Lauren and Braden met in college at a super bowl party, after Braden saw a picture of Lauren and asked some friends to introduce them. Lauren was nervous, but when she got a text from Braden the next day, she remembers feeling hopeful that it could turn into something. And it certainly did!
Several years later, with her parents looking on, Braden dropped to one knee on the back deck of her parents’ house and asked her to marry him. Lauren does not remember a word he said because she was so surprised!
A Fall Wedding in Northern Virginia Wine Country
The couple chose to celebrate their October wedding at Shadow Creek in Purcellville, Virginia. They liked the clean, relaxed vibe and the beautiful views from the ceremony location.
Their modern neutral wedding was perfect in every way. Family and friends came together to laugh, eat good food, enjoy each other, and dance the night away. A simple color palette of taupe, copper, and pops of blush and navy tied the whole design together.
Lauren and Braden said “I do” at an outdoor ceremony with incredible views of Virginia fall foliage. Lauren looked beautiful in a modern-meets-classic dress with lace overlay. Braden and his groomsmen wore navy suits, each of their jackets sporting a different colorful lining. Completing the color palette, Lauren’s bridesmaids wore floor-length taupe dresses. A simple copper arbor with loose greenery made the perfect, understated backdrop for the moment two became one.
An Outdoor Cocktail Hour with Mobile Bar Trailer
Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed an outdoor cocktail hour. For a special appetizer, seafood lovers Lauren and Braden chose a chef-attended oyster station.
Lauren and Braden always enjoyed a good Moscow Mule. For their signature drink, they chose an autumnal take on the cocktail, an Apple Cider Kentucky Mule served in a copper mug. They further elevated the experience by having the cocktails served from The Hitched Bar, Shadow Creek’s elegantly renovated horse trailer bar.
The copper mug served as a favor for their guests as well as their escort cards, in a beautiful display that added to the seasonal décor of this modern neutral wedding.
A Reception to Remember
After cocktail hour, the couple and their guests headed into a stunning event space for dinner and dancing. Surrounded by warm wood and beneath vaulted ceilings, the minimalist design of their modern neutral wedding carried through into the reception. Pops of copper and mixed metallics accented the palette of creamy linens and lush greenery, fluffy hydrangeas and blush flowers. And the copper ceremony arch was repurposed for a cute, polaroid-style photo op.
Lauren and Braden and their families are huge fans of the Washington Nationals baseball team, better known as the Nats. It just so happened that the weekend of their wedding, the Nats were in the final stretch of the World Series. So of course Lauren and Braden and their guests had to cheer their team on! Rally towels and some cheers on the dance floor added to the fun. In fact, the day after the wedding, Lauren and Braden were front and center at Nationals Park cheering their team to victory!
It was an evening of dancing and fun, and Lauren and Braden were the life of the party on the dance floor! They ended the night with a grand sparkler sendoff.
It was a beautiful day and a joy to be a part of Lauren and Braden’s love story. We just loved working with this sweet couple to make their big day a reality!
Planning and Design: Havard Events and Design
Venue: Shadow Creek
Photography: Sam Stroud Photography
Catering: Spilled Milk Catering
DJ: Xtreme Solutions
Flowers and Signs: The Rosy Posy
Rentals: DC Rental, Select Event Group
Transportation: Road Yachts
Cake: Friend
Hair and Makeup: Hair and Makeup Artistry by Claudine
Havard Events & Design is a boutique wedding planning and design studio serving Washington, DC, and beyond. We specialize in timeless designs, obsess over the smallest of details, and create events that feel as good as they look.
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