Annie + Austin’s Culpeper Wedding + Madison at the Mill Reception

Madison at the Mill Wedding | Orange, VA

Annie + Austin held their fall wedding ceremony at Precious Blood Catholic Church in Culpeper and had a Madison at the Mill wedding reception in Orange, VA. Oh my goodness, what a beautiful day these two had!!

How He Asked

Annie and Austin met when they both started working at their new job on the same day! They were the only two newbies at the company and became "work friends" for about a year before they really started to get to know one another. Then Austin asked Annie on a date and not long after, the two were sharing a simple day together, when Austin knew the time was right.

Austin didn’t make any huge plans, but he knew that he had found The One and was ready to ask when the moment felt right. So on this particular day, Austin went on a coffee run. And when he showed up with the coffee, Annie realized he was acting funny. Then he slid a $3 gold ring from Target on her finger and asked her to be his wife. The couple went to get the "real" ring later that day. (And Annie loved getting to be part of the selection process!)

The Wedding Day

The couple’s wedding day was a perfect mix of traditional and contemporary. The bride wore her mom’s beautiful wedding gown and their wedding ceremony included a traditional Catholic mass. But their reception venue was industrial and the bride surprised the guests (and her groom!) when she switched to a more contemporary gown at the reception!

The light in the church was beautiful. It highlighted the roses at the ends of the pews, and cast a spotlight down the aisle so that Annie looked like she was glowing as she walked toward Austin on her Dad’s arm. Austin was beaming, too, and he was grinning so hard as she walked toward him that guests remarked that he looked like he may explode with happiness. After the ceremony someone slapped a hand on Austin’s back and proclaimed, “Well, it’s official—you’re married!” To which Austin very sincerely and enthusiastically replied, “I know! Finally!” I love how happy he was to have married Annie!

After the ceremony, we headed to the Culpeper Train Depot for wedding party portraits. And I have to give a shout out to their bridal party. Not only did they look amazing — the girls wore dusk and blush gowns with cream pashminas, and the guys were in suspenders with pink ties. But these guys were great sports all day, and the girls were total troopers with the cold winds whipping right thru their dresses. I’m sure they had to be relieved when they got back to Madison at the Mill for the reception and could be inside for the rest of the night.

The space at Madison at The Mill couldn’t have been more perfect. The beautiful florals and tablescapes by The Wedding Woman looked amazing! The couple’s love of green was executed so perfectly through lots of woodland greenery offset by gorgeous blush and ivory florals. It was just the right touch in the industrial space with the black beams and exposed brick.

The bridal party made their entrance into reception through the white drapes at one end of the room, and the couple surprised the guests by arriving in the industrial elevator (with a crystal chandelier, of course) at the opposite end of the space. They enjoyed dinner, toasts and lots of dancing before a special send-off.

It was so wonderful seeing the joy, love and support shared by friends, family and the couple. Never would I have imagined when I met curly-haired, blue-eyed toddler Annie that I would get to be there to help document her wedding to the man of her dreams! It was truly an honor, and I had a blast.

Here are a few of my favorite images from Annie and Austin’s Madison at the Mill Wedding in Orange, VA.