Our Wedding Blog

Keswick 7/28/18 Keswick 7/28/18

A Family's Touch | Anna Marie & John

To say that July was a perfect month to get married at Keswick Vineyards is an understatement. The weather was absolutely perfect on July 28, 2018, and the vineyard was completely green and luscious. After their wedding, the bride told us that guests couldn’t stop raving about how amazing everything was. From their beautiful ceremony location with the vineyard and mountains as a back drop, to the warm and inviting reception under our Sperry tent to delicious food capped off with award winning wine. What could be better?

Anna Marie and John incorporated the “old” with the “new” to many aspects of their wedding. Their two-year-old daughter had her flower girl dress made out of the bride’s mother’s wedding dress. Additionally, her bracelet and necklace were also made from the beading of that dress.

Not only was the flower girls dress made out of the bride’s mother’s wedding dress, but a lace back strap on Anna Marie’s dress was also made from it! We loved how Anna Marie incorporated this “something old” into the attire of their dresses.

Another personal family touch was drinking from the double-sided silver cup, also known as, the Nuremburg Bridal Cup. Supposedly, the drinking of the double-sided cup is an old German tradition that came about when a wealthy father disapproved of his daughter marrying a poor goldsmith. The father locked the goldsmith away in a dungeon and told him that the only way that he would let his daughter and the goldsmith wed is if he created a chalice that two people could drink from at the same time without spilling a single drop. The goldsmith, therefore, created the chalice and ended up fulfilling the father’s command. The cup now brings about love, faithfulness, and good luck to those who drink from it.

The tradition continues with the last married couple passing off the cup to the couple about to wed. Therefore, Anna Marie and John received the cup from their friends who recently married. It was a funny sight to see when Anna Marie and John had to put their hands behind their back and drink from the cup without spilling a drop!

Keswick Vineyards hope that your marriage is filled with love, faithfulness, and good luck that the silver chalice is meant to bring about. Congratulations to you both!

Thank you to the following vendors for all of their hard work:

Event Planner: Keswick Vineyards, Caterer: Exchange Events, DJ: Bob Mednikov, Officiant: Trish Fox, Photographer: Pam Janzesian with Pose for Pam, Hair and Makeup: Charlottesville Makeup Artist, Rentals: MS Events.

Keswick 7/7/18 Keswick 7/7/18

Peggy & Steven Hit the Jackpot at Keswick Vineyards | Peggy & Steven

You never know when you pick your wedding date what the weather is going to be like. It is always something couples worry about when they are planning an outdoor wedding. When Peggy and Steve booked Saturday, July 7th, 2018 as their wedding date a little over a year ago, they had no idea that they would win the jackpot when it comes to weather.

I can’t imagine a more perfect weather day a couple could have. Leading up to July this year has been very wet and humid. Not this week. Thankfully, a cold front came through and provided us cooler weather, zero humidity, blue skies and a breeze! Seriously, it doesn’t get any better than that.

Besides our couple hitting the jackpot with the weather, Keswick Vineyards hit the jackpot with such a sweet couple. Peggy reminded me of a Barbie doll. Her petite stature in her beautiful dress with the perfect proportioned bouquet was perfection! And Steve, wearing his blue suite made this couple look like living Barbie & Ken dolls. Besides being such a good-looking couple, they were the sweetest along with their family friends. So happy Keswick Vineyards were able to give them their “jack pot” wedding. Congratulations Peggy & Steven!

Thank you to the following vendors:

Wedding Planner and Florist: Natalie Zhou, Caterer: Southern Inn, Officiant: Bingyi Yang, DJ: Matthew Luck, Photographer: Carl Li, Videographer: Perry Chen, Hair and Makeup Artist: Joey Chen.

Keswick 6/30/18 Keswick 6/30/18

Mercedes' Bridal Shower

Most people when they hear the name Keswick Vineyards immediately think 1) award winning wines or 2) one of Charlottesville’s top wedding venue. What many may not know is that you can host any type of event at Keswick Vineyards. From corporate events to rehearsal dinners, to anniversary parties or birthday celebrations, nothing is out of our reach. So, on Saturday, June 30th, Mercedes hosted her bridal shower to celebrate her upcoming wedding with some of her closest friends.

Although the Sperry tent at Keswick Vineyards can accommodate up to 200 people, this bridal shower with less than 50 people filled the space perfectly. From an initial cheese table to greet the ladies as they arrived by bus from Washington D.C., to a “tea party” feel luncheon followed by delicious desserts, no detail was left behind. And what would a bridal shower be without games to play! A separate “living room” was created for everyone to gather at while Mercedes opened her gifts. And when the formalities were done, the dancing began! While most of the ladies got their groove on, Mercedes slipped away with her photographer to get some of those iconic photos this venue offers.

Thank you to the following vendors for all of their hard work:

Event Planner: Logan Powell with Blue Ridge AV & Lighting, Caterer: The Catering Outfit, Desserts: Sweethaus, DJ: Derek Tobler, Photographer: Zaid Hamid, Florist: The Posey Detail, Rentals: MS Events, Transportation: K & V Transportation.

Keswick 6/29/18 Keswick 6/29/18

Love At First Sight | Lieve & Peter

I always love hearing how couples getting married at Keswick Vineyards first met. So many times, I am amazed at how it happens. Lieve and Peter had one of those stories. Lieve is a former member of the UVA rowing team and was vacationing in California with the girls when they decided to visit the San Diego Zoo versus going anywhere else. Peter, being from Lebanon, was visiting California and also decided to visit the San Diego Zoo the exact same day. Both of them just happen to be in the panda bear exhibit when they first laid eyes on each other. From that moment forward, they both knew they had found their soul mate. Isn’t that amazing? I mean, what are the odds of that happening? Both of them so far from their home towns. Both of them being there on that day, in that location. Just shows you that you never know where or when you will find your soul mate.

Since their love story started in the panda section of the San Diego zoo, they decided to make sure that was a big part of their wedding day. They had a bench with stuffed panda bears on it and their photo booth had a bamboo backdrop for guests to get photos in front of wearing silly animal masks.

Lieve and Peter also wanted to put some details to showcase their backgrounds, so a big rowing oar was present behind the cocktail bar and pictures of Lebanon were showcased at the bar along with some arak (a traditional Lebanese liquor). One of my favorite personal touch was having our gazebo draped in bright, colorful fabric.

Congratulations, Lieve and Peter! We had such a great time at your wedding and we hope that you enjoy your wedding in Lebanon!

Thank you to the following vendors for all of their hard work:

Event Planner: Donovan-Groves Events, Catering: Harvest Moon, Officiant: Geoff Pitts, Desserts: Pie Chest, DJ: Chase Capo with Black Tie Entertainment, Musicians: Jia Lie & Theresa Su, Photographer: Sam Stroud, Photobooth: Mox Box, Hair and Makeup Artist: Charlottesville Makeup Artist, Florist: Foxtail Cottage, Transportation: Ambassador Limousine, Rentals: MS Events.