Josh & Jenny's Elegant B&B Wedding, Pt. II: Ceremony & Reception | Virginia Wedding Photographers at Marriott Ranch in Hume, VA

Jenny could barely contain herself as the guests arrived. As soon as everyone was seated, she descended the stairs of the bed & breakfast and met her father on the front porch. Across the front lawn, under the shade of two massive old trees, her groom was waiting. Their ceremony was simple but very intentional, crowned with a traditional European custom from the 15th century - binding their hands together with 6 cords. Each of the cords represented either a promise they made to each other, or that the guests made to them.

After the ceremony, their guests enjoyed chilled champagne and cocktails on the front lawn while Josh & Jenny had their first portraits together. Then we all headed down to the reception in the open-air barn across the lawn. Josh and Jenny showed up in classic style, in a beautiful Jaguar offered for the night by one of their family friends. They immediately stepped into their first dance as husband and wife, followed by a delicious dinner and open bar catered by the wonderful Marriott Ranch staff.

This was a first for our couples: The night's playlist was largely created by the groom, Josh. He spent many hours putting together a song list inspired by his childhood memories, the best 70's rock and 80's hair metal that he inherited from his dad's records and cassettes. Most of the songs were ones that he even learned how to play on guitar as a teenager. DJ Jeremy turned it into a nonstop, seamless dance party that kept almost everyone, regardless of age, on the dance floor for the rest of the night.

They finished their wedding day with a grand sparkler exit into the dark, but they didn't run off right away. Our host and hostess stopped one last time in the middle of the sparklers to thank everyone for being such an important part of their wedding. There were tears and hugs long after the sparklers went out.

But we still have to show you their bride & groom portraits. That's in Part III!