Lara and Nico reached out to me in February of 2020 with visions of a beautiful and intimate backyard wedding for 40–50 of their closest friends and family members on June 30th, 2020. They had planned to have several guests fly in from Europe for their wedding in Silver Spring, Maryland. We were able to quickly connect and finalize their vision of blushes and corals, with romantic draping and simple but elegant tablescapes.
March 2020 came upon us, and the wedding plans came to a halt as we dealt with the uncertainties of the pandemic. The couple, however, felt strongly about holding their wedding. We did a walkthrough of Lara’s parents’ backward in May in order to finalize the details.
What I loved about these two is that they did not change their plans or vision. They did not let the current circumstances define their wedding experience. They insisted on still having the full version of their wedding.
Though the state opened up in June of 2020, limits on the number that can gather were still up to 10. The couple decided that they would move their wedding to a gorgeous mansion: Mortgage Hall Estate in Middleburg, VA. There we planned to have a stunning and intricate canopy that would surround their guests in the middle of endless rolling green hills. And they would still get that intimate backyard feel they were after. The setting was simply magical.
As we walked the venue, the couple were in high spirits and excited about their wedding plans. They once again insisted on having all that they initially dreamed to have on their special day, without compromising on the details and the décor elements.
The final guest count for their intimate wedding was 12. None of their overseas guests could fly in, and several local guests were not able to attend.
For me, this wedding was so symbolic of what life is about. It’s about our moments and what is important for us, regardless of what is going on around us or who can show up for us. It was about insisting that we get the magic and appreciation that we deserve. It was about not letting circumstances define our joy. It was about honoring ourselves and honoring our commitments to each other. It was about living one day at a time, one challenge at a time, while keeping the most important thing at the center of it all. LOVE.
Venue: Mortgage Hall Estate, Middleburg VA
Photographer: Katherine Elizabeth Photography
