This Fredericksburg, VA Wedding started with a ceremony at St. George Episcopal Church and ended with a reception at The Silk Mill was designed by Katie and Chris to both pay homage to their love for each other and also to the rich history of marriage in both of their families.

One of the most touching details from their day was Chris having his grandfather’s & great-great grandmother’s yellow gold wedding bands melted down to create a matte gold band of his own to remind him daily of those who went ahead of them in marriage.

Katie wore a garter that has been handed down in her family for generations with a penny tucked inside for good luck for her walk down the aisle at St. George Episcopal Church in Fredericksburg, VA.

St. George Episcopal Church has a beautiful space dedicated for bride’s to get ready in.  Katie and & bridesmaids sipped champagne and had their hair and make-up done.  These champagne glasses were from Katie’s bridal shower and such a darling touch for champagne in the bridal suite.

The silver hand mirror was also an heirloom piece handed down from Katie’s grandmother.

Katie, Chris, and I had many conversations about whether or not to have a first look ahead of their ceremony.  Afraid that it would spoil the moment of seeing each other for the first time at the alter at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Fredericksburg, where Chris’s family attends they initially opted out of one.  However, after looking over the timeline, they ultimately decided to move forward with including a first look in downtown Fredericksburg.

This first look moment was still emotional and beautiful!   I cried too. 🙂  And spoiler alert, it didn’t keep either of them from getting emotional at the alter either.

Katie’s selection of flowers for their winter wedding couldn’t have been more fitting with roses, ranunculous, eucalyptus, and other flowers with deep burgundy & red colors and beautiful touches of greenery.

The bridesmaid dresses in fuchsia were absolute stunners! …and paired nicely with the classic black tuxes of the groomsmen.

The number one these for their wedding was family and fun!  As the bridal party passed around champagne, Katie’s dad joined in with his own flask.

The historical interior of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Fredericksburg, VA is stunning with rich red walls, a carved wooden choir screen, beautiful stained glass, and need-pointed prayer cushions.

The pipe organ, a trumpeter, and a friend on vocals provided the wedding music and filled St. George’s with the most beautiful sound.

As promised, the first look most certainly didn’t spoil this special moment at the alter.

It’s no secret I absolutely love church weddings.  The homily provided during this wedding ceremony was about forgiveness and such an important message for marriage.

One of my favorite images from the ceremony is above as Katie and Chris begin their walk down the aisle after their ceremony at St. George’s Episcopal Church, which also includes both the father of the groom and the father of the bride shaking hands across the aisle in the background.

It was windy and chilly, but we headed out for sunset portraits around downtown Fredericksburg, VA anyway.  The red doors of the St. George’s are beautiful and make me think back about how many other generations new weds have walked through those some doors.

The wedding reception was at Silk Mill in Fredericksburg, VA.

This four tiered cake was absolutely delicious and filled with strawberry filling.

The dip at the end of the first dance was a surprise to Katie, but she leaned into it and it turned out beautifully!

The wedding was held on the birthday of the United States Marine Corps, 10 Nov, 2018.  Katie & Chris hired a bagpiper to play the Marine Corps Hymn to honor those who served in the corps and also those who served in other branches of the military.

After the parent’s dances, Chris & Katie again danced together and both sets of their parents joined them on the dance floor at The Silk Mill under twinkle lights and to the music from local band Mutual Fun.

Katie and Chris left under an arch of sparklers and departed in a horse drawn carriage for a buggy ride around downtown Fredericksburg.

Church: St. George Episcopal Church

Reception Venue: The Silk Mill

Dress: Ava Laurenne Bride

Florist: Thompson’s Westwood Florist

HMUA: Hair & Make-Up Unveiled

Band: Mutual Fun Band

Videographer: Video Express

Cake: Mimi’s Sugar n’ Spice

Catering: Caroline Street Cafe & Catering

Bridesmaid Dresses: Bride’s Side

Groom Attire: The Black Tux

Colors: Marsala, ivory, gold, greenery

Rings: Dominion Jewelers