I remember meeting Celeste and Matt at our consultation and immediately sensing that these two were a welcoming pair who would be fun to work with…their story was sweet and their company even sweeter! I have been so excited about their wedding day and sharing it now makes me recall all the wonderful events of their big day.
So how did these two first meet? In Celeste’s own words…“Matt and I had been colleagues for a few years. Every now and then we’d find ourselves at the same social scene with other colleagues for happy hours. Then in February 2013 a handful of us decided to go on a weekend trip to New Hampshire for some winter sports and stayed in a mutual friend’s cabin. There Matt and I realized we got along very well with each other, so the following weekend we had our first date: a homemade cooked meal (by him!) of chicken piccata, which is now one of my favorite dishes! From then on the rest is history.”
Matt is definitely the kind of guy who would cook their first date’s meal! In fact, Matt put a lot of muscle into helping Celeste plan their big day. And Celeste’s own planning and styling couldn’t be more complimentary to Matt’s. They were planning on a DIY wedding at Pearmund Cellars with under 75 guests which is just perfect for this lovely winery. There was an indoor backup plan for the barrel and tasting rooms if it rained, but the weather was just perfect!
Celeste is simply a lovely lady who has a classic, romantic style, and she worked to make sure her wedding would be modern and yet timeless, full of sentiment and meaning. What was also really impressive is how much work Matt put into making sure everything worked out just right for their wedding day. To see a groom do so much planning was a bit refreshing! It was easy to tell how much he really enjoyed helping to make sure the day was perfect for Celeste. And their proposal story echos the same sentiments…
And how did Matt propose? (also in Celeste’s words…)“It was the first week of September 2015 and I was traveling home from Texas. I’d been on a long, tiring, and hot field work trip and had been traveling for over 12 hours and felt grungy and tired. Matt picked me up from the airport after playing soccer, so he was also a bit dirty. We got home and I really just wanted a hot shower and to go to sleep, but Matt made me close my eyes as he walked me to the bedroom. I thought he was going to show me that he’d painted our bedroom, the last room of our condo that needed painting. I was totally surprised when I opened my eyes to streamers on the ceiling, lights on the bed, hand-cut letters on the wall saying ‘Will you…’, and Matt kneeling down with my great grandmother’s ring proposing to me. Of course I said yes! I found out right afterwards that he was filming the whole thing, which prompted a light smack from me because I looked quite tired after my long trip. 🙂 Then a couple of days later we left for Boston to share the news with his family. :)”
An heirloom ring and a bride who values family made my time to photograph Celeste on her wedding day so very special! She is a modest, unassuming lady, full of dignity and grace and her BHLDN dress was stunning and perfect for her. Her hair and make up were flawless and that bouquet from Joy and Co. Events was gorgeous!!! Her sweet and funny personality just shines through! And how about Matt’s portraits (thanks to Shelby Rivenbark Photography!)?! He was pretty dapper himself!
Matt and Celeste had the most endearing first look by the iconic silo with the three trees growing from atop. Celeste surprised Matt and the two had such a special moment together. And don’t think for a minute that it took anything away from the walking down the aisle moment! The photos will tell you otherwise! That first look also gave us plenty of time to capture some sweet bride and groom moments following.
And when it was time for the ceremony, you seriously couldn’t get a better view here! The silo added a rustic touch to their vineyard wedding. The slight shade covering from the silo trees was refreshing and their ceremony was lovely! I have to say that I really loved the group photos afterward because Celeste and Matt’s family and friends were so friendly and with such a great sense of collective humor that it made then so much fun.
Celeste and Mat’s vision for their reception was absolute vineyard perfection. The long table provided by Old Blue BBQ was just perfect for a vine-side dining experience. The potted begonias and rosemary and escort cards created by Celeste’s mother were a lovely added touch. And the cake from Gateau! I loved photographing a cake at dusk with some added off camera flash…the mood of the day was still there even at dusk…darker skies but with the charm of happy blooms and smiling faces. And the winery made the perfect place for golden hour photos!
Some late night dancing and an incredibly sentimental father/daughter dance involved some precious time with family and friends. And then there were some unexpected fireworks!!! So we can’t fault Matt for buying regular sparklers instead of the long wedding sparklers! I still think a little backlight with OCF and an end of the evening wedding kiss made their departure photos pretty special, with or without a lot of artificial sparks! Thank you so much Matt and Celeste for the honor of photographing your special day and the beginning of this wonderful journey called marriage! Shelby and I were so pleased to serve you!!!
Venue: Pearmund Cellars
Florals: Joy and Co. Events
Hair: Salon Nordine
Make Up: Celeste (the beautiful bride!)
Dress: Tadashi Shoji for BHLDN
Bridal Shoes: Jessica Simpson shoes
Maid of Honor Dress: BHLDN
Catering: Old Blue BBQ
Cake: Gateau
Officiant: Daniel Dolan
Calligrapher for Escort Cards: Nathalie Wauters, bride’s mother
Invitation Suite: Wedding Paper Divas
Wine: Pearmund Cellars
Second Shooting: Shelby Danielle Photography
Michelle Lieb with Lieb Photographic is a Charlottesville Wedding Photographer, Culpeper Wedding Photographer, Fredericksburg Wedding Photographer, Alexandria Wedding Phtogorapher and a wedding photographer in the surrounding areas.
