One day last winter, Cathy Stapleton attended a wedding. Everything was, as she puts it, painstakingly planned (“even the weather cooperated”). But when it came time for the wedding toasts, things spun out of control. “The best man gave a lengthy speech that started out fairly amusing but went off the rails rather quickly with […]
One day last winter, Cathy Stapleton attended a wedding. Everything was, as she puts it, painstakingly planned (“even the weather cooperated”). But when it came time for the wedding toasts, things spun out of control. “The best man gave a lengthy speech that started out fairly amusing but went off the rails rather quickly with […]
An officiant could be considered the conductor of your wedding ceremony. And whether you want one that’s classical or something a bit jazzier, our area offers many options. We asked Dave Norris and Claire Frances to tell us more about how they set the tempo. Dave Norris (above) How long have you been officiating? My […]
A lot happens between the moment couples say “Yes!” and “I do!” There’s choosing a date, finding the perfect venue, crossing your fingers that the perfect venue is open on that chosen date, cake tastings, dress fittings, suit tailoring, picking a DJ (or do you want a band?). Even something seemingly inconsequential like choosing cloth napkins—ivory, […]
Each time Debbie Battle and her husband drove past the farm just down the road from their house, they commented on how ideal it would be as a wedding venue. Turns out they were right: In February 2017, they signed on the dotted line and became the proud owners of Red August Farm, Waynesboro’s newest […]
“Rustic elegance,” says Blue Ridge AV & Lighting’s Bill Randall, is the style Charlottesville couples are most interested in right now. But how does that translate to lighting? And what if you want a lighting feature but don’t want it to overwhelm your overall aesthetic? We asked Randall to give us three ideas. 1. Café/bistro […]
For some couples, a wedding day alone can’t contain the love for one another, their family and their friends. Couples are opting to plan a wedding weekend—it may be more fun, but it’s also more to consider. Wedding planner, designer, coordinator and consultant Colleen Miller of Colleen Miller Events offers some advice on what to […]
Before “I do!” comes “Will you?,” and Charlottesville is full of beautiful spots to pop the question. For outdoorsy types, there’s always Carter Mountain, which overlooks the city; Humpback Rock at sunrise (or any time—that view can’t be beat); or White Rock Falls in the Blue Ridge Parkway in Lovingston, complete with wading pool and, […]
Low stone walls, a stone deck and lots of ornamental plants create a natural feel. But the pool zone doesn’t lack for convenience: A pergola at one end shelters an outdoor kitchen complete with a dishwasher and a bathroom. When the owner asked designer Jen Greenhalgh at Jackson + Park Design to help her choose […]
When Carl and Khabira Wise spoke to us for this story, it was late afternoon and they were sitting in their pool. “We normally have pool time around 4 o’clock,” says Khabira. That’s a routine the couple has quickly established just this year, in the brand-new pool that was just installed behind their Barboursville home. […]
The first time Staci Vinson and Robyn Templeton walked into their house—even though it was still under construction—they had the feeling they’d been there before. “We’d been drawing this house on napkins at happy hours for 10 years,” says Templeton. The serendipitous part was that Jason Roberson, owner of the design-build company Builderbeast, had independently […]