Justin and Alexandra, the winners of our Fan Favorite Real Wedding in 2024, met when Alex attended a dinner he hosted for some mutual friends. They reconnected soon after that and romance blossomed quickly. The couple were living in North Carolina at the time but both had roots in Washington, D.C.
Meet the Newlyweds
When planning their wedding they wanted to choose a midway point between the two locations. Alex, a graduate of the University of Virginia, grew to love Virginia Wine Country during her college years and immediately thought of holding the wedding at a vineyard. When they found Veritas Vineyards & Winery, the couple knew it was the perfect place for their special day.
A Classic Elegant Wedding at Veritas Vineyards
They wanted their wedding to be classic and to celebrate the vineyard landscape of Charlottesville. “We really wanted to capture the natural beauty of the area,” Justin said. “We wanted it to be elegant, but we didn’t want to overdecorate too much.”
They complemented the Veritas greenery by designing their color palette around a garden theme, with sage green as the base and subtle pinks and peaches distributed through the florals. The dark rose of the bridesmaids’ dresses was a last-minute decision but one that paid off beautifully, playing off the lighter pinks in the florals.
Choosing a Wedding Dress for a Vineyard Wedding
“My dress had to be clean, simple, classic,” Alex said. She knew she wanted natural curls with her hair down and wasn’t sure how the weather would affect that, but definitely wanted her dress to complement that vision.
The stunning Suzanne Neville gown with its asymmetric neckline provided that sleek elegance. It was a perfect find in London from one of the last British made couture designer in the UK. She paired it with an extravagant veil sourced from Etsy, another last-minute decision that perfected the already lovely ensemble.
A Wedding Day at Veritas Vineyards
Alex credited their wedding planner Jazmin with keeping the process going smoothly. “She was really good at keeping me on track, giving me specific options,” Alex remembered. In an emotional process with so many different choices to be made, this was an invaluable technique to keep the theme cohesive and the planning process on track.
The amount of trust and joy apparent at the wedding moved even Jazmin, a seasoned wedding planner. The couple faced some challenges but got through them with absolute grace.
There was a storm forecast on the day of the wedding, and the venue’s staff stayed in communication with Justin down to the minute regarding whether they would have to move the wedding inside. It was a testament to the respect the staff had for the couple that they offered to have all hands standing by to move furniture and arrangements if necessary.
At the last moment, the clouds pulled back, and the sun shone, and they were able to have their dream outdoor wedding—complete with fabulous pictures under the extravagant post-storm sky.
An Elegant Celebration at Veritas Vineyards
Veritas’ in-house catering team provided the delicious food for the reception. The guests raised glasses of award-winning Veritas Vineyards wine as the toasts proceeded.
The white blooms and ivory candles in the tablescape arrangements provided a lovely neutral touch to the sage green tablecloth and trendy copper plates. Foliage garlands wove through the arrangements, bringing the elegant natural feel the couple wanted to the décor.
Their cake had four tiers—a necessity for a guest list of 200 people—and provided the same simple elegance as their décor, with ivory buttercream frosting adorned with fresh white and pink flowers. After cutting the cake, Alex changed into a different but no less stunning dress, this one without a train but bedecked in sparkles. Justin changed as well into a white jacket and black bowtie and the couple danced the night away with their friends and family.
Flowers for a Vineyard Wedding
Florist Willow Branch Flowers designed several arrangements while keeping in mind the elegant theme the couple wanted, The arrangements at the head table were primarily smaller vases with white and ivory blooms, allowing the couple and the glorious cake behind them to keep center stage.
The rest of the arrangements mixed light pinks, blushes and peach-colored blooms into the mix. Even some pale yellow flowers made it in. The light colors provided a beautiful contrast against the dark foliage, and nowhere was that more evident than the lush floral arch they arranged for the ceremony.
Elegant Wedding Details
Resting in Alex’s full, natural hair sat a classic crystal hairpiece. The crystals formed the shapes of flowers, and the silver setting branched out in slender silver twigs. A string quartet played their ceremony music, accompanying the bridal party’s walk down the aisle.
The groom and his party did not miss out on the opportunity to add hidden touches. The lining of Justin’s classic black suit was purple, and his groomsmen surprised him on the way to the venue with custom cufflinks. The cuffs themselves were embroidered with his initials.
Alex and Justin’s Happily Ever After
Veritas Winery was the perfect venue for this couple’s wedding day. From accommodating inclement weather and delivering delicious food to providing bottles from their award-winning sparkling wine program, Justin and Alexandra could not have imagined a better day.
At the end of the night, the couple proceeded through a line of sparklers raised aloft by their friends and family. The gathered crowd toasted to the success of a couple who inspire trust and joy even in the most tense moments of a special day.
For more inspirational advice about planning a wedding in Charlottesville and 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, explore vineyard weddings, discover more wedding pet inspiration and discover some of our favorite tips for choosing a Virginia venue for your summer wedding.~
wedding vendors
Photographer: Aaron Watson Photography
Venue & Catering: Veritas Vineyards and Winery
Planner: Anyvent Event Planning
Florist: Willow Branch Florals
Cake: Cakes by Rachel
Videographer: Rivion Wedding Films
Bride’s Hair & Makeup: Society 11:11
Bridal Party Hair & Makeup: Jahara Janae
Bridal Gown: Suzanne Neville
Harpist: Shelley Greene
DJ: Bundys World
