A Formal and Whimsical Pink-and-Navy Wedding in Virginia

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Devon and Dan

Devon and Dan infuse their Charlottesville wedding with special touches that hint at her hometown, their courtship, and their desire to have an elegant and subtly preppy celebration of their love.

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The Save-the-Date

Patricia Lyons Photography

Stationer Cheree Berry, for whom the bride now serves as a consultant, created all of the paper elements for the wedding, from the save-the-dates to the signage on the getaway car.

The save-the-date, a square mini book, sets the tone for the wedding. Disclosing the story of how the couple met in a whimsical, fairy-tale manner, it begins with "Once upon a time." (The "Happily Ever After" comes with the wedding program.)

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The Save-the-Date

Patricia Lyons Photography

Page by page, the save-the-date continues with Devon and Dan's love story: "There was a Virginia horse race. And at the race, there was a boy with a tie. It was navy and pink, and striped. One-part classic, one-part fun... just like the boy. At the race, there was also a girl, who spotted the tie, before she spotted the boy. She liked the look of the tie. She loved the look of the boy. They laughed. And cheered. And celebrated the race. He asked her out. She said yes. Two years later... she still likes the tie. But she loves the boy. He popped the question. She said yes. Let's laugh and cheer and celebrate with them... as they tie the knot."

The back of the booklet points to the pink ribbon holding it together and explains "We're tying the knot."

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The Invitation

Patricia Lyons Photography

The letterpressed invitation features the calligraphy of Elizabeth Porcher Jones and is backed with a pink-and-navy-striped card stock that mirrors the fabled tie. The inner and outer envelopes feature stars stamped on the front, hinting at the subtle fairy-tale aspect of the couple's wedding. The inner envelope, lined with navy-and-ivory-striped paper, is stamped in soft pink with "Virginia is for lovers" by the back flap.

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The RSVP

Patricia Lyons Photography

One side of the RSVP card is a soft pink with navy letterpress type. On the upper portion, two birds carry a banner requesting guests' replies; below, it reads "Let the fun begin" with an arrow directing guests to flip the card over.

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Weekend Events

Patricia Lyons Photography

The other side of the RSVP card lists the weekend's different events with clever clip art and wording to let guests know about transportation, attire, and timing.

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A Warm Welcome

Patricia Lyons Photography

Devon and Dan welcome their out-of-town guests with a box of delicious Virginia treats: apple donuts from a nearby orchard, sparkling cider from a neighboring winery, homemade pumpkin bread baked by the mother of the bride, kettle corn from a local popcorn maker, and a note from the couple, designed by Cheree Berry

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Getting Ready

Patricia Lyons Photography

Devon's bridesmaids help fan out her Modern Trousseau veil for a photo opportunity with photographer Patricia Lyons

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The Bridal Look

Patricia Lyons Photography

Devon wears a Anna Maier-Ulla Maija gown from Hitched Salon, in Washington, D.C. Ivory satin Christian Louboutin D'Orsay heels from Bergdorf Goodman and Erin Cole jewelry finish her look.

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Something Blue

Patricia Lyons Photography

A small piece of fabric embroidered with Devon's pre-wedding monogram in blue thread is sewn into the bridal gown.

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The Bouquet

Patricia Lyons Photography

A satin ribbon binds a bouquet of lush ivory blooms.

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The Boutonniere

Patricia Lyons Photography

The groom's boutonniere features white dendrobium orchids, sprigs of lycopodium, and black satin ribbon.

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The Maid of Honor's Bouquet

Patricia Lyons Photography

Devon's sister, Rachael, carries a bouquet that mimics the bride's monochromatic blooms, but in a punchy magenta palette that matches her dress.

Devon, a fan of arts and crafts, treated her bridesmaids to a flower arranging class the day before the wedding. The girls learned how to make bouquets, and each made her own to carry in the wedding. Later, the bouquets serve double-duty as decor during the cocktail hour: they are placed in glass vessels, with a calligraphed tag for each bridesmaid attached.

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The Bridal Party

Patricia Lyons Photography

Devon's maid of honor and 10 bridesmaids join her outside for portraits prior to the ceremony. The girls in the bridal party wear pink dresses from J.Crew

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The Guys

Patricia Lyons Photography

Dan worked with custom clothier Alton Lane to put together a dapper look for himself and the groomsmen. Each three-piece suit is tailored for its wearer and topped with a crisp pocket square.

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The Ring Bearer

Patricia Lyons Photography

Wearing a Crewcuts by J.Crew suit, Dan's nephew Dominic carries a madras ring pillow embroidered with the couple's monogram. The pillow -- made by the bride's mother, Phyllis -- adds a preppy element to the elegant wedding.

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Father-Daughter Moment

Patricia Lyons Photography

Devon and her father, Jay, share a moment outside of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Greenwood, Virginia.

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The Church

Patricia Lyons Photography

Charlottesville is a fitting choice in location, since the bride attended the University of Virginia. The area has also become meaningful to the groom over the time the couple has dated.

To further personalize the ceremony, Devon's family minister traveled from Maryland to serve as the officiant.

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Fan Fare

Patricia Lyons Photography

Monogrammed white paddle fans are set out to help guests stay cool.

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The Ceremony

Patricia Lyons Photography

Two hundred guests witness the 5 p.m. ceremony, held in a stunning church with a balcony and large organ pipes. Beehive Events created ribboned garlands of white peegee hydrangeas, Casablanca lilies, roses, and magnolia blossoms and suspended them from the door frame of the church, across the altar, and along the pews.

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Cocktail Hour

Patricia Lyons Photography

Guests are transported to the Farmington Country Club for the reception. There, they enjoy traditional Southern touches such as ham and cheese biscuits, cocktails, and croquet on the lawn. Hoping to capture their personalities, the couple worked with Washington, D.C.-based planner Aimee Dominick of A. Dominick Events and local planner Easton Events to execute their vision of a classic dinner party with preppy touches.

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Signature Drinks

Patricia Lyons Photography

Mint juleps are served alongside napkins foil-stamped with the couple's new monogram.

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Cocktail Hour

Patricia Lyons Photography

To decorate the lawn, a square bar is covered in navy taffeta and pink trim, and anchored by ribbon poles and wreaths of white peegee hydrangeas, Casablanca lilies, roses, green hops, and gardenia foliage.

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Cocktail Hour

Patricia Lyons Photography

Elsewhere on the lawn are small tables covered in pink linens, with scattered votive candles and mint julep cups holding small arrangements of 'Phoebe' garden roses, pale-pink Japanese anemones, freesia, and blush 'Akito' roses.

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Happily Ever After

Patricia Lyons Photography

The happy couple pose with a card expressing their joy.

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Escort Cards

Patricia Lyons Photography

A table covered in navy taffeta holds table assignments under gauzy ribbon and tall arrangements of white orchids.

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The Reception

Patricia Lyons Photography

Navy taffeta window treatments with contrasting pink edging match the wedding's palette. Pale-blush pin-tucked satin linens cover each table. Dendrobium orchids, cafe au lait dahlias, pink French tulips, and blush Akito roses sit high above the tables' centers.

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The Favors

Patricia Lyons Photography

Roses sit at each place setting for guests to wear throughout the night. Gentlemen are given a pin to attach them to their lapels, and ladies are given bobby pins. Donations to the Susan G. Komen Foundation and Welcome Back Veterans are made in honor of the guests.

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The Lounge

Patricia Lyons Photography

A clear-top tent, draped with off-white sheer batiste fabric and furnished with large leather sofas and wooden tables, serves as a cigar and whiskey lounge. An old-fashioned cart is used to display the cigars.

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The Menu

Patricia Lyons Photography

The multi-course dinner incorporates traditional Southern fare with the bride's hometown favorites. A chilled gazpacho with a cheese straw (a Southern staple) kicks off the courses; Maryland crab cakes served with sweet potatoes and broccoli rabe follow. A trio of sorbets in mini cones are a sweet ending to the summery meal.

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The Cakes

Patricia Lyons Photography

Five show cakes designed by K. Rose Cakes sit on an English tea table for display during the reception. Seven-layer Smith Island Cakes (Maryland's "state cake") from Classic Cakes Bakery were flown to Charlottesville for guests to enjoy.

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The Guestbook

Patricia Lyons Photography

Guests tape Polaroid photos of themselves into a book alongside their messages to the couple.

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Save the Date

Patricia Lyons Photography

Devon loves sending cards in the mail. To ensure she has the birthdays of all her friends and family on file, guests are asked to sign their names in the appropriate box on a calendar.

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Dancing

Patricia Lyons Photography

The couple chose Van Morrison's "Have I Told You Lately?" for their first dance.

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The Cake Cutting

Patricia Lyons Photography

About halfway through the reception, Devon changes out of her ball gown into a lighter frock by Lela Rose, which she found at Hitched Salon

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More

A Formal and Whimsical Pink-and-Navy Wedding in Virginia

1 of 37

Devon and Dan

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The Save-the-Date

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The Save-the-Date

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The Invitation

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The RSVP

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Weekend Events

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A Warm Welcome

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Getting Ready

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The Bridal Look

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Something Blue

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The Bouquet

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The Boutonniere

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The Maid of Honor's Bouquet

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The Bridal Party

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The Guys

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The Ring Bearer

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Father-Daughter Moment

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The Church

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Fan Fare

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The Ceremony

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Cocktail Hour

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Signature Drinks

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Cocktail Hour

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Cocktail Hour

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Happily Ever After

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Escort Cards