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Bride: Nicole Saks, 28, Mental Health Counselor
Groom: Alex Kohr, 31, Head of Research & Development
Date: 9/28/2024
Venue: Mountain & Vine Vineyards and Winery, Faber, Virginia
Guests: 120
LOVE STORY
Alex and Nicole met through mutual friends in the spring of 2019. In the spring of 2023, Alex proposed to Nicole on the back patio of Stone Mountain Vineyard. Nicole had inherited a diamond necklace from her grandmother. The couple repurposed the diamond as the centerpiece of her engagement ring, adding pear-shaped diamonds on the sides.
VENUE
Alex and Nicole were married at the Mountain & Vine Vineyards and Winery in Faber, Virginia in the fall of 2024. They chose the location because of the amazing view and indoor event space. The bride said, “The venue owners were so kind during our tour, so we knew planning with them would not be stressful. The venue was beautiful and we loved the proximity to downtown Charlottesville!”
COLOR PALETTE
The couple chose different shades of pink, varying from blush to burgundy. They wanted pops of color and loved the idea of light pinks but they wanted to add some darker tones to make it more season-appropriate for a late September wedding date.
PLANNING
Jena Findle, who worked with A&J Event Coordination, was the couple’s planner. “She went above and beyond for us, said Nicole. Jena attended all the important wedding planning meetings and was always available for our many questions.”
INVITATIONS
Nicole designed the wedding invitations using The Knot’s online services and addressed them using her Cricut.
ATTIRE
Nicole and her bridesmaids got ready in the couple’s home in Charlottesville. Nicole wore a strapless gown with a v-cut neckline and pleating across the torso. The gown featured buttons down the back. She bustled the long train for the reception. Nicole wore jewelry gifted to her: a solitary diamond necklace, diamond earrings and a stack of two silver rings on her right hand. She finished her look with open-toed, 1-inch block heels with pearls and rhinestones.
The bridesmaids selected long chiffon rosewood-colored dresses ordered from Birdy Grey.
Alex purchased a tux from Jos. A. Bank. It was all black with satin lapels. He opted for a bowtie and cummerbund instead of a vest. Groomsmen rented black tuxedos from Jos. A. Bank with cummerbunds and bowties. The guys dressed at a private residence in Charlottesville. Before the ceremony, they socialized, shared a meal and played darts before getting ready.
FLOWERS
The bridal bouquet was made of garden roses, dahlias, ranunculus, delphinium and lemon leaf. The colors included blush, pink, mauve and pops of deep magenta. The bridesmaid bouquets were like the bridal bouquet but slightly smaller. Groom boutonnieres complemented the bridal bouquet and were finished with touches of greenery and a satin ribbon. Groomsmen boutonnieres were similar in style to the groom’s boutonniere.
CEREMONY
The ceremony was held on the venue’s hilltop. Two floral arrangements set on wine barrels adorned the aisles. The couple chose a wooden arbor and placed a floral arrangement in the corner of it. Nicole’s dad escorted her down the aisle and her uncle officiated the wedding.
The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” was the processional music. For the bridal entrance, the string version of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” was played. Natalie Cole’s “This Will Be” was the recessional music.
The friend who introduced Nicole and Alex read a poem.
COCKTAIL HOUR
The cocktail hour was held outdoors at the base of the venue’s hilltop by a pond. Upbeat music played in the background as guests mingled. Staff passed hors d’oeuvres to the guests and set up a charcuterie table for them to enjoy while the couple had their portraits taken. High-top tables were scattered in the cocktail area and decorated with floral bud vases.
RECEPTION
The reception was held in the venue’s indoor event space. The decor included low floral centerpieces on half of the tables and candles with loose florals and greenery on the others.
Guests were served a plated dinner: salad, bread, acorn squash, chicken or NY strip.
The couple’s first dance was to the music: “Until I Found You” by Stephen Sanchez. Father and daughter swayed to “In My Life” by The Beatles. Son and mother danced to “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts.
The wedding cake was a three-tiered cake with white buttercream and gold leaf around the bottoms of the tiers. Also, there was a self-serve frozen custard machine using Kohr Brothers Frozen Custard.
The bride created a photo book through Artifact Uprising for guests to sign. The guest favors were customized matchboxes inscribed with both the couple’s wedding date and an ice cream cone.
The music for the bouquet toss was “Let’s Get Loud” by Jennifer Lopez. The couple enjoyed a private last dance to the music, “6s to 9s” by Big Wild, while guests lined up for the couple’s sparkler exit. An informal after-party was held at The Whiskey Jar in downtown Charlottesville.
TRANSPORTATION
Shuttle buses transported guests between their hotels and the venue and returned them to their hotels after the reception.
HONEYMOON
The couple honeymooned in Aruba.
IG:
@nicolebethany96
@Kohr_alex
VENDORS
VENUE:
Mountain & Vine Vineyards and Winery
ENGAGEMENT VENUE:
Stone Mountain Vineyards
AFTER-PARTY VENUE:
The Whiskey Jar Charlottesville, VA
PHOTOGRAPHER:
Lyn Waldrop
WEDDING PLANNER:
A&J Event Coordination
ENGAGEMENT RING:
Andrew Minton Jewelers
@andrew.minton.jewelers
WEDDING BANDS:
Schwarzschild Keller & George Jewelers
@schwarzschildjewelers
GOWN/VEIL:
Annalise Bridal
SHOES: Dillards / Betsey Johnson
HAIR:
Jessica Comiskey
@jessicacomiskeyhairdesign
MAKEUP:
Danielle Utz
BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES:
Birdy Grey
@birdygrey
FORMALWEAR:
Jos. A. Bank
@Josabank
INVITATIONS:
The Knot
@theknot
FLOWERS:
Verde Natural Florals
RENTAL EQUIPMENT:
MS Events
@mseventscville
CATERING:
The Local
DJ:
Debonaire Entertainment
CAKE:
Maliha Cakery
@malihacakery
FAVORS:
Etsy – White Confetti Box
@whiteconfettibox
TRANSPORTATION:
Beats Per Mile
@beatspermileentertainment
HONEYMOON:
Renaissance Aruba
@renaruba
If you are planning a wedding in Roanoke, Richmond, Fredericksburg/Northern Virginia, The Shenandoah Valley, Coastal Virginia, or Charlottesville/ Lynchburg, Virginia, we can help with your wedding planning and ideas.
