Real Richmond Wedding: Kaitlin and Ben at The Boathouse at Rocketts Landing

Kaitlin and Ben
April 14, 2018

How They Met
Kaitlin and Ben met in Northern Virginia at a mutual friend’s birthday party in 2013. They spoke briefly about cars, as Kaitlin was in the market for one at the time, but that was it. They connected several times throughout the rest of the year, but it wasn’t until June 2014 that they had their first date. Kaitlin explains, “It’s a huge joke with our friends how slow we were to take the next step, but look where we are now!” They had their first date at their now favorite sushi restaurant in Arlington. Even though they had known each other for several months at this point, they were still pretty nervous. After a few glasses of red wine, they both realized this was something special.

The Proposal
Ben asked Kaitlin to be his wife on January 21, 2017, at Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery in Delaplane, Virginia. It was an abnormally warm rainy day in January, and since they were living in DC and it was inauguration weekend, they wanted to get out of the city away from the crowds. Wineries had become a regular weekend staple for the couple so Kaitlin didn’t think anything was out of the ordinary when they went to their tasting that afternoon. “We walked up to the tasting bar and as we were getting settled, I noticed something in Ben’s rain jacket pocket…something box-like.” Kaitlin tried not to get too excited and tried to focus on their tasting. Ben, who seemed a little jittery, suggested they go and take a photo outside, despite the rain. “He asked one of the only people in the room to snap some photos, and on the third or fourth one, he got down on one knee!” Their volunteer photographer caught the whole thing on tape, snapping those timeless photos of Kaitlin saying, “Yes!”

The Details
Getting married in a Catholic Church was important to both Kaitlin and Ben and their parents. “We chose St. Bridget because have you seen that aisle?! It’s a gorgeous church!” The two said “I do” in front of 135 guests, a special moment officiated by the deacon from Katilin’s parent’s church.

For their reception, they headed over to The Boathouse at Rocketts Landing. “I really wanted a more clean feel to our venue. Both Ben and I loved the design of the building, the wrap around balcony is amazing, and being on the water was the icing on the cake!” The couple isn’t one for themes but used the buzzwords “clean, modern, traditional, and less is more” when planning the look for their big day.

“I love neutrals so it was an easy choice to go with soft whites and greens as well as the metal and wood.” With the expansive and impressive views, The Boathouse has to offer, they wanted to keep their decor minimal. They worked with their stationery vendor to create all of their signage with their “symbol.” A unique nod to the happy couple.

Their April day turned out to be the perfect day. From the intimate Catholic ceremony to that picture-perfect sunset that The Boathouse offers, Kaitlin and Ben’s day showcased their personalities and shed a spotlight on their love.

Favorite Part of the Day
“If I had to pick one part, I would say taking the bride and groom portraits. It was the only time that it was just the two of us. It was really special to me to have that alone time together as a new Mr. and Mrs. creating the photos we will have for a lifetime.”

Biggest Challenge
“Planning a wedding while living in Northern Virginia (at the time, we have since moved to Richmond)! Also balancing planning, work, and having a social life. Planning really is a full-time job!”

Best Piece of Advice
From Kaitlin, “Don’t blink! The best day of your life goes by in a flash…Do yourself a favor and take a minute with your new spouse to take the day in!”

From Ben, “If there is a hiccup, try not to worry about it. More than likely you will be the only one that notices the mistake. Enjoy the day, enjoy the family and friends and, above all, enjoy the start of your life together with the person you love.”

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