This Rustic Virginia Wedding’s Details Matched the Design on the Bride’s Oscar de la Renta Gown

Michelle’s first attempt to connect with Matt after finding him on Hinge didn’t go as smoothly as she’d hoped. “I failed miserably at initiating our conversation with a joke: I pressed send halfway through the joke, unaware that Hinge would not allow you to send a second message if and until the person responded,” she says. “Luckily, Matt responded to my half joke, and from there we started talking nearly every day.” This was in July 2020, so the couple kept their conversations online-only for weeks while Michelle was visiting her parents in Texas. When she returned to the couple’s shared city, Washington, D.C., she and Matt finally met for their first date at French cafe Le Diplomate. 

Less than a year later, in February 2021, Matt proposed during a hike in Zion National Park—surprising Michelle, who had still been browsing engagement rings. “Looking back, I should have been able to guess something was up. There were signs: He didn’t want me to carry his backpack through airport security lest it get selected for a search and the TSA agent pull out an engagement ring,” says Michelle. “Walking down from our hike, newly engaged, was one of the happiest moments of my life.”

The couple began planning a 120-guest wedding for April 30, 2022, which they knew would serve as a celebration of their marriage—and a chance to reconnect with their loved ones after the pandemic. “Since we met during the pandemic and had a sort of whirlwind romance that did not span many years, there were friends and family that we had yet to introduce to one another—so spending time with our loved ones was a big priority for us,” says Michelle. She and Matt chose Goodstone Inn in Middleburg, Virginia—which can accommodate dozens of guests in multiple buildings—as their wedding venue and central location for the weekend. 

“We fell in love with the element of nature you feel at every corner of the Goodstone Inn. Whether it’s biking through the private roads on property, lounging by the pool, walking through manicured gardens and courtyards, hiking across property through the rolling hills and by the stream, or taking in a sunset from across an open field, when you’re there, you feel the elements of nature and the sense of peaceful, untroubled escapism they bring with them,” says Michelle. “Fun fact: Throughout the wedding planning process and the wedding itself, we fell even more in love with the area, and a few months after our wedding we actually moved out of the city to rural Northern Virginia, very close to Middleburg!”

Planner Francesca Leme of Lauryn Prattes Events helped the couple create a magical dining room inside a black-framed, glass tent, which allowed guests to feel like they were dining al fresco; used the bride’s lace gown as a model for design details ranging from the invitation suite to the table linens; and worked with Le Diplomate to provide custom macarons for the guests’ welcome bags. But for Michelle and Matt, it was the love and support surrounding them that made the day so memorable—especially when Michelle surprised Matt by asking the band to play one of their favorite songs, “Simply the Best.” “Everyone joined us, slow dancing to this song that means so much to us—it was unforgettable,” says Michelle. “Looking around the room during our reception, seeing all of our family and friends there to celebrate with us and support us as we made this big commitment and started a new chapter, all we could think is, we are so lucky.”

Michelle’s Oscar de la Renta gown inspired many of the wedding’s details—beginning with the couple’s invitation suite from Emily Baird Design. “She captured the vision of our day better than I could describe myself and translated that vision into a stunning suite of paper and design that set the perfect tone and first introduction to the wedding weekend,” says Michelle. “The invitations exceeded our expectations by a mile.”

For the couple’s welcome party, held at the wedding venue, Michelle chose an organza midi skirt and top from Zimmerman with appliquéd flowers. “This is one of the most fun pieces I have ever worn!” she says. “Definitely re-wore in Italy on our honeymoon.” She added a favorite accessory to her wedding weekend looks: the Le Chiquito Moyen leather handbag by Jacquemus. “I love that it immediately adds interest, beauty, and a touch of carefree whimsy to whatever you are wearing,” she says. “I mean, how can you be headed to something serious when you bring a teeny purse that holds just a phone, lipstick, and credit card?”

Matt’s light-colored suit complemented Michelle’s rehearsal dinner dress, a custom belted frock by J. Andreatta Bridal Couture made from five layers of ivory and blush semi-sheer silk organza. “This dress felt the most ‘me’ of any dress I have ever put on,” says Michelle. “I would wear it every single day if it was socially acceptable to wear formal wedding gowns when working 9-to-5 in a downtown office building or running into the grocery store.”

Michelle’s bridesmaids wore matching taupe lounge sets while getting their hair and makeup done before the wedding, while Michelle wore a feather-trimmed pajama set from Sleeper. “I wanted something fun and carefree to start the day!” she says.

Amie Decker and Brianna Vanderveer of Amie Decker Beauty created the bride’s natural makeup look and effortless hairstyle. “When it came to beauty for the wedding weekend, I wanted to look like myself, just slightly more elevated. It was important to me to look like myself so that when we look back at the photos now and in the years to come, it reminds us of exactly how we were in that special period of our lives,” says Michelle. “For makeup, this meant neutral tones and soft eye makeup; I opted for a low-set, clean bun parted down the middle.”

Michelle began shopping for her wedding gown with an open mind: “I did not have one set idea of the dress I wanted to wear for our ceremony,” she says. But when she spotted a lace Oscar de la Renta gown with a sweetheart neckline and cinched waist, she wasted no time booking a flight to Miami to try it on. “I was drawn to the clean lines, dimension, and structure of the gown, all of which would go on to inspire much of the wedding ceremony and reception décor,” she says. “I thought the gown was stunning: sophisticated, delicate, and grounded with just a bit of whimsy. I knew right away when I tried it on that it was perfect. It sounds funny to say, but it felt made for me.” 

Michelle carried a small bouquet of lily of the valley and sweet peas, which coordinated with Matt’s lily of the valley boutonnière. 

To honor his home state of North Carolina, the groom designed a custom tuxedo with Charlotte-based tailor Mitch Purgason. “We loved the bit of home-state connection,” says Michelle. “We also sought out Mitch given Matt's football or rugby player-type frame and Mitch's experience suiting footballers. Mitch killed it; the custom fit of Matt’s suit was truly outstanding.

Michelle and Matt met with Purgason to personalize each element of the suit. “The tux read as a plain black design, but up close you could see the most subtle pattern incorporated throughout,” says Michelle. “He incorporated leather into the fabric under the collar, and our wedding date, branded in the leather.”

Matt and Michelle prioritized their wedding day photography, hiring Keila Bottiglieri of Abby Jiu Photography and Meg Lucks to document the event. “I am astonished at how you can feel the emotions in the photos they captured: The fresh crisp air, the smell of spring, the joy of being surrounded by family and friends, private tender moments between just Matt and I, the hopefulness of a whole life ahead,” says Michelle. “Since our relationship up until the wedding had mostly taken place during a pandemic that kept us home a lot, and not out and about at big parties, we had few pictures together outside of selfies cooking dinner or wearing spa face masks while we relaxed on a Saturday. I was really excited to get photos of us together and also capture every moment, embrace, and memory we shared together and with our friends and family.”

The ivy wall that the couple chose as a backdrop for their ceremony sold them on the venue. “The wall is the façade of the old house on property that burned down years ago—one wall remained,” says Michelle. “It has since been covered in lush ivy and stands at the entryway of the Inn.” To enhance the verdant greens of the ivy and the surrounding landscape, the couple’s florist added overflowing arrangements of baby’s breath and creamy hydrangeas. “[The flowers] exceeded my wildest dreams,” says Michelle. 

Michelle’s father, Tom, escorted her to the altar as Sage String Quartet played “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” “Walking down the aisle was something I was looking forward to most on wedding day,” she says. “Sometimes I feel like my life with Matt feels like a dream, something that is too good to be true. The string quartet playing as my father walked me down the aisle, all our friends and family surrounding us, Matt with a huge smile on his face, the crisp spring air, hydrangea-filled aisle, and ivy wall backdrop felt just like that—a dream.”

A halo of baby’s breath framed the couple as they exchanged their vows. “We used traditional vows instead of writing our own—I knew that if I had to read my own vows aloud during the ceremony, I would be too teary-eyed and choked up to make it through,” says Michelle. The couple customized their ceremony with four readings delivered by their siblings, including a favorite passage from The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White.

The couple welcomed their guests to the reception with a Champagne tower as their string quartet continued to play instrumental covers of the newlyweds’ favorite pop songs (the ceremony had included versions of “Simply the Best” by Tina Turner, “Wildest Dreams” by Taylor Swift, and “Marry You” by Bruno Mars. “The string quartet was one of my favorite elements of the wedding,” says Michelle. We loved hearing the songs we all know and hear on the radio played in a different form. There was something so beautiful and magical-feeling to the music.”

At the wood-topped bars, guests were served two signature cocktails: The Italian 75—a twist on the French 75 and a nod to the couple’s upcoming Italian honeymoon—and Garden Ranch Water, in honor of the bride’s Texas roots.

The couple’s black-framed tent, brought from the bride’s home state, contrasted with the lush surroundings while allowing unobstructed views of the venue’s Woodsy Garden. “A priority for us was finding a way to bring in natural elements and elevate the gorgeous natural surroundings of Northern Virginia,” says Michelle. “We loved the serene and slower pace, so we want to honor those elements in our wedding location and design.”

Inside the tent, the atmosphere was opulent and elegant, with crystal chandeliers, wishing fountains, and 10-foot floral arrangements suspended over the head table. “We wanted guests to feel as if they were dining amongst the outdoors,” says Michelle. The couple matched marble-topped tables with upholstered chairs, and draped round tables in linens inspired by the bride’s gown. “The escort display consisted of custom penny bags hung on a wall that read, 'I Wished For You', which doubled as wishing pennies for guests to toss in the fountains,” says the bride.

An understated pattern on the chargers tied back to her gown, while champagne-toned flatware, crystal goblets, and personalized acrylic menus added layers of texture and interest to the place settings. “The tabletop was simple, yet refined,” says Michelle.

The couple asked their band to add background vocals to their first dance song—”If I Ain’t Got You,” by Alicia Keys—to create the illusion of an on-site choir. “Our first dance ended up taking place just as the sun was setting through the glass tent,” says Michelle. “Every time I hear that song, I can still feel that moment: the soft warm light of the sun setting, the soulful piano and voices, the glistening of candles, the overhanging flowers draping down chandelier stands, the love of our friends and family, time stopping, and just us dancing. I tear up thinking about it.”

The couple’s cake from Buttercream Bakeshop also incorporated the design of Michelle’s gown. “We choose to have two different flavors,” says Michelle. “Our favorite—the cake we cut and ate together—was funfetti. It was delicious and it was perfectly festive. We also served chocolate cake with a ganache icing.”

During the reception, Michelle changed into a Berta Couture slip dress, which was covered in sheer crystals. “I knew for the reception a top priority would be comfort and mobility—I wanted to be able to let loose and dance all night with Matt and our family and friends,” she says. “What I did not expect to find was a gown that offered that comfort while being perfectly glamorous, simple, and perfectly slinky. I even wore it (and Matt [wore] his tux) out for drinks on our one-year anniversary. And they say you will never wear your wedding dress again!"