Holland Photo Arts — Charlottesville Wedding Photographers

We were delighted to return one last time this year to Veritas Vineyards for a post-harvest wedding for Brook & Josh, who celebrated with their delightful families and friends at the nearby winery. The day’s weather had started out quite dark and with periodic downpours, so we were all preparing for an indoor ceremony, but just a couple of hours prior to the start of the festivities, the skies slowly cleared and the sun broke through the clouds with such force we had some amazingly beautiful light to work with for this pair of troopers. They gleefully disregarded the soaking wet grass to head out toward the vineyard for some pre-wedding portraits. We arranged for them to see each other privately just outside the ballroom where they shared a few moments together and chatted about their day while the sun warmed them and their hearts. Their little flower girl Alex was so funny and charming prior to the ceremony. At first, she wasn’t so sure she wanted to be part of all the hoopla (see photo below), but soon warmed up to embrace her role and just had a ball the rest of the night.

This Chicago couple also brought along their dog Jackson to serve as ring dog. While he seemed fine with the lovely garland of flowers placed around his neck, the boys soon decided that Jackson should instead have a tux bow tie around his collar, just like the all the guys in the wedding party did. Thus Jackson agreed and he wore it with pride during the ceremony. While the grass was too wet and ground too soft to host the ceremony on the lawn, there was just enough room to arrange the chairs on the deck with the guests overlooking the vineyards and the southern range of the Blue Ridge mountains. Claire Goodman, with whom we’ve had the pleasure of working frequently, officiated the ceremony during which Brook and Josh shared some intimate moments together and even a few tears of joy. They recessed to applause afterward and immediately started celebrating with family members in the adjacent tasting room. One pair celebrating with them were Amy & Peter, whose wedding we had documented back in the Spring of 2006 and who have now become good friends. Peter served as one of Josh’s groomsmen along with Josh’s brothers, so it was fun seeing  and “working with them” again.

Since Brook and Josh live out of state, they worked closely with talented local planner Jennifer Carroll, the wonderful Pat’s Floral Designs and Skyline for lighting, to make their vision a reality. Jennifer designed a gorgeous, rustic late Autumn feel complete with cut logs to hold place cards and even upon which the cake rested. Even the cake, made by wonderfully talented Teri Edwards of Cakes Unlimited got in on the act and held a place of prominence by the two family/wedding party head tables and situated on the edge of the dance floor. The soft amber lighting really complimented the beautiful orange table arrangements Pat and Sherry designed, too. The ballroom at Veritas has perhaps never felt so warm and cozy and Brook, upon seeing it for the first time was, not surprisingly, delighted.

As their guests were seated, Brook and Josh were announced in with Jackson padding alongside. Their dog proceeded to make the rounds that evening, visiting with different people at the various tables for a little lovin’. He even got fed a small piece of wedding cake by his Mom and Dad when the time came. Otherwise he just hung out and enjoyed himself. Brook’s dad offered up some amusing tales (complete with props!) of Brook growing up while Josh’s brothers offered their sincere congratulations to the couple as everyone enjoyed dinner. Later that evening, there was hardly a soul seated as everyone was up and about, either grooving to the sounds of the Dickens band or out on the patio enjoying s’mores at the outdoor fireplace. After everything wrapped up, the couple raced down the front lawn through a gauntlet of long lit sparklers. Actually, they did it three times because as the ended their sprint on the first run, their guests started chanting for them to do it again. And then again just before the sparklers started burning out. It was a fun way to end the evening and we loved our time spent with them throughout the day. It was just so much fun. Thank you, Brook & Josh, for having us out to document your wedding and congratulations!

And of course, some eye candy for you…