Kelly and Mitchell were married this past July in a classic southern wedding in Richmond, VA.

The Love Story

After chatting for awhile on a dating app, Kelly and Mitchell agreed to meet at a bar. Kelly spotted Mitchell first, and was instantly struck by how cute he was! The pair have been together ever since, bonding over their shared sense of service (both are in public service-related jobs; he’s a police officer and she’s a teacher). When Kelly moved to Richmond for work shortly after the couple began dating, Mitchell decided to follow her there!

The couple shares a love for their new city. “We love to workout, go on hikes, and take long walks on the capital trail and Belle Isle,” says Kelly. “We are BIG Foodies and LOVE trying new restaurants in town.”

The Proposal

The proposal wasn’t much of a surprise to Kelly. The pair had perused rings together casually during the coarse of their relationship. Kelly actually found the ring box in Mitchell’s sock drawer while putting away laundry. “I didn’t tell him until after the proposal,” says Kelly. “I wanted him to have his moment.”

Kelly grew up picking apples every autumn, and Mitchell knew how important the tradition was to her. So the couple planned a trip to Carter Mountain with friends on October 24th. “I had a good feeling it was going to happen then. A friend hinted that I should get my nails done,” says Kelly.

It was sweltering when the pair and their friends arrived, so the trip wasn’t a long one. “When we finally got down to the last section of apples, Mitch was standing behind me and asked for the bag to put some apples in. Thats when I turned around and in the bottom of the apple picker was a ring box. We were both sweating like crazy and I blacked out!”

Classic Southern Wedding Details

Kelly and Mitchell’s wedding details were selected with care. The couple looked to their relationship and precious family heirlooms for inspiration.

The Perfect Palette for a Classic Southern Wedding

An heirloom braided white gold ring emblazoned with blue sapphires and sparkling diamonds informed the choice to include navy blue as a key hue in the couple’s classic southern wedding color palette (for another classic wedding in a similar color palette, read this blog post). Paired with softening hues of dusty sage eucalyptus and lush white blooms, the effect was one of classic elegance.

An Elegant Invitation Suite

As opposed to a standard rectangle-cut wedding invitation, the couple chose a more elegant shape. The curved lines of the invitations added delicate intricacy to this classic southern wedding element.

Inspiration from Location: Richmond, Virginia

The city of Richmond was especially at the forefront of Kelly & Mitchell’s wedding design, inspiring everything from the wedding party transportation (a traditional Richmond streetcar), all the way to the centerpieces, which incorporated gold-framed sketches of some of the couple’s most beloved Richmond locations.

Wedding Attire Fit for a Classic Southern Wedding

I am a firm believer that wedding attire should speak to who you are as a couple. Kelly and Mitchell’s attire did just that – including simple, yet classic southern wedding elements with just a hint of whimsy.

The Gown and Accessories

Kelly’s wedding dress – a ballgown with sweetheart neckline – flirted between classic and whimsical styles with its ruffled train and ruched bodice. Paired with floral-motif glitzy sandals, cathedral length veil, and dainty jewelry, the overall effect felt simultaneously effortless and coordinated.

The Bridesmaid’s Dresses

Kelly chose a lovely shade of pale blue-green for her floor length chiffon bridesmaid dresses. The transitional shade helped bridge the gap between navy and sage, creating an almost monochromatic color palette.

Suits and Ties

For the guys, Mitchell selected tailored, vivid navy suits with a fun floral patterned tie in the couple’s color palette.

A Classic Southern Wedding Day

Getting Ready

As a professional wedding photographer, it can be incredibly difficult to choose my favorite moments from each wedding day. But by far one of my favorite experiences is mingling with the wedding party while they ready themselves for the big moment. The love surrounding the bride and groom hangs in the air like the luscious aroma of the blooms peppering bouquets. It’s palpable, almost tangible. From near and far mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, dear friends and chosen family have ventured to this single spot for a united purpose: celebrating the love between two people tethering their lives together for eternity. What could be more beautiful than that?

The bride and her ladies prepped together amongst the old world charm and modern luxuries of the Linden Row Inn. The bridesmaids, sporting navy silk loungewear embroidered with each lady’s personal monogram (the perfect classic southern wedding favor), listened to music and chatted happily over snacks while taking turns in the hair and makeup chair. It was abundently clear that this beautiful group of women adore Kelly.

The First Look

Kelly and Mitchell opted to see each other for the first time during a first look rather than waiting until Kelly walked down the aisle (you can read all about the benefits of including a first look in your wedding timeline here).

Time for Portraits!

A Classic Southern Wedding Ceremony

Little white chapels may be a classic southern wedding staple, but Kelly and Mitchell stepped it up a notch with their wedding venue. The pair were wed at the oldest Catholic Church in Richmond, VA – St. Peter’s.

The light filled church is by far one of the most beautiful that Richmond, VA has to offer.

Even though the couple shared a first look before their ceremony, the smile on Mitchell’s face as his bride walks towards him speaks volumes about his love for Kelly.

The stately columned sanctuary where the bride and groom took their vows was a lovely backdrop for wedding party portraits.

The Reception: A Party to Remember

From the heartfelt speeches of their nearest friends to a night of nonstop dancing, the love surrounding this couple was amazing to witness.

I am honored that Kelly and Mitchell chose me to capture their special day, and so excited to share some of my favorite images from their John Marshall Ballrooms Wedding! Enjoy, and don’t forget to check out the list of incredible vendors below.

Vendors for a Classic Southern Wedding in Richmond, VA

Accommodations | Hilton Richmond Downtown

Ceremony Venue | St. Peter’s Catholic Church

Reception Venue | The John Marshall Ballrooms

Wedding Dress Boutique | Blossom Brides

Bridal Shoe Designer | Badgley Mischka

Florals | Vogue Flowers

Hair & Makeup | Avenue 42

Entertainment | Bunn DJ

Cake | The Mixing Bowl

Catering | Homemades By Suzanne

Bridesmaids Dresses | Birdy Grey

Groomsmen Attire | Men’s Wearhouse

Invitations | Minted