Real Wedding Wednesday: Sarah and Justin

Choosing the perfect time of day for your wedding can be a challenge. The season plays a huge part in this decision, both with average temperatures and typical weather. If you’re holding an outdoor wedding, choosing the rainy season isn’t the best plan, but any other time, you can hope it will be fine. It can feel a little like you’re gambling, but it’s completely worth it, as Sarah and Justin can tell us.

Sarah and Justin met in college and had similar friend circles. Often crossing paths at the same events, knowing who each other was, their story begins with Sarah eager to talk to him, but not quite pulling together the courage to walk up and say hello.

A few years later, they were both working in Northern Virginia. Mutual friends from out of town were visiting, and they wound up at the same bar, where the pair finally talked. “It just goes to show that even if you miss your first opportunity, if you’re meant to be, you’ll cross paths again!” Sarah says.

The Scoop

Bride: Sarah, 28, analyst at Arlington County Government

Groom: Justin, 30, account executive at Carfax

Wedding Date: September 14, 2019

Number of Guests: 140

Tucked inside the hem of Sarah’s trumpet gown is a bow from her mother’s wedding gown, her something old for the wedding. On her ears, beautiful pearls borrowed from a matron-of-honor.

The couple chose an afternoon wedding in late September to capture the beauty of the golden hour in their outdoor photos and to find refuge in the cooling hours into that crisp air for the reception. As the day approached, weather predictions didn’t look favorable. They had a back-up plan in place and hoped for the best.

When the day arrived, they and their guests enjoyed the perfect weather and celebrated the union with the photo booth, indoor and outdoor dancing, lawn games, and making smores by the fire.

The bridesmaids wore a variety of styles in blushing pink, while the groomsmen complimented their attire with light pink touches. The boutonnières pulled together the bride’s statement flower and the color theme through sunflower-like daisies.

Sarah and Justin met at James Madison University, so naturally, when she discovered that the “road dawg” from the university made appearances at other weddings, she knew she had to invite him to theirs. “So, he was our honored wedding guest…at one point, our DJ put on the JMU fight song. All of the JMU alum stormed the dance floor, and we held the Duke Dog in the air as we sang it!”

The happy couple timed their wedding to provide them with a beautiful sunset backdrop post-ceremony, with spectacular photographic results. Sarah’s dream of the picture-perfect wedding was fulfilled, despite the earlier threat of rain throughout the day. In fact, they couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful sunset or day for the special celebration of their love.

Congratulations to you both!

Vendor Credits

Venue: Faithbrooke Barn & Vineyards, Luray, VA, 540-743-1207

Consultant/Day of Planner: Brandon Elizabeth, Front Royal, VA, 540-551-0229

Catering: Mainstreet Catering & Bakery, Luray, VA, 540-743-6909

Photographer: Anna Kardos, Richmond, VA, 540-241-9293

DJ: Nate Clancy; I’m The DJ, Culpeper, VA, 703-600-9171

Photobooth: Silly Shotz Photobooth Company, Waynesboro, VA, 540-470-0928

Flowers: Samantha Greenfield, Toms Brook, VA, 540-335-0095

Hair/Make Up: The Studio Salon, Harrisonburg, VA, 540-434-8188

Transportation: Richard’s Bus Lines, Luray, VA, 540-743-4005

Tent: Grand Event Center, Winchester, VA, 540-667-1400

Lawn Games: Rustic Garden Rentals, Fairfax, VA, 540-999-5091

Officiant: Jason Simmons, Ypsilanti, MI, 757-812-4374

Shoes: Kailee P

Wedding Gown/Veil: The Wedding Store at Liz Clinton, Andover, NJ, 973-786-5330

Bridesmaids dresses: Azazie

Invitations: Minted

Favors: Handmade / Etsy (smores bags with tags that were ordered from Etsy)

Honeymoon: Hawaii (Oahu, Kauai, and Maui)