March 17, 2022

Stephanie & Carlos 2020 & 2021

“I exist in two places, here and where you are.” – Margaret Atwood

Stephanie & Carlos’ love story is a classic 21st-century one. The two met on Tinder. Stephanie says, “I swiped first but he made the match. We met up for margaritas and tacos”. And then quickly, they fell in love… Okay, maybe that makes it too easy.

Since no good love story would be complete without a challenge, Stephanie & Carlos’ budding romance was put to the test. “They started off in the same city establishing a friendship but then Stephanie got the brilliant idea to move to Charleston, SC not realizing what a catch Carlos was. Just to avoid any grey area, Carlos made it official by asking Stephanie to be his girlfriend and after many 8-hour drives, endless phone calls, and late-night video chatting; the saying ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’ was proven accurate”. So, in 2019, Stephanie made the move back to Charlottesville, VA to be closer to Carlos and closer to love. And then…

The Engagement

Carlos rolled the dice on love and proposed on September 21, 2019, at the High Roller on a trip to Las Vegas.

We met Stephanie & Carlos shortly after that trip to Vegas when we took their engagement photos at the Bold Rock Nellysford Cidery in Nellysford, VA.

The Elopement

In 2020, Stephanie & Carlos decided they couldn’t wait any longer to be husband and wife. So, they eloped at Saint Mary Catholic Church in Lovingston, VA. Since only the Catholic Priest and Stephanie’s mom were witnesses, we felt honored to be a part of this intimate and special ceremony.

The Wedding!

“It’s finally happening!”

After a long-distance relationship, surprise engagement, and unexpected elopement, in 2021, Stephanie & Carlos were finally able to have their dream wedding with their family and friends. And boy, was it worth waiting for!

The Details

Stephanie loves blues accented with jewel tones. She told us that she was inspired by, “modern clean lines with a touch of vintage. Dusty blue, navy, and cranberry accented with golds & rose gold”

It’s always special when couples take time at their wedding to honor their family members.

The Venue

Stephanie & Carlos were [re]married at Valley Road Vineyards in Afton, VA.

The Bridal Party

The bridal party shone in dresses from David’s Bridal and suits from Van Heusen. And what a fun-loving bridal party they were. They kept us laughing all day long.

The Bride & Groom

Stephanie was all smiles as she got ready to walk down the aisle again and [re]say “I Do” to Carlos.

The [not quite] newlyweds made sure to set aside time in their wedding day schedule for sunset pictures in the Vineyard.

Wedding tip: make sure that the best lighting of the day is reserved for the bride and groom.

The Ceremony

Stephanie & Carlos’ ceremony took place in the late afternoon on a warm summer day in 2021.

As guests arrived they were greeted with beautiful music from a harpist and violinist.

Father Roger performed their Catholic ceremony.

Good things come to those who wait. After waiting through a long-distance relationship and pandemic, Stephanie & Carlos finally said “I Do” in front of their family and friends.

The Reception

Stephanie told us that it was important that this [re]celebration be fun. After waiting so long for the perfect wedding day, she and Carlos were thankful to finally be able to join their two families together publicly.