I’m so excited to share this fun Virginia wedding from Kacie Lynch with you all today! This wedding pretty much has it all: a gorgeous beach ceremony, effortless and lovely bridesmaid looks, an intimate farm reception, and charming handmade details. Seriously, the long family style table plus string lighting reception set up is just too dreamy!
For Cameron and me, it wasn’t important that our decor was on trend or that everything was perfect. It was, and always has been, about the people for us. Growing up in two different states (VA and OH) and now living in New York City meant a lot of travel for our guests so we chose Virginia Beach, Cameron’s home town and the place where most of my Mom’s side of the family lives. This is also where we met! We figured hosting a wedding on the cusp of summer and fall would be cheaper for guests but warm enough for them to enjoy the ocean as a mini vacation and the last hurrah of summer.
We have always had the love for the ocean so there was no question for the ceremony. Getting ready at my grandmother’s house, where I spent many summer days growing up. If we could have had the reception on the beach, we would have done that too! Instead, we went for the next best thing and after a recommendation from a family member, we found Back Bay Farms, which had the perfect setting for an outdoor affair under the stars.
As for our style, as much as I have always been a super girly-girl, for the most part, we are laid back and like things to be simple and easy. Planning this wedding was anything but. Not only being out of state made it harder, but being confronted with the vast ideals of New York and Small Town, USA consider appropriate for a wedding was a balance since we are a hybrid of both was a challenge. For this reason and the fact that my family loves to make things, there was a lot of DIY.
The decor was very much us, even though it seems to follow the recent rustic trends. We love the natural beauty of the ocean so we didn’t feel the need to overdo it. Learning as we went, the Maids of Honor and I had a blast in my granny’s kitchen a few nights before, chopping and arranging the mix of roses, baby’s breath and hypercium berries from Norfolk Wholesale Florist’s clearance section in mason jars borrowed from my mother’s coworker. For the reception, we started compiling items in January, when all of the Christmas decor went on sale. Mercury glass votives and lanterns were collected from Kohl’s, Kmart, TJ Maxx, pretty much anywhere we could find them at 75% or more off. My brother cut down a tree in his backyard for the tree trunk chargers down the banquet tables and the runners underneath were either birch bark or music note wrapping paper or runners my mother made from borrowed doilies. My mother also made the “Just Married” quilted flags and collected all of the quilts, blankets and pillows for the hay couches.
In the end, I can say that our original idea of the best wedding ever was what really mattered. Seeing all of the people in our lives together and knowing they had travelled far and wide to celebrate with us was absolutely humbling. We are so glad the photos and video captured it all so we can see everyone again, anytime we want.
Photography | Kacie Lynch Photography | Venue | Back Bay Farms | Day-Of Coordinator | Megan Justice | Florists | Bouquets and Bouts by Roost Flowers & Designs, Centerpieces by Norfolk Wholesale Florist | Cake | Sugar Plum Bakery | Catering | Black Angus Grille | Cinematography | NST Pictures | Invitations | Jamie Winebrenner | Band | The River Boyz | Rentals | Affordable Tent Rentals | Lighting | Stage Right Lighting | Ceremony Musician | Zach Stanford | Officiant | Kevin Johnson
