Our Wedding Blog

Keswick 9/2/18 Keswick 9/2/18

Outdoor Options | Caitlin & Brooks

Couples predominately come to Keswick Vineyards because of the natural, picturesque views. The beautiful oak trees that are over 300-years-old, the abundance of the vineyard, and the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background makes for picture-perfect scenery. When you think of a simply natural and beautiful setting, this is it! With outdoor settings, though, comes outdoor options! Caitlin and Brooks, who had their wedding here on September 2, 2018, was a couple that used every aspect of the natural, outdoor setting to their advantage. We loved their various, fun outdoor options and can’t wait to share it with our readers!

One thing that we recommend to our couples is to use place cards that have some weight to them. With the nice breeze that you get for being in a mountainous region, sometimes the cards cannot withstand it and, therefore, do not stay in place. Caitlin and Brooks created a window frame and wrote each table and guests’ name on it. They leaned the beautiful window frame against one of our wine barrels and placed it on the side of the stairs so that guests could see where they were to be seated. Having such a sturdy, decorative piece was ingenious! We also loved the touch of greenery and florals that made the sign really “pop!”

Amongst this sign was also a bar sign with all of the alcoholic beverages being served. Caitlin and Brooks, again, used a window frame so that guests knew exactly what was on the menu for their drink options of the day. We thought that having the bar sign rest upon an easel, opposed to on the bar, was a great way to make a simple sign more of a decorative piece that could withstand the breeze that we receive.

Our favorite “outdoor option,” though, was the Carpe Donut truck! With transitioning into fall, it’s a great option to have apple cider donuts in lieu of a cake. Guests love to go up to the truck, order their dessert, and mingle amongst other guests outside. It’s also a great option to have for coffee so that the tent space can be maximized for other things. I know that I am not speaking for myself when I say that we could never get tired of Carpe Donuts!

The remainder of the night was spent snacking on some fall-themed donuts and dancing the night away with all attention on Caitlin and Brooks. Congratulations to the happy couple!

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

Event Planner: Keswick Vineyards, Caterer: Harvest Moon, Florist: Amanda Burnette, Officiant: Mary Schmotzer, DJ: John Garland, Desserts: Carpe Donut, Musicians: The Bloom Trio, Photographer: Jen Fariello, Hair and Makeup Artist: Top Knot and Rouge 9, Lighting: Skyline Tent Company, Rentals: La Tavola and Harvest Moon.

Keswick 6/30/18 Keswick 6/30/18

Mercedes' Bridal Shower

Most people when they hear the name Keswick Vineyards immediately think 1) award winning wines or 2) one of Charlottesville’s top wedding venue. What many may not know is that you can host any type of event at Keswick Vineyards. From corporate events to rehearsal dinners, to anniversary parties or birthday celebrations, nothing is out of our reach. So, on Saturday, June 30th, Mercedes hosted her bridal shower to celebrate her upcoming wedding with some of her closest friends.

Although the Sperry tent at Keswick Vineyards can accommodate up to 200 people, this bridal shower with less than 50 people filled the space perfectly. From an initial cheese table to greet the ladies as they arrived by bus from Washington D.C., to a “tea party” feel luncheon followed by delicious desserts, no detail was left behind. And what would a bridal shower be without games to play! A separate “living room” was created for everyone to gather at while Mercedes opened her gifts. And when the formalities were done, the dancing began! While most of the ladies got their groove on, Mercedes slipped away with her photographer to get some of those iconic photos this venue offers.

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

Event Planner: Logan Powell with Blue Ridge AV & Lighting, Caterer: The Catering Outfit, Desserts: Sweethaus, DJ: Derek Tobler, Photographer: Zaid Hamid, Florist: The Posey Detail, Rentals: MS Events, Transportation: K & V Transportation.

Keswick 6/23/18 Keswick 6/23/18

Those Little Touches Make a Big Difference | Chelsea & Daniel

Chelsea and Daniel took no chances with their outdoor wedding at Keswick Vineyards when it came to the weather. Exactly one month before their wedding they buried a bottle of bourbon, upside down, to ward off any rain. This is an old Southern tradition that has always worked for our couples. As their wedding date got closer, it appeared this tradition may not work for them. So, to play it safe, they erected another tent to be used “just in case.” Well, guess what? Yep, you guessed it. Our magical mountains and southern tradition worked and no rain! So, on June 23rd, Chelsea and Daniel had their dream outdoor, Catholic ceremony at Keswick Vineyards.

Let’s talk about details. So many special little details that really made this wedding a stand out. To begin with, the gift table; adorned with beautiful and creative, personal signs. Then, the giant floral arrangements at the back of the ceremony location on wine barrels with a pergola covered with drapery and flowers. Such a beautiful, traditional look for that outdoor Catholic ceremony. Then, after the ceremony, guests proceeded to cocktail hour and immediately saw the hi-top cocktail table linens tied with greenery versus sashes. What a great way to tie into the outdoors. Then, take a look at the simple, yet elegant, framed escort board adorned with some greenery.

Once under the tent, guests had to be taken back when they saw a different cake on each table displaying their table numbers. I’ve never seen that before and I just loved it! I’d take a cake centerpiece over flowers any day! So, later in the evening when it was cake cutting time, Chelsea and Daniel cut their cake while each individual table cut and served their own cake.

Last detail that I always love is a lounge area. Who doesn’t want to grab a glass of award winning wine and sit on couches with friends and enjoy the view and music? Doesn’t get much better than that.

Thanks to the following vendors: Event Planner: Barb Wired, Caterer: Travinia Italian Kitchen, Officiant: Father Antoninus Niemiec with St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Pastry Chef: Cakes by Rachel, DJ: Mark Allen, Photographer: Bethany Snyder, Videographer: DeVries Productions, Photo Booth: Photo Booth of Charlottesville, Hair & Makeup Artist: Charlottesville Makeup Artist, Florist: Verde Natural Florals, Transportation: A & A Limousine, Lighting: Skyline Tent Company, Rentals: MS Events & Festive Fare, Nanny Service: Local Nanny Network.

Keswick 6/15/18 Keswick 6/15/18

The Love of Sunflowers | Jessica & Jessie

Well, when I saw the décor that Jessica and Jesse were using for their wedding at Keswick Vineyards on Friday, June 15th, I couldn’t have been any happier since there were sunflowers just about everywhere you turned. There is no flower that can lift someone’s spirit quite like a sunflower. They are bright and cheery, and as warm and inviting as the sweet summer sun which Mother Nature provided plenty of for this lucky couple.

There were a few things that I just loved about this wedding. First, I just loved the bridesmaid’s bouquets. I have never seen, in my 8 years of doing weddings at Keswick Vineyards, a bouquet that has succulents in them. The density of the green succulents with the yellow from the sunflowers were just spectacular. Secondly, the arch used for their ceremony adorned with more flowers. Very simple yet made a bold statement. Thirdly, using an old window pane to display table assignments for their guests. Fourth, just loved how they made the head table so different from the other reception tables by renting farm tables and having a variety of different chairs. They also hung some drapery just behind the couple’s chairs again, making them stand out a little more from anyone else. Fifth, having a photobooth for guests to take funny and memorable photos to last a life time and finally, stringing bistro lighting outside of the tent to create an outdoor space for guests to hang out at. As you can see by my photos, it was a very popular spot throughout the entire evening!

As I look back at this wedding I can’t think of a better accent for them to of used then the sunflower. The sunflower symbolizes adoration, loyalty and longevity. What more could a couple want in their marriage? As the couple danced the night away on the dance floor, hanging above them was an interwoven “chandelier” structure that was made having sunflowers hanging down from it as if it was watching over the couple as they danced. Perhaps it was wishing them good luck and everlasting happiness.

As always, we thank all of our vendors for making weddings at Keswick Vineyards so special:

Ceremony Coordinator: Keswick Vineyards, Caterer: AKCatering, Officiant: Dave Norris, Desserts: Passionflower Cakes, DJ: Derek Tobler, Photographer: Jacqueline Waters Photography, Photobooth: Photobooth of Charlottesville, Makeup: Allison Barlow, Hair: Lauren Perkins, Florist: Lacy’s Florist and Gift Shop, Transportation: Easy Riders Bus Company, Lighting: Skyline Tent Company, Rentals: Paisley and Jade.