Chinese Traditions & More
One of my favorite things about hosting weddings at Keswick Vineyards is being able to witness different cultures and their wedding traditions. On Saturday, September 30th, Katie and Ben were married surrounded by their family and friends.
The day started out with the Chinese tradition of a tea ceremony. The events that led up to the tea ceremony were so much fun for everyone to watch. It started with the groom and his groomsmen skipping their way to the pool gate. On the other side were the bridesmaids. Ben had to convince them that he was worthy of Katie’s hand in marriage. So, the bridesmaids had several games he had to pass in order for them to grant him access to her.
For the first game the groomsmen strapped an empty Kleenex box around their waste. Inside the box was jingle bells. They had to shake their boxes so the bells would come out for the groom to catch in his box. The amount of bells caught would represent how much he wanted to marry Katie. He passed that test!
For the second game the bridesmaids figured out a way that Benjamin would never forget how to spell Katie’s name. Each groomsmen had to put on a diaper. With a sharpie in their mouth, they had to each write a letter on the back side of a diaper to spell out her name. He also passed this test!
Finally, Ben had to practice on his groomsmen how to make Katie’s toes curl. The bridesmaids would direct different locations for Ben to lick whip cream off of each groomsmen. Ben and his groomsmen were all very good sports and he passed this test also which proved he was cleared to marry Katie.
From that point, the formal tea ceremony started. Each set of parents were presented with some tea from the couple as they kneeled and received blessings from their parents. Now, a quick bit to eat and it was time to get ready for the Western American ceremony.
Katie & Benjamin chose to be married closest to the vineyard with the mountains in the back ground. The weather was just picture perfect. As they exited the ceremony guests blew bubbles to join in the celebration. While the couple went to take some more photos, guests enjoyed cocktails and appetizers.
Once under the tent, dinner and dancing was on the schedule to last the rest of the evening. If you will notice, they decided to change the color of our up lighting in the tent to purple. To finish off the evening, Katie and Benjamin enjoyed taking some funny photos in the photo booth.
Thanks to the following vendors for making this cultural wedding day one to remember by all who attended: Catering by C&O, Wedding Planner Anh Dang, Chandler’s Bakery, DJ Dennis Payne, Videographer Emotion Pictures, Photographer Kelly of Kay Pea Photography, Hair & Make-up by Transformations Artistry, Flowers by Willow Branch, Photo Booth of Charlottesville, Rentals by MS Events and Transportation by Richmond Limousine.
Sep 30, 2017 at 7:02 AM
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The "Best Day"
The marriage of Amanda & Evan on Friday, September 29, 2017 started a three wedding week end at Keswick Vineyards and what a beautiful day it was! Amanda and her bridesmaids spent the afternoon in our bridal suite getting their hair done while enjoying some wine. The guys all relaxed in our “man’s cave” while watching football, playing pool and of course, enjoying some refreshments. What a great way to have everyone in one space to begin the celebration.
For their ceremony, Amanda and Evan did the sand tradition. With that, they each have a bottle with a different color of sand in it. One at a time they pour a little of their sand into a container. Each color of sand represents their two separate lives. Then, once they both have done that, they both pour at the same time their bottles of sand into the container to represent that the two of them are forever blended together and cannot be separate any more. They will then keep that glass container on display in their home to always remind them that they are inseparable.
Some of their décor I really loved. 1st, the making of a bar using 2 wine barrels and a wood table top. They added an extra feature of hanging a frame from the center of it to give it that little personal touch. Next, their table numbers which they made. Using wine bottles, they put number stickers on the wine bottles, spray painted them, then removed the number stickers and put some lights inside the bottle that were attached to a cork with an on/off switch. LOVED them! And finally, the 3 picture frames used to mark their 1st day, the yes day, and the best day. How cute is that?
Thanks to the following vendors for doing such a fantastic job: Karissa Coffey as their wedding planner, Catering by Goodrich Gourmet, Officiant Rev. Ed Martin, Desserts by Natalie Mongold, DJ Andy Wilfong of Party Masters, Videographer Christy Stevens, Hair by Lauren Perkins, Flowers by Zoie, Transportation by Camryn Limousine and tent lighting by Skyline Tent Company.
Sep 29, 2017 at 11:42 AM
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Kim and Mikes Intimate Wedding Day
What a wonderful way to wrap up a triple wedding week end with Kim & Mike’s wedding on Sunday, September 24, 2017. Kim’s day was off to a great start when her BFF Bridal Crew arrived at the bridal suite at Keswick Vineyards with robes, balloons, food & drinks for everyone! I’m so happy that I was in the room when they arrived to capture that special moment. You could see the total delight on Kim’s face. I knew her wedding day was off to a great start!
While all the bridesmaids enjoyed the treats brought by the BFF Bridal Crew, Make-up/hair artist Jeanne Cusick began to work her magic making each girl a princess. I just love a table full of make-up!
Outside Barb Wired, the event planner for this Virginia vineyard wedding, was busy tending to the details. I just loved how they made a personal wine label for their table numbers. I’ve never seen a wine bottle used exactly this way before and I thought it was a perfect fit for a vineyard wedding. I also liked how they used Keswick Vineyards corks to hold each escort card. On one side the names were hand written while on the flip side was the table number. Again, just a little winery detail to tie the wedding decorations with the venue
I often get asked what a wedding looks like that is smaller in size at Keswick Vineyards. Well, you can see for yourself. Kim & Mike had 60 people attending their wedding which made it very intimate for all. They decided to divide the Sperry tent to allow one side for dining and the other as a lounge for later in the evening. The bar and rented lounge furniture from MS Events was just the perfect touch for the other side of the tent. Guests were able to hang out in a relaxed atmosphere while enjoying some award-winning wines and music.
Special thanks to the following vendors for making sure every detail was just perfect for this wedding: Event Planner – Barb Wired, Caterer – Harvest Moon, Desserts – Passionflower, DJ – Derek Tobler, Photographer – Rachel Haggerdy, Florist – Secret Garden, Rentals – MS Events, Tent Lighting – Skyline Tent Company, Hair & Make-up – Jeanne Cusick
To see the Photographer's (Rachel) Blog from this wedding Click Here!
Sep 24, 2017 at 8:21 AM
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Lauren and Spencer's Wedding Day
Lauren & Spencer’s wedding day was finally here! On Saturday, September 23, 2017, family and friends celebrated their joyous occasion in style! Guests were transported from local hotels to Keswick Vineyards by large motor coaches. Guests made their way along a brick walk way lined with hydrangeas, through a wood pergola to the protégé to sign the guest book. For the guest book guests would leave a thumb print on a canvas and then sign it. This canvas will be framed and hung in the home of the couple as a constant reminder of their wedding day.
Lauren & Spencer chose what we call our “fall” location for their vineyard ceremony. This location has no bad view to it! Depending on the angle you choose, you can look at the estate, the fountain, the vineyard or the mountains. It has such a panoramic view that just stuns all that see it.
After the vineyard ceremony guests enjoyed some appetizers and drinks while the wedding party and couple spent some time getting photos taken. I love the soft pink colors that the bridesmaids wore. One of my favorite photos was one I snapped of the couple back by the pool. The reflection the lighting was providing was just perfect!
After a delicious dinner guests made their way just outside the wedding reception Sperry tent to enjoy a bourbon and cigar bar. To make that area even nicer the couple had bistro lights strung to cast an ambient glow overhead. Back under the tent guests danced the night away under the 30 Asian lanterns hung throughout the tent.
Again, special thanks to our superb vendors that worked so hard that evening: Event Planner-Keswick Vineyards, Caterer-Harvest Moon, Photographer-Corey Hammons of Altamiria Film Company, Florist-Hedge Fine Blooms, Lighting-Skyline Tent Company, Officiant-Kirk Nave, Desserts-Favorite Cakes, DJ-Andy Wilfong, Transportation-Ambassador Limousine, Hair & Make-up-Anna Breeding.
Sep 23, 2017 at 7:31 AM
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Time To 'Fall' in Love
What better way to celebrate the first day of fall then to have an all outdoor wedding in Virginia and that’s what Melissa & Andrew did on Friday, September 22, 2017 at Keswick Vineyards. The floral colors they chose were just perfect for such a day with white, yellow and orange hues adorning the bouquets and floral decorations. What made these floral arrangements extra special was that they did them themselves! Yes, take another look at my photos. Can you believe they ordered these flowers from Costco and then made everything themselves? Take a look at their escort cards. They also made them! I just love the little stickers that were placed on each name card.
Guest had a wonderful time at this wedding. Immediately at cocktail hour they feasted on sour dough pretzels with cheese sauce and some brie wrapped in phyllo dough along with some other cheeses and fruits prepared by Bavarian Chef. As guests enjoyed some food and wine they could also play some yard games; corn hole of course.
Dinner was served buffet style with so many choices. Speaking of choices, what about those cupcakes? They were displayed on a wood tower that was a piece of artwork. Pictures really don’t capture was a magnificent piece of wood this tower was made from and boy was it heavy! To work off some of those calories guests danced the night away under the direction of DJ Fit.
Special thanks to the following vendors: Logan Powell as their wedding planner, Officiant Dave Norris, Catering by Bavarian Chef, Desserts by Sweethaus and Chandler’s Bakery, DJ Nathan Fit (DJ Fit), Photographer Ashley Eiban and Transportation by UTS.
Sep 22, 2017 at 10:29 AM
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Nothing Like Talented Friends
The love between Cinthya and Brandon was solidified with their wedding at Keswick Vineyards on Sunday, September 17, 2017. The blessings these two had to make their wedding day just perfect was over whelming.
First, Mother Nature. Once again, she provided the most perfect weather with a slight breeze and just enough cloud coverage to make their photographer ecstatic! With no harsh sun to have to worry about, taking photos anywhere was possible.
Secondly, their family & friends. Cinthya and Brandon’s wedding cake was made by her girlfriend. She did such a beautiful job decorating it and by the way guests ate it up, I would say it tasted just as good as it looked! Their sister-in-law did an AMAZING job with their flowers. The bouquets were so beautiful and I loved how she decorated the aisle and our wood pergola with tulle and flowers. Cinthya also had her friends Colleen and Zoila do hair and make-up and one more friend provided all the linens. I just loved the dark purple linen she used on her cake table. All guests were lead in hymn during the ceremony yet by another girlfriend that had an amazing voice! And it doesn’t get much better then to have your Pastor deliver such a personal touch to the ceremony.
And finally, the vendors. Cinthya and Brandon had an amazing team of vendors that worked seamlessly throughout the entire day/night to make this day a dream come true for them. I really liked how she had the linens on her hi-top cocktail tables tied. Special thanks to: Keswick Vineyards as their Day of Coordinator, Blue Ridge Catering, DJ Derek Tobler, Ward Photography, Videographer Franco, Barnswallow Blooms, Pastor Eric Saunders and rentals by MS Events.
Sep 17, 2017 at 7:22 AM
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#TakingDebaugh
Congratulations to Gina & Douglas who were married at Keswick Vineyards on Saturday, September 16, 2017. Once again, Mother Nature provided us with a gorgeous day laying the perfect backdrop for this Virginia vineyard wedding.
This couple went all out on making sure their guests would be in awe throughout the entire wedding. To start off they had champagne at their pre-ceremony refreshment stand while a quartet played in the background. Guests enjoyed that time to mingle amongst one another while enjoying the breathtaking mountain and vineyard views Keswick Vineyards has to offer. As guests found their seat they noticed that Gina & Douglas had hired a live painter to create a canvas oil painting of their ceremony. Gina was then escorted down the aisle by her Mother and Father.
After the ceremony guests went to cocktail hour where they immediately saw the hard work Gina’s father had done by creating these large ivory boards that had table assignments displayed on them. He made two of them so they framed the entrance to the reception tent. Once again, Gina had an eye for detail and hung garland and drapery at the main entrance of the sailcloth Sperry tent just to set the stage for the rest of the evening. She also had jazz guitarist Peter Richardson to entertain guests during cocktail hour.
Once under the tent guests couldn’t help but notice the large greenery chandelier hanging over the dance floor with little bulb lights hanging down from it. It was definitely the focal point while everyone enjoyed the delicious plated dinner prepared by Harvest Moon. Afterwards there was cake and dancing until it was finally time to send the couple off with a sparkler departure.
Special thanks to the following vendors for making Gina & Douglas’s dream wedding come true: Wedding Planner, Brousseau Events; Caterer, Harvest Moon; Cake by Sweethaus; DJ Max Powers; Perfect Harmony Quartet; Jazz Guitarists Peter Richardson; Videographer, B. Sandridge Wedding Films; Hair by Elle Style Studio; Make-up by Nicole Laughlin; Florist, The Proper Petal; Lighting by Skyline Tent Company, Officiant, Reverend Dr. Ronald A. Rinn; Photographer, Corrine Kensington; Transportation, Blue Ridge Tours & Central Virginia Wine Tours and Rentals by MS Events, Classic Party Rentals, Sweetwater Cuisine & The AV Company.
Sep 16, 2017 at 6:26 AM
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Hey Mon, Shannon & Jason are married!
Congratulations to Shannon and Jason who were married at the beautiful Keswick Vineyards located just outside Charlottesville on Saturday, September 9th. With the couple living in New York, planning from a distance was something they had to do. Shannon was very fortunate that her parents lived locally and spent a lot of time helping to ensure that their daughter had her dream wedding.
As Shannon was about to leave her bridal suite to head to the ceremony location I saw her father waiting in the man’s cave. I asked if he had seen his daughter yet? He replied, “no”. Well, I knew this was one of those moments that we just had to take a time out and make it happened. I quickly got Shannon situated so when her father opened the door to see her, he simply couldn’t believe his eyes. His reaction was priceless and I only wished I could have snapped a picture of his reaction. It’s those moments that make doing weddings so special. You can see by my photos just how beautiful Shannon was in her dress. Her bouquet was definitely my favorite feature of this wedding. It was the perfect compliment to her dress.
Shannon’s Mom is Jamaican so it was important to incorporate some of her heritage into the wedding day and what better way to do that then with rum. Family members made Jamaican Black Cake cupcakes and a Rum Cake besides the couple having a traditional wedding cake. Hey Mon, it was delicious!
Guests danced the night away under Asian lanterns hung over the dance floor. And what better way to end the night then with a sparkler departure to their get away car.
Thanks to the following vendors for their exceptional service: Event Planner, Keswick Vineyards; Caterer, Harvest Moon; Cakes by Rachel, DJ John Garland, Photographer, Robert Radifera; Florist, Secret Gardens; Officiant, Rabbi Annie Bornstein; Musician, Eve Watters; Hair & Make-up, Charlottesville Makeup Artist; Transportation, A Goff Limo and Lighting by Skyline Tent Company.
Sep 9, 2017 at 6:34 AM
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Laughter Is The Secret to Life
Sarah and Michael’s long awaited Virginia wedding took place at Keswick Vineyards on Friday, September 8th in front our iconic fountain. Sarah, Michael and their friends definitely have that type of relationship where they like to rib one another so I knew this wedding could have some surprises in hand. Well, I was right!
At the conclusion of the ceremony a small stool was hidden in the bushes. Just as their Pastor said they could kiss, Michael’s Best Man interrupted that moment and placed that stool down so Michael would be taller for their first kiss. As you can see, the entire wedding party got a good laugh out of that one.
This ribbing humor continued into their wedding reception with their first dance. The groomsmen had dared our couple that if they danced to this certain song (I won’t mention it but lets just say it isn’t one you would normally hear at a wedding let alone for a first dance), they would give them $300.00. Well, they did and they are now $300.00 richer!
So, when it came time for cake cutting I definitely knew some cake smashing was going to happen and it did. Thankfully, these two have that special humor type of relationship that adds that extra spark for this marriage to last forever.
As you can see by the photos, the men really enjoyed the cigars that the couple had for their guests to enjoy. Topping off the evening with a delicious buffet dinner and desserts made by a family member. Oh, did I mention my favorite part of this wedding???? Pockets! The brides dress had pockets! Gotta love that.
Special thanks to the following vendors: Event Planner, Keswick Vineyards; Pastor Mike Gianopulos; Caterer, Harvest Moon; Desserts made by family member, DJ Derek Tobler, Photographer Stephanie Fox, Hair & Make-up by Event Hair by Lauren, Bride did the flowers and decorations, Furniture Rentals by Paisley & Jade and Albemarle Limousine for their get away car.
Sep 8, 2017 at 8:27 AM
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Shut Up and Dance with Me!
On Sunday, September 3, 2017 Amanda & Bryan FINALLY made it official and were married at Keswick Vineyards on a beautiful, late summer afternoon. This wedding was extra special for Keswick Vineyards for Amanda was the dance teacher for their youngest daughter. With Amanda being a dancer herself, we knew we would be in for treat later that evening. But, to our surprise, our treat came with their first dance.
Amanda & Bryan started with the usual slow song for their first dance when all of a sudden, the music changed and they were off to a perfectly choreographed dance (geeze, I wonder who could of done that??????) We knew Amanda was a great dancer but who knew Bryan was? He was up there definitely holding his own with Amanda. Just shows you how great of a teacher she is. The crowd were all on their feet witnessing this very special, memorable moment. I’m just upset that I didn’t have my camera with me at that timeā¹
Two things that I just LOVED from this wedding besides the couple. First, they placed outdoor bistro lights near the gazebo. This provided a perfectly lit area for the evening for guests to enjoy cocktails and cigars. In this location, everyone would walk past it versus putting it in our usual East lawn cocktail hour location.
The second thing I loved was the late night snack of ice cream sandwiches provided by Wonderment Bakery. Guest had a choice of 3 different types. I, of course, had to sample one since this was a new vendor. DELICIOUS!!! The different flavors of ice cream were in between 2 homemade chocolate chip cookies that were so good! Would definitely recommend this for those hot, summer weddings.
Thanks to the following vendors for making Amanda and Bryan’s long awaited wedding worth it: Keswick Vineyards as Event Planner, Catering by Southern Inn, Desserts provided by Sweethaus and Wonderment Bakery, DJ TD Layman of Sound Enforcement, Officiant Mike Taylor, Videographer Ian’s Creations, Hair & Make-up by Charlottesville Make-up Artistry, Flowers by Harmony Harvest Farm, Photo Booth of Charlottesville, Easy Rider Bus Company for transportation and Skyline Tent Company for the additional bistro lighting.
Sep 3, 2017 at 6:27 AM
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