Winery Wedding WOW

The weather forecast for the weekend was gray, and grey it was. When we assembled for photographs at the Sunset Hills Winery in Purcellville, the light was so Blah that Brandon, the groom asked me to photograph a sun sliver, an opening in the clouds where a few rays were desperately trying to break out of the heavens and kiss the ground. When it came time for the Ceremony, “Someone Up There said “Let there be light: and glorious golden rays flooded the knoll and bathed all in gold. Robert Hanson, played beautiful music as Diane Stanley, the officiant got down to business and reminded all why we were there. And so, two became one

Felice and Brandon chose an ideal location for their wedding. The Winery has a grassy knoll for the ceremony at the side of a lake, a fabulously restored barn with a handcrafted tasting bar, and hundreds of details of Amish barn building.

Felice did all of the programs, menus and details her self. Her wedding coordinator, Vickie Grafton of My Simple Details, handled the rest and acted as the MC, a chore often relegated to or assumed by the photographer in the absence of a DJ or MC. A very small detail of the Village Flowers arrangements impressed me. The boquets were splendid but the fact that the boutineer pins were strong and did not bend, really showed me their know how.

The food like everything else was elegant, with Basikneads Catering at the helm. Food appeared in large bowls, like Grand Ma had in her kitchen and kneaded bread or mixed the stuffing in, rather than the food industry specials, stainless steel with Bunsen burners. The menu may have looked simple, it was anything but. The buffet had a Latin flavor to it, Chipotle Marinated Angus Flank Steak with Sherry Mushroom Sauce (Pre-Sliced on Platter with Sauce on the Side), Gambas al Ajillo (serve in earthenware bowls), Grilled Catalan Pork Sausages with Caramelized Baby Onions (Skewered), seasoned shrimp served individually on Tapas sized plates, Roasted Potato Salad with Caramelized Onion Dressing (Served room temperature), Roasted Fennel and Green Bean Medley, and crisp Garlic Points. I was one of the many going back for seconds and others tried thirds

Felice and Brandon decided to take a different approach to a wedding cake. Neither had liked the cakes at the last three wedding they attended. So, what to do? Go to Harris Teeter, buy one each of their six variety cakes and WALA, a cake buffet. They ate the coconut cream cake and both were licking their fingers like a pair of kids.

Time was marching across the clock and it was speeches, dancing, and hugs and kisses. Then it was time for Brandon to take Felice off into the cool evening to a new life

Blog from the Back Yard

Years ago, when I was a kid, many people were married in a home, their parents, a relative, or friends. Home marriages sort of fell out of favor in the 80s and 90s when we raced to find ways to spend our money in new and lavish ways.

Haylei and Craig had a lavish home wedding last week in sunny Herndon, Virginia. What made it special, unique, and lavish was the warmth, the love, the friendship that was evident and radiated from the bride and groom to each other and all of the guests.

It was warm, that Saturday, no it was HOT, darn Hot. Julie and Spike Williams of Williams Realty opened their home, with its cool pool, and booked the neighborhood Gazebo which overlooked a wonderful lake to host the Festivities. Reverend Daniel Kane tied the knot in front of family and friends and a horse and buggy. More on that later.

The guests assembled in the sun on hot white chairs and waited and waited for the bride. The groom was waiting, and then we HEARD the bride appear, clip, clop, clippty clop, she appeared in the distance in a white dress, sitting on red velvet, in horse drawn carriage. Haylei’s coach drove down the hill and made a wide turn, stopping at a long white runner which was straining to come loose and blow away in the wind. Dad went to work and escorted a beautiful daughter down the isle to Craig. Reverend Kane did his thing and the two became one.

Then it was party time. The bride and groom luxuriated in the carriage and started on a planned jaunt around the neighborhood. Up the hill they went and stopped. Guess what, it is hard for the horse to traverse a hill with a steel coach a driver, a bride and groom and a broken bridle. To make a long story short, 3 more attempts failed. Then the riders dismounted and the handler rolled the carriage back. The carriage driver and the horse handler got a running start and all barely made it over the crest of the hill with the driver and handler pulling. Once they made it, all the guests went straight for the cool ones. The musicians were old friends of the couple, knew their favorites, and just went to town. Splash, splash, splash, and three kids were in the pool, cool ones were disappearing, and the Sal-n-Don’s caterers were smoking up two barbeques with a great feast.

OBTW, the cupcake weddingcake was perfect for a poolside celebration and survived the heat.