Llorel Eldridge was standing in a lavender field when she had the idea to start L’Essentials, her nature-inspired skincare and décor brand. “I always stayed at my grandparents’ house during the summer and we were always outside,” Eldridge says. “I’ve been inspired by nature my whole life.” She launched in 2020 with hand sanitizer, floral […]
Llorel Eldridge was standing in a lavender field when she had the idea to start L’Essentials, her nature-inspired skincare and décor brand. “I always stayed at my grandparents’ house during the summer and we were always outside,” Eldridge says. “I’ve been inspired by nature my whole life.” She launched in 2020 with hand sanitizer, floral […]
Longtime fiber artist (and communications consultant) Miriam Dickler knew her pit bull Frank was a big softy, but his serious face often said otherwise to strangers. “I started putting him in fun bandanas I made to try and help communicate his friendly, loveable personality,” she says. “It seemed to work!” Eventually, she began to make […]
After graduating from Appalachian State University with a BFA in graphic design, Emily Wool was searching for her next step. “Towards the end of the program, I had become pretty disenchanted with what I saw as the rigid world of graphic design and wanted to explore a more expressive way of art-making,” she says. She […]
Phaedra Bradley & Paige Lucas July 2, 2021, at The Refinery at 120 When they set out to envision the tone and theme of their July wedding, Phaedra—who has a background in wedding planning—and Paige decided to veer from traditional summer wedding vibes, opting instead to utilize pops of darker colors. Black candles sat atop flowy […]
Melanie Woods & Keith Bonds II July 18, 2021, at Keswick Vineyards The couple knew they wanted what they were calling “rustic glam” as the theme of their wedding, but after touring a bunch of different vineyards, nothing felt quite right (“They were too rustic—more barn-like,” Melanie says). But then they found Keswick Vineyards, with its stately […]
Linnea White & Reo Revak September 18, 2021, at Eastwood Winery It’s hardly a surprise that custom and DIY details would factor prominently in the wedding of Linnea, the owner of downtown consignment shop Darling, and Reo, a woodworker at Gaston & Wyatt—at least not to anyone who knows them. “My parents said that [the wedding] was […]
Jennifer Rose & Rob Valentine October 16, 2021, at Farmington Country Club It would take Jennifer and Rob 15 years of dating off and on (plus a global pandemic!)—from the start of high school to after Jennifer finished her MBA—for the stars to finally align for them. In 2019, Jennifer had accepted a consulting job in Atlanta, […]
Charlotte Baird & William Crandall September 25, 2021, at Boxwood Villa For about 90 percent of their engagement, Charlotte says, she and her future husband were deployed overseas, adding a layer of complication to an already stressful process. They found their venue—Boxwood Villa—online, ordered silk flowers on Etsy, and hired a caterer they both already knew […]
With its small-town feel, beautiful mountain views, historic landmarks, and a strong local food and wine culture, the Charlottesville area is a popular spot to get hitched. For brides and grooms looking to make their celebration truly representative of place, local wines are an important piece of the planning. Here are some can’t-miss recommendations for […]
COVID-19 spurred lots of creativity among couples planning weddings, including some new ideas about venues. But unusual places can also require some creative thinking ahead to ensure your perfect day comes off perfectly. Here are a few options you might not have (yet!) considered. The gallery wedding Sarah Fay Waller, principal of Day by Fay, […]