With rolling hills, a historic white estate, and the glow of perfect spring light, Savannah and Nick’s wedding at Keswick Vineyards was the embodiment of timeless charm. Their vision—rooted in black-and-white minimalism, vintage touches, and meaningful handmade details—was both elevated and deeply personal. From a painted cake topper found while antiquing to a seating chart designed around their favorite travel destinations, every element of their day felt uniquely theirs.
After a sentimental proposal aboard a tiny boat in Newport Beach, this stylish couple brought their love of California, classic design, and slow-living romance to their celebration in Charlottesville. With calla lilies, vintage china, and a heartfelt first dance under a glowing tent, the day unfolded with natural ease. It was, as Savannah described, “perfect weather, 75 degrees without a cloud in the sky”—and a day full of warmth, intention, and love.
“We made dates out of wedding planning. Wine and notebooks made it less stressful—and way more fun.”
Savannah and Nicholas make it a point to visit California often for trips and vacations. During one trip to Newport Beach, they planned a day of boating. With no idea that they would be getting engaged, Savannah confessed, “We go to California so often that I really didn’t expect it!” They rented a small two-seater boat, and Nick queued up a playlist of all of Savannah’s favorite songs. At one point, they stopped so the captain could take their photo. At that moment, Nick got down on one knee. Despite Savannah’s nerves that she might fall overboard, she embraced the moment – they were engaged! As they began their wedding planning journey, Savannah and Nick scheduled dates to focus on the details. They went to coffee shops and wine bars, bringing their laptops along to make the process less stressful. Savannah remarked that the wine helped as well.
Embracing the beauty of the ever-present Blue Ridge Mountains, Savannah and Nicholas’s wedding day mingled with the Charlottesville breeze, flirting with florals and tender moments that cast an ethereal haze across their classic black-and-white theme. The relaxed setting of Keswick Vineyards offered rolling hills and farmland for the couple to take ultra-romantic portraits together. The estate also boasted a striking white exterior, windows with wooden shutters, and a perfectly temperate day of seventy-five degrees without a cloud in the sky. A minimalist ceremony took place on the lawn, with an aisle marked by floral pillars and the garden’s fountain bursting to life behind them as the couple shared their first kiss as husband and wife. Bridesmaids wore soft pink dresses and held demure bouquets of calla lilies, while groomsmen wore tuxedos with the classic touch of cummerbunds. Savannah wore an asymmetrical trumpet gown with a small bow and buttons along the back. Underneath their open-air tent, the couple shared a tender first dance to Lana Del Rey’s “Say Yes To Heaven.” Fully embracing the nearby vineyards and blooming flowers of the property, the decor was kept to a minimum. Vintage china adorned the dessert table, and Savannah’s favorite wedding day detail — her vintage cake topper — sat perfectly atop their cake. Found by her mother while antiquing, the figurine required a quick addition of black paint to transform it to bear the likeness of Savannah and Nick.
How did you two meet? What were your first impressions of one another?
We met in college. We both had mutual friends. I was in a sorority, and he was in a fraternity that worked closely together. We frequent California a lot, and last spring we had a boat trip planned in Newport Beach, CA. It was a small, two-seater boat that was owned by a couple who rented it out for special occasions like engagements, celebrations, etc. I really had no idea we were getting engaged this trip. I had an idea it would happen soon, but we go to California so often that I really didn’t expect it! Nick was playing all of my favorite songs on the boat, and we stood up to have the captain take our photo. That is when he got down on one knee to propose! I was surprised. Honestly, I was so nervous I was going to fall into the water since the boat was so small, there were no handrails, haha.
Any special ways you incorporated your family or family history into your wedding day?
My favorite wedding detail was my vintage cake topper. My mom found it antiquing in my grandma’s hometown. When she sent me a picture of it, I just had to have it for my wedding cake. The people on it came with blonde hair, but I painted the hair black to match Nick and I. Most of my wedding stationery was DIY, even my seating chart. My stepdad made the board, and I hand-painted the title and nailed on the seating chart.
What part of your wedding day was/is most important to you?
Our wedding style was very minimalistic and classic. The color palette we used was black and white. Our florals were minimal. My bouquet and the bridesmaids’ bouquets were white Calla lilies. The bridesmaids wore light pink dresses, and the guys wore black tuxedos with cummerbunds. Nick was very adamant on the cummerbunds, haha. We love vintage things and traveling, so we tied in some of those aspects as well. We used vintage china for our dessert table and a vintage cake topper. Our seating chart and table “numbers” were based on our favorite places and cities/countries we have gone together.
One of my favorite memories from my wedding day was our ceremony. It was such a nice day out. Literally perfect weather, 75 degrees without a cloud in the sky. It felt unreal walking down the aisle. Keswick is something out of a fairytale. It was so beautiful. I was surrounded by my closest friends and family, and finally got to say “I do” to my forever best friend. Another favorite memory was our first dance. I am not a dancer, haha, I get really shy in front of crowds, so we really didn’t rehearse anything too crazy. We just kind of danced around and held each other. We did a few fun spins and dips, but it was more of us talking and laughing with each other. It felt really natural, and we were just singing to each other, and he made me forget that we were dancing in front of a crowd. It was such a special moment that I will never forget. We danced to “Say Yes to Heaven” by Lana Del Rey.
If you had one piece of advice for other couples, what would it be?
We made dates out of wedding planning. We would go to coffee shops or wine bars and bring our laptops and a wedding notebook. It made it less stressful and more fun. It is such a stressful time planning a wedding, but making it a date really helped take the stress away. Also, the wine helped, haha.
Photography: Marshall Arts Photography / @marshallarts.photography
Venue: Keswick Vineyards / @keswickvineyards
Planning: Little Acorn Events / @littleacorneventsco
Floral Design: Foxtail Cottage Floral / @foxtailcottagefloral
Photography Assistance: Stephanie Lane Photography / @stephanielanephotography
DJ: Ryan Clarke / @ryanclarkva
Cake: Minglewood Bakery / @minglewoodbakeshop
Catering: Harvest Moon / @hmcatering
Invitations & Stationery: Merrymaker Fine Paper / @merrymakerfinepaper
Officiant: Dwight Coleman
Getting Ready & Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Roslyn Farm & Vineyard / @roslynfarm
Hair: Mariah, Sei Bella Studio / @seibellastudio.cville
Makeup: Molly, Captivating Complexion / @molly.captivatingcomplexion
Dress: Rita Vinieris / @ritavinieris
Dress Store: L’Fay Bridal / @lfaybridal
Shoes: Loeffler Randall / @loefflerrandall
Jewelry: Brilliant Earth / @briliantearth
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: AW Bridal / @aw.bridal, Dessy / @dessygroup
Menswear: Men’s Wearhouse / @menswearhouse
Publisher at The White Wren and Bajan Wed, Award Winning Photography + Videographer at Live View Studios, Dad, 80s music lover, crunchy health advocate
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