Alex was working at a local school with Madi’s mother, and he attended a party that she threw for the faculty.
Madi, just home from college, was supposed to be out with a friend but decided to go to the party instead.
Meet the Newlywed Couple
The two met, started dating, and put the timing down to fate.
An Equestrian Wedding in Middleburg
They paid homage to Virginia’s horse country with an elegant equestrian-themed fall wedding in Middleburg.
The venue belonged to a friend who had bought and renovated the property, and the day after they got engaged, she offered it up for the autumn wedding.
Elegant Equestrian Touches at a Virginia Wedding
Alex, who used to work on a ranch, introduced Madi to Western horse culture.
The remodeled barn was the perfect place to display that passion, and Madi put a spin on the traditional wedding shoes by wearing luxury Tecovas boots.
Fall Flowers at an Equestrian Wedding
They wanted to play off the black walls and bronze accents of the barn, keeping a coherent design with structural fall wedding flowers and deep colors.
Their theme revolved around “elevated rustic,” and Madi’s favorite part of the floral design was the way the greenery tied the darker shades of the autumn wedding flowers together.
Madi’s mother put together the biggest surprise of the day by designing a photo wall, asking everyone at the wedding to send in photos of themselves with the happy couple.
An Equestrian Reception in a Black Barn
Madi’s father later told Alex that keeping the secret was the hardest part of the process.
The gallery was unveiled on the wedding day and guests got to bring their own pictures back home as a memento of the special day.
The couple buried a bottle of bourbon on the property a month before the wedding and dug it back up with their wedding party after the ceremony. Burying bourbon at southern weddings is a charming tradition believed to bring good weather on the wedding day. The process involves burying a bottle of bourbon at the wedding venue one month before the event. The folklore goes that if done correctly, the bourbon will ensure clear skies and sunshine for the wedding. This unique custom adds a touch of whimsy and regional flair to the celebration, creating lasting memories for the couple and their guests.
Rustic Touches at a Barn Wedding
During the cocktail hour the couple took a rare moment for themselves.
They pulled out the Tommy Bahama chairs they usually bring to concerts and sat together overlooking the party.
Equestrian Details at a Middleburg Wedding
“We had a bottle of champagne and we sat there on the hill, just decompressed and got to be with each other,” Madi said.
In a day full of whirlwind scheduling and group celebration it’s rare for the couple to have a quiet moment, but it was important for Alex and Madi to experience the whole thing together.
Alex and Madi’s Happily Ever After
“If I hadn’t been able to be with Madi the whole day, it wouldn’t have been nearly as perfect,” Alex remarked.
Several months after they married, Alex and Madi had the unique opportunity to buy and live in their own wedding venue. “Every day I get to walk home from my own wedding,” Madi laughed. ~
For more inspirational advice about planning a wedding in Virginia Wine Country, be sure to get your copy of the Virginia Wine Country Wedding Planner or read the digital edition on our website. Find talented Virginia vendors on our partner pages, discover trendy wedding flower inspiration and some of our favorite Fall wedding decor and flowers.
wedding vendors
Photographer: The Hancocks
Planner: All the Dainty Details
Hair: Matilda Lazeri
Makeup: Blush Away Makeup
Florist: Eight Tree Street Floral
Catering: Twinleaf Catering
Stationery: Minted Weddings
Calligraphy & Signage: Leah Letters
Rentals: Select Event Group, Gibson Rental
Cake: Field and Main Restaurant
Bridesmaid Attire: Birdy Grey
DJ: Black Tie Entertainment
Engagement Ring: Brilliant Earth
Wedding Bands: Mystique Jewelers
Bridal Salon: The Bridal Room
