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Bride: Lauren Powell, 30, Plastic Surgery Resident Physician
Groom: Will Bataller, 33, Physiatrist
Residence: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Date: October 19, 2024
Venue: Veritas Vineyard & Winery, Afton, VA
Guests: 140
LOVE STORY
In December 2017, the chilly air of Richmond, Virginia, was filled with the warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee at Shockoe Espresso, a cozy little café downtown. Amidst the clinking of mugs and the hum of quiet conversations, Will and Lauren, two eager and ambitious first-year medical students at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, met for the first time.
Will and Lauren’s first date was a delightful experience, made even sweeter by their shared joy of enjoying ice cream at the Charm School Study Hall in Richmond.
PROPOSAL
In a moment that would forever change their lives, Will proposed to Lauren on a warm July afternoon in 2023 at the enchanting Maymont in Richmond. In that magical moment, he presented her with a stunning custom-made 2-carat solitaire diamond ring set on a delicate yellow gold band. The ring sparkled as brightly as their future together. It was a day filled with joy, love and the promise of forever.
VENUE
Despite their demanding residency training in the Midwest, Will and Lauren were determined to plan their dream wedding. They found the perfect venue to match their vision: Veritas Vineyard and Winery in beautiful Charlottesville, Virginia. This location not only took their breath away but also simplified the planning process from halfway across the country.
Meredith Jackson, the couple’s wedding coordinator from the venue, assisted them in coordinating all their vendors, managing the rehearsal, and handling all the details for the day, including arranging for custom cocktails and hors d’oeuvres to be sent to the bridal suite between the ceremony and reception!
Adding their own unique touch, the couple chose a color palette of maroon, black, eucalyptus green, and ivory, which beautifully embraced the fall season and the changing foliage in the Charlottesville region. This personal choice reflected their individuality and added a unique charm to the wedding.
ATTIRE
“Veritas is a full-service venue with an expansive bridal suite,” said the bride. “The suite is a large room with natural light for the hair and makeup artist to set up along with plenty of space for the bridal party; the suite also includes two smaller rooms with couches and floor-to-ceiling mirrors.”
Lauren’s wedding gown was a sight to behold. The strapless ballgown, made of ivory satin, featured a sweetheart neckline and sheer embellished lace panels on the upper back. Decorative buttons elegantly lined the back, extending from the top to the end of the train.
Melinda Maria, a renowned California jewelry designer, designed her earrings and necklace. The “Hello Gorgeous Drop Earrings” earrings were crafted in gold with white diamondettes. The necklace, “Are You Jealous,” featured a single pendant in the same gold and white diamondette color/style.
Lauren chose Chanel Chance Eau de Parfum for her fragrance. For her feet, she wore champagne-colored flats with sequin embellishments over the straps, sourced from David’s Bridal.
To honor tradition, Lauren incorporated meaningful items into her wedding: her Something Old was her mother’s handkerchief from her wedding day; her Something Borrowed was a set of jewel hair clips that adorned her updo for the reception; and her Something Blue was a blue jewel pendant tied around the ribbon of her bridal bouquet.
The bridesmaids wore elegant floor-length dresses in a beautiful cabernet color. Each bridesmaid had the freedom to choose her preferred style from Azazie.
The groom wore a dark hunter-green custom-designed suit from NL Suits in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The jacket’s lining was embroidered with the couple’s initials and wedding date. The last button on the sleeves was bordered with burgundy-colored threading to match the wedding colors. The groomsmen wore black suits from Jos. A. Bank, with cabernet-colored ties and black dress shoes.
The bridal bouquet was a hand-tied arrangement made of natural white satin featuring white Cremones, burgundy roses, ivory spray roses, Bruna, chocolate lace, burgundy astilbe, safari sunset, seeded eucalyptus and gunni eucalyptus. The bridesmaids’ bouquets included ivory spray roses, burgundy astilbe and an abundance of eucalyptus, all tied with a green satin ribbon. The boutonnieres were crafted from burgundy spray roses and eucalyptus.
CEREMONY
A family friend officiated the ceremony and Lauren’s father escorted her down the aisle. The couple exchanged their vows on the hillside of the venue, surrounded by sprawling vineyards and the breathtaking backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The wedding party processed down the aisle to “Four Romantic Pieces for Violin & Piano, Op. 75, B. 150: Allegro Moderato” by Antonín Dvořák, while the bride walked down the aisle to “Canon in D Major, P. 37” by Johann Pachelbel. The recessional music was “Wild” by Spoon.
Two wine barrels adorned with floral arrangements created by Colonial Florist were placed at the front of the aisle, where the bride and groom stood. Two more wine barrels were positioned along the aisle, each decorated with floral arrangements and ground arrangements at the start of the aisle. The floral designs featured white and burgundy roses, ivory spray roses, Bruna flowers, chocolate lace, burgundy astilbe, safari sunset blooms, and eucalyptus.
COCKTAIL HOUR
The cocktail hour occurred in three interconnected venue areas: the tasting room, the deck, and the terrace. Various hors d’oeuvres were served, including fried green tomatoes topped with pimento cheese and green onions, spiced crab cakes with salsa verde and curry chicken confit accompanied by jerk aioli. Guests enjoyed a selection of local wines, beers, ciders and the couple’s signature cocktails: a Margarita for the bride and an Old Fashioned for the groom.
During the cocktail hour, the DJ played the couple’s pre-selected playlist. Fire pits were lit on the brick patio, allowing guests to enjoy the cool fall weather under the warm glow of string lights.
RECEPTION
The reception was held at Veritas in Saddleback Hall, the venue’s grand ballroom. This beautiful space featured floor-to-ceiling drapery, hardwood floors, and French doors that opened onto a deck with stunning views of the vineyard and mountains. The hall comfortably accommodated all the guests and provided a spacious dance floor.
The bride and groom sat at a sweetheart table in front of floral arrangements displayed on wine barrels. The wedding party was seated at two farmhouses flanking the couple. Each table was adorned with running eucalyptus, Italian Ruscus and roses. The tables were elegantly set with an array of glassware, floating candles, candlesticks and floral bouquets.
MUSIC
The newlyweds’ first dance was to “I’ll Always Love You” by Hamilton Leithauser. The father-daughter duo danced to “I Loved Her First” by Heartland, while the mother-son pair swayed to “Find the River” by R.E.M.
The wedding party made a grand entrance in pairs to the song “No Diggity.” Their creative entrances included fun moves such as casting a fishing pole, catching a touchdown and various dance moves, including dips and spins!
MENU
Andy Shipman, the executive chef at Veritas, created an exceptional menu for the couple’s wedding. Their plated dinner began with a sweet potato and coconut milk soup. For the entree, guests could choose from red wine-braised short rib, salt-and-pepper chicken breast with smoked ham bordelaise, or seared gnocchi, a vegetarian option.
CAKE
The wedding cake was a 5-tier round buttercream cake adorned with fresh flowers from their florist.
EXIT
At the night’s end, Will and Lauren had a memorable sparkler exit. Their guests lined up outside the brick patio, illuminated by string lights, each holding a sparkler. For this special occasion, the bride wore a white faux-fur shawl adorned with a sparkling brooch.
AFTER PARTY
Will and Lauren hosted a small family gathering at the Veritas Farmhouse, where they were staying that evening.
HONEYMOON
The newlyweds honeymooned in Cartagena, Colombia.
VENDORS
VENUE/ DAY OF PLANNER/CATERING/RENTALS:
Veritas Vineyard & Winery
https://veritaswines.com/weddings
REHEARSAL DINNER
C&O Restaurant
https://www.candorestaurant.com
AFTER-PARTY:
Crush Pad Wines
https://www.crushpadcville.com
PHOTOGRAPHER:
Jason Collins
VIDEOGRAPHER:
Full Definition Media
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556302692248
LEGAL OFFICIANT
Chelsey Smith
Chelsey’s Event & Wedding Services
RINGS:
ATrio Jewelry
GOWN:
Vow’d
Style Number: Terrace Dress
Color: Ivory
SHOES:
David’s Bridal
HAIR/MAKEUP:
Morgan Olivia Events
https://www.facebook.com/p/Morgan-Olivia-Events-100037539439853
BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES:
Azazie
www.azazie.com
FORMALWEAR:
NL Suits
Jos. A. Bank
INVITATIONS:
Jann Finn-Duffy
Printing
Twin City Print Shop
http://www.twincityprintshop.com
FLOWERS:
Colonial Florist
https://colonialfloristandantiques.com
MUSIC:
DJ Flatline from Rockdahouse Entertainment
CAKE:
Passionflower Cakes
https://www.passionflowercakes.com
ACCOMMODATIONS:
The Farmhouse at Veritas
https://www.veritasfarmhouse.com
Oakhurst Inn Charlottesville
Boars Head Resort
https://www.boarsheadresort.com
Omni Charlottesville
https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/charlottesville
HONEYMOON:
Anandá Hotel Boutique
https://www.anandahotelboutique.com/en
Sofitel Barú Calablanca Beach Resort
Casa San Agustin
https://www.hotelcasasanagustin.com/en/home.html
If you are planning a wedding in Roanoke, Richmond, Fredericksburg/Northern Virginia, The Shenandoah Valley, Coastal Virginia, or Charlottesville/ Lynchburg, Virginia, we can help with your wedding planning and ideas.
