Love Has No Boundaries

All you need is love.  Charmaine & Aly are definitely an example of that and was much needed on this particular Saturday, August 12th.  On a day that started with Charlottesville being on the national news for a white supremacy gathering that turned tragic, it was reassuring to see how diversity can be so beautiful.  With Charmaine arriving from China just 5 days before her wedding day, and Aly arriving about 8 days from Dubai for his wedding day, these two were ready to show the world how love is blind and can conquer any boundaries.

Charmaine & Aly began their wedding day like they did on their first date with a pool game.  I was told that Charmaine won the last time they had played which was many years ago and Aly always wanted a rematch so today was the day.  I won’t say who won but I think another game is in order to break a tie.

With a lot of the guest being from Dubai and Pakistan, the brief rain storm we had was such a treat for them.  To them, the rain was like the first snow fall for us.  They just don’t get rain in the desert and relished in it.  To top it off they were treated to a double rainbow!  They definitely hit the pot of gold at Keswick Vineyards!

Charmaine had a beautiful, white lace wedding dress with a veil to cover her face.  She was simply beautiful!  After some photos, she would change into her “comfy” dress that was adorned with jewels on the front bodice.  Even better, it had pockets!!!

Guests enjoyed a delicious 3 course plated dinner prepared by Harvest Moon followed by a 3-tier cake by Passionflower Cakes.  It was one of the best cakes I have tasted!  Guests enjoyed the rest of the evening dancing the night away and enjoying a little late-night rain, yet not enough to spoil the couple’s sparkler departure.

Thank you to the following vendors for making this international wedding a huge success despite the distractions that were going on in Charlottesville:  Keswick Vineyards as their Day of Coordinator, Harvest Moon Catering, Tourterelle Floral, DJ Derek Tobler, Ayesha Photography and Passionflower Cakes

Aug 12, 2017 at 2:03 PM Permalink

So Many Great Ideas!

On Saturday, August 5th, Katie and John were married at Keswick Vineyards.  For an early August vineyard wedding you couldn’t of asked for a more perfect day with the weather.  They really hit the Jack Pot with no humidity and a breeze to top it off.

They chose to be married in front of the fountain at Edgewood Estate.  This is a very popular location for ceremonies under 140 in size.  With the back drop of the vineyard and the mountain views you can see why this location is so popular.  With a barrel with a unity candle in the middle and a couple of floral arrangements on each side, they were all set.  

Katie and John had so many cute ideas for their wedding as you can see by my photos.  I really like the photo of them with balloons that guests would sign versus the traditional guest book.  They also had a bible that guests highlighted their favorite verse and then signed it.  I think that makes a great guest book also for those that are religious and know their bible versus.  A beautiful memory barrel was also under the reception tent and I just loved the little saying displayed with the photos and angel statue.

Guests enjoyed a family style dinner prepared by Travinia Italian Kitchen.  Topping off that dinner was a wedding cake, cupcakes and cannoli’s!  No one left unsatisfied that evening.  

What better way to end the evening then to have a sparkler send off with one of Albemarle Limousine antique cars to drive you away in.

Thanks to the following vendors for making this dream wedding reality for Katie & John:  Wedding Planner, Keswick Vineyards; Caterer, Travinia Italian Kitchen; Desserts by Sweethaus; DJ Andy Wilfong of Party Masters; Musicians Terra Voce; Photographer & Photobooth, Ward Photography; Videographer, Partytrap Studios; Hair & Make-up by Charlottesville Makeup Artist; Florist, Lacy’s Florist; Skyline Tent Company for tent lighting; Officiant Father Jason Lody; Transportation by Ambassador Limousine (buses) and Albemarle Limousine for vintage get away car.

Aug 5, 2017 at 8:13 AM Permalink

Thays and Clinton get married!

Congratulations to Thays & Clinton who were married at Keswick Vineyards on Saturday, July 22nd.  With most of the guests being from Miami, this wedding definitely had some “heat” to it.  Thays looked exceptionally beautiful in her wedding dress.  I just love the look she gave her father as they made their way to the alter.  When Clinton laid his eyes on her you could see his eyes swell with tears as he was captivated by her beauty at that moment.  

Speaking of moments, we all know how cute flower girls can be.  I’ve seen those little ones walk on their own, be pulled in a wagon, have their parents carry them or I’ve even seen them run the opposite direction!  What made this flower girl different was you had to add about another 90 years to the normal age of a flower girl.  Yes, Thay’s 94 year old Grandma was her flower girl and was just thrilled with that role.  All the guests were amused as she threw rose petals into the crowd versus onto the aisle.

Cocktails were held under Keswick’s 300+ year old oak tree.  I just love the bar that they rented from Paisley & Jade.  After a delicious dinner prepared by Goodrich Gourmet Catering, it was time to hit the dance floor.  Thay and her father stole the show with their dance.  I was told Thays was dancing disco even before she knew how to walk and it showed.  The two of them did a father/daughter dance that just had everyone cheering.  Definitely one of the best I’ve seen.

Lastly, guests enjoyed desserts with homemade pies, cake and donuts.  The donuts were displayed on a pegged door so guests could just pull off the donut of their choice.  And for those that wanted a different type of dessert, cigars and brandy were also on hand!

Thanks to the following vendors for doing such an exceptional job:  Event Coordinator, Keswick Vineyards; Catering, Goodrich Gourmet Catering; rentals, Paisley & Jade and MS Events; Officiant, Moretta Henderson; Desserts, Sweethaus; DJ, Ty Russel; Harpest, Eve Watters, Photographer, Leah Hewitt Photography; Hair & Make-up, Carolyn Thombs & Malia Rafaie; Florist, Amy Dittmer; Video, Joseph Kim; and tent lighting, Skyline Tent Company.

Jul 22, 2017 at 7:28 AM Permalink

Twins, Cupcakes, and a hot July wedding!

Congratulations to Sarah and Sean who after being together for six years tied the knot at Keswick Vineyards on Friday, July 14, 2017.  Being a July wedding in Virginia, it can be hot.  I remember when they toured the property pointing out to them a good shady area in front of the fountain that would be greatly appreciated by their guests if they ended up having one of those hot, July days.  Well, they did have a beautiful, hot & sunny wedding day and remembered that spot and used it!  I was so happy to see that and I’m sure their guests really were the happiest.  This was a first for any of our couples to use this location.  From the photos, I think you all would agree that it is just as beautiful as any ceremony location at Keswick Vineyards.

Sarah is a twin and had her sister walked her down the aisle.  Another first for us at Keswick Vineyards.  What a special moment for those two to share.

The evening sunset provided a beautiful backdrop as guest enjoyed a buffet dinner prepared by Blue Ridge Catering.  I must say, the grilled chicken with pesto sauce was delicious!  And speaking of delicious, those cupcakes from Paris Cake Company.  I’m so happy the family let me keep the extras!  After dinner and dessert, it was onto the dance floor for guests to dance the night away.  Adding to the festivities the couple had glow sticks for their guests to grab and use while dancing and instead of a sparkler departure the couple was showered with bubbles as they drove away to their happily ever after!

Special thanks to the following vendors who make each of our weddings so special:  Caterer:  Blue Ridge Catering, Dessert:  Paris Cake Company, DJ:  DJ Ricky of Prime Time Sound, Phtographer:  Megan Garrison, Officiant:  Jay Ford with his wife Denise acting as wedding planner, Hair & Make-up:  Judy Hayward of On Location Bridal.

Jul 14, 2017 at 7:04 AM Permalink

Picture Perfect

What a beautiful day for a wedding!  Saturday, July 8th was one of those perfect weather days in Virginia.  To eccentuate the beautiful weather Aimee and Antonio chose our “fall location” to say their I do’s.  What a view this location has.  There just isn’t a bad view.  Between Edgewood Estate, the fountain, the vineyard and then the mountains, how do you decide how to angle your aisle?

As guests arrive they were instructed to use a polaroid camera to take a photo.  They then would tape that photo to the guest book and write a message.  That certainly personalized that guest book for the couple.

During the ceremony, their officiant had them pause for a moment to take a look at their guests and to just say hi to everyone.  It was just one of those prompt moments that just made everyone feel included in the ceremony.  When the ceremony was completed guest waved wands that were made that had ribbons and bells on them.

As the couple left to do photos guests enjoyed beverages and appetizers prepared by Harvest Moon.  Once the couple returned, guests went under our Sperry Tent for a delicious dinner including salmon as one of their entrees.

To finish the evening guests enjoyed cake and danced the night away under a disco ball!

Thanks to the following vendors for making Aimee and Antonio’s wedding a picture pefect evening they will never forget:  Keswick Vineyards as their Day of Coordinator, Harvest Moon Catering, Officiant Claire Frances, Cake from Cakes by Rachel and One Creative Cookie, DJ Andy Wilfong of Party Masters, Musicians Classical Hillbillies, Meredith Coe Photography, Hair & Make-up by Avenue 42,Florals from Flowers by Zoie, Transportation by Albemarle Limousine and the Disco Ball from Skyline Tent Company.

Jul 8, 2017 at 1:05 PM Permalink

That's Amore!

Love was definitely in the air for these two coming all the way from France to have their Virginia vineyard wedding at Keswick Vineyards on July 7th, 2017.  Arnita has to be my most energized bride I have ever had.  She was so much fun to work with!  As you can see, from the beginning of her wedding day with her bridesmaids, having a good time was what it was all about.

How cute was their first look?  It played out like Romeo and Juliet!  Matthieu was up on a balcony to turn to see his beautiful bride below.  How creative was that?  Speaking of being creative, Arnita refurbished her mother’s veil into her wedding gown.  I just love when couples are able to do things like that.  I think Arnita’s Mom had just as much fun at her daughter's wedding as Arnita did.  She just had to get in every photo.  It was evident how close of a relationship these two share.

Again, you can see from the photos how excited Matthieu and Arnita were when they exited their ceremony.  They were definitely “gettin' down”!  Their entire wedding was like that from start to finish.  Just tons of happiness, joy and celebration!

Of course, when you live in France, who better to have cater your wedding than l’étoile Catering?  Their service and flavor of food was top notch.  I look forward to having them back!

Once again, special thanks to all the vendors for doing what they do best; making weddings at Keswick Vineyards perfect!  l’étoile Catering, Robert Radifera Photography, Foxtail Cottage Floral, MS Events for Rentals, Wedding Planner Pamela Harris, Celebrant Keith M. Hoyle, DJ TD Layman of Sound Enforcement and Make-up Artist Kimberly Bazemore.

Check out some of Robert Radifera's photos here!

Jul 7, 2017 at 8:37 AM Permalink

Country Chic

Travis and Julie were wedding number two over our 4th of July weekend. They channeled their country roots and showcased that during their beautiful Charlottesville vineyard wedding on Sunday, July 2nd.

Every detail of their event was carefully thought out and carried along with the same theme. The bridesmaids wore short blush colored dresses with cowboy boots and the guys all sported their boots with boot-cut jeans. Attire aside, they kept the country wedding theme going with their detailed décor. We loved the wooden cupcake tiers that surrounded their main wedding cake. It brought the perfect amount of rustic into that portion of the night! Before they made their way to cake though, dinner had to be served! Hank’s Smokehouse served delicious hand pulled pork with a variety of “fixin’s” on the side. Guests loaded up their plates and hardly an ounce was left behind. That’s when you know it’s good!

Wedding coordinator, Real Southern Accents. Catering, Hank’s Smokehouse. Desserts, Cakes by Rachel. DJ, TD Layman. Hair & Makeup, Juli Schaffer. Florist, Willow Branch. Officiant, Pastor Gabe Turner. Lighting, Skyline Tent Company. Rentals, MS Events. 

Jul 2, 2017 at 1:31 PM Permalink

Huong Up on Eddie

Eddie and Huong came and kick started our 4th of July weekend here at Keswick Vineyards on Saturday, July 1st. The two were once upon a time Charlottesville locals and after recently making the move to Northern Virginia they were excited to come back for their wedding!

Pairing this couple together was an obvious choice. Eddie likes to think he knew from early on that the spitfire southern bell he met on the Downtown Mall was the one for him. Huong tells a different version, but nonetheless, almost 10 years later they walked down the aisle together as husband and wife after they said their I do’s!

Following their beautiful vineyard ceremony, they were ready to party. The couple and their wedding party snuck away for some quick photos and then they were ready to roll. They had the perfect summer night to enjoy with fine wine and amazing views. In true Huong and Eddie fashion, they needed to spice things up and end the night with more than just a sweet treat. They had custom poptarts made by the wonderful Wonderment of Charlottesville and brought in another local favorite, Benny Delucas pizza, to send guests off into the night fun and full!

Thank you to all of our vendors.

Event coordinator, Angelica Laws with Keswick Vineyards. Catering, Harvest Moon Catering. Photography, Sarah Goodwin Photography. DJ, Dennis Payne. Hair & Makeup, Jennifer Saunders. Florist, Cville Blooms. Transportation, UTS Charter Services. Desserts, Wonderment. Officiant, Fr. Antoninus Niemiec and Fr. Nguyen Viet Hung. Lighting, Skyline Tent Company.  

Jul 1, 2017 at 12:55 PM Permalink

Ben Wins!

June 24th was a significant day for many reasons. Our wine maker and our wedding coordinator celebrated their birthdays and we celebrated the marriage of Winston and Ben! Everyone rolled in that Saturday in high spirits and they continued on throughout the day and well into the night.

The vineyard was this couple’s ceremony location of choice and it was perfect for their sunny summer day. They shared their vows with one another and proclaimed their love with their families and friends present. After that, the adventure truly began!

Signage has been trending in the weddings world as of recent, and I think it’s safe to say Winston and Ben following right along with this one (and then some)! Take a look at their massive welcome sign. It was almost as tall as me! We had to take a picture of it next to me for the comparison.

Another massive part of their wedding was their wedding party. They believed the more the merrier when it came to their group! They had an impressive lineup, all of which helped bring “Benston” together for their happily ever after.

Thank you to the following vendors!

Wedding coordinator, Allison Mays. Catering, Harvest Moon Catering. Photography, J&D Photography. Florist, Hedge Fine Blooms. DJ, John Garland. Officiant, Alex Evans. Desserts, Cakes by Rachel. Transportation, A Goff Limo. Lighting, Skyline Tent Company. Rentals, MS Events.

Click Here to see the professional photos from J&D Photography!

Jun 24, 2017 at 11:33 AM Permalink

Seven Years Strong

We shared our Father’s Day with Kailie and Daniel as they were married here at the vineyard. This couple were high school sweethearts and had been together an impressive 7 years! On the 18th of June we were there as the two became one with their marriage.

Kailie and Daniel had bright colors for their beautiful spring day. Their coral colored accents were perfect to brighten up their day. They kept the trend going throughout different areas of their wedding with their homemade décor. We love seeing our couples get crafty with their wedding day décor. It further personalizes their wedding day and make it beautifully unique to them!

After the couple symbolically blended their sand during their ceremony, the group was ready for cocktail hour around the corner on the East Lawn. Guests were encouraged to share their photos on Instagram with their cleverly crafted hashtag before they found their table and headed to the reception. Dinner was served, cake followed, and this bunch became another one of Keswick Vineyards happily married couples!

Congratulations to Kailie and Daniel and thank you to our vendors!

Event coordinator, Jessica Brady, Terri Rogers, and Kelly Caldwell. Catering, Pumpernickel Pickle. Photographer, Ray and Karina Perez. Videographer, Clarissa Auila. Hair and Makeup, Leah. Florist, DIY. DJ, Greg Tutwiler. Desserts, Sweethaus. Officiant, Josue Vazquez. Lighting, Skyline Tent Company. Rentals, MS Events.

Jun 18, 2017 at 10:46 PM Permalink