A Virginia Fall Estate Wedding at Audley Farm in Berryville, Virginia
Sara + Nick | Married
10.17.2020
Sara and Nick said 'I Do' on a gorgeous October day at Audley Farm in Berryville, Virginia, surrounded by their closest family and friends.
This couple is not only stunning but they are resilient with a positive outlook! When I first met Sara and Nick, they were planning for a large wedding at the venue in my neighborhood. What?! I could WALK to their wedding? But never because photographers have too much equipment :) Needless to say driving by their venue on a regular basis had me dreaming and planning for their special day.
But then it happened...the pandemic. Which put restrictions on the number of guests you could have at an event or in an indoor space. For Sara and Nick, and countless other couples, this meant reevaluating their wedding vision.
We finally met in person at the beginning of June for their engagement session. We chatted about their wedding and they made it clear that October 17th was an important date to them so the wedding must go on! That's what I like to hear :)
Fast forward to October 17th, I found myself driving down the long driveway of Audley Farm admiring the open horse fields on each side and the stunning fall colors splashed across tree-lined fences. The sky was crystal clear, there was a slight breeze but an excellent day for a wedding.
Audley Farm has 3,000 acres of land with several beautiful buildings and could fill a textbook with the history that it offers. Apparently this was home to George and Martha Washington's daughter, Elanor Custis Lewis. A detail that stayed with me through out the day.
The Audley House was abuzz with vendors, bridesmaids, and of course, our stunning bride, Sara, preparing for a very special day. The entry way is a 'hall' with rich green walls and open space which would be used for the ceremony and reception. Each side of this hall had mirroring rooms, decorated in their own unique way and as you made your way to the back of the building there were separate hallways leading to the kitchen and dining area, as well as the single bedroom in this large estate.
I could go on for hours about how gorgeous this venue was but I'll focus on what's more important - their wedding!
The girls were enjoying their time while getting ready with brunch in the bedroom suite. Music was playing, everyone was chatting and laughing, hair and makeup was taking place. It's one of the best parts of the day - you can feel the excitement and anticipation leading up to ceremony time. We gathered the bride's details and I quickly got started capturing the day.
Time flies when you're having fun and before you knew it, it was ceremony time! Guests were seated and the front doors were opened to allow in a perfect breeze and beautiful fall light. Sara and Nick exchanged vows, said their 'I do's' and were finally husband and wife!!!
My favorite part of a wedding is the formal portraits of the couple (and the details because, well, fresh flowers and pretty little things!) and did Sara and Nick knock their portrait time out of the park! You can see the love beaming from both of them. They were willing and ready to take all the photos and that is the best! So I did my best to give them variety utilizing the space around the venue and in the time that we had. They were such good sports - right before their introductions, they agreed to portraits in the bridal suite complete with a leather couch and celebratory cocktail.
Alas, it was time to get the party started! Kicking off the reception were the introductions and first dance. Followed by the most amazing dinner, drinks, and quality time with guests. A total perk of a smaller guest list - quality time with each of them!
DJ Stacks kept the party going with great music and guests filled the dance floor to dance the night away. Toward the end, Sara and Nick agreed to sneak off with me to the library (aka the room right next to the dance floor) for a couple quick portraits. The room was masculine with a book lined walls, rich wood tones, and a leather couch perfect for a posed photo. While I will always love the simply classic clean look of light and bright photography, this dark and dramatic look was so perfect for the space that we were in with this awesome couple!
Wishing Sara and Nick a marriage filled with love and celebration and that they always maintain their positive approach to life. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Valentine!
Vendor Team:
Venue: Aduley Farm in Berryville, Virginia
Photographer: Emily Marcella Photography in Haymarket, Virginia
Florist: Walking Wind Farm and Florist in Augusta, West Virginia
Entertainment: DJ Stacks in Ashburn, Virginia
Catering: Audley Farm in Winchester, Virginia
Cake: The Sweet Elephant Bake Shop in Berryville, Virginia
Hair & Makeup: Amazing Hair & Makeup in Manassas, Virginia
Wedding Dress: White Swan Bridal in Vienna, Virginia
Bridesmaid Dresses: Brideside.com
Groomsmen Attire: The Black Tux
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