Carly & Ben’s Virginia Wedding

by Alexis Lunsford
June 18 2021
The White Wren Collaborative / Wedding /

Carly & Ben’s Virginia wedding was a stunning garden inspired day. With a European feel, neutral color palette & elegant details their wedding day was intimate & relaxed. A beautiful celebration between this couple while surrounded by their closest family & friends created such special moments for us to witness & enjoy!

Carly and Ben met back in 2013 at a mutual friend’s 25th birthday celebration in downtown Richmond, Virginia. Carly was busy ordering herself a dirty martini from the bar when she was introduced to Ben, he made a comment that he’d never had one — so she offered him a sip and things took off from there!
Ben knew Carly was the one not long after she moved into his house in Church Hill and they started building a life together. It was all so easy and comfortable from the get-go that he never had a moment’s doubt. He felt like the luckiest guy in the world that I found this person. And Carly had known Ben was her perfect partner for a very long time. They’d shared many milestones and were both ready for their next adventure. They held their intimate, garden-inspired wedding at the stunning Virginia House in Richmond, Virginia on October 17, 2020. – Sara Robertson of Wolfcrest Photography

Carly & Ben were hoping for an intimate and relaxed wedding celebration with a few of their closest friends and family. Their venue Virginia House is a 12th-century priory-turned-English manor from Shakespeare Country that was dismantled and transported brick-by-brick across the Atlantic and rebuilt in Richmond, Virginia. The history, charm, and character of this venue provides an absolutely stunning backdrop for an intimate wedding. I loved the neutral palette, elegant details, and offset of the organic, delicate florals against the manicured, formal European-vibe garden around the venue. I was so happy to share in one of the most beautiful, special days that I’ve ever had the pleasure of witnessing with this incredibly sweet #couplesgoals couple. – Sara Robertson of Wolfcrest Photography

How did you two meet? What were your first impressions of one another?
We met back in 2013 at a mutual friend’s birthday celebration in downtown Richmond, Virginia. Carly was busy ordering herself a dirty martini from the bar when she was introduced to Ben, he made a comment that he’d never had one — so she offered him a sip and things took off from there!

What part of your wedding day was/is most important to you?
It’s so easy to be caught up in all of the details but really the most important element of our wedding day was celebrating our love, the vows we shared, and knowing that no matter what happens, we have each other and the support of our families. Also, the dessert table 😉

What is your favorite thing about each other?
Carly: I love Ben for his intensity, dry sense of humor, extreme patience, artistic talents and calming presence. He has an amazing memory and attention to detail, he can tell you the year and director of almost any movie and if somethings broken and there’s a youtube tutorial — he can fix it! He also brews me fresh coffee every morning and takes great care of me and our sweet cat, Sadie.
Ben: There are too many qualities to list but here are some of my favorites. When we first met I was initially attracted to her beauty. I thought she was one of the most beautiful girls I had ever seen. Once we got to know each other on a deeper level, I realized just how special she was. We clicked together like two pieces of a puzzle. I never have to pretend to be anyone that I’m not. She accepts all my imperfections and loves me just the same. In the past, I’ve had to put so much emotional energy and strain into my relationships, but with Carly I knew right away that I didn’t need to force anything anymore. Her openness and willingness to be vulnerable. I love that she’s not afraid to laugh at herself. (or at me!) Her empathy towards everyone and everything is inspiring. She’s constantly going out of her way to make others happy and bring small bits of joy into the lives of her friends, family and coworkers. I’ve never met someone so outgoing and eager to please others. This 100% genuine attitude makes me strive to be a better person. She is easily affectionate and responsive on so many levels. If I’m having a bad day at work, I know when I get home, no matter what mood I’m in, she will instantly make me feel better just by being herself.

What is the best thing you’ve learned from one another?
It’s easy to get distracted when there’s a lot going on around you. Don’t lose sight of what’s most important: being together and focused on each other despite all of the background noise.

Describe a hurdle you had to overcome in your relationship or during your wedding planning.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit 3 weeks after we secured our wedding date, booked our venue, vendors and signed contracts. We thought it would pass quickly but we were sadly mistaken. We had to learn how to navigate planning with so much uncertainty and that was the biggest obstacle. We skipped all of the traditional pre-wedding festivities, engagement party, bridal shower and big bachelorette and bachelor parties, minimized our wedding plans and celebrated, safely, with close family & friends.

If you had one piece of advice for other couples, what would it be?
When planning during a pandemic, follow the news closely, and maintain an open conversation with your vendors and guests. Also, if you can, book a planner, even an hourly one if your budget allows, to help navigate everything. Most importantly, take care of yourself and keep your eye on the end goal. Your loved ones will be so excited to hug and celebrate you when your wedding day arrives.

What is the most honest thing you can say about love?
You must give what you want to receive. Relationships are not 50/50. They’re 100/100. You have to give all that you’re capable of giving to your partner (love, understanding, forgiveness, acceptance) and expect that in return. Also, remember love doesn’t always look how you imagined. Learn your lessons, be open to the guidance of your heart, and let go of the social conditioning that tells you where you should be in life to be happy.