had my mind set on a destination wedding prior to COVID-19, I might have originally planned my celebration at The Virginia House from the start," explains the bride. "It is that dreamy of a venue. I loved the architecture of the manor and the beautiful gardens on the property. The house looks like a fairy-tale castle, like those we saw in Scotland."

Sara and her mother went wedding-dress shopping as a team. After visiting two other ateliers, their trip to Gilded Bridal proved fruitful; the shop's team, notes the bride, made her and her mom feel welcomed and comfortable, greeting them with Champagne and hosting them in a beautifully decorated private room. They had a good feeling from the start—and then Sara stepped into a form-fitting, backless lace gown by Anais Anette, which featured a sweetheart neckline and court train. While she never envisioned herself in a garment like the one she ultimately selected, when she first tried it on, she "immediately knew it was made for her."

To customize her stunning dress, a rose-hued ribbon was sewn into the lace, cinching it at the waist. A gold floral embellishment belt by Emma Katzka, accentuated by pearl and diamond detailing, completed the look. Sara wore her late grandmother's ring on her right hand; the bride was very close to her and wanted to feel her presence on the big day. The finishing touch? As an homage to her three-month stay in Paris, Sara wore blush pink suede heels by French fashion company, Sézane.

Her loosely gathered bouquet by Olivera Floral Design featured pink spray roses, cream garden roses, and burgundy dahlias. Pale yellow blooms, pink ranunculus, and ruscus completed the look.

After the ceremony, Sara added a delicate lace cape, also by Anais Anette, to her bridal ensemble. While this was solely a post-ceremony addition, the bride says she loved the accessory so much, she "almost wishes she had worn the cape the entire time!"

Aligning with the garden party theme, the groom opted out of the traditional black color palette; the custom blue Alton Lane suit was embroidered with the duo's original wedding date. "When we changed dates, we didn't bother changing the jacket—we laugh about it now!" says the bride. Charles' boutonnière was composed of abelia, lisianthus, and majolica roses, all in off-white and cream tones. For his Fink's Jewelers wedding band, Sara surprised Charles by inscribing "I love you Bubbies," their nickname for one another, on the inside.

Neither Sara nor Charles thought they would be nervous to see each other for their first look, which took place in a secluded portion of the manor's gardens. However, when the bride began walking walking towards her groom, "my heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest!" says Sara. Charles knew she would look stunning, but describes seeing her for the first time as "truly breathtaking." "Words and pictures can't do justice to how beautiful she looked," he says.

The historic English Tudor manor house, reminiscent of the Scotland castle where Charles proposed, overlooked the James River; its picturesque and perfectly-manicured gardens provided the ideal backdrop for their ceremony.

The service's décor complemented the natural beauty of the gardens. Grounded floral arrangements were composed of soft pink, pale yellow, ivory, and burgundy blooms; cream-hued votive candles of varying heights encased in hurricanes lined the pathway leading to the ceremony spot.

Sara was escorted down the aisle by her little brother, Evan. They have always been close, and Sara was overjoyed when he and Charles hit it off after their first meeting—and even happier that he played such a significant role in their big day. A string trio, featuring Alana Carithers of the Richmond Symphony, played a song from Outlander, one of the bride's favorite TV shows, during her processional.

After Sara took her place at the altar, she and Charles exchanged hand-written vows; Sara says listening to Charles recite his was "one of her favorite moments of the day."

During the cocktail hour, guests had the option of standing around tall circular tables or reclining on velvet vintage furniture provided by Paisley and Jade. Overhead, string lights from Rent-Equip illuminated the area and provided soft lighting as day turned to night. The string trio played a selection of classical music during the interlude. Hors d'oeuvres included locally-sourced foods, such as Virginia ham on sweet potato biscuits—a nod to the location.

Dinner was served at a king's table set up on a terrace overlooking the garden. Large floral arrangements framed the table; string lights provided an ethereal ambience.

Blush pink La Tavola linens brought out the color story of the floral centerpieces, which were placed in blue-gray urn planters. Ribbed and twisted blush taper candles in gold candlestick holders provided additional lighting as the sun went down. Chloe from English Tea Paperie crafted the natural menu cards, which featured vellum ribbon, calligraphy, and a wax seal; they were companion pieces to the invitation suite. Gold flatware and a gold-rimmed charger plates completed the look.

The chef from Garnish crafted a personalized menu inspired by Charles and Sara's relationship. Prior to each course, an amuse bouche was served which represented a particular milestone in their unique story; the first was inspired by their first date, which was brunch, the second by California, their original wedding locale, and the third by Scotland, their engagement location. Local vendors were utilized for all food served, and there were multiple appetizer and entrée options for each guest to choose from.

Charles and Sara's single-tier white wedding cake by Pearls Bake Shoppe was encased in white fondant and adorned with a leaf pattern. Comprised of carrot cake and buttercream frosting, the confection was displayed on a gold bar cart and decorated with a selection of the day's florals, which referenced the arrangements on the ground in front of the dessert vignette.

For her "something borrowed," the bride used the cake topper from her grandparents' wedding day; the bride's mother even painted the bride figurine's hair brown to match Sara's.

As an end-of-wedding surprise, Sara hired a bagpipe player to perform for her and Charles' loved ones. The duo fell in love with Scotland during their engagement trip, and Sara wanted to bring a touch of that magic to their big day. She was delighted to orchestrate the surprise—and Charles says it was one of his favorite moments of the night.

Photography, Nikki Santerre
Venue, Virginia House
Wedding Planning and Event Design, Alyson Taylor Events
Flowers, Olivera Floral Design
Invitations, English Tea Paperie
Calligraphy and Wax Seals, Sophia Uretz
Officiant, Andrea Skeens
Music,Alana Carithers of the Richmond Symphony
Bride's Gown, Anais Anette via Gilded Bridal
Veil, Veil Trends
Earrings, Jennifer Behr
Bride's Shoes, Sézane
Hair and Makeup, Amanda Perry
Groom's Attire, Alton Lane
Wedding Bands, Fink's Jewelers
Catering, Garnish
Cake, Pearls Bake Shoppe
Vintage Furniture Rentals, Paisley and Jade
Tabletop Rentals, Emerson James Rental
Bulb Lighting and Chair Rentals, Rent-Equip
Linens, La Tavola
Transportation, Richmond Limousine