Ever After Visuals Blog

Ceremony Venue: Pohick Episcopal Church, Lorton, Virginia
Reception Venue: Collingwood Library and Museum, Alexandria, Virginia — History + Beauty = The Perfect Place for a Gorgeous Reception!
Floral Design: A Floral Affair by The Tudor Rose, Woodbridge, Virginia
Reception Music: D. J. Greyhound
Catering: Avalon Caters - The food was AWESOME!!
Wedding Dress: Claire Dratch
Wedding Cake: Erin Young
Invitations: Caspari, Inc.

What a lovely day Saturday was for a wedding! The sky was blue with big puffy clouds and love was in the air for our bride Valerie and her beau, Ryan. We have long looked forward to this very individualized wedding. The uniqueness started at Pohick Episcopal Church, with a long history dating all the way back to 1724. Part of the ceremony included not only an explanation, but a demonstration of where we get the term ‘tying the knot’. But what I will long remember is how wonderfully sweet Valerie and Ryan’s family is — from the first time her dad saw her, to her mom helping her on with her shoe to the sweetest toast I’ve heard a sister give, Valerie’s family is just the best. And Ryan’s family is no different — Dad taking great pains to get ryan’s boutonniere just right, to the grandparents were just the coolest, and mom’s tears during the mother/son dance — well, there was a lot of love to go around between the families of these two.

From the historic church to the historic reception at Collingwood, everything was really classy and well done — just the type of wedding that we love. Collingwood Library and Museum has the unique distinction of being able to say that the footsteps of George Washington, Captain John Smith and Jim Bowie have walked the land. It’s just a breathtaking location and we thought it had just the right amount of history mixed with gorgeous backdrops — from the house with the striking columns, to the Potomac flowing along the back of the property, this place was truly special.

What we loved most about this wedding was Valerie and Ryan — they were high school sweethearts who were apart for a bit and then found each other again. When I asked Valerie how they came to choose “Annie’s Song” as the song for their first dance, her reply fits them so. They like the words — and we do, too. “Come let me love you, come love me again.” Sweet words for a sweet couple.

By the end of a beautiful day, it was clear for all to see how much these two love each other and we absolutely loved watching their family and friends celebrate this love made only sweeter the second time around.

Click here to check out Valerie and Ryan’s SNEAK PEAK slideshow!