Our Wedding Blog

Keswick 10/27/18 Keswick 10/27/18

Pure Perfection | Arlene & Matt

Arlene and Matt’s fall wedding at Keswick Vineyards on October 27th was nothing more than perfection! To ensure a perfect wedding day, Arlene and Matt started with the Southern tradition of burying a bottle of bourbon. Southern tradition has it that if you bury a bottle of bourbon, upside down, exactly one month before your wedding day, it will ward off any bad weather. Arlene & Matt took that Southern tradition one step further and had their bottle engraved for an everlasting keepsake of their special day.

To continue with their perfection, Arlene & Matt intertwined many personal touches you could see displayed as you went from one area to another. Starting in the carport, the couple had a wine barrel front and centered for guests to deposit their cards. Next to that barrel, guests were instructed to leave personal wedding messages on Jenga blocks that the couple will always be able to reflect back upon.

As guests approach the ceremony, they immediately were captivated by the beautifully decorated wood pergola that was made by Matt’s brother. Not only did his brother make this pergola, but he also made the cocktail bar and wood cupcake towers. It was also their families that provided the floral decorations, the delicious desserts they brought from Maryland, plus the unique display for guest seating. On an easel was an old window that they inserted in each pane the table assignment for guests to browse during cocktail hour. Such a beautiful look that doesn’t break the bank to do.

And finally, when it came to satisfy their guests, they perfected that too by providing a delicious buffet dinner to feast upon. Besides enjoying award winning wine that evening, guests kept the dance floor overflowing all night long while celebrating the union of Arlene & Matt. Congratulations to you both and thank you to the following vendors for making their wedding pure perfection!

Wedding Planner: Colleen Davis, Officiant: Pastor Sarah Evancho, Caterer: Southern Inn, Desserts: Desserts by Jordan, DJ: Greg Tutwiler, Photographer: Erin Kling, Videographer: DeVries Productions, Hair and Makeup: Moxie, Florist: Scarborough Farm, Transportation: Easy Riders Bus Company, Lighting: Skyline Tent Company.

Keswick 10/21/18 Keswick 10/21/18

Beautiful October | Sara & Charlie

Sara and Charlie’s October 21st wedding had all the fall feels to it! Along with the cool weather, the colors in the Blue Ridge Mountains, vineyard, and trees changed drastically to their vibrant orange, yellow, and red autumnal colors. Needless to say, we really felt the season’s tidings at this Keswick Vineyards’ wedding!

The fall colors complemented the beautiful green and white colors that Sara and Charlie’s florist (who drove all the way from North Carolina!) decked out the ceremony space with. On the wooden pergola was white drapery with a plethora of roses and other flowers adorning it. The ceremony space was absolutely romantic with the sun beaming behind Sara and Charlie, and of course, Chancey, their designated ring bearer/pup, enjoying every second of his parents’ marriage.

One of our favorite details to this wedding was the oyster bar that was setup for guests during cocktail hour! A representative from Rappahannock Oyster Company shucked three types of oysters for guests to enjoy along with their cocktails. It’s not every day that you see oyster bars at weddings!

Another item that you don’t see at very many weddings are cork place cards. Sara and Charlie wrote, in cursive, place cards for all of their guests that was attached to a wine work. On each wine work, though, was a little succulent atop it. It seems as though succulents are a trend this year, but we haven’t seen them incorporated into wine corks!

Congratulations to a sweet couple on their marriage! We hope that you two (and Chancey) enjoy your lives together!

Thank you to the following vendors for their hard work:

Wedding Planner: Hannah Dubit with Exchange Events, Officiant: Charlie White, Caterer: Exchange Events, Desserts: Sweethaus, DJ: Derek Tobler, Photographer: Lauren Rosenau, Videographer: Joy Gaba, Photobooth: Mox Box, Hair and Makeup: Gohar Beaver and Jeanne Cusick, Florist: What’s Up Buttercup, Transportation: Easy Riders, Rentals: MS Events, Lighting: Skyline Tent Company, Oyster Bar: Rappahannock Oyster Company.

Keswick 10/20/18 Keswick 10/20/18

A Grand Entrance | Kati & Russ

Kati and Russ’ wedding on October 20, 2018 had the most heartfelt ceremony that we’ve ever experienced at Keswick Vineyards. While we’ve seen a range of ceremonies that varied in religions, time, and style, we thought that Kati and Russ’ ceremony was, by far, the best one for a number of reasons. In other words, their ceremony absolutely made their wedding!

The commencement of the ceremony was, particularly, breathtaking! Kati arrived with her father in a vintage car up Keswick Vineyards’ main driveway. While guests waited for the wedding to commence in their seats, you could hear the crunching of the gravel while Kati and her father drove up. As soon as she got out of the car, a horn was played to signify the Bride’s arrival. If you’ve never experienced a grand entrance before, this was it!

What made the ceremony the most meaningful, though, was the fact that Russ’ professor, Dr. Kevin, in a way, “officiated” the wedding. Knowing that it was going to be a long ceremony, he asked the wedding party to take a seat, while he and Kati and Russ remained standing. In a “classroom-like” way, he asked his “students” questions about the significance of marriage to which they each answered correctly to his questions.

Dr. Kevin also went into the background of Kati and Russ and, with Kati and her family being from Bulgaria, touched on how they immigrated to the United States. Kati’s father moved to the United States seven years prior to the remainder of his family moving in order to create a better life for their family. We thought it was sweet to hear that the way that Kati learned English was by reading a personal favorite, Harry Potter, and translating the words as she read through the book.

If Kati’s family never moved to the United States, then Kati and Russ would never have met and began this beautiful love story! When touring Keswick Vineyards, Kati and Russ gave us a little insight to the start of their relationship. While at a bar in Washington D.C., Kati slipped Russ a note on the back of a receipt that said, “I just saw you and I know this is crazy but here is my number so call me maybe? -K.” I’m sure that everyone could guess what their song was played based upon this story! Not only was that incorporated into the night, but they also had the note framed on their gift table for guests to see while signing their guest book.

The wedding was such a beautiful one and we were so elated to host Kati and Russ’ beautiful wedding at Keswick Vineyards. Congratulations to you two! We hope that you enjoy Paris!

Thank you to the following vendors for all of their hard work:

Event Planner: Logan Powell with Blue Ridge AV and Lighting, Officiant: Reverend Dr. Kendra Dean and Dr. Kevin, Caterer: Pumpernickel Pickle, Desserts: Commonwealth Cakes, DJ: Andy Wilfong with Party Masters, Photographer: Bethany Snyder, Hair and Makeup: Glo-Out Glamour Bar, Florist: Proper Petal, Transportation: James Limousine and Albemarle Limousine, Rentals: MS Events, Lighting: Skyline Tent Company.

Keswick 10/14/18 Keswick 10/14/18

Soulmates | Taylor & Garrett

Taylor and Garrett knew that it was meant to be from the very beginning! After only dating for a few months, Garrett decided that Taylor was going to be his life-long love and decided to propose to her at The Haven, which is located right in Charlottesville. With The Haven playing such an important part in their love story, they decided to have their ceremony there on October 14, 2018, and then afterwards, departed to Keswick Vineyards to kick off the night!

As Taylor and Garrett arrived at Keswick Vineyards as a married couple in their vintage car, guests also arrived to partake in their celebration! With the silk beige linens, lanterns, hints of blush and burgundy, and the candles that were placed throughout the tent, the reception couldn’t be more charming! We also loved the seating chart, which were white, calligraphed window panels. Everything was decorated so beautifully, and guests were in such “awe” of the romantic wedding.

Guests also couldn’t get enough of the “Mr.” and “Mrs.” game that their DJ played with the couple. While the couple faces back-to-back on the center of the dance floor, the DJ asks the couple a series of questions. The couple has to either raise their shoe or their partner’s shoe to state who relates to the question more. Amongst these questions are ones, such as, “who is the messiest person,” or “who said I love you first.” It was hilarious seeing everyone’s reactions and even more fun seeing the couple’s answers to the questions.

For the remainder of the night, guests were able to “dance the night away” and enjoy the beautiful cake and cupcakes that Taylor’s Aunt made for the couple’s wedding day. It was, truly, the perfect night.

Congratulations, Taylor and Garrett! We hope you enjoy your life as a married couple!

Thank you to the following vendors for all of their hard work:

Event Planner: Barb Wired, Caterer: L’etoile, Desserts: Susan Haisley, DJ: TD Layman, Photographer: Jeff Gleason, Videographer: Stephen Stonestreet, Hair and Makeup Artist: Jeanne Cusick, Florist: Mary Henry, Transportation: Albemarle Limousine and Camryn Limousine, Rentals: MS Events, Lighting: Skyline Tent Company, Nannies: The Nanny Network.