Unique and Personal Rustic Wedding Reception in Centreville: Stephanie + Christopher

We’re back with more from Stephanie and Christopher’s Virginia wedding reception at The Winery at Bull Run, a winery in Centreville, Virginia with an intimate barn setting. (Did you see their unique and personal wedding ceremony??) When it came time to choose the decor, they decided on a rustic, yet elegant, concept to play up the location, captured by Nancy Anderson Cordell Photography. The result? Pure loveliness! And, like their ceremony, their reception was filled with personal details and DIY projects including the wedding advice board, guest book, centerpieces and favors phew!

From Stephanie: I made centerpieces for half of the reception tables from materials purchased from Michael’s”hurricane lamps, candles, and grape vine. I filled the hurricane lamps with corks collected by my father-in-law, a wine aficionado, which were illuminated from within by the candle. I also made the table numbers by printing the numbers on cardstock (to match the font and color of the invitation response cards) and gluing pictures of my husband and I throughout our three years of dating on the opposite sides.

My husband is a big fan of dark chocolate, so my good friend (and culinary school graduate) provided homemade dark chocolate bark in customized packages of brown boxes, ribbon, burlap, and lace as wedding favors. She consulted us on the flavor combinations to suit our tastes and the match the fall season”fig, apricot, and assorted nuts. Simply delicious, and beautiful!

I created a Wedding Advice Board using a photo bulletin board and hand crafted cards that included questions such as, What should we name our kids? and What type of pet should we get? This board on was on display during the Cocktail Hour and Reception for guests to comment on at their leisure.

Stephanie’s wedding planning advice to other DC-area couples: It’s easy to feel overwhelmed at first with all of the vendors, ideas, and possibilities. To keep yourself sane, I suggest discussing initial vision and priorities with your partner before diving in. Coming to the table with vision, and budget, in mind will help filter out everything coming at you from so many different directions. If you are really starting from a clean slate and don’t know what you want yet, that’s okay. Just take your time flipping through magazines, perusing Pinterest, and scoping out blogs, until you get your bearings and your personal vision starts to emerge. Never underestimate your own creativity and resourcefulness! And don’t assume something you envision has to be purchased or done by someone else. There are a plethora of helpful online resources to help guide you on some fantastic DIY wedding projects.

Thank you so much Stephanie and Christopher for sharing your wedding ceremony with us! The following Washington DC area wedding professionals contributed to their wedding:

Venue: The Winery at Bull Run
Officiant: Wedding Ceremonies by Jeff
Floral Design: Twinbrook Floral Design
Photography: Nancy Anderson Cordell Photography
Catering: Amphora Catering
Bridal Attire, Jewelry + Veil: Jeanette’s Bride ‘N Boutique
Shoes: Funtasma Costume Shoes
Bridesmaids Attire: J.Crew
Groom + Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse
Hair: Red Door Spa
Music: MyDeejay
Transportation: Camelot Classic Cars
Rentals: Vintage Affairs
Sign: TrueConnection
Chalkboard + Frames: Morgan Hill Designs
Mini Chalkboards: JB Junket Market
Custom Guest Mad Libs: Cami’s Paperie
Seating Sign: My Repurposed Life
Wine Box: ArrowSarah