1. Real Weddings

A Chic Rustic Wedding at the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia

College sweethearts Victoria Matheson (24 and a digital marketing manager) and James Marcouillier (25 and a medical sales rep) met while attending Lib

College sweethearts Victoria Matheson (24 and a digital marketing manager) and James Marcouillier (25 and a medical sales rep) met while attending Liberty University, and they knew right away that they had something special together. Three years later, when James popped the question with a custom diamond ring, the couple knew the perfect spot for their nuptials. “West Virginia is perhaps the most beautiful state that not too many people know about. Nestled in the heart of the Allegheny Mountains, White Sulphur Springs long ago captured my heart,” says Victoria, whose family spent summers vacationing in the area when she was a kid. Victoria and James have fond memories of hiking mountains and playing golf at the Greenbrier, and their first kiss and “I love you” was shared on the resort’s front balcony. “Needless to say, the Greenbrier holds quite the sentimental value to us as a couple,” Victoria says. “I love the mountains and having my wedding in a barn on a mountaintop meant rustic chic, all the way,” Victoria says of her wedding inspiration. “I wanted to have a chic flair, considering how classy the Greenbrier is, yet I didn’t want to stray from the rustic feel of our surroundings.” As a former event coordinator for the Greenbrier and with a small event company, Victoria Katelyn Events, wedding planning came naturally for the bride, and her mother acted as the wedding planner. Victoria and James’s rustic fall wedding was brought to life with wooden and gold accents, along with a palette of marsala red, forest green and neutrals. The couple said “I do” at the Greenbrier’s new chapel, decking out the rustic space with lanterns and placing an eight-foot wooden cross at the altar. In the reception hall, tables were cloaked in stain and topped with ornate candelabras and lush blooms. For dinner, guests enjoyed a “Field & Stream” menu of Beef Wellington, creamy mac and cheese, roasted seasonal vegetables, fresh trout, a fall salad and shrimp and grits. —Marissa Hermanson

Victoria and James’s custom invites made by A Paper Wedding set the tone for their rustic mountain wedding at the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
Victoria started working at the Greenbrier when she was 16. It began as a summer job but lasted six years, as her parents had a home in the area. Victoria and James have fond memories of hiking mountains and playing golf at the resort, and their first kiss and “I love you” was shared on the resort’s front balcony. “Needless to say, The Greenbrier holds quite the sentimental value to us as a couple,” says Victoria.
Guests were given a box of treats as a welcome gift. The cute package was embellished with a whimsical note card and ribbon.
Victoria looked glamorous in an A-line gown with a lace bodice and a tulle skirt. She had a custom sash fashioned out of silk to tie into an oversize bow in the back.
Victoria’s seven bridesmaids donned floor-length strapless marsala gowns from David’s Bridal.
Victoria and James brought their rustic mountain wedding to life with wooden accents and lush greenery.
Victoria and James said “I do” in the Greenbrier’s new wedding chapel. “The chapel is a gorgeous white chapel set on the front lawn with a large bronze steeple,” Victoria says. “The stained glass windows pictured deer drinking from streams of water, which helped to tie in the rustic-chic theme.”
Victoria and James lined the rustic chapel’s aisle with rose petals and lanterns, while a handmade eight-foot cross stood at the altar.
The bride’s 2-month-old nephew was pushed down the aisle in a white carriage by one of the two flower girls, and the ring bearer carried a sign that read “Uncle James, here comes your bride.”
Readings during the couple’s chapel ceremony included the memorable scripture from Psalms 34:3: “Oh magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together.”
The exterior of the chapel was spruced up with fall-inspired floral arrangements and wreaths.
After exchanging vows, Victoria and James were whisked away in a horse-drawn carriage decked out in lush greenery and a "just married" sign that matched their wedding invitations.
A seating chart was fashioned out of wood, rope and clothespins and decorated with ornate floral arrangements.
For their first dance the newlyweds danced to “Never Stop” by SafetySuit. “This was our song from the beginning, and when he asked me to be his girlfriend, he printed out the lyrics to the song to remind me that he would ‘never stop.’ I still have them in a frame.”
Tables were topped with a mix of lanterns, lush arrangements and candelabras, and the rustic reception space was lit with romantic string lights.
The head table was made using four large farm tables and was topped with candelabras and a lush garland. A custom floral installation was hung above it like a chandelier.
Tables were draped in satin, and each place setting consisted of a metallic charger, marsala red napkin, flower bud and menu card.
The Greenbrier’s pastry chef baked the newlyweds a three-tier carrot cake that was topped with marsala and pink blooms and an “Oh Happy Day” topper.
"James has been a faithful leader throughout our relationship, and I know he will carry on that role as my husband,” Victoria says.