The Details:
BRIDE
Heather Henry, 26
Project Manager
GROOM
Anthony Bombard, 27
Fleet Mechanic
DATE
October 26, 2024
LOCATION
The Old Springhouse Event Center at Reitano Vineyards
Front Royal, Virginia
NUMBER OF GUESTS
170
Love At First Sight
Anthony and Heather met through mutual friends and had their first date at Death Ridge Brewery, a local spot in Jeffersontown, Virginia. “It was love at first sight, and I don’t think we have spent a weekend apart since then,” said the bride.
PROPOSAL
Anthony and Heather traveled to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, where they stayed in a secluded mountain cabin. One morning, after getting ready, Anthony waited for Heather on the porch. He admired the stunning mountain views in the background until she joined him. Overcome with nerves, he knelt and accidentally opened the ring box upside down. Nonetheless, Heather exclaimed, “Yes!”
PLANNING
Anthony and Heather planned most of the wedding themselves. As the wedding day approached, they hired Sarah K Events, whose expertise helped them bring their dreams to life.
COLORS
The couple selected a wedding date in the fall, and to enhance the venue’s picturesque autumn mountain backdrop, they incorporated warm coppers, natural greens and gentle tan hues into their decor.
INVITATIONS
The couple selected bronze invitations with floral accents. Their wedding website featured autumn colors and incorporated pampas grass, a prominent element in their wedding flowers.
ATTIRE
Heather donned a meticulously crafted lace bodice complemented by a glittering skirt from Ava Laurenne Bride in Fredericksburg. Her radiant veil was also sourced from Ava Laurenne. The bride chose short, white cowboy boots with blue soles, purchased from Lane Boots, to complete her look. Her jewelry included a necklace made from the diamond of her great-grandmother’s wedding ring. Heather’s grandparents had transformed the ring into a necklace and gifted it to her before the wedding. “This was a wonderful surprise, and it made the day even more special to have a piece of my great-grandmother with me,” the bride shared.
The bridesmaids wore copper-luxe satin dresses from Show Me Your Mumu with each bridesmaid selecting a different style for added variety. The flower girls wore dresses similar to the bride’s gown, but their attire featured lace sleeves. They also sported cowboy boots.
The groom wore a tan-colored suit, a floral tie and a unique pair of cowboy boots made from caiman belly leather by Cody James Boots. The groomsmen matched his style with tan suits and brown cowboy boots. Their ties from Show Me Your Mumu perfectly complemented the bridesmaids’ outfits.
BOUQUETS
The primary type of flower used in the wedding bouquets was roses in fall hues paired with greenery and pampas.
CEREMONY
The couple was married at The Old Springhouse Event Center at Reitano Vineyards in Front Royal, Virginia. A family friend officiated the ceremony.
The ceremony site was breathtaking as trees showcased vibrant autumn colors and mountains created a beautiful backdrop. To the right of the site, a lovely pond was visible. Heather said, “It was the best spot on the venue’s property for a ceremony!”
Summit Entertainment curated all the violin cover music for the entire ceremony. The groom and groomsmen entered the ceremony to the song “Rooster” by Alice in Chains, the groom’s favorite band.
PICTURES
Anthony and Heather chose Franzi Lee Photography to document their special day, and they were extremely pleased with their decision. On the wedding day, Franzi took beautiful portraits of the couple at the ceremony site and throughout the vineyards on the venue property. Their journey with Franzi began when she took their engagement photos. When they received their engagement album, they felt confident they had made the right choice in hiring her.
COCKTAIL HOUR
During the cocktail hour, the couple’s DJ played a mix of country songs and romantic ballads to create the perfect atmosphere. Guests savored an assortment of light bites that included charcuterie cups, three types of pickles and caprese skewers. They were also presented with a choice of beers and seltzers.
RECEPTION
The event took place in the venue’s barn which was adorned with chandeliers and numerous windows that provided an abundance of natural light. The dance floor served as the focal point of the barn. Surrounding the barn was a spacious porch with seating and breathtaking views.
The round table decor featured dark, copper-colored tablecloths made of crushed fabric. Bud vases filled with roses and pampas grass sat atop these tables. In contrast, the rectangular handmade wooden tables featured only copper-colored table runners, complemented by greenery and additional roses.
All the tables were beautifully embellished with colored glassware, gold-rimmed chargers, plates and gold silverware. The table numbers were displayed as acrylic gold numbers on brackets. Gold-speckled tealight holders with lit candles added a warm glow to the overall setting.
MENU
A buffet-style dinner featured pulled chicken and chopped brisket as the main entrees. The side dishes included mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, green beans with country ham and rolls.
The buffet and bar were conveniently located in a designated area adjacent to the barn’s open space which made it easy to keep everything organized and out of the way.
Desserts were displayed on two barrels and featured a variety of cakes. The selections included a red velvet cake with cream cheese icing, a chocolate cake topped with cookies and cream icing, a coffee cake with maple donut icing and a vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream icing and a fresh strawberry filling.
CAKE
The wedding cake was a small, simple two-tier red velvet cake with white icing. It was topped with a few roses and pampas grass. The final touch was gold stenciling of the couple’s last name.
MUSIC
The newlyweds’ first dance song was “You Save Me” by Kenny Chesney. The Father-Daughter danced to the music “You’ll Always Be My Baby” by Alan Jackson.
FAVORS
The favors were koozies showcasing hand-drawn art of the wedding venue and the couple’s names and wedding date.
HONEYMOON
The couple honeymooned in Aruba.
WISE WORDS
The newlyweds said, “Enjoy the day and do not stress. It goes by so fast, and the most important part of your wedding is marrying the love of your life.”
NUPTIAL NIGHTMARES
Although there were no nightmares, the couple often found themselves thinking about things that needed to be done at 3 a.m.
WEDDING DISASTERS
The glasses the couple picked out were not delivered. Fortunately, the vendor was able to fix the mix-up before the reception began.
BEST GIFT
Their favorite gift was a charcuterie board engraved with the couple’s last name.
VENDORS
VENUE
The Old Springhouse at Reitano Vineyards
Front Royal, VA
540.550.0334
PHOTOGRAPHY
Franzi Lee Photography
540.305.9409
VIDEOGRAPHY
Samia Studios
540.522.0067
PLANNING
Sarah K Events
304.671.6302
OFFICIANT
John Vest
GOWN/VEIL
Ava Laurenne Bride
Fredericksburg, VA
540.899.7771
SHOES
Cowboy Boots from Lane
HAIR/ MAKEUP
Blush and Bashful Bridal Hair and Makeup
Amissville, VA
540.219.9533
BRIDESMAID DRESSES
Show Me Your MuMu
FORMALWEAR
Jims Formal Wear
Warrenton VA
540.341.8840
INVITATIONS
Minted.com
FLOWERS
Carpers Weddings and Events
Winchester VA
540.631.7227
RENTAL EQUIPMENT
Grand Event Center
Winchester VA
540.667.1400
CATERING
Jordan Springs Market BBQ
Stephenson VA
540.662.0601
MUSIC
Summit Events
540.327.7391
CAKE
Danille Wilson’s Creative Confections
Front Royal, VA
703.909.6015
FAVORS
Etsy
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.
