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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

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!

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!

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:

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!

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.

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.

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