The Fete Blog

Em & Marc
June 2, 2012
Panorama Farms

“At times our wedding felt like a family reunion, a friend reunion, and the biggest, best party we’d ever attended, all rolled up into a big barn in the Virginia countryside,” says Emily of her early summer wedding at Panorama Farms. This wedding is up there in my top ten all-time favorites. Em & Marc’s wedding struck the perfect balance between rustic, romantic, and rollicking– between the handmade elements, the bright and beautiful colors, the sophisticated styling, and the bohemian atmosphere, this wedding has bits and pieces to please every bride out there. Even better? The love and sweetness shared between this fantastic couple resonates in every image by Sarah Cramer.

Our love story: Marc and I met while competing at a regular pub trivia night (on opposing teams!) in our then-home of Brooklyn, NY. While it took a few months of being on the same team for us to actually start dating, we eventually did (I like to think my ’80s synth pop song ID skills were as irresistible as his in-depth knowledge of the geography of South America), and after a few years (and an eventual trivia night victory, trophy and all!), we finally decided to tie the knot. I’m also legally bound to give at least some credit for our relationship and eventual marriage to our mutual friends (and teammates) B&A, who deny it was ever a set-up (but I don’t believe them).

The planning process: We started planning last summer, and were able to keep it a (mostly) fun, creative, and low-stress process (with the exception of the last month or so, when Post-Its of to-do lists started taking over our kitchen wall!). Marc and I tackled a few big DIY projects together (paper goods, guest book, and lots of decor items), let go of some things that were destined to be disappointments (why did I think hundreds of watercolor paper pinwheels were a good idea?), and left the rest up to the amazingly talented and creative team that we entrusted with our vision. They’re the experts, after all!

Style & design inspiration: We wanted our wedding to be a relaxed, joyous, and fun occasion, both for us and our guests, many of whom traveled from New York to be with us. We kept our ceremony short and casual, but also meaningful — we wrote our own vows and ceremony, and our dear friend Ethan officiated — and the cocktail hour, dinner, and reception were full of good music, delicious local food, and plenty of beverages (plus some local apple cider donuts to top it off). We had lots of kiddos in attendance, so we made sure they were entertained with games, art projects, and disposable cameras. It also didn’t hurt that Panorama is one of the top 10 most beautiful places on Earth and the weather was incredibly perfect.

“Wow” moment(s): To be honest, the best part about our wedding (besides the fact that we got hitched, of course!) was having almost all of the people we love together in the same room, at the same time (if only our two mischievous cats were suitable guests…).

Advice for brides: Don’t let the moment slip by you! There is something magical about having that much love in one single place.

images by Cramer Photo

Vendors:
Day-of coordinator: Margaret Murray (of Panorama Farms)
Photographer: Cramer Photo
Flowers: Sugar Magnolias
Caterer (and cake): A Pimento
Tents & lighting: Skyline Tent Company
Music: Jay from Deep Groove Records
Hair: Leslie Lowry from Hazel Beauty Bar
Donuts: Carpe Donut
Officiant: the inimitable Ethan Lipton
Dress: BHLDN | Jewelry: Odette | Belt: Muse
Makeup: lots of NARS products, Stila lip stain, and my dear friend Brandy
Invitations: Hello Lucky
Ketubah: UrbanCollective
All other paper goods, guest book, and decor: DIY