Since Virginia is for lovers, it makes sense that it’s also the perfect place to get married. From scenic venues to creative photographers to organized planners, a lot goes into making your dream day come to life. These six NoVA couples look back on their weddings and the details that made them perfect.
Winter Wish
Caroline Greene & Andrew Mitchell
January 11, 2025
A wish came true when fresh snow covered the grounds of Leesburg’s Rust Manor House for Caroline Greene and Andrew Mitchell’s wedding day.
The “unexpected moment made the day truly perfect,” they say. The outdoor ceremony was moved indoors in a seamless change that morning.
The bride, an appellate litigation attorney working in veterans law, and the groom, an engineer, wished for a “festive, cozy, and magical” event to reflect the “happiness, comfort, and security that we give each other.”
Family heirlooms and meaningful traditions were incorporated throughout the wedding including a memorial display of loved ones, ceremony readings used in past family members’ weddings, a handfasting ceremony, and a lace handkerchief from Caroline’s great-grandmother.
The pair, who met on the dating app Hinge and live in Reston, would advise other couples planning a wedding to find vendors that have worked together in the past and to trust their recommendations.
“Having vendors that knew each other made the entire planning process significantly less stressful,” they say.
THE DETAILS
Venue: Rust Manor House
Photographer: Svenja Bauer Photography
Planner: Days and Eves
Linens: Party Rental Ltd.
Florist: Floriography
DJ: Craig Wood
Cake: Signature Sweets by Amanda
Hair & Makeup: MAB Artistry
Relaxed Reunion
Yining Jia & Kevin Mak
September 7, 2024
Their wedding celebration took place last fall, but Yining Jia and Kevin Mak were technically married two years prior in an intimate civil ceremony. Yining, a human resources business partner, and Kevin, a software engineer, had met two months before COVID- 19 lockdowns and didn’t want to wait any longer to tie the knot.
They had moved to Washington state but returned to NoVA where the groom was born and raised for their 100-guest wedding at Riverside on the Potomac in Leesburg. “That choice gave us the space to breathe and allowed our wedding celebration to become something even more special, a heartfelt reunion with the people we love most,” they shared.
It was important to the couple, who met on the dating app Hinge, to incorporate the tradition of a Chinese tea ceremony into the wedding. They served tea to their families as a symbol of unity. In return, their loved ones offered well wishes, blessing the couple’s future together.
Their top wedding priority was for everyone to feel relaxed and enjoy the time together.
They loved that their chosen venue had a “homey” feeling, “given that it is run by a family that lives on the property.” The spacious barn, with its tall ceilings and original flooring, added the “wow factor” that sealed the deal.
THE DETAILS
Venue: Riverside on the Potomac
Photographer/Videographer: JET Media
Catering: Purple Onion Catering
Hair & Makeup: Elsa Wang
Wedding Coordinator: Dear My Event
Florist: Dear My Event
DJ: Chau Nguyen
Cake: Fluffy Thoughts Cakes
Dress: Ava Laurénne Bride
Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Natural Fit
Madi Lindholm & Randy Franklin
June 29, 2024
Madi Lindholm and Randy Franklin weren’t concerned about grandeur when planning their wedding. Instead, they chose to focus on creating an atmosphere of joy, authenticity, and connection. “We kept the guest list to people who truly knew and loved us, so the day felt meaningful rather than like a big production.”
The Fredericksburg-based couple, both fitness professionals, met as personal trainers at a local gym. While they say, “There was definitely a spark early on,” they took their time turning friendship into romance. “Even in the chaos of everyday life, being together just felt like home.” That grounded sense of home inspired the details of their celebration at Blue Mountain Lodge, a Linden venue they loved for its “breathtaking” Shenandoah Valley views.
They added thoughtful touches — real florals, simple tablescapes, and a relaxed timeline — to keep things feeling natural and stress-free. A quiet moment just after the ceremony became one of the most memorable. “We slipped into a private room, took a shot together, and just breathed it all in,” they recall.
And in a playful nod to their three beloved cats, the couple named signature cocktails after each one. While the planning process had its challenges, especially finding vendors that fit their vision and budget, the couple says it was all worth it. Their advice for others? “Build in time to enjoy the little things. Those are the moments that stick.”
THE DETAILS
Venue: Blue Mountain Lodge
Photographer: Catherine Leigh Photography
Coordination & Rentals: Elder Fox Wedding Coordination
Hair & Makeup: Brides by Briana
Linens: Select Event Group
Bar Rentals: Bride and Joy Weddings
DJ: Toussaint Productions
Subtle Sophistication
Hannah Smythe & Derek Whelan
June 8, 2024
“I knew I could be with Derek forever, because he was one of the few people who I could spend a lot of time with without feeling socially drained,” says Hannah Whelan (née Smythe), a self-professed introvert who works in legal marketing.
Derek Whelan, a consultant, says, “I found the harder parts of life easier to do with her, and even the mundane parts could become fun.” With the help of Lauren and Alex of Bliss Events Collective, the low-key couple even enjoyed planning their elegant, 100-guest wedding at the Goodstone Inn & Restaurant in Middleburg in the short span of six months.
Their best wedding decision, they say, was hiring the cover band White Ford Bronco, who kept the dance floor packed all night. “The band has a strict ’90s-only song policy, but we still managed to find the perfect ’90s ballads to do our first dances to, opting for “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith for our first dance and “Kind and Generous” by Natalie Merchant for our parent dances.”
The couple, who live in DC and met on the dating app Bumble, did manage some moments of privacy. They wrote notes to each other and read them while getting ready, and exchanged thoughtful gifts. “It was an opportunity to reiterate how appreciative we were of one another and to share what we most looked forward to in our marriage.”
THE DETAILS
Venue: Goodstone Inn & Restaurant
Photographer: Sarah Shank Photography
Planning: Bliss Events Collective
Hair & Makeup: Anna Breeding
Florist: Nature Composed
Cake: Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe
Linens: Stanley Davidson Linen Collective
Dress: Anne Barge from Elegance by Roya Old Town Alexandria
Tuxedo: Ralph Lauren
Imaginative Affair
Nicole Garrigan & Dylan Ciccone
June 8, 2024
Stone Tower Winery holds a special place in the Ciccone’s love story. Not only was it the site of their spectacular wedding — it was also the place where Dylan proposed to Nicole, while their friends, family, and beloved dog, Navy, looked on. And it was where Nicole, who grew up in Haymarket, spent many a summer day with her parents enjoying the wine and views.
The fun-loving couple, who met at a Halloween party when they were students at Michigan State, wanted the day “to feel light, loving, and fun, which we believe reflects our relationship perfectly.” Among the colorful touches included cookies with Navy’s face on them, wicker baskets to hold the bridesmaid bouquets, a bright and bold color palette, and a live band that inspired their fathers to get up on stage to sing and dance along.
The couple, who live in Royal Oak, Michigan, and work for tech companies, had luck on their side: Nicole carried the same sixpence in her shoe that her mother did on her wedding day.
THE DETAILS
Venue: Stone Tower Winery
Planning & Design: Margot and Co. Creative
Photography: Kim Branagan Photography
Band: Washington Talent Agency, Spectrum Band
Linens: BBJ La Tavola, Select Event Group
Florist: She Loves Me
Catering: Spilled Milk Catering
Cake: Liberty Baking Co.
Stationery: Oh Eleven Studio
Beautiful Blend
Katy Densmore & Robert Wagner
June 1, 2024
“As parents, our wedding was about more than just the two of us — it was about blending our families. We wrote our own vows so that we could promise to love and support not just each other, but also our children,” says Arlington-based Katy Densmore and Robert Wagner, who met on the dating app Hinge.
They didn’t let a logistical nightmare ruin the fun. When their original venue canceled with only two months’ notice, wedding planner Rebecca O’Connell moved it to The George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria. “In the end, we were so happy with the venue that we think we should have started there in the first place!” they say.
In keeping with their family focus, the groom’s father and friends played live music to start the celebrations, and for the toast, they used the bride’s grandparents’ special 50th anniversary crystal flutes.
Highlights also included the desserts (pies and cookies from Arlington’s Livin’ the Pie Life) and their first dance, to “Lucky” by Colbie Caillat and Jason Mraz. The couple says the lyrics “Lucky I’m in love with my best friend” perfectly matched how they felt — and they weren’t the only ones to celebrate the joy of friendship that night.
“We were hoping that people would make a new friend or two at our wedding.” When Katy’s 8-year-old niece said that she had four new friends, including Robert’s daughter, they knew they’d pulled off the wedding they had hoped for.
THE DETAILS
Venue: The George Washington Masonic Memorial
Wedding Planner: The Plannery
Photography: Love Life Images
Designer: Bella Notte
Catering: Main Event Caterers
DJ: Washington Talent Agency
Florist: Lisa Lee Florals
Hair & Makeup: Modern Bridal Studio
Feature image of Hannah Smythe and Derek Whelan by Sarah Shank Photography
