Charlottesville, Virginia, was the picturesque backdrop for Sarah and Eric's dreamy sailcloth tent wedding. The couple, who met in Washington, D.C., chose the idyllic estate venue in Charlottesville for its timeless elegance and natural beauty, perfectly complementing their early fall celebration.
A Personal and Elegant Celebration
From the very beginning, Sarah and Eric envisioned a wedding that felt deeply personal to them while remaining elegant, timeless, and classic in style. They had always dreamed of a tented sailcloth wedding on a warm fall day, where guests could arrive and experience the celebration all in one beautiful setting. The couple wanted every element of the day to feel seamless and thoughtfully designed, but above all, they wanted it to be a joyful and fun celebration where guests felt genuinely cared for.
The couple's love story began in Washington, D.C., where they met and fell in love. After four and a half years of dating, three moves, and one beloved puppy, Eric planned a proposal that completely surprised Sarah. In June 2024, under the guise of organizing his own birthday dinner on the Georgetown waterfront, he led Sarah to a private boat waiting to take them out on the river. About twenty minutes into the ride – and after an unexpected run-in with the U.S. Coast Guard – a very nervous Eric got down on one knee and asked Sarah to marry him, with the Washington skyline in the distance, the very place where their story began.
Timeless Elegance and Natural Beauty
The couple chose a palette of creams and greens for its timeless elegance and natural softness. It felt especially fitting for an early fall celebration, complementing the beauty of the estate venue and the Blue Ridge Mountain backdrop in Charlottesville, Virginia. The understated palette allowed the setting to shine while creating an atmosphere that felt romantic, refined, and effortlessly classic.
Sarah wore a custom Romona Keveza gown with an overskirt that beautifully reflected the design language of the day: timeless elegance, romantic silhouettes, and classic glamour. For cocktail hour, she transformed the look with a wristlet bustle on the overskirt, creating a softer, more effortless feel while preserving its dramatic shape. Later in the evening, she removed the overskirt and added a French bustle for a second look that felt sleek, refined, and reception-ready.
Delicious Details and Beautiful Decor
Guests were welcomed with a pre-ceremony Spritz Bar featuring Aperol and Hugo spritzes, a thoughtful nod to the bride and groom's favorite drink. During cocktail hour, passed champagne and wine were served alongside cocktails and custom beverages, with bites including mini crab cakes with lemon-dill aioli, applewood-smoked bacon-wrapped dates, sweet potato cakes with smoked pulled pork, and an artisanal cheese and charcuterie display.
The couple worked closely with Bespoke Floral Design to bring their floral vision to life, beginning with Sarah's bouquet of peony-pink roses and bridesmaids carrying mono-floral bouquets of white blooms. The ceremony featured a grounded half halo of flowers and greenery, L-shaped aisle arrangements, and pale pink petals for the flower girl and guests to toss.
A Sweet and Sentimental Touch
One of the most meaningful details of Sarah and Eric's wedding day was the cake, which was designed, baked, and decorated by the groom's mother. The lemon sponge was finished with custom petal appliqué and delicate pearl detailing, striking a beautiful balance between artistry and timeless elegance. The design also included an affectionate nod to the couple's beloved pup, Ollie.
A Perfect Ending to a Perfect Day
As the night came to a close, guests were treated to a sweet surprise: a cannoli cart made its way through the tent and onto the dance floor, serving up hand-rolled Belgian chocolate truffles and cannolis piped live on the dance floor – a playful late-night favorite and a sweet tribute to the groom's favorite dessert. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day, filled with love, laughter, and timeless elegance.
Source: Style Me Pretty
