The play’s the thing

Maybe you thought LEGO was just for kids. But for 19-year-old Liam Mohajeri Norris and his mother Emily, those little plastic shapes may win them a title, a trophy, and a cool $100,000 on in the “LEGO Masters” reality competition series.  And, Liam admits, “I do have the dream of working for LEGO.” Roll tape […]

When wanderlust hits

It’s a gorgeous Virginia fall. The UVA football season is nearly over, but you’re not quite ready to start your holiday shopping at area stores, and the online pre-holiday bargains can wait. So spend your weekend participating in another popular autumn pastime: exploring beautiful back roads, stopping at country markets for sandwiches or snacks, and […]

Mirror, mirror

Hailey Ballard has an unusual job. When she’s not teaching first grade, she brings a bit of magic to local kids as a princess. Well, a queen, to be precise.  Back in 2020, Ballard started working for the Albemarle County Public School District in the middle of the pandemic. The district organized a drive-by character […]

In the style of us

Shannon O’Donnell & Jono McCusty June 12, 2021, at Montalto Photos by Jen Fariello Rather than dreaming up a theme for their wedding, Shannon and Jono wanted to focus on the future. They love to entertain, so the guiding principle when planning their wedding became, “Is this an item I would have in my home?” […]

My heart is yours

Lauren McBride & Reilly McDonnell April 30, 2022, at Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards Photography by Kylie Martin While Lauren is a big fan of Jane Austen and was craving a wedding with a 17th-century Britain aesthetic, Reilly wanted a more whimsical feel. But they both knew that, whatever they came up with, the central theme had to […]

Time-honored

Roxanne Irani & Bradford Manning May 5, 2022, at Bramblewood Farm Photography by Meredith Coe Roxanne and Brad had started planning an elaborate, multi-day Zoroastrian ceremony and reception in the Virgin Islands for January 2021. Then the pandemic hit. The couple pivoted, marrying in an intimate ceremony with their families at Bramblewood Farm in Keswick, where […]

Believe in love

Kelly Martin & Joshua King July 30, 2022, at The Market at Grelen Photos by Audra Jones Photography Kelly was getting something to eat at the UVA food court one day when a stranger walked up to her.  “He said he’d seen me around and asked for my phone number,” she says. “We went on two dates, […]

Choose your own adventure

Because they’d been to plenty of weddings where they’d shelled out money for travel and accommodations and only laid eyes on the bride and groom for a few minutes, Sophie Wolf and Brian McPherson wanted to make sure their wedding was different. They had only one criterion: The venue should accommodate all of their guests […]

Enduring images

There’s no denying that photography is one of the most important parts of a wedding. Months of planning come together for one perfect day—which tends to fly by. Couples might not even get a chance to appreciate the ceremony backdrop or centerpieces they took such care designing. That’s where wedding photographers come in—while you’re busy […]

Way to go

Most wedding visions include the perfect life partner, the ultimate dress, the romantic setting, glorious weather, and wonderful food—but what about the dream motor coach?  “Transportation is a really important part that clients don’t often think about,” says Hannah Dubit of Hannah Rose Event Design. Fellow wedding planner Marilyn Speight of Just a Little Ditty […]