1. Real Weddings

A Elegant Wedding at Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia

Candice Costello (28 and in health administration) and Jere Costello (28 and in finance) had their elegant wedding inside the Virginia War Memorial in

Candice Costello (28 and in health administration) and Jere Costello (28 and in finance) had their elegant wedding inside the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia, where amazing views of the downtown area won them over. They decked out the day in a color combination of purple, white and gray, inspired by the colors of James Madison University, where they both met. The day began at Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond, where Candice walked down the aisle wearing her white mermaid-style dress with a ruffled skirt. Candice held a white bouquet of roses and white stock that blended beautifully with her dress, which Jere matched with his white rose and baby's breath boutonniere pinned onto his gray jacket lapel. The party moved to the Virginia War Memorial for the reception, where guests found their seats using escort cards in individual elegant frames. White menu cards displayed the evening's meal in purple font and sat on top of white dinnerware, with an infinity symbol at the bottom that matched the other wedding day stationery. Everyone loved the purple-and-white-patterned photo booth backdrop, where heads popped in and out of empty frames to make a picture-perfect portrait. But our favorite detail had to be the one that tasted the sweetest: the four-tier naked cake with buttercream between layers and fruit cascading down the side. See more of these elegant details decked out in purple, white and gray, below.

Candice didn't think she would like the mermaid-style dress, but once she tried it on at Bella Rosa Bridal, she couldn't take it off. The dress had a ruche silhouette and a ruffled skirt that flared out at the bottom. She wore removable two-inch straps for the ceremony, which she took off for the reception.
Candice held an elegant bouquet filled with ivory roses surrounded by blooming white stock. The arrangement blended well with her white dress as she walked down the aisle.
The bridesmaids huddled around Candice, wearing deep purple cocktail dresses in the same style and shade. The Alfred Sung gowns went along with the wedding's main colors.
The two flower girls hugged each other as they posed for the picture, wearing bright purple floral headbands that matched their purple sashes. They sported adorable white dresses that made the purple pop.
Candice walked down the aisle with her father, their arms interlaced as friends and family turned to watch them make their way to the altar. The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart had no additional decorations added to the space, since the large dome, ornate decor and traditional layout made enough of a statement.
Guests at the ceremony received white programs written in purple text, with an infinity symbol marked at the bottom of the front page. This design reflected the other stationery used throughout the wedding.
Jere sat next to Candice during the ceremony service, wearing his light gray suit from Tommy Hilfiger. He paired the three-piece outfit with a purple tie over his white dress shirt, embodying all three of the wedding's colors.
Jere had a single white rose mixed with baby's breath as his boutonniere, pinned to the lapel of his gray suit jacket. The arrangement tied in with Candice's bouquet, filled with white roses surrounded by stock.
Candice, Jere and their bridal party all posed outside at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, where the traditional ceremony took place. The entire wedding party blended well with one another—the bridesmaids in purple cocktail dresses, the groomsmen in gray suits with purple ties.
Friends and family used the koozie wedding favors to hold their cold beverages throughout the day. The purple and white custom-made items had Candice and Jere's names, along with their wedding date and "Let Love Brew."
The reception took place out on the terrace at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia, a beautiful and historic museum with perfect views of the city.
Candice and Jere entered the terrace at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia, with their hands in the air for the celebration. The beautiful glass and stone accents of the building embodied rich history and elegance, contributing to the overall theme.
During cocktail hour, guests stood around tables covered in heather gray linens, decorated with white roses and baby's breath centerpieces. Plus, surrounding votive candles added a nice touch to the display.
Candice and Jere poked their heads out of the empty frames, part of the large purple and white photo booth backdrop they created themselves. Friends and family enjoyed having fun with the creative prop throughout the celebration.
When it came time to be seated, guests located their escort cards arranged neatly in rows. The white stationery had names and table numbers written in an elegant black font, bordered by a white vintage-style frame.
An ivory menu card displayed the evening's meal in a purple font—offerings included marinated chicken breasts, mashed potatoes and vegetable medley. An infinity symbol accented the bottom of the card, which matched the other stationery.
A family member created the mouthwatering four-tier naked cake. Buttercream filled the spaces between layers, and fruit cascaded down the side of the masterpiece. Plus, silhouettes of Candice, Jere and their dog decorated the top.
Candice and Jere put their heads together during their intimate first dance, with friends and family surrounding them on the dance floor to watch out of the terrace at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia.