March 27, 2020 | Posted by Village

Anne and Russ tied the knot this past winter and we thought it would be fun to share their winter wedding now, for all you planners out there who are considering a winter or holiday wedding. It’s a glorious time to exchange vows!

How did you and your partner meet?
Russ and I first met eighteen years ago…back in kindergarten! We had no idea what we would mean to each other at the time, but I am so thankful we got to experience so many years of friendship before dating. Russ asked me to prom our Junior year, I waffled that summer about dating, but come senior year Russ finally convinced me to take a chance…and it’s been Russ and Anne ever since!

Tell us about the engagement.
A couple weeks before our last college Spring Break, Russ asked if he could take me out before we left town to make up for all the Friday night date nights we had missed that semester. This is typical Russ – always a gentleman and always looking to make a special night for us – so I thought nothing of it. That Friday, Russ picked me up for a drive and a dinner date. Our drive led us to Pretty Place, a chapel overlooking the beautiful North Carolina mountains. For a split second, I thought that this maybe something more than a date, but I dismissed that notion because I was sure that Russ hadn’t bought a ring yet. Well, a minute later I found out I was wrong, and I walked into the sweetest surprise of my life. The chapel was decorated with dozens of candles, and I saw a bouquet of tulips (my favorite flowers) at the foot of the cross. As Russ walked me down the aisle, I remember feeling so overcome with the beauty and the reverence of our surroundings, not to mention caught up with so much emotion for the man standing beside me. Russ spoke words of faithfulness and promise as he got down on one knee. I said yes to a lifetime of relationship with a man who loves and leads beyond all compare.

What made Fearrington the place for you to say “I do?’
As we began our search for a venue, I knew I wanted a venue that offered two separate indoor spaces. Because of our December date, it was really important to me that we have adequate space for our guests to always be able to be inside out of the cold. After touring the grounds at Fearrington, we knew we had found the perfect place. Not only did it offer everything we needed, it offered all of the intangibles that make a venue special. From the buildings to the grounds to the staff, Fearrington offers such a blend of heritage, beauty, and comfort. We wanted a place that would set the perfect backdrop for such a special day and Fearrington was the best choice for us!

Describe the highlight moment of your wedding day.
For me, the highlight of our day was hearing Russ say his vows. And if you ask any of my guests, they would tell you that I then struggled to say mine because I was so caught up in the emotion of hearing his! I will never forget the sound of his words or the look of love shining in his eyes in that moment.

What was the biggest surprise of the day?
I honestly don’t know if anything caught me by surprise on the actual day! And for a detail-oriented type of gal like myself, this was probably a great thing!

What was your biggest surprise about wedding planning?
Goodness, I thought after watching my three older sisters plan their weddings I was prepared, but wedding planning is truly one-of-a-kind! I would say the biggest surprise in my book is that the planning is never done, but it is completely manageable if you focus on the few key elements that matter most to you.

Anything you want to add about your wedding story?
We cannot say thank you enough for all of the time and attention to detail the team at Fearrington provided to make our day flow so seamlessly. We truly felt so taken care of, and we enjoyed every part of our day because of that!

Photographer: Stephanie Smith, Photographs by Stephanie
Hair Stylist: Tease + Blush
Make-up Artist: Tease + Blush
Wedding Gown: Martina Liana
Bridal Salon: Coastal Knot, Cameron Village
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Wtoo, Bella Bridesmaids
Groom’s Attire: Men’s Warehouse