BRIDE
Elizebeth Grace Rickard, 23
Second Lieutenant, United States Army
GROOM
Patrick Charles Northrup, 27
Drill Sergeant, Reserves
DATE
February 8, 2025
LOCATION
Atkinson Farms
Danville, VA
NUMBER OF GUESTS
110
Patrick and Elizebeth met at a local hibachi grill near Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Elizebeth was a student at Liberty and was celebrating her birthday with friends at the grill. Patrick happened to be dining with his friends and was seated at the same table.
In the winter of 2024, Patrick proposed to Elizabeth atop Cheat Mountain at the Snowshoe Resort in West Virginia, a breathtaking location for a memorable moment.
PLANNING
At first, Elizebeth and her mother were excited to tackle the wedding planning together. However, they soon realized the importance of getting help to manage the intricate details of the celebration.
To streamline the process, Elizebeth hired Stephanie Yates as the wedding coordinator. The bride shared, “Stephanie understood timelines and all aspects of a successful plan and she knew how to effectively maximize our budget.”
VENUE
Patrick and Elizebeth were married at Atkinson Farms in Danville, Virginia. They chose this venue because of its rustic-luxe setting and hundreds of picturesque acres. The property features woodlands, streams, six serene ponds and on-site accommodations.
COLORS/THEMES
Patrick and Elizebeth chose navy blue as their primary color with secondary shades of light grey-blue, off-white and silver. The wedding theme was “Virginia Elegance.”
INVITATIONS/PROGRAMS
Patrick and Elizebeth had their engagement photos taken at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, Virginia. They used these pictures to create their save-the-date announcements. The couple used the online tools provided by Ann’s Bridal Bargains to design their wedding invitations and programs. Additionally, they commissioned a poem for their wedding, which was included in the wedding program.
ATTIRE
The bride wore a gown and veil in soft shades of off-white. Her dress, designed by Stella York, was paired with a stunning 12-foot lace veil. Both were purchased at Elite Bridal Shop in Champaign, Illinois. She completed her look with shoes by Jennifer Lopez and adorned her hair with decorative combs along with heirloom jewelry.
The bridesmaids wore dresses from Bride Lulu, complemented by silver, 4-inch open-toed heels that fastened at the ankle.
The groom and groomsmen were dressed in light charcoal grey suits from the Joseph Abboud collection at Men’s Wearhouse. Patrick also wore a vest, a tie and black patent leather shoes.
FLOWERS/BOUQUETS
The bride and her extended family created all the floral arrangements for the wedding, including bouquets, boutonnieres and the florals that adorned the wedding arbor. They used ten different types of greenery and five varieties of flowers. The selections of greenery included eucalyptus, euonymus, holly berries, silver dollar eucalyptus, seeded cups, feather, baby blue gum, Italian ruscus, gypsophila and leatherleaf. The featured flowers were Ecuadorian white roses, blue illusion hydrangeas, spray roses and white Veronica flowers.
REHEARSAL DINNER
The couple held their rehearsal dinner at Mansion on Main in Danville, Virginia.
CEREMONY
The wedding ceremony took place at The Barn on the Atkinson Farms property. The interior of The Barn featured reclaimed wood that created a remarkable backdrop for Patrick and Elizebeth’s wedding.
Both of The Barn’s doors were opened during the ceremony which provided guests with breathtaking views of the pond and fountain framed by an adorned arbor.
In the weeks leading up to their wedding, Patrick and Elizabeth participated in premarital counseling sessions conducted by Pastor Gary Smith from Lynchburg, Virginia, who also officiated their ceremony. The couple wrote their own vows and exchanged them in front of Pastor Smith during one of their pre-wedding counseling sessions.
During the ceremony, Pastor Smith read excerpts from the vows and the couple recited parts of what they had written to each other.
COCKTAIL HOUR
During the cocktail hour, guests were entertained by soft jazz music while enjoying a selection of both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages. The highlight of the evening was the “Northrup Signature” mixed drink, a punch made with pineapple, cranberry, vodka, oranges and several proprietary liquors. The appetizers included canapes, charcuterie boards, fruits, vegetables and various dips such as hummus.
PICTURES
Patrick and Elizebeth hired MaryAnn Melosh for their engagement photos. For the wedding, they hired a husband-and-wife duo from Kelci Langley Photography to capture photos and shoot video footage.
RECEPTION
For the wedding reception, the couple chose Aztec Rentals to provide linens, chargers, China place settings, cutlery, wine glasses and champagne flutes.
Wedding guests were seated at large round tables for eight. Each table was decorated with a white underlay and topped with navy blue silk fabric. The centerpieces featured a glass mirror, a black-lit lantern, a pre-lit eucalyptus vine, fresh-cut flowers and small blue pre-lit beads to add a touch of sparkle to each table. High-top tables were also covered in navy blue and adorned with white silk bows.
MENU
The guests were served a garden salad followed by Filet Mignon with an Oscar crab option or Chicken Breast with a classic sun-dried tomato cream sauce. The meal was accompanied by roasted seasonal vegetables and garlic smashed potatoes.
CAKE
The wedding cake was a 2-layered creation topped with “The Northrups.” Pearls surrounded the first layer and fresh flowers were placed above and around the cake.
MUSIC
The bride and her father danced to “I Loved Her First” by Heartland, while the groom and his mother chose “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts for their dance.
Later, the bride hosted a song and dance session with her close friends, performing “Piano Man” by Billy Joel. They took turns singing different verses of the song, joining together for the chorus. It was an epic moment of camaraderie as her friends formed a circle around the groom.
HONEYMOON
The newlyweds honeymooned at the Snowshoe Resort in West Virginia.
WISE WORDS
The bride said, “Marry someone who makes you laugh, because looks fade, dishes pile up and Wi-Fi fails, but humor is eternal. And it is cheaper than couples’ therapy!”
ALMOST DISASTERS
The bride had a dream that she fell during the ceremony. All her bridesmaids, who served in the military, required permission to attend the wedding. One bridesmaid missed the rehearsal but was present on the wedding day. During the reception, the bride’s brother, who is also in the military, decided to shoot off flares as the event was coming to an end. While the flares were intended to land in a pond, one of them overshot and accidentally set a field on fire! Wearing a rented suit, he quickly used the “stop, drop and roll” technique to extinguish the flames. Although the jacket became a bit singed, the moment turned into a priceless memory and led to some unforgettable photos. Unfortunately, the groom sprained his shoulder while on their honeymoon.
BEST GIFT
The DeWalt drill was my favorite gift, said Elizebeth. “It was a gift from my dad, who instilled in me the idea that you can never have enough tools in life!”
VENDORS
VENUE/CATERING
Atkinson Farms
Danville, VA
434.432.9770
REHEARSAL DINNER
Mansion on Main
Danville, VA
336.404.1033
PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY
Kelci Langley Photography
336.269.8182
MaryAnn Melosh
CONSULTANT AND CORDINATOR
Stephanie Yates
Danville, VA
434.770.1506
OFFICIANT
Pastor Gary Smith
First Church of the Nazarene
Lynchburg, VA
540.874.0481
PRE-MARRITAL COUNSELING
Alberta Wray
408.767.0099
GOWN/VEIL
Stella Ford
Elite Bridal Shop
Champaign, IL
217.363.3050
LINENS/CUTLERY
Anita Buckner
434.250.5992
CHINA/CHARGERS
Aztec Rentals
Lynchburg, VA
434.385.5116
SHOES
Revolve
J-Lo Luxury Line
HAIR
River City Salon
Danville, VA
434.797.5678
MAKEUP
Suzi Richardson
Murfreesboro, TN
615.995.0458
BRIDESMAID DRESSES
Bride Lulu
FORMALWEAR
Joseph Abboud Collection
Men’s Wearhouse
INVITATIONS
Ann’s Bridal Bargains
MUSIC
Aaron Stainback
Danville, VA
434.429.3033
FLOWERS/CAKE
Sam’s Club
DESSERT
Queenies Cookies
Tania Gibson
Nashville TN
847.346.9993
ACCOMMODATIONS
Atkinson Farms
Danville, VA
The Bee Hotel
Danville, VA
434.234.9440
HONEYMOON
Snowshoe Ski Resort
Snowshoe, WV
INSURANCE
WedSafe Insurance
