Our Wedding Blog

Keswick 9/29/18 Keswick 9/29/18

Meant to Be! | Jasmine & Justin

Jasmine and Justin were one of our couples that knew right away that Keswick Vineyards was the venue for them as soon as they got engaged. Keswick Vineyards was their dream wedding venue, so they were determined to do whatever they could to have their wedding here. They drove all the way from Virginia Beach after a long day of work, and, once seeing Keswick Vineyards, they decided to book on the spot. After this moment, we couldn’t wait to see what other surprises Jasmine and Justin had in store for us!

In the wedding industry, you see so many new ideas and traditions that you’ve never even seen or heard of before. From the burying of the bourbon (which Jasmine and Justin did to stray away rain), to the blending of the sand—you really see everything! The most meaningful and touching ideas that we see incorporated in weddings, though, are ones that have been passed down for generations. Jasmine and Justin’s wedding on September 29, 2018 was one where we adored all the traditions and rituals, particularly during the ceremony.

A fun idea that we’ve seen at previous weddings is the “blending of the wine” during the ceremony. With getting married at a vineyard, couples have to incorporate some part of the “vineyard” feel to their wedding! Jasmine and Justin used our award-winning wine—one red and one white— and poured each of their glasses into one singular glass of wine, creating a “blush” color that they both drank out of. The blending of the wine demonstrated their lives and their families that were now “one,” opposed to being two separate entities.

A new tradition that we saw for Jasmine and Justin’s wedding was the “jumping of the broom.” The “jumping of the broom” is an African-American heritage, which symbolizes the joining of two families, as well as, respect for those that came before them and “paved the way” for future couples getting married. During the tradition, Jasmine’s mother, Theresa, swept circles around the couple and then placed the broom directly in front of them. After Jasmine and Justin were pronounced husband and wife, everyone chanted “one, two three,” and they jumped over the broom. We thought that it was such a fun tradition that was so meaningful to the couple and was also a fun experience for everyone to watch. As Jasmine and Justin walked down the aisle, everyone threw lavender for the joyous celebration!

The remainder of the evening was spent with guests mingling in Jasmine and Justin’s Parisian-themed reception. Guests were able to watch Alee paint the reception, and enjoy macaroons and delicious French food, provided by L’etoile (“the star” in French). Guests were also able to view Jasmine and Justin’s engagement photos that were taken at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, where Jasmine wore her Louboutin’s (honestly, how French can you get?!). We loved the feel of a romantic evening in Paris that guests were able to enjoy. The entire evening was “tres magnifique!”

Felicitations, Jasmine and Justin! We hope that you enjoyed every part of your “dream wedding” at Keswick Vineyards!

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

Event Planner: Keswick Vineyards, Caterer: L’etoile, Photographer: Sarah Goodwin, DJ: Craig Mangrum, Officiant: Julie Trump, Desserts: Hummingbird Macaroons, Musicians: Meladicious String Quartet, Hair and Makeup: Brittney Brown and Bella Donna, Florist: Designs by TAB, Rentals: MS Events, Lighting: Skyline Tent Company, Painter: Art by Alee.

Keswick 9/28/18 Keswick 9/28/18

Blue Skies & Pink Peonies | Jeannette & Matthew

In closing out the month of September, we had perfect weather at Keswick Vineyards for Jeannette and Matthew’s wedding on the 28th. The skies were blue with few clouds, and the temperature outside was absolutely perfect! With that being said, it was also fairly sunny outside so Jeannette and Matthew decided on a shaded area for their guests to be comfortable during their ceremony.

At Keswick Vineyards, couples have a variety of ceremony locations to choose from. Whether it be under our 300-year-old oak tree, in front of our elaborate fountain, or even in the simplicity of the vineyard, couples have more than one option for their outdoor ceremony. Jeannette and Matthew primarily decided that they wanted to have their ceremony looking out towards the vineyard but also had a “plan B” in case it was too bright outside. They decided the day of their wedding that it would be most ideal for guests to be in the shade to enjoy the matrimony of the two. Not only were guests able to enjoy our iconic fountain and Blue Ridge mountains, but everyone was completely comfortable. Everyone really had the best of both worlds!

Another aspect that we loved, particularly for Jeannette and Matthew’s wedding, were their centerpieces. Jeannette’s sister actually made all of the centerpieces out of eucalyptus, daisies, roses, baby’s breath, and blush peonies, which matched Jeannette’s blush dress. We loved the simplicity of the arrangements and how they were elegant, yet Jeannette and Matthew didn’t have to spend a fortune on their florals. Everything was absolutely perfect for the couple’s wedding day!

Congratulations, Jeannette and Matthew! We hope that the rest of your lives together is as perfect as your wedding day was!

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

Event Planner: Keswick Vineyards, Caterer: L’etoile Catering, Photographer: Photography by V, Officiant: Preston Gisch, DJ: Derek Tobler, Hair and Makeup Artist: Yolonda Jones and Rosa Alicia, Transportation: A & A, Lighting: Skyline Tent Company, Rentals: MS Events.

Keswick 9/2/18 Keswick 9/2/18

Outdoor Options | Caitlin & Brooks

Couples predominately come to Keswick Vineyards because of the natural, picturesque views. The beautiful oak trees that are over 300-years-old, the abundance of the vineyard, and the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background makes for picture-perfect scenery. When you think of a simply natural and beautiful setting, this is it! With outdoor settings, though, comes outdoor options! Caitlin and Brooks, who had their wedding here on September 2, 2018, was a couple that used every aspect of the natural, outdoor setting to their advantage. We loved their various, fun outdoor options and can’t wait to share it with our readers!

One thing that we recommend to our couples is to use place cards that have some weight to them. With the nice breeze that you get for being in a mountainous region, sometimes the cards cannot withstand it and, therefore, do not stay in place. Caitlin and Brooks created a window frame and wrote each table and guests’ name on it. They leaned the beautiful window frame against one of our wine barrels and placed it on the side of the stairs so that guests could see where they were to be seated. Having such a sturdy, decorative piece was ingenious! We also loved the touch of greenery and florals that made the sign really “pop!”

Amongst this sign was also a bar sign with all of the alcoholic beverages being served. Caitlin and Brooks, again, used a window frame so that guests knew exactly what was on the menu for their drink options of the day. We thought that having the bar sign rest upon an easel, opposed to on the bar, was a great way to make a simple sign more of a decorative piece that could withstand the breeze that we receive.

Our favorite “outdoor option,” though, was the Carpe Donut truck! With transitioning into fall, it’s a great option to have apple cider donuts in lieu of a cake. Guests love to go up to the truck, order their dessert, and mingle amongst other guests outside. It’s also a great option to have for coffee so that the tent space can be maximized for other things. I know that I am not speaking for myself when I say that we could never get tired of Carpe Donuts!

The remainder of the night was spent snacking on some fall-themed donuts and dancing the night away with all attention on Caitlin and Brooks. Congratulations to the happy couple!

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

Event Planner: Keswick Vineyards, Caterer: Harvest Moon, Florist: Amanda Burnette, Officiant: Mary Schmotzer, DJ: John Garland, Desserts: Carpe Donut, Musicians: The Bloom Trio, Photographer: Jen Fariello, Hair and Makeup Artist: Top Knot and Rouge 9, Lighting: Skyline Tent Company, Rentals: La Tavola and Harvest Moon.

Keswick 8/25/18 Keswick 8/25/18

A Charitable Couple | Kristen & James

Keswick Vineyards, yet again, had another perfect wedding day! Kristen and James, who got married at Keswick Vineyards on August 25th, 2018, had another beautiful day with flawless weather. With their very natural color theme of greens, whites, and gold that they had, everything seemed so natural and timeless.

Kristen and James’ guest table were so simple, yet elegant with the hints of whites and greens with their floral arrangements. Our particularly favorite piece on the guest table, though, was the canvas that they had as their guest book. On it were the states of Virginia and New Hampshire, which was representative of where the couple was originally from. We thought that was a great way to incorporate a little piece of “home” that the couple could use to decorate their house together.

The most meaningful part of the day, though, was what the couple did for a charitable cause. Rather than providing gifts for everyone, they donated a portion of money to an organization for cancer patients, being that their family was affected by this tragedy. It was so heartwarming to hear what they had done, and everyone greatly appreciated their thoughtfulness.

Congratulations to the happy couple! We hope that your life continues to be filled with as much love and compassion that you portrayed to your guests during your wedding.

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

Event Planner and Florist: Marylee Marmer Events, Caterer: Goodrich Gourmet, Officiant: Kevin Dadoly, Desserts: Sweethaus, DJ: Dennis Payne, Photographer and Videographer: Cortese Photography and Film, Hair and Makeup: Taylor Dadoly, Transportation: Easy Riders Bus Company.