Our Wedding Blog

Keswick 11/7/15 Keswick 11/7/15

Last Wedding for 2015 Was a Nail Biter! | Ginny & Brian

Saturday, November 7th, was the wedding day for Ginny & Brian at Keswick Vineyards located just outside Charlottesville, Virginia. It would also be the final wedding for our 2015 wedding season that began in April. To everyone’s dislike, Mother Nature was not being cooperative with the weather. When all vendors arrived for the day we started to discuss the weather situation. Almost all forecast where showing rain still at 4:00; the time the ceremony was to start. Ginny was not embracing the weather and really wanted her ceremony outside and we all knew that and we were going to do everything possible to make that happen. We prepared the Sperry tent for our rain plan ceremony location. It was important to Ginny to have the vineyard in her back drop so her ceremony location under the tent was a little different then our recommended rain plan. As you can see by my photos, the tent was looking beautiful to host their wedding ceremony. In the mean time, everyone was on stand by to see if we would get a break in the weather and get lucky to keep the ceremony outside to fulfill Ginny & Brian’s wishes and guess what? We did!!!!!!!!! Ginny & Brian started to do photos outside while everyone else hustled to create their outdoor wedding ceremony within 10 minutes. I can’t tell you how hard it is for the caterers to be that flexible since it is so time consuming setting up for a wedding. Most caterers and wedding planners would not do what was done this day. It required an amazing amount of flexibility, work and compromise from everyone to pull this off. Hats off to Meghan Streit of Shindig Weddings and Events, LLC and Cristine from Harvest Moon Catering and the rest of the Keswick Vineyards team for working extra hard to make Ginny & Brian have their dream wedding outside. I don’t think Ginny ever got to see what the tent looked like for the rain plan until now with these photos. I’m sure she would have been happy with it but definitely was happier being outside and we are all about making our brides happy here at Keswick Vineyards!

I can’t thank enough all the vendors that day for all their hard work. It was so great to be part of an amazing team which included: Meghan Streit of Shindig Weddings and Events LLC, Caterer Harvest Moon, Photographer Jen Fariello, DJ John Garland, Desserts by Pearl’s Bake Shoppe, Officiant Kyle Hoover, Flowers by Blue Ridge Floral, Transportation by Albemarle Limousine, Lighting by Skyline Tent Company and Hair & Make-up by Top Knot Studios.

Keswick 10/31/15 Keswick 10/31/15

Laura & Kris’s Wedding Day | Laura & Kris

Congratulations Laura & Kris who were married at Keswick Vineyards on Saturday, October 31st. What a beautiful fall day they had as the colors were at their peak providing a spectacular backdrop. Speaking of spectacular, the Sperry tent. I just couldn’t get enough pictures of the Sperry tent. The tent had bistro lights hung throughout while incorporating farm tables with round tables. Just loved the look and feel that creates. Laura & Kris also had some wicker lounge furniture for guests to hang out in under the tent. Make sure to take a look at those flowers also. AMAZING!!!! The style and colors for the ceremony location and the brides bouquet were right on with mixing into this fall day. The antique car wasn’t too shabby either!
Of course, with it being Halloween, Laura & Kris had a “treat” table consisting of cake, cupcakes and candies for guests to help themselves to. Guests also had caramel apples to take with them. Carpe Donuts came later in the evening so everyone could enjoy some warm donuts and hot apple cider! A wood cut out in the shape of the state of Virginia was used for the guest book.

Special thanks to the following vendors: Wedding Planner Beverly Wakefield of A Grand Affair Events, Caterer 20 South, Officiant Virginia Moore, DJ Derek Tobler, Guitarist for ceremony Peter Richardson, Photographer Amy Jackson, Hair & Make-up by Moxie Salon, Southern Blooms Florist, Rentals by Festive Fare, Skyline Tent Company for lighting, Desserts by Sweethaus & Carpe Donuts, A&A Limo for buses and Albemarle Limousine for the antique car.

Keswick 10/24/15 Keswick 10/24/15

Presentación de Los Padrinos | Anna & Daniel

On Saturday, October 24th, Anna & Daniel were married twice! Both being of Catholic faith, they wanted to have a church wedding yet also wanted a beautiful outdoor wedding so they did both. Their day started in the afternoon with a traditional Catholic church wedding. Afterwards, they came back to Keswick Vineyards and relaxed before starting their 2nd ceremony. This ceremony would celebrate the traditions of a Mexican ceremony which was a first here at Keswick Vineyards.

It started with El Lazo (The Lasso) which is an oversize Rosary that is placed over Anna and Daniel and unifies the couple together in marriage with the figure eight representing infinity to their marriage. Next came Los Arras (The Coins). At this point the groom gives the bride coins reinforcing the love and admiration the groom has for his bride. She accepts as her intent to support him. After that came Biblio y Rosario (Bible and Rosary). Daniel’s Grandparents presented the couple with their first family bible and rosary reminding the newlyweds of Gods eternal love. Finally, Vela de la Unidad (The Unity Candle) in which Anna & Daniel lite individual candles and then together lite one candle representing two individual lives becoming one. At the conclusion of this ceremony Anna & Daniel read together the Irish Wedding Prayer.

Now that the ceremonies were over guests retreated to cocktail hour and enjoyed appetizers while the couple, with Photographer Robert Radifera, left to take memorable photos. I just loved the flowers done by Verde Natural Florals. They had just enough “extras” added to them to give off that fall feel. The beautiful wedding cake done by Sweethaus also had just a few of those flowers added to it. Not only did the couple have a delicious wedding cake but also had a groom’s cake that definitely let guests know the groom was a golfer. Guests danced the night away with DJ Daniel Sims before the guests left in their limo by Camryn Limousine. Felicidades y buena suerte a los dos por una vida maravillosa juntos!

Keswick 10/18/15 Keswick 10/18/15

Matt got Marie’d! | Marie & Matt

On Saturday, October 18th, we celebrated the journey of love with Matt and Marie, a couple who has been together for an impressive eight years. Matt, being an active duty Marine pilot, was forced to spend countless amounts of time away from his love. All the way across the country in fact. The two finally now are able to join together, on the same coast, for one of the first times in their eight years of dating. It was worth the wait since now they’re husband and wife!

Marie definitely knew how to make Matt and the other groomsmen happy. Waiting in the “man’s cave” was a tower of beers displayed on an end table. The men had to practice the “sword” ending to this military ceremony. Unfortunately, I had to miss the ceremony and was only able to photograph the rehearsal.

The couple started their day with a traditional Marine Corps sword ceremony. Six of the couple’s friends showcased their duty by welcoming Marie into their marine family. They continued to celebrate the joining of THREE families as they danced the night away under a bistro lit Sperry tent. DJ Bob Mednikov kept the crowd alive and happy. It was hard to get people OFF of the dance floor! Besides the bistro lighting under the tent they also hung some over the cocktail area on the East lawn. At night this provided such a lovely lit area to hang out under while enjoying a nice glass of wine or a cigar.

One thing certainly grabbed everyone’s attention towards the end of the night; the cutting of the cake! Of course, no cake knife or server was needed. A sword would do!

Congratulations to Matt and Marie! We wish you a safe travel out to California as you start your new life together!

Special thanks to our vendors for making this day so great: Day of Coordinator, Keswick Vineyards. Catering, Southern Inn Catering. Desserts, Southern Inn & Albemarle Baking Company. Ceremony Music, Linden Trio. DJ, Bob Mednikov with AAA Disc Jockeys. Photographer, Don Mears Photography. Videographer, Michael Eller with Monachetti Weddings. Hair and Makeup, Studio FBJ. Florist, Southern Blooms. Transportation, A Goff Limousine & Bus Company. Tent lighting, Skyline Tent Company.