Photo Diary of Our Wedding
Background of Our Dream Wedding
Y’all we tied the knot on July 1st!!!! The wedding planning lasted for 18 months, 12 of which we were both in Nigeria.
Wedding planning can be stressful, but in the end it was ALL WORTH IT! The day could not have been anymore perfect thanks to our AMAZING vendor team we selected AND with the help of my mom state side.
Hiring a wedding planner was the first move we made when starting to plan our wedding, and it was definitely and best decision. Ashlee Gilligan from Ashlee Virginia Events, was PHENOMENAL and helped us for all 18 MONTHS! She had no problem answering questions from abroad and thought of everything for the magical day down to the last detail.
We wanted a rustic, southern, farm wedding that incorporated our traveling lifestyle as well as both of us growing up in Loudoun County, Virginia. I loved everything about our wedding and I am so excited to share some of our details through LOTS AND LOTS OF PHOTOS!!!
*Wedding Confessions for future brides… shared at the end!
Our Photo Diary
My bridesmaids came in from Virginia, Florida, Colorado, New York, Costa Rica, and Kansas. I was living in Nigeria, and I did not want to pick out a ridiculously priced dress. I was going for pale blue for bridesmaids’ dresses, but I allowed them to pick out their own dresses and I absolutely loved how they all turned out!!
The table with the champagne was later turned into the guest book table. I actually did the calligraphy for the guestbook sign and the Instagram sign!
Our thank you to our guests were donuts from Mama’s Donuts donut truck. They were a hit! Many times the gifts to guests from the bride and the groom are items guests will never use (i.e. a knickknack with the bride and groom’s name and wedding date). Totally not our style and it seemed more of a waste of money than anything. Plus, who doesn’t like donuts!!!
We danced the night away!! ♥♥
Wedding Confessions for future brides…
We knew picking a July wedding date would be like playing with fire (see what I did there). On the real, it was hot as hell. Luckily, most of the guests were covered by a huge tree during the ceremony and the cocktail hour and reception were both inside. However, Russ and most of the bridal party were drenched in sweat by the end of photos, but everyone rallied!
Our cake melted, my bustle would not stay up, my ceremony sandals kept getting caught in my lace, (TG I brought other sandals), and there were several other little things that didn’t go as planned. BUT SH*T HAPPENS!!!!
You are surrounded by your friends and family who have come from all over the world to see you celebrate your love for one another. THAT is what it is all about, and I wouldn’t have changed a thing.
ENJOY IT because the day flies by!!!!!!
Our amazing vendors:
Venue: Riverside on the Potomac
Wedding Planner: Ashlee Gilligan
Photographer: Genevieve Leiper
Caterer and Rentals: Main Event Caterers
Florist: Amanda Veronee
Make Up: Brigid Wilson
Hair: Sonia Kasbarian of Evolve Salon
Calligrapher: Leah Letters
Donut Truck: Mama’s Donut Bites
Cake & Cupcakes: Edibles Incredibles
Ceremony Violinist: Sarah Chapman
Reception DJ: Becky Burleigh
Feel free to message me with any wedding questions!!
♥ & x
