My Daughter Mandy’s Wedding
In many recent posts, I have shared that my younger daughter, Mandy, was getting married to the perfect guy for her, Matt. The wedding took place on November 9th in Charlottesville, Va.
If you are a long time reader, you may remember 6 years ago when I posted the photos of my older daughter, Kelly’s wedding. Both got married in the Charlottesville area. Both also wanted a less formal event. They wanted more emphasis on individual style and fun.
Mandy and Matt’s wedding was a weekend affair held at Camp Holiday Trails. In the summer, it is a camp for children with medical needs and their siblings, ages 7-17.
In the other seasons, the camp is rented out for events like weddings where you have the use of the facilities that include the dining hall, as well as all the cabins and lodges on the property for guest accommodations.
There were 100 guests who came to the wedding. About 45 of us stayed all weekend in the cabins. I didn’t get any photos of the interior of the cabins the guests stayed in, but what comes to mind was an interior that was a cross between Girl Scout camp cabins and a college dorm room.
The lodges were a bit nicer with a kitchen and living area. Mandy and Matt stayed in one of these and that’s where all the girls got ready.
On Friday morning and afternoon, we started to set up the dining hall.
For the decor we kept everything simple. Brown Kraft paper, flowers in a variety of vases, fairy lights and candles were on all the tables. I was so busy helping to get everything that needed to get done that I didn’t take any photos of the room once we had it all done. :-(
Later in the day on Friday there was a rehearsal and dinner. Where Matt and Mandy did a practice dip kiss for the ceremony.
Then we had dinner and Smores by the fire pit.
On Saturday afternoon, the caterer, DJ and bar were set up while the ceremony was going on. One of Mandy’s friends didn’t go to the ceremony as she added all the finishing touches to the dining hall so it would be candlelit everywhere. I was so happy when I walked in to see she had done everything. Every bride needs a friend like her.
In Charlottesville in November the late afternoon is usually cold, but the weekend was perfect and not too chilly which was nice as the ceremony took place outside.
Once the guests were seated where the ceremony was taking place, Ed, Mandy, Zoe and I were summoned that it was time to walk the bride down the aisle.
Zoe who is 5-1/2 was a little shy with her Flower Girl duties at first, but did a great job.
Then it was time for Ed and I to walk our Mandy down the aisle. Mandy didn’t want a long or formal gown, but something more in her own style.
She found a seamstress online from the Ukraine on Etsy who made her dress from afar. They corresponded via email for measurements and the details.
One of Mandy’s best friends owns the flower farm, Spring Creek Blooms in the Charlottesville area and made the flower crown and did all the wedding flowers. She found her green velvet shoes to go with Matt’s green corduroy suit on eBay.
Since the venue had a fire pit, they decided to light a fire as a symbol of starting their life together.
The ceremony lasted about 25 minutes, then it was up the aisle as a newly married couple.
Then the bride and groom went to go get photos taken.
While they were busy with photos all the guests went to enjoy drinks and charcuterie in a covered pavilion near where the ceremony was held.
After they got their photos taken, we made sure to get group shots of the whole family.
From left to right: My brother-in law Steve, my younger sister, Laura. Ed’s best friend Joe. (Ed is an only child and so were his parents so he has no aunts, uncles, cousins or siblings. Joe is Uncle Joe and is his side of the family.)
Next is my twin sister, Carol, Ed, me, Mandy, Matt, my older daughter, Kelly holding Dean, Roger, Zoe and Roger’s dad. My sister’s husband and son and my brother and his wife couldn’t make the wedding.
Ed, Matt, Dean and Zoe all had corduroy outfits on so we had to get a photo of their colorful autumn style.
My sisters, Mandy and me.
And Mandy and Matt’s whole family now.
Mandy and Matt entering the reception.
After everyone had dinner the dancing started…
…and didn’t stop until after 11:00.
Zoe and all the kids – adults included, danced and danced. One thing that made all the dancing even more fun was that anyone who wanted one could grab a Foam Glow Light stick that were in a box by the DJ.
Seeing them light up the dance floor made even non-dancers want to get up and dance.
My grandson, Dean even danced. I have the cutest videos of him dancing…
…but he was also determined to figure out how to turn on the glow sticks and subsequently turn them off. I see an engineering career in his future.
I took quite a lot of photos at the reception, but most came out blurry since everyone was moving and waving the glow sticks.
To get a clear photo of Zoe who was dancing non-stop, I asked her to stop for a second so I could take a still photo of her. She happily obliged… then it was back to dancing.
Daddy Roger had all the right dance moves…
.. as did most of the guests at the reception. If you are planning a wedding and want dancing, make sure to order the Foam Light Up Glow or Party sticks. They were a big hit and so much fun.
As the evening wound down, the little ones did start to tire out from all the action on the dance floor.
As did the bride and groom.
It was a fun and festive weekend from start to finish. Just what they wanted.
Congratulations Matt and Mandy. XOXO
Would you like to save this post?
Enter your email below and I’ll send it to you!