I’m so excited to show some of our favorite photos from our Greenbrier wedding in West Virginia, though this was quite a drive for us the couple, family, and venue more than made up for it! Nestled in the mountains the Greenbrier is about 10 degrees cooler than Richmond Virginia (something we seriously enjoyed as we were working) and is such a great representation of southern class and opulence. Shooting here was such a treat, I seriously can’t wait to get back for another wedding! Here are Stephanie & Aaron’s photos as well as a little about their wedding in their own words!

WHERE IS YOUR WEDDING/RECEPTIONS AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS LOCATION?
Our wedding reception was at the Greenbrier Resort. We chose this location because of its absolutely breathtaking property and because it went along perfectly with our personalities – We wanted a wedding venue to match our style which is traditional with a bit of modern flare!

WHAT WAS YOUR THEME OR STYLE AND WHY?
Our style was traditional with modern flare because that is what represents us as a couple best. We hold to traditional customs and values but are always inserting our own special touch or modern flare! We wanted our wedding to be very romantic and I think we achieved that with the softly lit room that was shimmering with the traditional gold and ivory, but came alive with the pop of raspberry in some decor and the bridesmaids dresses…and let us not forget the groomsmen’s socks!!

WHERE DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR DRESS AND WHAT LEAD YOU TO THE ONE YOU CHOSE?
We found THE dress in Coral Gables Florida. WE searched and searched – I probably tried on about 100 dresses. I realize now why I had to look and hunt for so long. I was trying to ignore my desire for a traditional all satin wedding gown. I thought I wanted something more modern with lace and tool and sparkle, but all along really wanted a dress that make me look like what I had always dreamed about when I was little – a bride in a satin ball gown with a long train and an even longer veil!I finally put on THE dress and I absolutely lost it – I cried and cried. It was really an awesome moment. I don’t think I had truly realized I was getting married until I saw myself in that dress.

DESCRIBE YOUR SHOES AND WHY YOU WENT WITH THEM?
It’s always been about shoes with me! Shoes are my favorite part of an outfit. I am 5’8″ and ALWAYS in heels, but…my hubby is only 5’11″ and the shoes would have made me tower over him! I searched and searched for some flat shoes that actually would make me feel like a bride – I finally found the flats I loved from an English company and had them sent over! BUT i still needed my heelsMy official bridal shoes were ivory Badgley Mishka with a beautiful crystal design! I am definitely going to have to find a way top wear them again even if it means I have to vacuum the house in them

WHERE THERE ANY OTHER PIECES OF JEWELRY/ACCESSORIES FOR YOU, YOUR GROOM, BRIDESMAIDS OR GROOMSMEN THAT YOU DECIDED TO INCORPORATE?
My mother passed down a pair of earrings that she wore everyday! They were my something old. She had circular jackets made for them to make them extra special for my wedding day which was my something new. My something borrowed was a bracelet that i borrowed from my matron of Honor and my “like-a-sister” cousin, Daniela. I was her maid of honor in her wedding as well! My something blue was a piece of Irish lace that was brought back from Ireland where Aaron proposed. I had it sown onto an Irish linen handkerchief and then had it embroidered with my new married initials “sGe” and our wedding date. For Aaron’s wedding gift we each gave each other a sentimental gift from Tiffany’s (great minds must think alike!) I gave him a set of cuff links that had his initial “AGG” on the front of the cuff links and our wedding date on the back – he put them on for his big walk down the aisle! He gave me a script “G” and wrote me the cutest poem and letter about sharing his last name with me!!

WHO IS DOING YOUR HAIR & MAKEUP AND WHAT IS THE LOOK YOU ARE GOING FOR?
Lou Stevens and the Glam Squad from Richmond, VA traveled down to do all the girls’ hair and makeup! She did an amazing job! I was going for romantic and elegant and I think she achieved that look completely. But I think the person that stole the show with hair and makeup was definitely my mother! My mother’s hair and makeup looked ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! I don’t think I have ever seen her look that beautiful! It was awesome!

DID YOU HAVE ANY WEDDING FAVORS AND WHY DID YOU SELECT THEM?
We had Candy’s Cake Pops as favors (but without the “pop” – they were really cake balls, i guess you would say). We had them decorated like a bride and a groom. The bride was red velvet cake for me (that is my all time favorite) and the groom was pure fudgy chocolate – they were amazing! They came from a company in Boca Raton Florida and they were perfect!

WHO DID YOUR FLOWERS AND WHAT WAS THE LOOK THAT YOU WANTED WITH THEM?
Martha Sams at Gillespies Flowers at the Greenbrier did all the flowers. I wanted a romantic and elegant look to the flowers. I didn’t really want any greenery in the flowers at all I just wanted a beautiful white cascading look to the centerpieces and Martha did an excellent job!

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR CAKE, WHO CREATED IT AND WHAT DID YOU DO TO MAKE IT UNIQUE
Oh that Cake!! Our cake was one of my favorite parts of the evening! I wanted a traditional white cake on the exterior with a modern flare. So we got some beautiful modern “bling!” from Twinkle Twinkle Boutique in Coral Gables, FL. We had a beautiful Swarovski crystal “G” right in the front of the 3rd tier and two beautiful broaches that were on the front and side satin bows!
The cake flavor was red velvet of course and Limoncello! The two flavors were alternating in each tier and they were both awesome!

WHAT DID YOU DO FOR FOOD & DRINK AND WHY?
For food we had a crab cake appetizer that was to die for – I think everyone went more crazy about that crab cake then they did the filet mignon with sauce choron that was served for dinner! WE had a silver platter of chocolate covered strawberries sent to each table when the champagne for my father’s toast was poured and wedding cake for dessert!

We had two signature drinks; one was the “Blushing Bride” and the other was “The Old Fashioned Mr. Right”. The blushing bride was champagne with a little bit of Chambord raspberry liquor and a fresh raspberry garnish – matched the style of classic and traditional (champagne) with a little modern flare (the Chambord and raspberry) not to mention it matched the color of the bridesmaids dresses!!! The old fashioned mr. right was the groom’s selection – he picked it because it was the time tested classic gentlemen’s drink! Everybody seemed to really enjoy them!

WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO BE GO ON THE HONEYMOON?
We went to the Excellence Resort in Playa Mujeres, Mexico. It’s a bit north of Cancun – secluded and gorgeous! WE had an amazing time sitting on the beach, soaking in the sun, and dancing the night away as husband and wife!

I love her drive, compassion for life, uncanning ability to make anyone love her. Shes smart, beautiful, and funny and she loves me.

I love the way he makes me laugh. And I love they way he makes me feel – its all different things really – he makes me feel like a little kid sometimes but the next minute like a mkost cheerished wife, i feel like when I am with him I could do anythign! I love the way we are when we are together. We just have so much fun together no matter what we are doing. It could be absolutly nothing but we’d still be having a blast!

I’m so happy to finish with Jena & Andy’s blog post, this one is a bit special to me because I always love to work for good people and Jena & Andy’s family are exactly that, really good people. Through this whole process it has been great getting to know you two and I’m happy to call you guys my friends. With out any further delay here are their wedding photos as well as a bit about their wedding in their own words!

WHERE IS YOUR WEDDING/RECEPTIONS AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS LOCATION?
Our wedding ceremony and reception is at Maymont Park in downtown Richmond, Virginia. We choose this location because of the beautiful gardens and the free, natural atmosphere. It is a place in the middle of a city that has the ability to take you out of the rush of life.

WHAT WAS YOUR THEME OR STYLE AND WHY?
We choose a classic, simple and elegant style for our wedding. We want to be able to look back on our wedding in fifty years and smile because we made all the right choices, not think “what were we thinking!”

WHERE DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR DRESS AND WHAT LEAD YOU TO THE ONE YOU CHOSE?
I choose my dress from Bridal Elegance in Shortpump, Virginia. It was the second dress I tried on and fell in love. I tried on many after it and still came back to the second one. I don’t like choices, I know what I want, I get an idea in my head and I make it work. I can visually see how the outcome will be and with the dress it locked the style of the wedding into place. I love my dress!

DESCRIBE YOUR SHOES AND WHY YOU WENT WITH THEM?
I love my shoes! They are simple and silver! Think “Baby” from Dirty Dancing, dancing her first dance with Patrick Swayze. They are classic! They are elegant! They are heels! They are perfect!!!

WHERE THERE ANY OTHER PIECES OF JEWELRY/ACCESSORIES FOR YOU, YOUR GROOM, BRIDESMAIDS OR GROOMSMEN THAT YOU DECIDED TO INCORPORATE?
I will be wearing a diamond necklace given to me by my parents a few years ago. Anything from my parents becomes a piece of my heart. My father will be wearing cufflinks that I had made for him, one saying “Father of the Bride” and the other saying “I love you forever, daddy”. I am my Daddy’s girl, he is everything to me!

WHO IS DOING YOUR HAIR & MAKEUP AND WHAT IS THE LOOK YOU ARE GOING FOR?
Hair and Makeup! My makeup is going to be done by Stephanie Parker! She does airbrushing makeup and it is amazing! It last for hours, even through bridal pictures in 110 degree heat! My hair is the next best thing to my dress! My hair will be done by my hair stylist Mother, Darlene Hicks. She has her salon in Midlothian, Virginia and to have her do my hair on my wedding means everything to me. I hate that she will be working on that special say, but to have anyone else style my hair would break my heart! I am going for a semi-updo, pulled to the side and curled. She is going to put flowers in it to flow with my dress and style of the wedding.

DID YOU HAVE ANY WEDDING FAVORS AND WHY DID YOU SELECT THEM?
Our wedding favors are beer koozies! I am marrying a man who loves beer, the heavy craft, rouge style beers. We will be serving beer out of bottles, so what better favor than something our friends can use during the wedding!

WHO DID YOUR FLOWERS AND WHAT WAS THE LOOK THAT YOU WANTED WITH THEM?
My flowers are being done by Flowers Make Scents from Midlothian, Virginia! I went with them because they are the first people I talked to! I don’t like options, once I see what I like, I go with it. I met with Shari and she showed me exactly what I was looking for! I went with the Casablanca Lily. They will be the bouquets and the center pieces. I wanted something that was pure elegance, but wasn’t associated with the common rose. It is simple and elegant with a refreshing scent.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR CAKE, WHO CREATED IT AND WHAT DID YOU DO TO MAKE IT UNIQUE
My cake is done by Laura Reynolds of Buttercream Bee in Richmond, Virginia. My cake a four tier square cake with three different flavors! I went with traditional buttercream and down the side is a cascade of white lily sugar flowers. I kept it all white to go with the elegance of the wedding. I choose light flavors for the cake since it is the middle of summer (lemon with raspberry filling and pink champagne), and one heavy favor (red velvet)for those who enjoy that dark sweetness.

WHAT DID YOU DO FOR FOOD & DRINK AND WHY?
For food, we went with something light and filling. We chose a chicken breast stuffed with a pineapple, apricot chutney accompanied by a chili lime crab cake. For the vegetarians attending we chose a butternut squash ravioli. The sides are glazed carrots and a jicama corn trio. Before the dinner is served our guest will be having a spinach salad.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO BE GO ON THE HONEYMOON & WHY?
We will be going to Bali in the summer of 2013! We are planning to make the trip a year later because right after the wedding we will be making a move to New Hampshire for Andy’s job.

It is always hard to say what I love most about Andy. I was never the girl with a check list or a type of guy that I would go for, but somehow Andy is everything that I never knew I wanted. I love all the things that he does that drive me crazy! I love the way he looks at me and I can see his love for me in his eyes. I love the feeling of security that he gives me. These days there may be more eye rolls than butterflies in my stomach, but the reasons for both are the reasons I don’t want to be without him. To me, he is amazing!

From the instant we met, she was so caring and genuine. There has never been a forced moment; everything has always felt “right” with her. She is a strong-willed, stubborn woman who is absolutely her own person. I love her little quirks. I love her desire to take care of me, be with me, and grow our marriage with me. I love waking up next to her, seeing her face, and feeling like the luckiest man in the world because I have this amazing life with her.