Our Wedding Blog

Keswick 9/28/18 Keswick 9/28/18

Blue Skies & Pink Peonies | Jeannette & Matthew

In closing out the month of September, we had perfect weather at Keswick Vineyards for Jeannette and Matthew’s wedding on the 28th. The skies were blue with few clouds, and the temperature outside was absolutely perfect! With that being said, it was also fairly sunny outside so Jeannette and Matthew decided on a shaded area for their guests to be comfortable during their ceremony.

At Keswick Vineyards, couples have a variety of ceremony locations to choose from. Whether it be under our 300-year-old oak tree, in front of our elaborate fountain, or even in the simplicity of the vineyard, couples have more than one option for their outdoor ceremony. Jeannette and Matthew primarily decided that they wanted to have their ceremony looking out towards the vineyard but also had a “plan B” in case it was too bright outside. They decided the day of their wedding that it would be most ideal for guests to be in the shade to enjoy the matrimony of the two. Not only were guests able to enjoy our iconic fountain and Blue Ridge mountains, but everyone was completely comfortable. Everyone really had the best of both worlds!

Another aspect that we loved, particularly for Jeannette and Matthew’s wedding, were their centerpieces. Jeannette’s sister actually made all of the centerpieces out of eucalyptus, daisies, roses, baby’s breath, and blush peonies, which matched Jeannette’s blush dress. We loved the simplicity of the arrangements and how they were elegant, yet Jeannette and Matthew didn’t have to spend a fortune on their florals. Everything was absolutely perfect for the couple’s wedding day!

Congratulations, Jeannette and Matthew! We hope that the rest of your lives together is as perfect as your wedding day was!

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

Event Planner: Keswick Vineyards, Caterer: L’etoile Catering, Photographer: Photography by V, Officiant: Preston Gisch, DJ: Derek Tobler, Hair and Makeup Artist: Yolonda Jones and Rosa Alicia, Transportation: A & A, Lighting: Skyline Tent Company, Rentals: MS Events.

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 9/30/16 Keswick 9/30/16

Where There's a Will, There's a Way | Lauren & Brian

We loved the energy that Lauren and Brian brought every time they came to visit in preparation for their wedding. You could tell during each visit how excited and happy they were to be getting married at their dream wedding venue! When the big day was coming around the corner and the forecast was acting less than predictable, the positive energy never left them. They knew that no matter what, rain or shine, their wedding day would be picture perfect…and it was!

We planned for all scenarios and were ready to make moves for all weather conditions. When you have a great venue and vendor team to have your back, all situations are stress-free and beautiful! Just take a look at Lauren and Brian’s faces for proof. You couldn’t wipe the smiles from their faces and nothing was going to put a damper on their day.

During her planning process, the bride had a very specific vision for her reception. One word. Wreaths! I remember her bouncing this idea on me several months before her wedding trying to hammer out the logistical aspects of hanging them. Through much deliberation, back and forth, and coordination a plan was developed and the wreaths went up on wedding day! Their wedding planner, Kelsey, did an excellent job in aiding her through this process. We loved working with her for a first time at Keswick Vineyards and we can’t wait to have her back!

Southern Inn Catering served an always scrumptious meal for dinner and delicious Moscow Mules and Old Fashioned’s as the couple’s signature cocktails. Signature cocktails are a great way to add variety to your bar menu in addition to our ever-famous and award winning wines.

The night cruised along with help of DJ Derek Tobler keeping the party alive and guests quickly hit the dance floor underneath of beautiful bistro lights. The couple and their guests were here for a celebration….and it was a celebration they got!

Wedding planner, Kelsey Ann Events. Caterer, Southern Inn Catering. Photographer, Betty Clicker Photograph y. Videographer, Rachael Curry Films. Rentals, Mad Hatter Vintage & Waterford Event Rentals. Desserts, Jennie Case. Florist, The Proper Petal. Transportation, Albemarle Limousine. DJ, Derek Tobler. Ceremony Musician, Keith Askey. Lighting, Skyline Tent Company. Ceremony Tent, Gibson Tent Company. Hair & Makeup, Pretty Weird Beauty. Officiant, Stephen Poore.

Keswick 9/24/16 Keswick 9/24/16

A Family Affair | Kathy & Brian

Kathy and Brian had started their family years back. This past weekend, on September 24th they further solidified their family in front of all of the people who have helped shape their lives.

The couple and their guests came from afar, most of them traveling to Charlottesville from Philly and New Jersey. Why they chose Keswick Vineyards with them being from out of the state? It’s simple. It’s gorgeous! So gorgeous to them that they booked with us site unseen. It took little convincing after seeing our portfolio of online photos and our abundance of five star reviews. With the combination of the two, they acted quickly and stole our last Saturday date of September just in time!

Though they may have not seen their wedding venue in person, they certainly made up for it with their multiple visits after booking! We loved meeting them for the first time and enjoyed their reaction to the grounds as they saw it for the first time. To say they were overjoyed would be an understatement!

As one of the first ways to solidify the beginnings of their family, the bride walked down the aisle with their son in her father’s arms. To make matters even sweeter, their daughter (also their flower girl) joined them at the top of the aisle for a prayer. It was the first time I had seen anything like that, but I certainly hope it won’t be the last.

The rest of the night went swimmingly. The couple brought in vintage details that they tied together beautifully. Most couples choose to rent their dinnerware through catering for convenience and ease. Not this bride! She hand selected each of her dinner plates, all which varied in pattern. The end result was elegant and beautiful! Similar touches were brought into their escort cards. Antique gold frames were used to hang their handmade calligraphy name-tags. Guests loved the cute display!

All of these details need to be captured! For Kathy and Brian, they were with the help of their great vendors. Cindy captured some great behind the scenes photos of their photographer and videographer working their magic! Take a close look at the photos. You’ll see the videographers drone! We can’t wait to see the footage.

Thank you to another great team! Ceremony Coordinator, Keswick Vineyards. Catering & Rentals, Harvest Moon Catering, Photography, Alex Schon Photography. Videographer, CY Media Productions. Desserts, Carpe Donut & H.F. Hornberger’s Bakery. Florist, Global Rose. DJ, Mark Allen with Class Productions DJ Service. Hair & Makeup, The Spot Beauty Shop. Transportation, City of Charlottesville. Officiant, Father Jim with Contemporary Catholics. Lighting, Skyline Tent Company.