Charlottesville Area Weddings Blog

The Charlottesville Wedding Blog Has Moved!

2008-07-20T20:02:00.000-04:00

I am happy to announce that this blog has moved and officially taken up residence on my very own domain: http://www.charlottesvilleweddingblog.com. Please visit the NEW Charlottesville Wedding Blog ... it has a new look and new features and I have great plans for it's future :-).

This new blog has been in the works for weeks and today my wonderful blog-tech guy, Joel, moved the content over so that's it... this blog is officially ended and the new one has begun... see you over there and don't forget to subscribe or re-subscribe at the new Charlottesville Wedding Blog when you get there!

Blessings,
Claire

A Touch of Class: Harp & Violin Duet

2008-07-15T21:51:00.001-04:00

Last weekend I had the pleasure of working with Sue Taylor (violin) and Jennifer Hall (harp), A Touch of Class, again up at Wintergreen Resort. As always, their music was absolutely beautiful as it floated on the breeze providing a wonderful backdrop to the day. Jennifer & Sue are both accomplished musicians with lots of wedding experience, so working with them is always a pleasure.

If you would like to contact them to find out if this duet is available for your date feel free to contact Sue by e-mail or telephone: 540-942-3970. As you will discover on her website, Sue is available as a soloist and also often plays with other musicians in various configurations including a string quartet. I recommend Sue and Jennifer without hesitation!

Wonderful Wintergreen Wedding

2008-07-15T21:44:00.003-04:00

Katie and Bob held their heartfelt wedding ceremony at the Blue Ridge Overlook at Wintergreen Resort last Saturday. It was a sunny day with a lovely breeze and you can see from these little glimpses, the backdrop to their ceremony was a magnificent view of the mountains... slightly hazy but so perfect! The consummate Virginia view was accompanied by beautiful harp and violin duets by Jennifer Hall and Sue Taylor (A Touch of Class).
Wintergreen Resort is about 40 miles Southwest of Charlottesville and has every imaginable amenity: golf, spa, tennis, skiing and snowboarding in season, great restaurants, and all nestled in the beautiful Virginia mountains. It's a great choice if you'd like to spend a few days with your family and fr iends in a place that has something fun for everyone (especially the kids) to do.

After the ceremony Bob and Katie's guests were shuttled over to their reception at the Skyline Pavilion. I had to laugh because the last time I was at the Skyline Pavilion it was for a ski and snowboard second-hand sale and it certainly looked a lot differently on Saturday night set up so beautifully for the evening!

If you'd like to find out about the possibilities for your wedding at Wintergreen Resort feel free to contact Catherine Pearce at 800-273-3390 to find out what's available.

Congratulations to Katie and Bob!

A Fun Wedding Idea: Photo Booth Scrapbook

2008-07-11T09:02:00.000-04:00

On June 1 I wrote a post about Amber and Charlie's University of Virginia Garden wedding. One thing I didn't share with you was the Photo Booth they had at their reception... this was a first for me!

Amber and Charlie's guests had a great time climbing into the booth... individuals, couples and some groups of 3 or more... to have their black and white photos snapped. Here you can see a picture of the bride and groom with their newly-snapped pics in a great photo by Meg Runion.

Next to the booth was a table and scrap book so that everyone could leave their pictures with some words of congratulations alongside... isn't this a fun idea?

Baby Blessing

2008-07-10T14:05:00.000-04:00

I know this is slightly off topic, but I've been wanting to share this with you ... this summer I had the privilege of creating and performing a Baby Blessing ceremony for the 6-month old son of a wonderful couple that I married a couple of years ago. Christine, Reed, Baby Elijah and about 15 friends and family gathered together at a shady spot, near the creek, on Reed & Christine's Albemarle County property to welcome Elijah to the family, to the community and to life.

After smudging ourselves with burning sage we shared prayers, blessings, poetry and heartfelt personal messages with each other and with Elijah. Reed and Christine each vowed to always be there to love and support Elijah as he grows into his future. Finally, we performed a little water blessing, anointing Elijah's hands, feet and head, using the same copper pitcher from Reed's family that we'd used in their wedding ceremony.

Baby Elijah cooed, smiled and wiggled his way through the ceremony and there was laughter and tears all around... all in all a blessing to everyone in attendance. What a wonderful way to welcome and bless a new life!

New York Times: "Love, Honor, Leave no Carbon Fooprint"

2008-07-09T20:07:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago the New York Times Sunday Travel section (June 22, 2008) ran this wonderful article by Jennifer Conlin Please check it out for great information and resources to help you plan an eco-friendly honeymoon and you'll also find some good ideas for offsetting the impact for those who already have a more traditional trip planned. Green travel aka eco-tourism is a trend on the rise and for good reason. I'm so glad to see it getting high-profile attention in the New York Times.

Graphic credit: Leif Parsons

Pamela Lepold Photography

2008-07-06T12:20:00.003-04:00

Earlier this season I traveled to Annandale, VA to perform a ceremony for this brilliant couple: Sharon and Michael. Their wonderful combination of Jewish and Korean backgrounds made for a colorful and extraordinary event which, as you can see, was beautifully captured by Pamela Lepold. Please enjoy a small selection of Pamela's wonderful photos of their day...

If you would like to contact Pamela about your wedding date you are welcome to e-mail her at: pamelalepold@verizon.net or give her a call at 703-624-2159.

Terra Voce

2008-07-05T09:00:00.001-04:00

Elizabeth Brightbill and Andrew Gabbert, also known as Terra Voce, played for Cortney & Stephen's wedding ceremony and cocktail hour (see 7/4 post) at the Boar's Head Inn a couple of Wednesdays ago. Although I've known Elizabeth and Andrew for a couple of years now this was our first wedding together. Based on their remarkable abilities and broad repertoire it is no wonder that they stay busy performing and teaching all around the US... their music is so beautiful!

If you'd like to hear some clips from their repertoire please go here and if you'd like to find out if Terra Voce might be available for your wedding date e-mail them at info@terravoce.com or give them a call at 434-823-7652.

You might also enjoy watching them play at the Kennedy Center last October here. Enjoy!

Weekday Wedding at the Boar's Head Inn

2008-07-04T12:50:00.000-04:00

Cortney and Stephen got married on Wednesday at the Boar's Head Inn. Keeping it simple and as stress-free as possible while having a meaningful experience with the highest quality services was top priority for this busy couple (she's a doctor and he's an engineer).

Their Weekday Wedding package included everything they needed and wanted for their small (15 guests) weekday event: professional photography, accommodations, a cocktail hour and dinner for their guests, a beautiful ceremony under the willow tree, live music by Terra Voce (a cello and flute duet) and more.

It was a lovely day for Stephen and Cortney and their family and friends... congratulations on your new marriage!

If you would like to consider a small weekday wedding package visit The Weekday Wedding Company of Central Virginia or call me at 434-296-9885.

Couple Catch-up

2008-07-01T14:34:00.000-04:00

Yes, I have definitely been delinquent and have let a few of my beautiful brides and grooms slip through the blogging cracks... (as I write I'm sitting in a coffee shop on 86th Street in Manhattan so you can see I really am making an effort to catch up! :-) ) These photos are of 3 June couples that I haven't written about yet... certainly no reflection on these amazing people... but June can get a bit overwhelming at times!

The first photo is of Mary & Jorge. Mary and Jorge were married at Veritas Vineyard in the company of friends and family from near and far. As you can see Veritas (in Afton) provided a lovely backdrop of rolling hills and vineyards... there's no place prettier!

The second photo is of Katie and Jeff who also chose to have their wedding at Veritas... I've been so blessed this season to have had several ceremonies at this fabulous winery venue.

Lastly are Brenn and Kevin who held their ceremony at the Ivy Creek United Methodist Church in Albemarle County. Brenn had grown up in this Church and so having their wedding there was especially meaningful to them. Kevin and Brenn included 15 of their family and friends in their Ceremony with lots of readings and music... it was a wonderful day and I felt so honored to officiate their unique ceremony.

The Linden Trio

2008-06-27T10:01:00.002-04:00

The Linden Trio is a wonderful choice if you'd like to have beautiful live music for your wedding ceremony and cocktail hour. There's something very special about live music at a wedding, everyone loves it.

Here's a photo I took just last weekend of the Linden Trio playing in the tasting room at Veritas Vineyard after the ceremony. I invite you to visit their website where you can hear some audio clips from their repertoire, get all the details about booking with them and contact Nancy to ask about your date. Enjoy!

Green Wedding Links for June

2008-06-24T11:17:00.005-04:00

I realized last night that it has been 2 entire months since I did a Green Wedding post. There are quite literally dozens of articles published each month with an ever-increasing number of websites and blogs devoted to the topic. Below I've listed 10 resources I've run across over the last 8 weeks that are the best of what I've seen out there... hopefully without being too repetitive. Please do let me know if you have run across other resources (articles, sites, blogs, etc.) that you've found useful or at least interesting. Enjoy!

Green Wedding Guide: everything you need to plan a wonderful earth-friendly wedding.
Have a Green Wedding by Catherine Sharick from Time Magazine
A Touch of Green by Emily Leaman (this article originally appeared in the January '08 issue of The Washingtonian)
All Green Wedding: A wedding registry, gift registry service for the environmentally conscious
It's Easy Being Green: It's a Nice Day for a Green Wedding from Center for American Progress
The Wedding Planner Goes Green: from invitations to caterers, how to make your big day eco-friendly by Evangel Fung
Tips to Make your Wedding Green from the Nature Conservancy
Green Articles: 8 Ways to Green Your Wedding
A Nice Day for a Green Wedding: Take steps to make your celebration eco-friendly by Erinn R. Johnson
Eco-friendly weddings keep sprouting up by Janet Kornblum from USA Today

And, if you're planning a wedding in the Charlottesville area be sure to check out the Charlottesville Wedding Services Directory for info. on over 400 wedding-related products and services for your Central Virginia wedding planning needs!

10 Fun, and Possibly Useful, Wedding Blogs

2008-06-18T08:30:00.000-04:00

There are dozens, no, hundreds (thousands?) of wedding blogs out there. Truthfully, there are lots that I wouldn't give a second look at and a huge number that have been abandoned... that is they are no longer being posted to but are still sitting out there in the blogosphere.

Over the past 6 months I've run across a fair number of interesting, unusual, fun and sometimes useful wedding blogs that are being kept current and today I am happy to pass these links along to you.

Hope you have fun checking these out and if you have a favorite of your own please let me know.... if I get enough suggestions I'll do another post on wedding blogs!

Here's my list (in no particular order)... enjoy!:

The Bride's Cafe edgy, sophisticated, romantic
Wedding Bee
Wedlok gettin' hitched in style
DC NearlyWeds
Off Beat Bride taffeta-free alternatives for independent brides
Wedding Fanatic
The Handcrafted Wedding the cure for the common wedding
Always a Bridesmaid ask us your pressing wedding questions
Groom Groove a blog for the groom - quick tips and information for grooms, the best man, groomsmen and wedding mcs
Bridal Cheek a journey toward non-traditional wedded bliss, with style

Jennifer Colina Photography

2008-06-17T15:34:00.012-04:00

Erin and Robert had a truly beautiful wedding a couple of weeks ago at Veritas Vineyard (I know, I know... I've been there every weekend this month... and next weekend too!). So, rather than focusing on the venue I thought I'd highlight the wonderful photos of Jennifer Colina. When I contacted Jennifer she generously sent along these beautiful photos of the Robert & Erin's wedding and it's clear to see that she is a very talented photographer. Enjoy!

~ a walk in the vineyard ~

~ details of the day ~

~ lots of dance lessons :-) ~

~ handfasting ceremony ~

~ waiting in the wine cellar ~

~ beautiful bride! ~

~ more details of the day ~

You can contact Jenny at 804-531-7135 to see if she is available for your date. Also be sure to visit her site and her blog.

The Rosebrook Inn

2008-06-12T09:31:00.002-04:00

The Rosebrook Inn is a sweet little B&B near Stanardsville, VA which is about 20 miles North of Charlottesville. I've done 1 or 2 weddings a year there over the last 3 or 4 years and every year the property gets more and more beautiful with the tender loving care of Innkeepers Cory and Mike Skeens. The Inn, with 5 unique rooms around a large common area, lends itself to having the whole family stay together for the weekend to enjoy a relaxed time while offering plenty of space to have a large group of guests enjoy the big day.

This past weekend Valerie & Andy held their ceremony at the Inn's Gazebo and given the day's extremely hot temperatures chose to have their reception in the nice, cool dining hall in the B&B's basement rather than the Pavilion which would have been a much less comfortable option given the weather.

As always, Mike & Cory were present to tend to all the details necessary to make Andy & Valerie's day a great success and we made it through the ceremony under a very welcome cloud cover but escaping the thunder storm that we could hear rumbling in the distance. It was a wonderful day full of unexpected surprises ... congratulations Valerie & Andy!Check out the Rosebrook Inn's website or call Cory & Mike at 434-990-0561 or 434-985-7976 to find out more.

And, if you're planning a wedding in the Charlottesville area be sure to check out the Charlottesville Wedding Services Directory for info. on over 400 wedding-related products and services for your Central Virginia wedding planning needs!

DJ John Garland

2008-06-11T13:27:00.004-04:00

Looking for a great DJ for your wedding? Well, let me introduce you to John Garland, one of the best! I took this photo of John last weekend in the beautiful ballroom at Veritas Vineyard where he was set up for an evening of great music and fun.

If you'd like to find out more about John's DJ services you can visit his website or give him a call at 434-293-3332.

Your Wedding Vows

2008-06-11T09:12:00.001-04:00

There are many ways to go about choosing or creating your wedding vows. Some couples (not as many as you'd think) do write their own... but more often they choose to use a vow that has already been written (there are dozens!) ... perhaps with a few tweaks here and there to make it more true to themselves or they may use the "mix and match" approach of combining parts of several vows to create one that's right for them.

Today I found this wonderful article by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway, a Wedding Officiant and Author in the New City York Area... also known as The Wedding Goddess. Her article entitled "How To Write Your Own Wedding Vows" is a guest post at wedlok.com, a Las Vegas wedding blog. Check out Rev. Laurie Sue's website too, she is a prolific writer and also has great advice on relieving the stresses around the whole wedding-planning thing! Check out her book "Wedding Goddess: A Divine Guide to Transforming Wedding Stress into Wedding Bliss".

Oak Ridge Estate

2008-06-10T17:08:00.007-04:00

Alison & Shane were married on Friday at Oak Ridge Estate in beautiful, green Nelson County, about 35 miles South of Charlottesville. Take a look at this post that I wrote last fall after I'd done a wedding at this beautiful location for more information about what they have to offer.

Alison & Shane had a large wedding party all of whom wore a beautiful green color that just melted in so beautifully in with the opulent green countryside and gardens of Oak Ridge Estate. The table settings were also green and white with dragon-fly napkin rings and flower seed packets as favors for their guests.

As always, Rhonda and her staff were there to handle every detail and make Alison and Shane's wedding flow smoothly! If you'd like to find out more about possibly having your wedding at the Oak Ridge Estate give her a call at 434-263-8676 or send her an e-mail at info@oakridgeestate.com

And, if you're planning a wedding in the Charlottesville area be sure to check out the Charlottesville Wedding Services Directory for info. on over 400 wedding-related products and services for your Central Virginia wedding planning needs!

Announcing my Newest Project: The Charlottesville Wedding Services Directory

2008-06-04T16:17:00.006-04:00

I'm excited to let you know that I've just launched my newest creation, The Charlottesville Wedding Services Directory. A labor of love, it is my hope that this downloadable directory will provide brides and grooms, as well as other local wedding vendors with a great resource for their wedding planning needs. I've included everything from photographers, caterers and florists to venues, ceremony resources, musicians and horse-drawn carriages... plus everything in between and more. You can check out the Table of Contents to see a comprehensive list of what's included.

Please check it out and I'd be thrilled if you'd let me know how you like it, what you find useful and, of course, what's missing... my plan is to update it yearly so your input will be invaluable. My hope is that the reasonable price of $19.95 will make it accessible to everyone. Enjoy!

Billy Hunt Photography

2008-06-04T14:25:00.008-04:00

Early in May I performed a wedding for Diana & Tom, quite literally, out in the middle of a field. I wrote about it in my post called "Wedding in a Field" last month but my photos were nothing compared to Billy Hunt's beautiful work which I am happy to share with you here.

Check out Billy's website and blog and be sure to give him a call to see if he is available for your date: 434-825-7721. In addition to his wonderful wedding work I especially love his photos of children, he really captures them in such a unique and skillful way. Thanks Billy, I look forward to working with you again soon!

Weekday Wedding with Rob Garland

2008-06-02T19:34:00.009-04:00

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of performing a wedding for Jean and Joe. With just the couple, photographer Rob Garland and myself present, Jean and Joe spoke their vows to each other in the courtyard of the Dinsmore House, a wonderful little B & B on Main Street, near the University. Jean and Joe came to Charlottesville to elope because Joe had wonderful memories of his days at the University of Virginia as both an undergrad and graduate student and wanted to share this place with his love, Jeanie. After the ceremony we all piled in my little car to scoot down the street to the Rotunda where Rob took some wonderful photos of the couple. Enjoy a small selection of Rob's beautiful photos:

If you think you might like a small weekday wedding visit my Weekday Wedding Company site. Also, please visit Rob Garland's website and blog to see lots more of his amazing work. You can also reach Rob at 434-293-3332 to see if he is available for your date.

Beautiful University of Virginia Gardens

2008-06-01T17:08:00.009-04:00

Last weekend I had my first UVA Garden wedding of the season and it was, without a doubt, the loveliest one I've done there. Amber & Charlie were married in Garden IX which is a Garden at the far end of the West Lawn that I'd never been in before. The Altar table with tall vases containing white orchids was created by Pat's Floral Designs. The curtain of hanging shells behind the altar made a beautiful tinkling sound throughout the ceremony as Charlie and Amber exchanged their vows. To honor Amber's Filipino heritage we included 2 lovely rituals called the veil and the cord which were facilitated by an aunt and uncle who accepted the role of Sponsors for the newly married couple.

After the ceremony the couple's reception was held just next door in Garden VII... another lovely University garden I hadn't visited before. Jennifer Carroll of Jennifer Carroll Events had absolutely outdone herself for this garden wedding. The tables, flowers, menus, lanterns in the trees, orchids and candles floating in huge clear glass vases... just everything was done to perfection. Everywhere you looked the garden environment blended seamlessly into Jennifer's beautiful, artistic design... made me smile just to look at it.

Amber and Charlie had a very unique wedding cake that I wanted to share too... created by Anita Gupta of Maliha Creations... in the shape of the University of Virginia Rotunda. So, now I know for sure that there is no cake that Anita can't create... I wonder what Thomas Jefferson would say?

Adam Barnes Photography

2008-05-30T09:28:00.009-04:00

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a bit about Kristin & Brian's wedding at the Clifton Inn earlier this month. Today I am so happy to be able to share a bit of the work of their wonderfully talented photographer, Adam Barnes. Here is a small selection of his photographs of that day. If you want to see more please visit his site and his blog or give him a call at 434-845-6292 to see if he's available for your date. Great work Adam, I look forward to many more weddings with you in the future!

Beautiful Veritas Vineyard in May

2008-05-21T21:05:00.008-04:00

Last Saturday I had my first Veritas Vineyard wedding of the year and, as always, it was a beautiful event. Stacey and Adam had a bit of a windy day for their ceremony and the bride's veil would not stay out of her face... so about halfway thru the ceremony it occurred to me that if Adam and Stacey switched places that the wind would blow her veil away from her (wish I'd thought of that sooner!). So, much to their guests delight everyone switched sides and we continued the ceremony without a hitch! It's those funny and unexpected little moments that make the best memories!

Hopefully my photos here will give you just a small feel for how beautiful everything was at the Vineyard last weekend and how happy Adam and Stacey were! After an hour-long cocktail hour in the tasting room and on the decks all of the guests were invited into the Veritas ballroom for an evening of wonderful food, music and fun. As always, Chris Hurley, was there to make sure that every little detail was handled without a problem... I don't know how she does it!

Holland Photo Arts' Blog

2008-05-21T20:18:00.005-04:00

About a month ago my colleagues, Bill and Ann Holland of Holland Photo Arts kindly asked me if I would "mind" if they did a post about my Wedding Officiant work on their blog... I was so flattered and said, "of course!" Feel free to check out their very nice post along with some of their beautiful photos of two beautiful wedding that we did together. And, while you're there please look at Bill and Ann's beautiful wedding photography work on their website. Enjoy!

The Event Company & The Clifton Inn

2008-05-18T13:58:00.010-04:00

Yikes... I'm a week behind with posting about my weddings but I didn't want to leave out this beautiful event from last Saturday! Kristin & Brian truly had the wedding of their dreams and The Event Company put it all together... amazing! I'm posting more photos than I usually do for a wedding but in this case I just couldn't leave any of these out. What I loved the most was the incredible attention to detail and so I'm including photos of a few of the many unique touches that I enjoyed.

As far as I could tell JF, Jessica and Sheila from The Event Company went all out to make this event a perfect realization of Kristin and Brian's vision for their wedding day and probably made it even better than they could have imagined. They took the Clifton Inn as their beautiful backdrop and, without taking away from the already spectacular setting, created beauty everywhere... from the farm table altar to the wheatgrass display of seating cards to the rope swing hanging from a huge tree in the front with photos and flowers for the guests to enjoy.

Speaking personally about Brian and Kristin's ceremony I would have to say that it was one of my favorites ever... and I've had the privilege of creating and performing hundreds. The choices they made combined with their solid connection to each other and to me during the ceremony made it an uplifting experience for all of their guests. One family friend said to me afterwards that he felt as though the ceremony had been a gift to everyone there. Made my heart sing!

Another wonderful aspect of being a part of a wedding that is planned by The Event Company is how easy they make my job. JF did such an amazing job facilitating the rehearsal that I wish he was at all of my weddings! Sheila was always there to tell me when to walk and where to stand and Jessica seemed to be everywhere at once making sure that every detail ran smoothly. So, needless to say if you are looking for someone to help you plan your wedding I would highly recommend that you contact JF, Jessica and Sheila at The Event Company. Visit their website or give them a call at 434-974-6500.

Two Amazing Guitarists

2008-05-15T09:03:00.005-04:00

I had the privilege of hearing and watching both of these amazing guitarists play for two different weddings this past weekend. They are both extremely talented with extensive experience and are wonderful additions to any wedding!

Peter Richardson, with whom I have done several weddings in years past, has a vast repertoire of classical, jazz, folk, flamenco and more. If you visit his page here you can hear samples of his beautiful music as well as read rave reviews from couples who've had him play for their weddings. Peter also has a music school in Charlottesville where you can learn pretty much any instrument you can think of. If you would like beautiful guitar music at your wedding visit Peter's page here or give Peter a call: 434-293-4017

The second guitarist I had the opportunity to meet and hear this weekend was Rafael Scarfullery. Although I knew of Rafael this was the first wedding we'd done together. Rafael's classical guitar is absolutely amazing. Although I am not well versed in classical guitar music I can see from his website that he is very experienced and has a vast repertoire. You can find out lots more about Rafael and hear his music at his website and call him at: 434-851-0674.

Wedding in a Field

2008-05-14T18:35:00.005-04:00

Diana and Tom had their wedding last Saturday morning out in Albemarle County on Diana's family's land... literally right out in a field, it was very green, lush and scenic! The land had a natural slope that provided a mini-amphitheater feel to it and the groom had the chairs set up in curved rows so that everyone felt tucked in and included.

Diana and Tom included a couple of unique additions to their ceremony including the calling of the directions, in the Native American tradition, and a modified Handfasting ritual, both of which were meaningful and especially appropriate to the setting.

One of my own favorite parts of the day was the couple's beautiful dog, Elsa, with her lovely flower collar created especially for the occasion! Billy Hunt was their photographer and as soon as I have some of his photos to share I'll post them here.

Diana and Tom have known each other since childhood and having many of their family and mutual long-time friends in attendance was especially sweet for them... many blessings to both of you!

Thursday at the Clifton Inn

2008-05-09T12:06:00.004-04:00

Kim and Shaun got married yesterday at the lovely Clifton Inn. Just the two of them and it was so sweet! I've been to the Clifton Inn at all times of the year but I have to say that yesterday it was more beautiful than I've ever seen it... absolutely everything was in bloom: climbing clematis, iris, peonies and lots of other things I couldn't identify.

The most touching part of Shaun and Kim's ceremony was reading the letter that Kim's parents wrote to them and sent from Australia for me to share with them on their wedding day. Such a special touch... and Kim's Dad is a wonderful writer! Half way through the ceremony it started to rain so we all ran for cover and finished the ceremony up on the front porch of the Inn. It's always those unexpected moments that are the most memorable!

Despite choosing to have a wedding without guests Shaun and Kim had all of the wonderful extras to make their day special: an amazing photographer: Jen Fariello whose beautiful photos you see here; Jill and Tim Rose captured the ceremony on video; Jen of Elan On-Site Salon Services helped Kim get her hair and makeup just right; Wayla Chambo and Wes Swing provided beautiful flute and cello music and Melissa of the Clifton Inn, as always, made sure every detail was in place.

We all agreed that there's something really special about these small weekday weddings... if you have an interest in a small affair like this one please consider checking out the Weekday Wedding Company.

Thanks to everyone who made yesterday's wedding so wonderful and many blessings to both of you Kim and Shaun!

ALL PHOTOS BY JEN FARIELLO:

UVA Chapel in May

2008-05-08T10:00:00.005-04:00

Well, of course I've written a fair number of posts highlighting the University of Virginia Chapel but it never fails to be a wonderful venue... especially full of meaning for the couples who choose to marry there often because the University was where they first met.

Last weekend this beautiful couple, Lauren and Aprotim, were married at the Chapel. Their ceremony included 2 simple rituals to honor their cultural and religious backgrounds. To honor Aprotim's family's tradition the couple exchanged beautiful flower garlands which, in India, signify not only a formal greeting but also respect and acceptance.

Later in the ceremony, to honor Lauren's background, a Unity Candle ceremony was performed symbolizing these two unique individuals now joining to create a marriage partnership... the entire ceremony was very special and lovely. Lauren's bridesmaids wore red dresses which with bright bouquets which complemented the garlands and really lit up the Chapel.

I was happy to find that DJ Derek Tobler was present to handle the music and microphone, Jason and Tammy Keefer took pictures (can't wait to see them!) and Karen, from Hedge was the creator of the beautiful bouquets and garlands. Thanks to everyone for their great work and best of luck to you Lauren and Aprotim!

Meg Runion of Rob Garland Photographers

2008-05-06T18:14:00.010-04:00

In my post on Friday I told you about the beautiful little weekday wedding that I performed up at Ash Lawn-Highland last Wednesday. Today I am happy to share with you 8 of the amazing photographs that Meg Runion of Rob Garland Photographers took that day. I've been so fortunate to have Meg shoot almost all of my weekday ceremonies. I've never met a photographer (and I've met lots!) who enjoys what she does more than Meg. Meg's photos don't need any narration.... the pictures say it all...

You can contact Meg at 434-293-3332 and be sure to visit her blog to see lots more of her beautiful work.

Maymont - Richmond, VA

2008-05-06T17:13:00.007-04:00

This past weekend I was fortunate to find myself performing a wedding ceremony for Laura and James in the Italian Garden at Maymont in Richmond. Maymont is a 100+ acre estate, garden, arboretum and Museum right in the City of Richmond. Although I haven't spent as much time as I'd like exploring all of the beautiful buildings and gardens I can say that what I have seen of Maymont is truly unique, diverse and especially amazing to find right in a large metropolitan area.

Maymont's website provides comprehensive information about it's history and facilities as well as about the property's availability for weddings and other events. Even without a detailed knowledge of Maymont's history I can tell you that it is a charming place for a wedding with many locations to choose from. As you can see here the Italian Garden is a beautiful columned site and the Japanese Garden which is just down the hill is equally attractive with a lovely waterfall and bridge that makes it unique.

So, whether you're looking for a wedding venue or just want to spend a beautiful day in the park Maymont shouldn't be missed. To inquire about the availability of your date and to set up an appointment for a walk-through please contact Maymont's rental coordinator at 804-358-7166, ext. 309 or e-mail rentals@maymont.org.

Wednesday Wedding at Ash Lawn-Highland

2008-05-02T10:03:00.008-04:00

Ash Lawn ... again? Yes, that's right I've been spending a lot of time up there this past week. This time for a weekday wedding that was planned on very, very short notice thru my Weekday Wedding Company. Owen and Dana are from South Africa and Russia (Siberia) respectively and somehow, I'm not completely clear on this... decided to come to Central Virginia to get married! Their only guests were 3 of the the groom's family members who flew in from Cape Town for the event. Having the ceremony at 6 PM gave us the entire estate (500+ acres of rolling green beauty) pretty much all to our selves. Well, that's not entirely true... we did have to share the space with a few peacocks, sheep and cows.

Dana and Owen stood with me beneath a cascade of beautiful flowering vines for their ceremony while Meg Runion of Rob Garland Photographers took dozens of photos... she's the best, I can't wait to see them! Afterwards we walked around the property while Meg took more photos. It was just another spectacular day at Ash Lawn!

If you are interested in the possibility of a small weekday wedding as an alternative to the big weekend variety... I invite you to visit the Weekday Wedding Company of Central Virginia to discover the wonderful options.

Springtime at Ash Lawn-Highland

2008-05-01T11:19:00.007-04:00

Brooke & Casey had their hearts set on an outdoor wedding at Ash Lawn-Highland, the historic home of James Monroe. Unfortunately one of our first warm-weather thunderstorms necessitated a change to Plan B: ceremony under the pavilion with the beautiful green countryside as a backdrop. Once the rain stopped it was truly one of the most idyllic and beautiful days in the Virginia countryside that I'd ever witnessed. And, apparently, there was even a double rainbow in the sky behind us for a good part of the ceremony... the photo here shows you what remained by the time the ceremony was over.

Another unique feature of having a wedding at Ash Lawn is that you can actually "rent" James Monroe himself (a wonderful fellow who embodies Mr. Monroe and never, ever breaks out of character) who will greet your guests, welcoming them to his home and so forth. At first the guests seem quite tentative wondering if this guy's "for real"... but then they catch on and really enjoy his presence and amazing knowledge of the life and times of James Monroe.

Casey and Brooke included a wonderful little ritual as part of their ceremony: before the ceremony began officially both the bride and groom's mothers came up front and then invited family members (that had been pre-planned) two by two to come up with a handfull of flowers to add to the bride's bouquet and say a few words about the part of the family that they were honoring. At the end, the mothers tied up the bouquet with beautiful ribbons and went out to present it to the bride before she walked down the aisle. A lovely ritual honoring family and giving the Mother's a wonderful way of participating in the ceremony.

If you would like to find out more about having your wedding at Ash Lawn-Highland give Baylor a call at 434-293-9539 and visit their website too.

Happy Earth Day: Ten Great Green Wedding Resources

2008-04-22T15:43:00.006-04:00

For Earth Day I thought I'd celebrate by providing you with a nice list of 10 great Green Wedding resources for you to consider in planning your wedding. New sites, blogs and articles are popping up practically daily on this subject and I thought that Earth Day was a good time to share some of what I have found with my Charlottesville Weddings Blog readers.

You'll find lots of great ideas.... large and small ... to make your wedding day a little bit lighter on our beautiful planet. Enjoy! and ... Happy Earth Day!

Real Green Weddings: see what inspiring couples have done to green their big day!
Eco Chic Weddings: beauty * body * being
Married to Green: weekly ideas to greenify your wedding
Green Weddings: Giant Love... Tiny Footprint
Indie Wedding Guide: a guide to recycling, reusing & reducing for today's weddings
Eco-friendly Wedding Dresses (article)
Ethical Weddings: give everyone something to celebrate
Portovert: The Gateway to Greener Weddings
How to Green Your Wedding (article)
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something... green? Plan your wedding with the environment in mind (article)

Clover Forest Plantation

2008-04-21T10:57:00.008-04:00

It never ceases to amaze me that there are always more incredibly beautiful places in Virginia that I haven't seen yet. This past weekend I had the privilege of officiating for the first time at the Clover Forest Plantation in rural Goochland County (about 50 miles West and South of Charlottesville). According to their website it is "a private, family owned James River plantation ... that has been lovingly, accurately and painstakingly restored and preserved..." The property consists of beautifully landscaped grounds, a private lake and federal period mansion. Both the grounds and the buildings lend themselves perfectly to wedding celebrations and Jenny and Mike's wedding this past Saturday took full advantage of the green beauty of Central Virginia in the Springtime.

Jenny and Mike's very personal and sweet ceremony was held behind the Clover Forest mansion overlooking the lake with a spectacular backdrop of springtime green. The plantation's simple white archway that marks the ceremony spot creates a wonderful feeling for a ceremony. Jenny and Mike kept with the green color theme in all of their choices including Jenny's bridesmaid's dress and the white and green sand that they poured for their sand ceremony.

Although I didn't stay for dinner the tent and simple decor they'd chosen made the most of the already spectacular surroundings. The Clover Forest website says that they also have a full catering department led by professional Chef Michael Fischer which I see as a wonderful plus for this location.

If you'd like to give the Clover Forest Plantation a call you can reach them Tuesday thru Thursday at 804-457-3535 x288.

Green Wedding Tip: Gift Registry Alternative

2008-04-03T13:38:00.006-04:00

Changing the Present: Changing the World, One Gift at a Time

With April being Earth Day month, I will be posting several tips throughout the month on how you can create a greener, more eco-friendly event... here's a great one to start with:

At Changing The Present brides and grooms can create an incredible wedding registry allowing their guests to choose from over 1,000 donation gift opportunities... everything from adopting a tiger, educating a girl, providing clean water to an African community to sponsoring a chimp or clearing land mines. Just about any cause that is near and dear to your hearts can be benefited by creating your wedding registry at Changing the Present.

Give it some thought... what a wonderful way to start your new life together!

Blessings,
Claire

Jason Keefer : Fine Art Wedding Photo-Documentarist

2008-03-30T11:34:00.012-04:00

Jason Keefer is an extraordinary photographer. The photos here are of 2 weddings that we both worked at last summer: Wren and Rocky's (1st & 3rd photos) which was held at a beautiful family property in Albemarle County (great car, isn't it?) and Rae and Brad (2nd photo) at the Clifton Inn (in the rain with bagpipes, no less!). Jason and his wonderful wife, Tammy, who works with him, shot both of these weddings and truly captured the heart of both of them.

I discovered today that if you go to Jason's website he gives you the opportunity to look at the entire wedding albums for some of his weddings with an incredible musical background. In fact, as of this moment, both of these wedding albums are available to check out in full along with a few others... and I encourage you to do so... they are magnificent, brought tears to my eyes!

Jason has a wonderful definition of "documentarist" on his site that articulates his style so well: a writer, photographer or other artist whose work constitutes a document or documentary of an aspect of life. Giving yourself the gift of having your wedding day documented in this way, by photographers who have the skill and sensitivity to capture these precious moments, is something you will always treasure.

I know that Jason has very few dates left for 2008 so if you haven't found a great photographer for your wedding yet I encourage you to get in touch with him today.

You can check out his availability on his site and then give Jason & Tammy a call: 434-989-4971.

Happy wedding planning...

Blessings, Claire

Omni Richmond Hotel

2008-03-16T17:58:00.004-04:00

This beautiful couple, Jessi and Brent, got married yesterday at Richmond's Omni Hotel. The Omni is a contemporary, luxury hotel in the historic Shockoe Slip neighborhood of Richmond. This hotel can accommodate pretty much any kind of event from small and intimate to a sit down dinner for hundreds in their ballroom.

Jessi and Brent's wedding fell somewhere in between. Their ceremony included many lovely Jewish elements including a beautiful chuppah that the bride designed herself and the traditional Seven Blessings in Hebrew and English that were offered by friends of the Groom's family. Afterwards their 130+ guests went downstairs to the Mayflower room for an evening of fun and dancing.

The Omni is a great choice if you want everything you need in one place and lots of wonderful staff to help with every detail. It is also in a great neighborhood with dozens of restaurants, bars and shops within a short walk from the front door. I spent a good part of Saturday afternoon at the Shockoe Espresso & Roastery just a block and a half down Cary St.

Jessi and Brent had an amazing surprise... just as they were lining up to walk into their reception and be announced as "Mr. & Mrs...." Richmond's Mayor (and former Governor), Doug Wilder walked up and introduced himself. Their photographer came dashing out to capture the unexpected moment. You just never know who you'll meet at the Omni!

If you think The Omni Richmond might be the place for your wedding please visit their website or give them a call at: 804-344-7000.

Jen Fariello Photography

2008-03-15T11:51:00.006-04:00

Charlottesville certainly has it's share of wonderfully talented photographers and today I am happy to share with you another of my favorites, Jen Fariello. These two lovely brides are from a couple of weddings that Jen and I worked at together in the last 6 months, one at the University of Virginia Chapel and the other at the Boar's Head Inn.

Jen is a well-established photographer here in Charlottesville and over the years, in addition to weddings, you can find her beautiful photos sprinkled generously throughout just about every publication in the City and beyond. She is also an expert at portraits, capturing (seems to me) the heart and soul of her subjects... especially the babies that she clearly loves to photograph!

What Jen accomplishes for her wedding couples seems like magic to me ... somehow managing to be everywhere at once ... capturing those moments that would be lost forever if she hadn't been there to freeze them in time with her heart-full and beautiful photos.

I hope that you love these photographs as much as I do but please visit her website and blog to see lots more (oh, she also takes great photos of food... will make you hungry!).

If you'd like to contact Jen to see if she might be available for your date please call her at 434-963-7976 or e-mail her at jen@jenfariello.com.

Oh and as an afterthought... yes, she does take amazing color photos too, I just happened to love these 2 black and white ones!

The Jefferson Hotel - Richmond

2008-03-10T17:59:00.004-04:00

I'd been hearing about the Jefferson Hotel for years but, until this past weekend, hadn't actually had an opportunity to see it for myself. It is unlike any other place I've every seen... "grand" doesn't even begin to accurately express what this hotel is like. From the huge semi-circular entrance to the grand stairway and stained glass ceilings it is certainly one of the most upscale and beautiful buildings I've ever seen. Every detail of this hotel was obviously given a great deal of attention.

The Jefferson was first opened in 1895, built by land developer Lewis Ginter and no expense was spared in his creation. In 1901 and again in 1944 the hotel survived fire damage and was restored along the way and even used as a movie set. In 1993 the renovation and restoration that brought the Jefferson to it's current appearance and status as a five-diamond and five-star hotel were completed. If you are interested in a more complete history of this historic location plus stories about the alligators in the fountain at The Jefferson be sure to spend a bit of time on their website's history page.

Katherine and Jason's wedding was what gave me the opportunity to spend a bit of time at The Jefferson. Their 90 guests joined them for their ceremony in the Flemish Room and then gathered together in the Rotunda Lobby (under the beautiful domed stain glass ceiling) for cocktails while the bride and groom spent some time with their photographers. Although I did not stay for the evening's dinner reception and dancing it was set up in the Empire Room and was absolutely beautiful in every detail.

It is obvious that The Jefferson hosts many weddings, everyone on their staff that I came into contact with was extremely helpful and professional and no facet of Katherine and Jason's big day was overlooked. James Harris, the Catering Manager that planned and and facilitated Jason and Katherine's wedding with them handled every detail with grace and good humor.

If you are looking for a truly one-of-a-kind venue and are want the the best of the best in an historic Virginia venue I would recommend you visit The Jefferson. And if this isn't exactly your style or in your budget I would still invite you to visit the Jefferson because it is a beautiful Virginia landmark and a place worth experiencing.

You can contact The Jefferson at 804-788-8000 or 800-424-8014.

Inn at Sugar Hollow Farm

2008-03-10T17:04:00.005-04:00

Saturday afternoon I was privileged to marry Hilary and Michael in a heartfelt ceremony held in one of the cozy rooms at the Inn at Sugar Hollow Farm. When the ceremony began at noon the mist hung on the mountains in the background but before the ceremony was over the clouds had parted and the sun came streaming down. Hilary and Michael's ceremony was very emotional for them and full of personal touches that expressed not only their profound love for each other but also their gratitude and appreciation for their families who had traveled to share the day with them.

Hilary and Michael found me just about 6 weeks ago thru my Weekday Wedding Company and we were able to put together this lovely small wedding for them (just 16 guests) long distance via phone and e-mail. It wasn't really a "weekday wedding" but sometimes in the off-season I can make a weekday package work for a weekend day as well... luckily that was the case last weekend!

The Inn at Sugar Hollow Farm is a beautiful bed and breakfast on 70 acres in Albemarle County, about 15 miles West of Charlottesville run by Innkeepers Dick and Hayden Cabell. I've had the opportunity to visit the Inn in every season and I always wish I could stay longer to explore the beautiful landscape.. there are lots of photos on their website of the rooms and property at all times of the year. If you are planning a small wedding or just want to get away and enjoy the beauty of central Virginia then this Inn is a place that you should consider. Close enough to all the great restaurants and attractions of Charlottesville but far enough out to be completely nestled into the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and make you feel like you're a million miles away.

Dick and Hayden go to great lengths to make their Inn a warm and welcoming place and to accommodate their guests' needs . When I left on Saturday afternoon to head to another wedding in Richmond they were preparing what looked like (and smelled like) an incredible meal for Hilary and Michael's family to enjoy together. Wish I could have stayed!

If you'd like to contact the Dick and Hayden at the Inn you can do so by e-mailing them at innkeeper@sugarhollow.com or calling: (434)823-7086 / toll free: 1-866-566-7388.

Thanks Dick and Hayden for all you did to make Hilary and Michael's wedding an experience I know they will treasure always!

Leap Day Wedding at Wintergreen Resort

2008-02-29T21:44:00.005-05:00

Seems like a bit of an odd day to get married - February 29th - but certainly unique! This wonderful couple, Chris & Bill, chose to rent a lovely house at Wintergreen Resort (about 25 miles SW of Charlottesville) for the weekend and have their ceremony in front of the fireplace with just their closest family in attendance.

This was a first for me but seems like a great idea... a relaxing way to get away for a few days and enjoy the company of your nearest and dearest with lots to do right nearby: skiing & snowboarding, spa services, swimming, hiking, great restaurants and more plus lovely views and time to relax together... sounds good to me!

Chris and Bill found their rental through the very nice folks at Rentals at Wintergreen They were so patient with me when I called for driving directions directions!

Just for fun, I looked up a few facts about Leap Day on Wikipedia... here's what I found:
February 29 is a date that occurs only every four years, in years evenly divisible by 4, such as 1988, 1996, 2008 or 2016 (with the exception of century years not divisible by 400, such as 1900) for the Gregorian calendar, which is most widely used in the world today. These are called leap years, and February 29 is the 60th day of the Gregorian calendar in such a year, with 306 days remaining until the end of that year. February 29 is also known as bissextile day or Leap Day.

Although the modern calendar counts a year as 365 days, a complete revolution around the sun takes approximately 365 days and 6 hours. Every four years, an extra twenty-four hours have accumulated, so one extra day is added to that calendar to keep the count coordinated with the sun's apparent position.

I wonder if Chris and Bill will celebrate their anniversaries on Feb. 29th or March 1st in the years to come.

Jennifer Carroll: Event Planner Extraordinaire!

2008-02-22T12:51:00.005-05:00

Everyday I hear from the couples I work with what a daunting and time-consuming task wedding planning can be. The many details, choices and decisions can be overwhelming. If you are feeling this way you might consider getting some help and the first person that comes to mind for me is Jennifer Carroll.

I’ve had the privilege of working with Jennifer and her wonderful staff on several weddings and am looking forward to those we will be doing together in the coming season. Jenn is a complete professional with years of experience and a true gift for creating strikingly beautiful, unique and memorable wedding experiences for the couples she works with. In my capacity as Wedding Minister she unfailingly makes my job a complete joy, working closely with me so that the rehearsal and ceremony come off without a hitch. A real plus is that she has a wonderful sense of humor which is so important!

My words can not do justice to Jenn’s magic so please visit her website so that you can see the many wonderful photos of weddings that she has planned as well as detailed information about her services and products.

Jennifer offers many levels of service to couples… everything from her Complete Wedding Planning package (Peony) all the way to Day-Of (Hydrangea) and A la Carte services.

If you're just not sure that hiring a wedding planner is right for you her FAQ page may be helpful in deciding... but if you're considering this option at all my best recommendation is that you simply pick up the phone and give her a call, you'll be glad you did. You can reach Jennifer at 434-823-7607.

Green Tip: A Greener Valentine's Day

2008-02-13T11:04:00.004-05:00

With Valentine's Day coming up tomorrow I thought I'd share some great articles and resources I've come across on how to make more conscious choices in your giving.

This year I received my Valentine's Day surprise a little early: On Monday an envelope arrived addressed to my husband. It said "Thank you for Adopting a Manatee"... it was a give-away and, of course, I couldn't wait 'til Thursday to open it. Sure enough my funny and thoughtful honey had adopted a Manatee for me for Valentine's Day. I guess he has finally figured out that I'm just not a flowers and chocolates kind of girl! If you want to know more about this wonderful Valentine's Day option visit the Save the Manatee website. In addition to info. and a photo of my new adoptee, "Howie", I got 2 very sweet little plush manatees to remind me of my new status as adoptive manatee mom.

So... back to the resources I have for you...

I wish you a peaceful, loving and green day of love!

Stonefire Station - Barboursville

2008-02-12T11:31:00.000-05:00

Although Stonefire Station in Barboursville (about 15 miles North of Charlottesville) has been holding events for a couple of years now this past Sunday was my first wedding there. Stonefire Station is a unique venue in the area as far as I know. It was built specifically for events of all kinds and was, obviously, designed taking into consideration what would be needed to accommodate every kind of gathering. In a way this venue is something of a blank slate that could probably be decorated to just about any imaginable style or taste from extremely formal to completely relaxed and informal. Their website provides all the details, floorplans and lots of photos of the venue.

Allison and Tim's wedding was held indoors at Stonefire Station although it is clear that a warmer-weather event would be able to take advantage of the lovely Southwestern-style outdoor patio areas all along one side of the building. Their wedding also was unique in that there was a complete power outage due to high winds so this made everything (music, food, etc.) an extra challenge for everyone. Nevertheless, everyone kept a very positive attitude and had a wonderful time in the candlelit ballroom.

Tim and Allison made their wedding extremely child-friendly as you can see from this photo of the tables they provided in the midst of the ballroom for their youngest friends and family.

Contact Stonefire Station at (540) 832-0089 for more information.

Allegra's Studio

2008-02-01T19:47:00.000-05:00

When I arrived at last Sunday's Bridal Faire I was happy to see one of my favorite photographers, Allegra, had a booth. Over the last couple of years I've had the privilege of finding myself at several weddings that Allegra was shooting and getting to know her a bit has been a joy.

I encourage you to visit Allegra's website to see her beautiful pictures and learn more about her interesting background and extensive experience.

These photos are from 2 weddings that I performed and Allegra photographed just this past fall, one at the Clifton Inn in October and the other at the UVA Chapel in December (see my post) Allegra was kind enough to send me most of these photos and there are one or two I snatched off of her blog (she said I could) to show you how incredibly talented she is. You can contact Allegra at 434-384-0138. Enjoy!

Incredible & Delicious Cake / Art

2008-01-30T10:20:00.000-05:00

Maliha Creations
Anita of Maliha Creations brought a sampling of her incredible cakes to the Bridal Show this past Sunday. I quite literally couldn't take my eyes off of them! I think of myself as a relatively creative (crafty) person but, honestly, I can't even fathom how she makes these spectacular creations. And guess what? They're not only beautiful their delicious... so to my way of thinking that makes them perfect!

The other bonus you get from Anita is her warm personality and beautiful smile... so, if you are in the market for a wedding cake, a groom's cake... or a cake for any other occasion I would not hesitate to invite you to contact Anita. Oh, and be sure to look at her website too because there is a gallery of photos of cakes she has created and, my favorite part is her "About" page where she divulges her inspiration for her work.

Anita's homepage says "if you can dream it, we can create it," and you know, I don't think that's even the slightest exaggeration!

Contact Anita at: 434-973-3183 or anita@malihacreations.com

Beautiful Bridal Show

2008-01-30T09:44:00.000-05:00

I hope that you were able to make it to the Bridal Style Show at Farmington Country Club this past Sunday (27th) but if you weren't I will be doing a series of posts to highlight some of the many wonderful vendors that were there. As always, Susan Sorbello, the brains and talent behind this yearly event, did an incredible job producing a truly high quality event. I encourage you to visit her wonderful shop: West Main Bridal and Couture at 500 West Main St., Charlottesville 22902 or call her at (434)979-5683. Since bridal fashion is not my area of expertise I hope to have Susan provide me with some useful information about the wonderful dresses and designers that you will find at her shop and share that info. with you here on the blog a little further down the road. Thanks Susan, and staff, for another wonderful annual show!

REMINDER: Bridal Style Show this Sunday!

2008-01-24T19:19:00.000-05:00

The annual Bridal Style Show will take place this weekend at Farmington Country Club. Susan Sorbello of West Main Bridal & Couture does an excellent job of gathering a great number of quality vendors together for this show. If you register ahead of time admission is free. Enjoy!

Cville UNIONS is out!

2008-01-23T15:48:00.000-05:00

In case you haven't seen it yet the January UNIONS wedding supplement is tucked inside this weeks edition of our weekly Cville on the stands now... It's a great source of resources and information for your Charlottesville area wedding planning so please be sure to pick up a copy.

This UNIONS issue has articles and advice on: winter wedding planning, prenuptial agreements, dress shopping and eco-wedding resources to name a few. There's even a little article called "Get me to the church on... Tuesday" that profiles my very own Weekday Wedding Company (shameless plug :-)).

Even if you're wedding is a long way off be sure to grab a copy of UNIONS, it's an invaluable resource and will make your life easier!

Something Green: An Earth Friendly Wedding

2008-01-23T14:52:00.000-05:00

I want to share this great article posted today at www.readexpress.com. It has lots of great resources and ideas for planning a green wedding from Express, a free daily newspaper published by the Washington Post. This wonderful story tells of couples in the DC area who have addressed just about every aspect of wedding planning to find ways of making their big days more environmentally friendly without compromising quality and elegance.

This article addresses everything from invitations and dress-shopping to food, flowers and transportation. Although some of the resources are specific to the DC area the ideas and inspiration for an eco-friendly wedding are well worth the read. Enjoy!

Christine & Jeff - UVA Chapel & Alumni Hall

2008-01-23T14:09:00.002-05:00

After more than a year of thoughtful long-distance planning this beautiful couple were married this past weekend at the UVA Chapel after which their guests were shuttled over to Alumni Hall for a warm and welcoming cocktail hour and reception. Anyone could tell that everything chosen for this ceremony and reception was given a great deal of consideration as the choices were all elegant and unique. Everything from the garland of flowers arching over the chapel doors to the fun and unique wheatgrass table decoration at the reception was truly lovely and special.

Their ceremony too was filled with special elements... everything from the 3 movie-quote readings at the very beginning of the ceremony (my favorite was from Love Actually... the one that begins, "whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think of the arrivals gate at the airport...") to a poem that Christine had broken up into sections that she and Jeff said back and forth to each other as part of their vows. Lots of tears and laughter... what could be better?!?!

This was my first wedding reception at the Alumni Hall and I was actually surprised at how cozy and intimate this large place felt. The two large fireplaces and lots of wonderful UVA memorabilia and photos that grace the halls certainly added to the warm feeling.

Congratulations Christine and Jeff... I wish you a happy and prosperous life together... thank you for the honor of marrying you!

Could You Plan A Wedding In A Week?

2008-01-16T12:55:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure I could ... but I do know for a fact that it can be done... I saw it with my own eyes just this past weekend. And I'm not talking about a little elopement on the courthouse steps no sireee... I'm talking about a real wedding: chapel, flowers, rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, live music, customized ceremony (yes, that was my part, thank you very much :-) ) including dearest friends and family and a lovely reception. Think I'm kidding?

But seriously... this amazing couple, Suzanne and Bob, live in Florida and have 5 sons between them from prior marriages. Bob went to school in Charlottesville and practiced medicine here back in the 80's so, on January 3 when some friends put the idea in his head that he and Suzanne could have their wedding at the UVA Chapel that was it! The wheels began to turn, they called the Boar's Head Inn, booked the Chapel, contacted me and everything fell into place for their wedding on the 12th. The best part was their 50 wonderful guests and 5 sons who wouldn't have missed it for anything. The loving and heartfelt toasts at their rehearsal dinner even had me and my husband in tears and we'd only met them for the first time that day!

Suzanne commented to me several times that she simply couldn't believe how easily and flawlessly everything fell into place for their plans, certainly it was meant to be. Alice Dalton at the Boar's Head worked quickly and efficiently behind the scenes to be sure things went off without a hitch, and they did... thank you Alice!

So, just in case you don't want to spend a year in the planning you now know for sure that a wedding on short notice can be done.

The History of Valentine's Day

2008-01-16T11:55:00.000-05:00

With Valentines' Day on the horizon I thought that this bit of info. as to the origins of this day from The History Channel would be fun to share: Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day -- and its patron saint -- is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

Visit the History Channel website for expanded info.

Bridal Style Show 2008

2008-01-03T15:39:00.000-05:00

Sunday, January 27, 2008 - 2-5:30 PM
The annual Bridal Style Show will be presented by West Main Bridal & Couture at Farmington Country Club here in Charlottesville later this month. I attended last year and it was a lot of fun: great local vendors, a fashion show and yummy treats to sample.

If you register ahead of time admission is free or pay $3 at the door. For further information call: 434-979-5683 or 434-249-6060.

See you at the show!

Let Me Know What You Need!

2008-01-01T20:29:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

If you've found your way to this Blog and are planning a wedding in the Charlottesville area I hope that you will find some useful information here. If you don't seem to find what you are looking for, however, it would be very helpful to me if you would let me know what would be useful to you and what kind of info. you'd like to see here. It's a work in progress and knowing what you need would be a big help.

This Blog was created to provide useful resources, ideas and advice for couples who are in the process of planning their weddings and having your suggestions and requests would be much appreciated.

Feel free to either submit a Comment to this post or e-mail me directly anytime at revclaire@sacredgroundceremonies.com

I wish you all a Joyful and Peaceful 2008!

Green Wedding Tip: Make Smart Paper Choices

2007-12-18T13:08:00.000-05:00

So many choices to make! ... starting with your "Save the Date" card, then invitations and envelopes, announcements, programs and place cards. In making your paper choices here are some things to look for:
1. recycled, handmade, or plantable papers processed chlorine-free and printed with vegetable- or soy-based inks
2. tree-free paper made out of hemp, banana stalks, bamboo, kenaf, or organic cotton
3. a printer who will use paper with a high percentage of post-consumer recycled content
papers that aren't metallic or plastic-coated, characteristics that make them hard to recycle
4. opportunities to reduce paper use, like sending a postcard (instead of multi-enveloped notes) for your save-the-date, or using online invitations and a wedding blog to let people know about the bachelor/ette parties, rehearsal dinner, and gift registry

Here are a couple paper/invitation companies you might like to look at: Twisted Limb Paperworks and Green Field Paper Company. Also, be sure to ask at local stationary and party invitation shops for green options... hopefully by now they're offering some. It's always great to keep things local when you can. Thanks for taking steps to have a greener wedding!

Balloon Weddings!

2007-12-16T12:47:00.001-05:00

Charlottesville is a great place to get married in a hot air balloon. I've had the privilege of performing two balloon weddings in my career and loved every minute of them both. The entire process is fun: from determining if the conditions are right, figuring out where the balloon should take off from and then unpacking them, filling them with warmed air to floating away into the sky... seeing Central Virginia from that vantage point is an absolutely spectacular experience.

Some couples choose to have their wedding with the balloon tethered but both of the couples that I've gone up with have chosen to enjoy a wonderful balloon ride and landing (another adventure!).

Holding a ceremony in a hot air balloon has a couple of unique challenges the biggest of which is simply the roar of the burner that keeps the balloon aloft requires that we pause every so often throughout so that everyone can hear what's being said.

Here in the Charlottesville area I've worked with Liana and Jim, both FAA licensed pilots, at the Blue Ridge Balloon Company. Give them a call at 434-589-6213 to discuss the possibilities for your wedding. It will be a wonderful adventure!

Green Wedding Tip: Earth Friendly Weddings

2007-12-04T12:59:00.001-05:00

Visit the Earth Friendly Weddings Blog for great information and resources!

Jennifer, this blog's owner, lives in Atlanta, GA She has created a truly beautiful and incredibly useful resource for couples who want to have a wedding that takes the planet's well being into account.

Jennifer's blog focuses on green resources which she defines as, "... products that are recycled, reused, handmade, natural, organic, or fairly traded". I encourage you to take some time to read this blog... you'll discover wonderful ways to have a greener event!

UVA Chapel in December

2007-12-04T11:58:00.000-05:00

I know that I wrote about the UVA Chapel just about a month ago but it's a place I find myself pretty regularly so thought I'd pop it in here again.

There were a couple of unique things about this experience in the Chapel. First, it was almost filled... the largest group I've done a wedding for in this particular location. A really wonderful group... so happy for Bryan and Nadine!

Secondly, and I hope that you can see it in these photos but the wedding was held at about 2 PM and the light in the Chapel on this particular day was absolutely spectacular, a bit other-worldly actually! At the end of the ceremony when Nadine and Bryan walked up the aisle together the light that poured down from the stained glass windows and through her veil was just one of the most beautiful wedding picture-perfect moments I've ever seen. I have to remember to ask Allegra for a copy of one of the photos so that I can post it here for you later.

If you would like more details on the Chapel and how to go about reserving it for your wedding please look back on my November 4, 2007 post and you'll find that info. Have a great day!

So Much to be Grateful For

2007-11-22T13:26:00.000-05:00

Today is Thanksgiving and I have been trying to decide how to express my gratefulness for so much love and abundance in my life and in the lives of those I am closest to. Feeling unable to come up with the right words I have decided to share with you a wonderful video narrated by one of my very favorite people on earth: Brother David Steindl-Rast. If you are not aware of Brother David I invite you to google him and learn about his life and work... you will be deeply moved by this man's journey.

For today, however, I invite you to watch this inspiring video and listen to Brother David's lovely words. Enjoy!

With Love and Gratitude,
Claire

Eve Watters, Harpist!

2007-11-21T17:31:00.000-05:00

We were so fortunate to have Eve Watters play the harp this afternoon at Mahnaz and Scott's sweet little weekday wedding at the Clifton Inn. Eve is an accomplished Harpist with a huge and varied repertoire and I am always thrilled when I have the opportunity to do a wedding with her. Eve is also excellent at improvising and can provide wonderful options, from Celtic to Classical and everything in between, for your wedding ceremony.

I encourage you to visit Eve's website to learn more about her wide array of talents and accomplishments as well as about her wedding services. You can also call Eve at 434-823-8600. I recommend her without reservation!

Weekday Weddings

2007-11-21T16:43:00.000-05:00

In the past couple of weeks I've had 2 beautiful weekday weddings: one on a Monday (Veteran's Day) and one today (the day before Thanksgiving). Regina & Corwin had a sweet elopement at the Boar's Head Inn and Mahnaz & Scott, a family-only wedding (just 3 of their 5 combined children in attendance) at the Clifton Inn... two of the most beautiful locations in the Charlottesville area.

A weekday wedding seems to engender a certain calmness that the big weekend event often doesn't due to its very nature. Generally couples who choose a weekday wedding option like the idea of having a simpler and more streamlined wedding experience without compromising on quality whatsoever. Both of these weddings were planned through my Weekday Wedding Company which provides wonderful, high quality packages for small weddings and elopements.

A small weekday wedding package doesn't mean you can't have music, flowers, professional photography, a beautiful ceremony and lots more, rather, it means you can have all this and more with much less stress and fuss.

Check out the Weekday Wedding Company website to see all of the lovely options and give me a call to have a chat about your wedding: 434-296-9885.

House Mountain Inn - Lexington, VA

2007-11-19T21:23:00.000-05:00

I know that the House Mountain Inn isn't exactly in the "Charlottesville Area" but it's not too far away and it's such a lovely location that I wanted to include it here. To be fair, it's about 80 miles from Charlottesville, just outside of Lexington, VA and takes an hour and 20 minutes to get there.

The House Mountain Inn, a newly constructed (2004) rustic bed & breakfast, has 9 beautiful rooms and is tucked away in the mountains with truly magnificent views. The huge front porch and incredible stone fireplace in the great room are a couple of my favorite features.

This weekend was the first time I'd been to the Inn in the fall and the color was magnificent. In the spring and summer I've done weddings outdoors with the mountains as a backdrop but this weekend the ceremony was held in front of the fireplace with dozens of candles burning all around. The Inn's amazing Jaime Irvine handled every imaginable detail for Nancy and Stephen's ceremony and reception and made my job completely stress-free.

If you'd like to visit the Inn or just get more information give Jaime a call at 540-464-4004.

Inspiration for You

2007-11-11T16:46:00.000-05:00

I know this is a little different from my usual post... but hey, it's my blog so I can do it!! This may seem a little off topic, but after thinking about it I realized that it really isn't. I perform a lot of wedding ceremonies for couples who come from differing faith, racial and/or cultural backgrounds. These differences can present unique challenges on many levels when planning a wedding. Sometimes, in fact, when these differences are distressing enough to the couple's families there can be a huge amount of focus on how best to bridge these apparent disparities and make everyone happy... sometimes it can be done, and sometimes it can't.

So, today I found this amazing little video on a website called God Bless Humanity that, to me, expresses the oneness that lies at the very heart of these outer differences. If you are planning an Interfaith wedding and are encountering these challenges in your own lives I hope that you will take some inspiration from it. And, if you aren't planning a wedding at all and just happened by I hope that you will do the same. Here's the video.

The Dinsmore House

2007-11-10T23:16:00.000-05:00

The Dinsmore House, built by Thomas Jefferson’s master builder in 1817 is an historic Bed & Breakfast located just adjacent to the grounds of the University of Virginia in the heart of beautiful Charlottesville. This was my first wedding at the Dinsmore House and it was lovely. This Inn is a great location for a wedding with no more than 40 people in attendance. In order to have a wedding at the Dinsmore House it is required that the Inn be rented (all 8 rooms) for the entire weekend... which makes sense to me given the location and size of the place.

Amy Claire and Matt did just this last weekend and it was clear that their families were having a wonderful time sharing this special weekend at the Inn with the couple. Matt and Amy Claire had their ceremony out behind the Inn in a little courtyard area which had a few unique challenges in terms of seating but was truly beautiful all candlelit in the late fall afternoon.

This is the kind of place that I can imagine a couple coming back to again and again for anniversaries or other occasions that bring them back to Charlottesville. If you'd like to learn more about the Inn visit their website or give them a call at: 434-974-4663

Ceremony Music: Trios & Quartets

2007-11-05T21:53:00.000-05:00

Over the years I've had the opportunity to hear so much incredible music as part of the ceremonies I've performed. The inclusion of live music performed by accomplished musicians adds much warmth and distinction to a ceremony. Three of the groups that I've had the pleasure of working with often here in the Charlottesville area are The Encore Quartet, The Madison Trio and The Piedmont Chamber Players.

Any of these 3 talented groups can provide beautiful music for your ceremony, cocktail hour and even your reception. I invite you to visit their websites to find out more about their musical offerings and even listen to some clips of their music. You'll find a broad range of music is available including: classical, traditional wedding music, religious, contemporary and I've even heard members of the Encore Quartet perform lovely Irish music.

To contact the Encore Quartet call Jennifer Myer at 434-295-3664; the Madison Trio can be contacted by calling Christine Willard at 434-263-5779 or 434-826-9088 and the Piedmont Chamber Players can be reached by calling Bob Gross at 434-977-9828.

There's nothing like music to set the tone for your big day.... enjoy!

University of Virginia Chapel

2007-11-04T11:37:00.000-05:00

The Chapel at the University of Virginia, dedicated in 1889, no longer holds regular religious services, but is a popular site for weddings in Charlottesville... especially amongst students, alumni and anyone with a warm spot in their hearts for the University. This weekend I performed a beautiful ceremony in the Chapel for Mark and Annie, the couple you see pictured here. They had the chapel decorated with candles which gave it a warm and seasonal glow. Annie & Mark had spent time together at UVA, and having their family and friends experience a place that was so special in their history was very important to them.

The Chapel is just adjacent to the historic Rotunda, built as part of Thomas Jefferson's original academical village. The area right around the outside of the Chapel, the Rotunda and The Lawn, all provide beautiful and historic backdrops for photos and Mark and Annie enjoyed and took advantage of the beauty all around them before heading up to Veritas Vineyard for their reception.

If you are interested in talking with someone about the possibility of holding your wedding at the University of Virginia Chapel contact the Newcomb Hall Event Planning Office at 434-924-3203 or look here for information.

Pat's Floral Designs - Fall Color

2007-10-28T22:17:00.000-04:00

I mentioned in my post earlier this evening that Pat and Sherry of Pat's Floral Designs provided the beautiful, seasonal flower arrangements and bouquets for Anna and Rich's wedding at the Boar's Head Inn this past weekend. Here are photos of two of their beautiful creations.

The wedding ceremony took place in front of the fireplace in the ballroom and, as you can see, Pat & Sherry beautifully decorated the mantle and created arrangements on pedestals on either side to add fall color to the ceremony. Their centerpieces were also vibrant and colorful and made the ballroom into a complete work of art!

If you are looking for someone to create spectacular and artistic floral elements for your wedding day give Pat and Sherry a call at 540-948-5611 or 888-634-9554.

Boar's Head Inn

2007-10-28T20:50:00.001-04:00

The Boar's Head Inn is a beautiful 500+ acre resort complex in the rolling hills just west of Charlottesville. Owned by the University of Virginia Foundation, the Inn has a multitude of beautiful guest rooms, meeting and event facilities, a full service spa and health club plus a wonderful restaurant along with just about any additional amenity you can imagine.

In the last few years I've been fortunate to perform many weddings at this beautiful venue and have had the opportunity to get to know some of their wonderful staff. If you are seeking a wedding location where just about anything and everything is possible: from the simplest no-frills elopement to the largest and most complex wedding event you should seriously consider looking at this truly lovely place.

This past weekend I officiated at the ceremony for Anna & Rich... the couple pictured here. As you can see they chose beautiful fall colors with beautiful floral designs by Pat's Floral Designs. Rich and Anna chose to have a very simple ceremony with lots of their friends standing up with them (8 on each side). Their wedding took place in the Ballroom and was a lighthearted and very sweet event.

If you would like to visit the Boar's Head Inn give them a call at: 434-296-2181

Green Wedding Tip: Buy a TerraPass

2007-10-23T21:26:00.000-04:00

For most weddings carbon dioxide emissions from guest travel produce the biggest environmental impact of all of the products and services you may use. TerraPass is a way to easily and affordably balance the environmental impact of your wedding... by buying a TerraPass you will balance the emissions you can't reduce.

Once you've calculated the emissions that your wedding will likely produce by completing a quick survey here, you can buy a TerraPass. The money you spend will be used to fund clean energy and efficiency projects such as wind farms. These projects result in verified reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Using financial instruments such as carbon credits, your funds result in guaranteed reductions... read more about how this works on the TerraPass website.

When you've purchased your TerraPass you will receive a framed certificate that you can display at your wedding... informing your guests of how their travel has been carbon balanced by your thoughtful purchase.

Montfair Resort Farm

2007-10-23T17:08:00.000-04:00

If you're looking for a truly spectacular and classically Virginia mountain backdrop for your wedding Montfair Resort Farm has the view for you! This photo of the mountains and sky was the backdrop to Rachel and Carl's ceremony this past weekend... can you imagine anything more beautiful? It was funny to see all of their guests taking turns posing for photos of each other with this panoramic view behind them.

Montfair Farm is a rustic and environmentally-conscious alternative for your wedding venue. Located in the western part of Albemarle County... about 15 miles NW of Charlottesville... there is a rustic lodge with huge fireplace for cozy fall and winter events plus a deck overlooking a beautiful lake and cabins... all on this 129 acre property.

Rachel arrived for her wedding with her Dad in a horse drawn carriage and made a getaway in it after the ceremony with her groom, Carl. When I left to head out to another wedding the lodge was being beautifully decorated for dinner and there was a reggae band setting up on the deck... wish I could've stayed!

Montfair Resort Farm is a natural and comfortable location for your big day. Give them a call at: 434-823-5202

Clifton Inn

2007-10-23T16:14:00.001-04:00

In the past couple of weeks I've had 2 beautiful weddings at the Clifton Inn. The Clifton Inn is a fantastic venue with the most wonderful people, beautiful environment and excellent service around... not to mention the incredible food! Most couples choose to have their ceremony on the croquet lawn just to the side of the Inn, right in front of the carriage house... the Inn also has a huge and beautiful deck which works well as a backup ceremony location, cocktail location and/or place for a band and dance floor.

The Clifton Inn is on a 1oo acre estate and has 18 uniquely beautiful rooms... lots of couples choose to have friends and family stay at the Inn with them which gives everyone lots of opportunity to spend time together, have wonderful meals and walk on the many surrounding trails. The Inn's close proximity to Charlottesville is another nice feature with lots of restaurants and fun things to do nearby.

This past weekend Elana and Andy chose to have their ceremony on the croquet lawn under a simple Jewish chuppah and at the end of the ceremony Andy broke a glass. The Inn set up their cocktail hour right out on the front lawn under the big trees which was a beautiful sight and their dinner and dancing took place inside and on the deck.

Give Melissa at the Clifton Inn a call and go out to see for yourself what a beautiful place it is! Phone: 434-971-1800

DJ Derek Tobler

2007-10-03T20:20:00.000-04:00

Derek Tobler is a great DJ... there is no doubt! I've done many weddings with Derek, including just this past Sunday at Veritas where I got to try out his brand new wireless lavalier microphone during the ceremony... it was great. Derek has been DJing for more than 10 years and it is obvious that he loves his work. He has great audio equipment, is dependable and just an all-round great person to work with! Derek helps his couples plan just the right music for their big day and set up a timeline for their event. He is professional and easy (and fun) to work with... what could be better? Music is the backdrop to your wedding day, so having someone who can help you create the experience of a lifetime is very important. Check out Derek's website and give him a call (434-296-6689) to see if he's available for your date!

Veritas Vineyards & Winery

2007-10-02T16:50:00.000-04:00

The crown jewel of Central Virginia wineries (in my humble opinion) is Veritas Vineyard and Winery in Afton, VA (Nelson County)... about 15 miles West of Charlottesville. Veritas is a family business owned by Andrew and Patricia Hodson and is an absolutely incredible wedding venue. Not only is it spectacular and scenic from every angle, but the tasting room, decks and beautiful ballroom provide everything a couple could want in a location for their wedding.

This past Sunday evening I had the privilege of conducting the wedding ceremony for this beautiful couple, Christine and Dana, at Veritas. They had about 100 guests which is a relatively small crowd for this location but had a very elegant and and lovely event. The photo here of the ballroom with the radiant light coming through the windows will give you some idea of how beautiful it is ... but you really have to see it in person to get the full affect!

Veritas can also provide delicious dining menus for their guests with meals by their very own Chef Said Rhafiri. If you want the details on their wines go here , I'm not the best one to fill you in on those details so I suggest that you visit their site.

If you want to check out this beautiful place for your wedding give Christine Hurley, their Events Manager, a call: (540-456-8000 x107). She and her little pup, Zoe, will be happy to show you around and give you all the details on this beautiful location! Oh, and if a wedding isn't in your immediate future... just go up there for a few hours and enjoy the beauty (oh, and wine too, of course)!

First Colony Winery

2007-09-29T19:40:00.001-04:00

First Colony Winery, owned by Randolph McElroy, is about 12 miles South of Charlottesville just off of Rt. 20, nestled in the hills of Central Virginia. It's a great location for a small to medium-sized wedding - which is just what Julia and Troy had this evening! Of the several possible wedding ceremony locations at First Colony they chose the slate & stone patio right off the tasting room. It provides a lovely woodsy backdrop with the vineyards themselves off to the South a bit. With the lack of rain we've been having here this year so far I've noticed that the vineyards are looking a bit haggard and not quite as lovely and lush as they often look at this time of the year.

Although I'm not a wine drinker myself, I've heard that First Colony's wines are very good and they certainly provide a simple and attractive location for a winery wedding with a rustic tasting room and large room upstairs for sit-down dinners.

You can contact Martha Soden, the Tasting Room Manager if you're interested in finding out more about First Colony. Call her at: 877-979-7105.

Blog Blockage

2007-09-19T17:28:00.001-04:00

I knew when I started writing this blog last month that there were going to be obstacles in keeping it going ... but here's one obstacle I hadn't anticipated: it's my cat, Frank, who seems to like to get between me and my keyboard when I'm writing my blog posts or wedding ceremonies. Tossing him on the floor or asking pretty please don't seem to work... any ideas?

Green Wedding Article

2007-09-19T16:07:00.000-04:00

How Green Was My Wedding? from the New York Times Fashion & Style section on February 11, 2007 by Mireya Navarro.
A great article with lots of ideas for an eco-friendly event and many links to good green-wedding resources that you might like to consider in your wedding planning. Enjoy!

UVA Garden Wedding

2007-09-19T14:09:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday, September 15th, I did my first University of Virginia garden wedding of the year. Garden VIII is an incredible location for a ceremony. It does have a few logistical challenges for the processional but it's so lovely and cozy that the challenges are easily overcome! UVA has ten beautiful gardens, all behind Thomas Jefferson's unique serpentine walls and many of which make beautiful wedding venues.

Megan and Mark got married in front of about 125 of their friends and family. They chose a simple, no-frills (no ritual) ceremony that was full of warmth and love. After the ceremony the entire group followed the Bride and Groom to the steps of the Rotunda for a group photo. The Rotunda, designed by Charlottesville's own patron saint (only kidding), Thomas Jefferson, was the original library for the University but now houses historical exhibits and artifacts for the University.

If you are interested in looking into booking a UVA Garden, or other location, for your wedding call the reservations office in Newcomb Hall at: 434-924-3601.

Green Wedding Tip: A Wedding Favor Alternative

2007-09-14T20:58:00.001-04:00

Couples spend lots of money each year on favors to put on their reception dinner tables for their guests. Earlier this year I saw a wonderful green alternative to the typical wedding favors and I want to share it with you.

Matt & Marlita (Matt is in the military) chose to make a small donation on behalf of each of their guests towards a charity that is near and dear to them, one that clears minefields. So, at each place setting, instead of a favor that would probably find it's way into the landfill before long, there was the card you see here.

In case you can't read the card, it says: "Thank you for joining in celebration of our new life together. To show our appreciation, a small donation has been made in your honor to the Adopt-A-Minefield program. Together these small gifts will contribute to the clearing of a minefield and to making our planet a safer place to live."

Another great resource for finding wonderful charitable favors you can choose for your wedding is JustGive.org. What a great way to start your new life together!

Keswick Hall

2007-09-14T20:12:00.000-04:00

Summer & Matt had a lovely, very small family-only wedding this evening at Keswick Hall. Their simple, heartfelt ceremony was held in a slight drizzle on the patio overlooking the golf course, just outside the rustic Garden Room. I've done several other ceremonies at Keswick Hall, but never one this small and intimate. As usual the folks at Keswick Hall did an expert job on every detail and the rainy day provided a soft, lush backdrop for the occasion.

I'd only just met Matt & Summer this past week when we met to discuss their upcoming wedding and they chose a very simple ceremony followed by dinner with their families. Summer didn't want to do the usual bride things like walking down the aisle and having a lot of the usual extras... just spending the evening with each other and their families was what they felt was important.

Keswick Hall, a large and elegant location just outside of Charlottesville in Albemarle County, isn't the place I'd usually think of for a tiny family-only affair, but from now on I will!

Holland Photo Arts

2007-09-10T15:48:00.000-04:00

Hindu-Catholic Wedding
Last fall I had the opportunity to officiate at a truly incredible Interfaith wedding: the bride, Sabeena, from a Hindu family and the groom, Patrick, from a Catholic family. Just recently I discovered, that although this wedding was in DC their photographers, Anne and Bill Holland, had been "imported" from lil' ol' Charlottesville just as I had.

Sabeena and Patrick's wedding was one of the most colorful and pageant-filled I've had the honor to be a part of. The groom arrived on horseback to the banging of drums and shouts of celebration from the family. Their ceremony incorporated words and rituals from both the Hindu and Catholic traditions with explanations in between so everyone could keep up! On the Hindu side the bride and groom exchanged beautiful flower garlands and took 7 steps (saptapadi) around a homa (sacred fire) as they made their promises to one another. On the Christian side the couple performed a Unity Candle ceremony and everyone enjoyed a beautiful scriptural reading.

I would imagine that for a photographer this kind of wedding would present wonderful artistic opportunities and Bill and Anne Holland of Holland Photo Arts took full advantage of the day! Their pictures of Sabeena and Patrick's wedding are absolutely spectacular... I hope that you enjoy the 3 I am including in this post. If you are looking for an amazing photograpic duo for your wedding give them a call: 434-295-9681

Oak Ridge Estate

2007-09-09T15:59:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I was honored to officiate at a beautiful ceremony at Oak Ridge Estate in Arrington, VA. Oak Ridge is a huge, historic property in Nelson County, Virginia which is an easy drive on Rt. 29 immediately South of Charlottesville. Jessica and Rick chose to be married under a chuppah, or wedding canopy, that in the Jewish tradition, represents the promise of the home that the newly married couple will create together. It was a lovely evening with a loud chorus of late-summer cicadas in the background. I am always happy when summer weddings are held late in the day (theirs was at 7 PM) because everyone is so much more comfortable once the daytime heat has subsided and no one has to be out in the sweltering sun.

Of the many wonderful ceremony locations around the Oak Ridge property Rick and Jessica chose the Carriage House as their venue. As always, Rhonda Holland (from Oak Ridge), was on hand to handle every imaginable detail for the couple. Rhonda makes the execution of a large event look so effortless and easy and I know she certainly makes the logistics of my job as Minister so much less stressful!

If you're interested in Virginia history take a look at the extensive history of the Oak Ridge Estate on their website and if you are looking for a lovely, rural setting for your wedding check out this location.

Green Wedding Tip: Reduce, Reuse & Recycle

2007-09-06T15:35:00.000-04:00

The Green Guide
It's important for all of us to do what we can to live more lightly on our beautiful planet. Weddings are notorious for being high-impact affairs... using lots of energy and making a rather large "carbon footprint". There are lots of alternative choices to be made that will make your wedding an event planned with love for each other and for our planet. National Geographic's Green Guide has lots of wonderful tips, insights and links to great information on creating a more eco-friendly wedding. Enjoy their "Three R's of Wedded Bliss" article by Maureen Ryan and get started today planning a greener, more conscious wedding.

Charlottesville Bridal Show Coming up on September 16th

2007-09-04T15:53:00.000-04:00

Coming up in a couple of weeks... next week I'll let you know the names of local Charlottesville vendors that will be participating...

The Greater Virginia Bridal Show
Sunday September 16, 2007
Ash-Lawn Highland, Charlottesville, Virginia.
2-5 P.M. admission is $7

Fashion show including Anna-Joy's, Celebrations Bridal, Freda, Pleiades Vintage and Custom Bridal, and S&K Men's Wear and the area's finest wedding professionals. Thousands of dollars in door prizes. Grand prize is a Honeymoon for two.

For more information email shows@vabridemagazine.com or call 804-822-1768

Inn at Old Virginia

2007-09-01T19:25:00.000-04:00

My second wedding of this holiday weekend was at a lovely place that I'd heard of but not had the opportunity to experience until today... the Inn at Old Virginia just outside of historic Staunton, about 40 miles West of Charlottesville in the Shenandoah Valley. With near perfect weather the ceremony was held 'round back of the Inn with a panoramic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains as the backdrop. Before the Ceremony began I had the opportunity to meet and spend a few minutes getting to know Becky Field, the Inn's manager and wedding contact who was, obviously, very good at her job... taking care of a dozen final details for the day's event while kindly welcoming me to the Inn and getting me a glass of water.

Danyiel and Chris are a lovely couple and their wedding was one in which the love between them was palpable and so sweet! They chose to include a Sand Ceremony ritual as part of their ceremony, symbolizing the entwining of their lives and their commitment to a shared future. With the slight breeze I was happy that they had chosen a Sand Ceremony as there were no candles to keep lit!

Congratulations Chris and Danyiel!

Beautiful Backyard Wedding

2007-09-01T11:15:00.000-04:00

Just this morning I had the opportunity to perform a ceremony at a beautiful, small, family-only wedding right here in Charlottesville. I loved it! Small backyard weddings are among my favorites... the feeling is always intimate and usually somewhat informal which is nice. This couple, Kathleen & Bill, chose to have a spiritual ceremony that included a Hand Blessing ritual which is a very modified Handfasting from the Pagan tradition.

An important part of the ceremony was acknowledging each of their children from prior marriages and letting them know how important their love and support was to the couple. Bill's daughter read one of my very favorite readings... an excerpt from the Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.

A backyard wedding gives you lots of opportunity to be creative, to welcome you loved ones to your own home and to just generally create an atmosphere of love and gratitude for your guests. I had the opportunity to meet everyone and even have short, personal conversations with each guest which, of course, I am not able to do at a bigger event. All in all if a couple is looking for a small, very personal and somewhat less formal wedding experience I think backyards (or front yards, or living rooms) are the way to go!

Cville Weddings

2007-08-21T12:03:00.000-04:00

A Great Charlottesville Area Wedding Resource
If you are an internet person (like me) you have probably discovered dozens of websites that have links to vendors for all of the various products and services that you might need for your wedding planning… so finding resources is not necessarily the challenge, in fact you could easily be overloaded with information – but finding the ones that are most helpful and targeted to the Charlottesville area can be a challenge.

Cville Weddings is a wonderful site created by Jessica Clark. When Jessica was planning her own wedding in Charlottesville a couple of years ago she became frustrated trying to find the services she needed… this website is her brilliant response to that challenge… I know you’ll love it! Be sure to tell any vendors you know who are not listed on Jessica's site to sign up so that we can build an even stronger resource for future brides and grooms in the Charlottesville area!

Green Wedding Tip: Diamonds

2007-08-21T10:15:00.000-04:00

Each month I'll share with you some of my ideas and resources on creating a more eco-friendly celebration. There are so many wonderful ways to have a fun, beautiful, delicious and sustainable event... check back weekly for more info.

When purchasing your engagement ring and wedding bands consider starting with a conscious alternative to diamonds that are mined in war zones and fund conflicts called "blood diamonds". My own engagement ring is a beautiful Aquamarine with 2 white sapphires. Nevertheless, if you have your heart set on having a diamond there are many routes to go, here are some ideas and resources:

choose a vintage ring - whether it's a family heirloom or an antique find.
consider a lab-created diamond, check out Green Karat.
diamonds that are mined in Canada or Australia where "blood diamonds" are not an issue: See: Brilliant Earth; Cred Jewellery or Leber Jewelry's Earthwise line.
also, look for diamonds that are certified as "conflict free" under the Kimberley Process, an ongoing effort to reform diamond mining in Africa. On Amnesty International USA's website you can download the Conflict Free Diamond Buyer's Guide for information and guidance as to what questions to ask your jeweler.

Get off to a great start in your new life together and set the tone for your future with the purchase of a beautiful ring that expresses your love and promotes your highest values.

Check back next week for another Green Wedding tip!

Video For Your Wedding Day

2007-08-16T12:11:00.000-04:00

A video of your wedding day is something you and your families will always treasure and Jill Rose of Jillian's Video Productions is the very best you'll find! Jill will capture your day beautifully and professionally. Her artistry, sensitivity and technical know-how are second to none and the finished product that she provides to her couples is a priceless masterpiece.

One of the best reasons that I know of to have your wedding video-taped... other than as a lasting memory of the day for generations to come ... is to allow those who were not able to attend, elderly grandparents, siblings with small children who can not travel and anyone else who sadly has to miss your big day, the opportunity to share in your happiness in a way that only video permits.

Jillian, and her crew (she always has 2 cameras going) use the best equipment available and somehow seem to be everywhere at once... capturing the important moments in a documentary style. She also does mini-interviews with your guests so that later you'll get to see and hear your friends and family's love and best wishes for you. What could be better?

Check out Jill's website for samples of her spectacular work!

Including Your Pets in Your Wedding

2007-08-14T17:11:00.000-04:00

Lots of people are in love with their animals... including me (I have a dog and 3 cats) ... and want to find a way to have them participate in their wedding ceremony. Believe it or not I've actually had 2 brides carry their dog down the aisle instead of a bouquet! Generally speaking I'm always very happy when critters are included and there are many ways to do it. In the photos here you see Herbie the Love Bug (that's his full name) wearing his doggy tux. He was well behaved enough to actually stand up (or sit down) with the groomsmen through the entire ceremony. I'd have to guess that Herbie had more pictures taken of him than the bride did! Herbie's Mom (the bride) was a veterinarian so dogs and horses were an important part of the day. The other pup here, Coltrane, was the ring bearer in his parent's ceremony. When it came time to bless and exchange the rings he trotted right down the aisle (accompanied by a friend of the couple) with them tied to his collar with a ribbon... another big hit, naturally!

So, if you are thinking of including your beloved pet in your ceremony don't hesitate to find a way... ask your Minister or Officiant to help. Sometimes a couple will tell me that their dog is just too excitable to actually participate. Then, at the very least, the couple will have some pre-wedding photos taken that include their pets. After all, they're an important part of the family and including them in the celebration makes perfect sense!

Barboursville Vineyards

2007-08-13T18:07:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday I got to drive up to beautiful Barboursville Vineyards (in Orange County) for a lovely, small wedding. Jill and Bruno had a very sweet and personal ceremony in a long, narrow room overlooking acres and acres of vineyards with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background. Barboursville Vineyards is one of those venues that offers a wonderful variety of options... they can accommodate a large crowd but also have perfect spots for the smallest of weddings. I'm not a big wine person myself but I've heard that theirs is the best! Also, their award-winning Palladio Restaurant, the 1804 Inn, and the ruins of Governor Barbour's mansion (designed by Thomas Jefferson) makes this particular Vineyard a place with something for everyone.

Speaking of wine... Bruno and Jill chose to include a Wine Ceremony as part of their wedding. This is a lovely ritual that involves the blending of wine from 2 carafes into a wine glass after which and the Bride & Groom share a bit together. The mixing of the wines (one white, one red) can symbolize the joining of their lives, it can also symbolize their promise to walk through life together, sharing both the bitter and sweet parts of the journey. A Wine Ceremony is a lovely addition to a wedding and is especially appropriate when the wedding is at a winery!

First Charlottesville Weddings Blog post

2007-08-13T00:43:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking about starting this blog for weeks... no, months! So tonight I'm just jumping right in there. It may not be perfect to start with but at least it's in process. As an Interfaith Minister and Wedding Officiant I create and perform dozens of wedding ceremonies every year. In the process I have the opportunity to meet and spend time with every kind of couple and lots of wedding vendors from near and far: photographers, caterers, musicians, DJ's and on and on. Over the years I've learned a lot and this blog is my attempt to help you... the bride and groom who are planning their wedding in the Charlottesville area.

I've got lots of ideas about the content of this blog... but only time will tell! I invite you to come back often... or subscribe to my feed... so that you can keep up with my posts. Also, please feel free to send in any questions or comments and I'll try to address them for you as well. If I don't know the answer, chances are I know someone who does!