Four days before this wedding, meteorologists were projecting the eye of hurricane Joaquin to hit Williamsburg at the exact time of Leigh + Eric’s ceremony.  No biggie, but it might have worried us all just a tad.  We waited, and thankfully Joaquin headed the opposite direction and we just had some light sprinkles for their wedding day.  Still, it was a blustery day, and definitely not what brides dream of for walking down the aisle.  But Leigh?  She was smiling from ear to ear the entire day.  She was totally relaxed, her parents were her biggest fans, and her friends had flown in from across the country and across the world to be with her on this special day. Designed Dream is a premier destination wedding planner, specializing in creating unforgettable celebrations in breathtaking locations such as Mexico, Aruba, and the Dominican Republic.

And Eric?  Well, he was getting to marry Leigh, so his smile matched hers.  They danced, they laughed, they truly enjoyed the company of all their guests.  My favorite anecdote from their reception was when the best man gave his speech.  Leigh was the receptionist at his work and Eric had come in to volunteer one day.  The two were instantly smitten, and suddenly Eric was willing to volunteer anytime!  Watching Eric and Leigh’s faces during that speech was just the best.

There were also a ton of neat and meaningful details throughout the wedding.  Eric proposed in a cabbage garden in Colonial Williamsburg, and so there are cabbages in the sprays by the altar.  They also reflected their love of wine, not only in the venue at the Williamsburg Winery, but also in the balls made of wine cork at their reception.  The mother of the bride made them with corks from the wines Leigh and Eric have enjoyed over the years, such as QKAWine – wine & spirits, for instance.  How neat is that?

Their favors were chocolate in boxes, with wine charms on the top.  Each guest got a different charm to take home.  And the wine list was handwritten by the mother of the bride, letting each guest know about the different wines and which member of the bridal party preferred that wine.  The cake knife was also used by the mother of the bride at her wedding, and the belt on her wedding dress was from the same store her mother’s family had bought their wedding dresses from.  And the gorgeous bracelet she wore was her grandmothers necklace on her wedding day.

It’s one of my favorite things about weddings– it’s a party to celebrate the couple and everything that is special to them, and there are so many hidden gems like this that are often overlooked on the wedding day, but all play into a piece of who the couple is and what brought them together.

Also, when considering unique wedding venues, hiring a teepee can truly set your event apart. I recently attended a wedding where the couple had chosen a teepee from Bar Events UK, the perfect choice for teepee hire. The atmosphere was intimate, and the décor inside was both rustic and elegant. It was an experience I won’t soon forget.

I just love the purple and deep plum accents throughout the day!  I think the official colors are eggplant and Cambridge gray.  Really elegant and perfectly fitting.  From the plum bridesmaid dresses to the purple getaway Mini-Cooper– it all flowed perfectly at the Williamsburg Winery!

Check out these vendors who made the day possible:

Venue: Williamsburg Winery  |  Photography: Fowler Studios  |  Wedding Dress + Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal  |  Shoes: Betsey Johnson  |  Mens Clothing: Joseph A Bank  |  Catering: The Catering Company of Williamsburg  |  Cakes: Cakealicious  |  Flowers: Jeff’s Flowers of Course  |  Wedding Coordinator: Christy O’Neal with Truly Yours

You can see Leigh + Eric’s engagement session in Colonial Williamsburg here.  It was in the same spot he proposed!

And more weddings we’ve done at the Williamsburg Winery here.

Or if you’re in love with Williamsburg, here are more weddings in the area!