Real Richmond Wedding: Lauren and Kris at The Jefferson Hotel

Lauren and Kris
October 21, 2017

How They Met
Lauren and Kris first met their first year of pharmacy school in 2011. There was an instant connection, but at the time, both Lauren and Kris were dating other people. Lauren explains, “Over the next 3 years there were a lot of group projects and interactions in school that showed our mutual attraction.” It wasn’t until 2014, at a post-final exam party that they admitted their feelings for each other. From that point forward, they were inseparable. Even when Lauren matched for residency in Colorado in 2015, it was a no-brainer that Kris had to go with her. “We have been madly in love ever since!”

The Details
“When thinking of Richmond, it is easy to think of the Jefferson Hotel…It has so much history and such beauty that it was a no-brainer!” Now all they had to figure out was where they wanted their ceremony. The two decided to tour Monumental Church. “The moment we both stepped in, it was that chill feeling that people say you get when you find THE dress, except this was THE ceremony site.” They both knew right away that this was the place of their dreams. In front of 98 of their closest friends and family, they said personalized vows, expressing the love they had for each other.

Their overall theme was simple but classy. They wanted a timeless look with soft touches and influences of the beautiful fall that comes in Virginia. “We went with navy, burgundy, soft pink, and gold. We felt that these colors were classy, inspired by fall, and easy to mesh together.”

Lauren and Kris’ two main goals when planning was to have fun and have good food. The Jefferson had the food covered, and their live ECE band, Three Sheets to the Wind, had the fun covered. The two had their band play all of Hall and Oates classics, a nod to a special concert they’d seen at the Red Rocks Amphitheater. “This was such a special moment for us that we wanted to have our band replicate the sound!”

The two had a beautiful fall day, that was perfectly and quintessentially Richmond. They continued their theme with their adorable Virginia shaped favors and a wooden shaped state of Virginia for their guest book. The party, serenaded by the Hall and Oates classics, went on, celebrating Lauren and Kris.

Favorite Part of the Day
Lauren and Kris have two favorite parts. Their first was when Lauren walked down their aisle to Kris. “All the wedding planning comes to fruition in this one moment. You feel no one else in the room except the two of you. Every moment in your relationship has led to this moment, and we both agree, it is this indescribable, overwhelming feeling that is irreplaceable.”

Their second was their last dance. After a night full of dancing, they had the floor to themselves to dance to Billy Joel’s “Just the Way You Are.” “It was a great way to end the night and take in the events from the day. All of our family and friends were surrounding us, but it felt like it as just the two of us, held in each other’s arms.” Lauren and Kris highly recommend a last dance because unlike the pressure-filled first dance, you can just relax. “No one is watching for a special move, they are all so relaxed from the night’s events that they are just excited to see the two of you enjoying each other’s presence after a very busy day.”

Biggest Challenge
“Honestly, I am very indecisive. I will research every possible option and in wedding planning, this was endless…Having a wedding planner helped us stay focused with a few options!”

Best Piece of Advice
“Stay focused on the big picture. At the end of the day, you will not likely look back at the small details unless they have some personal significance. It is easy to look at other’s weddings and think you need to do that, but remember, you are taking pieces from a lot of different weddings!”

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