Every Color of the Rainbow Was on Display at This Clifton Inn Wedding in Charlottesville, Virginia
“Brian and I met at a conference for scientists,” reveals Emily Zboril about the start of her relationship with Brian Moy. “He told me about his dissertation work and handed me his business card! The rest, as they say, is history.” Brian proposed in San Antonio during a Christmastime drive. “He told me he’d thrown three coins into the Trevi Fountain the previous December. Italian folklore says if you throw one coin, you’ll return to Rome. If you throw two coins, you’ll fall in love. And if you throw three coins, you’ll marry the person you met. And so we made it official!”
The uniquely stylish couple wanted to design a wedding day unlike any other. “I knew I wanted our wedding to be something we’d never seen before—a day that was completely our own. I loved the idea of bringing in the outdoors into our reception, so Sophie Felts Design brought in some trees to make an enchanted dream,” notes Emily. The couple focused on their color palette, displaying a rainbow of hues representing sheer joy.
The groom picked out a classic deep-gray suit with the “pop” of color present on his floral tie and striking boutonniere. The bride wanted something “timeless that would never go out of style—something that fit my personality. Once I found the perfect silhouette, I added a beautiful flowing cape to add a wow factor to the dress.” She accessorized her look with elegant drop earrings and a minimalistic necklace. A half-updo completed her look—the simple details allowing the gown (and the bride) to shine.
Guests met on the sprawling lawn and found their seats in white wooden chairs facing the bold floral arch at the end of the aisle. Small floral runners with blooms that mirrors the litany of color in the arch lined the back of the space. “Our ceremony arch was the wow factor with an ombre effect in shades of orange, yellow and fuchsia,” tells Emily. “Standing under the arch during our ceremony brought us so much joy.” As the couple exchanged their vows in the presence of their nearest and dearest, the officiant was sure to include a mindful moment. “One of the most special moments was during our ceremony after we said our “I dos,” our officiant asked us to turn and look at all the people who came to support us on our wedding day,” the bride describes. “We felt so much love and gratitude; having a moment to acknowledge our wonderful guests was very special to us.”
Following the ceremony, attendees wandered to a different part of the property to begin the festivities. They happened upon a large escort card display that sported colorful vases with guests’ names and table numbers, in addition to a small arrangement that coordinated with the hue of the vase. “We loved the handmade vases created by Something Vintage, lettered with each guest’s name,” says Emily. Loved ones then walked under a whimsical floral-and-greenery tunnel that felt straight out of a fairytale to join the reception.
Underneath a flowing tent, long tables featured low centerpieces making up a floral runner and matching candles in bright yellows, oranges and pinks, continuing the ombre effect from the ceremony arch. Round tables held soft blue linens and coordinating blue chargers accented with the same bold arrangements in the center. Large trees and ornate chandeliers dotted the space, lending themselves to the enchanted aesthetic. “Some of our guests said they felt they were in a magical movie (Harry Potter, to be exact) which is exactly how we wanted everyone to feel,” the bride explains.
The new Mr. and Mrs. advice to other couples? Simple: “Get a wedding planner. Ours took our ideas (Like color and a magical experience for guest) and our personalities and brought together such an amazing team of vendors and a seamless day. She truly made the wedding of our dreams come true.”