A boho color palette, statement head table, and wine on tap? Yes please! Because their Rixey Manor venue reads “trendy farmhouse”, we wanted to select details that transformed the space into the eclectic, boho backdrop of Lauren & Jamie’s dreams —and we leaned heavily on the earth tone palette to do this with champagnes, blushes, peaches, and terracottas mingling with pops of green to create a color story fit for the summer-time setting. From the cohesive, vibrant invitation suite to the adorable candid moments, I’m loving everything about this feminine, boho Virginia wedding. With unique dinnerware rentals, a cozy cocktail hour lounge, and their fur-baby sidekick present all night long, this one has us wishing every wedding was as colorful & joy-filled.
P.S. Want to see more behind-the-scenes of Lauren & Jamie’s wedding day? Check out their virtual wedding design case study for the side-by-side of what went into their design plan and how it came to life on their wedding day!
I mean, could they have asked for a more perfect wedding day? I love this ceremony site which requires little adornment as the view does most of the talking. We simply added an altar piece (in the form of a modern hexagon) and florals at the aisle start to define the space.
Pro Tip: You can make the most of your ceremony floral by discussing with your florist about reusing ground arrangements. For example, the ground florals at the top of the aisle and at the base of the altar piece were reused at the reception around the seating chart and head table. Ensure these discussions with your florists happen early as, if your ceremony is outdoors, choosing robust flowers that can withstand heat and direct sunlight will be key to a successful reuse moment. Not all arrangements or flowers will be able to be reused.
2022 is the year of the pre-ceremony drink! All year long I’ve fielded questions and requests from couples about offering alcoholic beverages to guests before the ceremony begins. If your crowd loves a party, pre-ceremony drinks are a great way to set the tone and kick off the celebration from the start. We’ve seen champagne walls, signature cocktails, and now this wine-on-tap moment for Lauren & Jamie’s wedding. I love how they selected bubbles and rosé as their options which complimented their feminine color palette perfectly.
I love that Lauren & Jamie’s yellow lab, Sunnie, was not only their flower girl, but – because of their venue’s pet policy – able to be a part of the entire wedding day! There are images of Sunnie getting ready with Lauren, at the ceremony, entertaining the catering staff at cocktail hour, checking in on her moms during their first dance, and even rocking with guests on the dance floor at the end of the night.
Pro-Tip: If your venue isn’t as relaxed on their pet policy, we recommend hiring a pet-sitter or service that can transport & care for your pup throughout the day. Having someone – who isn’t necessarily a guest – able to be flexible and focus on your fur-baby will alleviate stress and allow you to focus on the celebration.
This rooftop lounge for cocktail hour was the perfect blend of their feminine & boho vibes. A vintage-inspired, pink tufted sofa paired with boho wicker side chairs and a modern gold & glass coffee table with feminine curves. To make the most of your lounge rentals, we recommend these be set-up in an area guests will use all night, like near the dance floor or just outside the reception space where guests might escape for fresh air and conversation.
Since spending time with their family & friends was at the top of Jamie & Lauren’s priority list, it made sense for them not only to have a first look, but to aim to complete as many photos as possible before the ceremony started. Taking full wedding party photos as well as the main family photos before they walked down the aisle freed up time for the couple to stop into cocktail hour and maximized their time with guests.
Pro-Tip: No matter how beautiful a seating chart is, if it isn’t functional, your guests won’t be impressed. We always, always, always (it’s rare I use superlatives, but I’ve reiterated this one three time so you know I mean business) encourage our couples to list guests in alphabetical order and not by table number. Guests can more quickly and efficiently identify their names on a large print, alphabetical seating chart. This helps to avoid the bottleneck that can happen between cocktail hour and the reception.
How about a little commotion for the head table!! This blush covered table featured cloud-like hanging installations of monochromatic babies breath and a mix of compote arrangements, bud vases, terracotta containers, and brass candlestick holder with ivory candles. All guest tables involved striking pink chargers and terracotta napkins, while the head table incorporated vintage green glassware and sage half-circle place cards. This eclectic mix melded perfectly for this boho Virginia wedding.
To pre-set or not pre-set salads, that is the question? Pre-setting salad is a logistical design that can factor into your wedding design. There are a variety of reasons to pre-set a salad but most of them have to do with timing. If you’re reception timeline is tight and you want to maximize your guests time on the dance floor, pre-setting salads can save 15-30 minutes on dinner service. If you aren’t doing a first look and need more time to capture portraits, having salads pre-set gives guests an “activity” to complete that gets them moving on from cocktail hour to the reception, but doesn’t require the couple to be present. If you, your coordinator, and your caterer decide to pre-set salads, you’ll need to discuss this decision with your rentals & design team so place settings can be planned accordingly.
Pro-Tip: Want to inform guests of the dinner menu without placing a menu at each seat? Whether your choice is aesthetic or budget-based, you can utilize 1-2 menus per table with a stand to communicate the dinner plans with guests without having the obtain enough menus for your entire guest count.
Although their color palette was a mostly pink and terracotta love-fest, Lauren & Jamie both wanted to incorporate some pops of green into their wedding day design. Greens obviously occur naturally in floral design, but when it came to the rentals, our team sourced the vintage green glassware and sage glass place cards used for the head table design.
Bonus
Lauren & Jamie’s wedding included one of the cutest “oops” I’ve ever seen. During their second set of portraits (after Jamie’s dress change), they attempted a dip which ended with both of them falling to the ground. Photographer Steph Dee captured all the hilarity, joy, and love perfectly and I couldn’t help but share the series with you now.
Looking for the right planning partner for your wedding weekend?
Skylar Caitlin Events comes alongside you to plan a memorable, stylish destination wedding that is as fun as it is beautiful. We plan & design events focused on giving couples, their families, and their guests a seamless overall wedding weekend experience. Whether you’re looking for full service or virtual design, our team can provide the expert guidance, creative vision, and on-site production management to make your dreams a reality.
Vendor Credits
Beauty: Styled for Elegance (hair) & Makeup by Ivett B (makeup)
Coordination: Glorious Weddings & Events
Design: Skylar Caitlin Events
Florals: Good Earth Flowers & Events
Photography: Steph Dee Photography
Venue: Rixey Manor
