Book Favors and Espresso Martinis Set Apart This Pastel Garden-Party Wedding at Sunnybrook in Roanoke, Virginia
One day in December of 2019, when Emily was visiting friends in Richmond, Virginia, she happened to come across Nate’s profile on a dating app. Though she admitted to him that she was only in town for a while and lived in Boston, the two kept in touch and discovered they had mutual friends. In February 2020, when these friends announced their engagement, Emily and Nate thought they’d finally get to meet at the wedding, but the pandemic put those plans on hold. They kept in touch over the phone through texts and FaceTime calls, making their long-distance relationship official in 2021 by agreeing to fly out to each other’s cities, taking turns each month. By 2022, Emily moved to Virginia to be with Nate, and in 2023, he got down on one knee. “On a trip to King Family Vineyards with some great friends, Nate asked Emily to go for a walk. He led her out to an incredible view of the mountains, right in front of the vineyard and proposed,” their wedding website says.
When the couple landed on a “romantic garden party” theme for their wedding, Sunnybrook Venue in nearby Roanoke fit the bill. Emily says, “Our colors were light pink, sage, light blue, white, gold and navy. We wanted the decor to be light, romantic and classic.” The historic home, with its gardens, veranda and ballroom, also had in-house catering, florals and planning to make this intimate wedding even easier to coordinate. The multiple spaces at the venue were a big draw for Nate and Emily, saying it had “unique details and charm” throughout. Focusing on simple decor with florals playing a major role, Sunnybrook pulled from their color palette and incorporated blooms into every detail by using a mix of Juliette Garden Roses, blue delphiniums, white garden roses, eucalyptus, hydrangeas and greenery.
Before the ceremony, their guests enjoyed a champagne welcome with signature cocktails, surrounded by fresh blooms and gold decor. The ceremony space required minimal decoration, featuring a white pergola and matching white chairs for the intimate wedding. White petals lined the grassy aisle, and the couple was joined by a small wedding party of four at the altar: their two best friends, Emily’s sister and Nate’s brother.
Tying the knot in the garden itself, the nearlyweds’ fashion needed to fit the timeless, classic and romantic aesthetic. Emily’s ceremony gown was a fit-and-flare Stella York with floral, sequin detailing and a cathedral veil. Nate wore a Vera Wang tux in navy blue with eye-catching black lapels and detailing, plus a black bow tie to match. They opted for a non-denominational ceremony, with Nate’s Lutheran background and Emily’s Jewish-Catholic upbringing. The couple honored their culture, however, with Bible readings and the Jewish tradition of breaking the glass at the wedding.
After saying “I do,” guests mingled at the patio for cocktail hour, with the couple attending to spend more time with their close friends and family. It was during this time that the couple took a non-traditional route for some things typically reserved for the reception. “That's when we had our first dance, father/bride dance and mother/groom dance,” Emily says. “The champagne glasses that we toasted with were a gift from Nate's parents; they were the glasses they used at their wedding.”
While Emily changed into her second look for the day, a sequined mini dress with tulle bows on the straps, guests were led to the reception space in the ballroom for dinner. The garden party vibes continued inside, including a floral wall. Emily says, “We had florals on every table, shelf and sign. Our sweetheart table was surrounded by flowers, and behind us, we had a boxwood wall covered in flower details and a neon sign with our last name.” After dinner was a dessert bar and the buttercream wedding cake, a salted caramel flavor with their wedding colors of pink, sage and light blue.
Aside from these tasty treats, Nate and Emily surprised their guests with an espresso martini bar, the spot holding special meaning for the two. “Before Nate met Emily, he had never had an espresso martini,” they say. “On one of their first dates, she convinced him to give it a try, and now it’s a ritual for the two of them to try espresso martinis wherever we go.” Located in the same small room as the bar was another rare treat for the guests.
The happy couple had custom favors for their loved ones: their favorite books. Emily says, “We created a library for our guests to choose books… We created a custom wedding stamp and stamped the inside cover of each book. We also had custom wooden bookmarks created with our wedding details and tassels that matched our wedding color palette.”
To continue the night, dancing happened on the patio, now string-lit and empty for the dancefloor. Emily and Nate ended the night with a private last dance, a moment just for the two of them. “Weddings fly by, especially when it's your own wedding. Having that one dance, just us on the dance floor, was so special,” the bride says. And prioritizing each other throughout planning and the wedding day itself, according to the couple, was a crucial component to making the day memorable. “Remember that this day is about you and your partner, and your love for each other. Some people say it’s the best day of their life, but think of this as the first day of the rest of your life,” they add.