Emily + Kevin's Shenandoah Woods Wedding

Emily + Kevin's Shenandoah Woods wedding was the perfect example of a weekend getaway, rural retreat style wedding that is becoming more and more common these days. With built in lodging for the wedding party and guests in extreme proximity to the wedding ceremony and reception sites, it is the perfect option if you are looking for a one stop shop for a stress free wedding weekend. With the sweeping vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the east and the Massanutten Mountains on the west, it also provides some wonderful backdrops for portraits too!

It was our first time photoing at Shenandoah Woods but not our last of the year. We had a second wedding two weeks later in the summer, but we'll save that for another blog post later this week! But first we need to talk about the handmade flower details that Emily made for her wedding!

Take a moment and look at the flowers she made for the bouquets below. Each one is handmade from the pages of Harry Potter novels! And the references do not stop there! The bouquets themselves were made to resemble Quidditch hoops and if you head down to the reception details section you can find the head table filled with additional pages and more Quidditch hoops/goalposts hanging overhead! Amazing. And a perfect literary theme for the day since Emily & Kevin's love for each other was literally leaping off the page!

The getting ready portion of the day began in on of the myriad of cabins on site and then we moved down to a pond with a wooden pier that made for the perfect spot for a first look between the couple and then their parents. This is a trend we definitely recommend! It speaks to Kevin's love of his parents that he wanted to include his mother in the first look festivities. We've done plenty of bride/parent first looks but never a groom. Well done Kevin!

For portraits we chose the rustic barn on site right around the corner from the pond. In the harsh midday sun, it provided a wonderful spot of shade with dramatic mountain views in the background. And then a moment later we were off to the ceremony!

The ceremony spot is located directly next to the reception venue and there is a beautiful tree lined walkway between the two. The photo of Emily and her dad walking the path is definitely a favorite from the day.

After a beautiful ceremony it was off to the reception for dancing into the night!

If you are looking to book a rural getaway wedding in central Virginia, you absolutely cannot go wrong with Shenandoah Woods! And if you are looking for a wedding photographer for it, please feel free to click the giant pink button below. ;)