Prepare to be Royally Wowed by This Opulent, Maximalist Wedding at Dover Hall Estate in Richmond, Virginia

Kelly McLean and Corey Mahoney go way back. “Corey and I were high school sweethearts,” Kelly shares. “Our connection was so instantaneous and organic that we were only friends for a few weeks before we decided to date.” It was at Barboursville Vineyards, one of their favorite spots in Charlottesville, Virginia, that they talked about their future and decided they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. Fast forward to February 12, 2021, and Corey proposed to Kelly in the same spot they had shared their dreams. “He chose this date because it was also the same day as Chinese New Year, and he knew the significance of the holiday to my family,” Kelly recalls. The McCleans spent Kelly's early years in China, fully immersed in the culture and language. The country holds a very special place in the bride's heart. “Once he proposed, we celebrated at the vineyard with drinks and brunch with both sets of parents.” They set their wedding date for November 11, 2022, with plans for a church ceremony on June 5, 2023: their tenth anniversary.

When planning their 2022 celebration, Kelly and Corey wanted to create a unique and unforgettable experience reflecting their love story and interests. For Kelly, her passion for the Regency Era of the early 1800s was the inspiration for their maximalist, royal-esque wedding theme. “The luxurious and opulent balls and soirees with maximalist design boards that were the center of all major social and political gatherings have always left me in awe,” she reveals. “So, we decided to emulate them throughout the wedding.”

For Kelly’s ceremony and cocktail dress, she chose a slightly off-the-shoulder A-line Stella York dress with a detachable train, a Moscato-colored liner and a lace overlay. Her reception dress was a specially made Chinese Qipao with a modern twist, featuring a traditional top and a ballgown skirt with a train. Regarding Corey’s attire, he rented a classic tux and personalized it with his own cufflinks featuring their cats. According to Kelly, “Attire was an aspect of our day that we were able to express our individual selves and show a side to our style we don’t normally show!”

Their decor was meticulously thought out with a meaning behind each detail, showcasing their personalities and love for one another. They chose Dover Hall, an old English Tudor estate, as their venue to build their vision seamlessly. “We wanted our guests to feel fully immersed into our wedding theme as an experience from the moment they arrived at the venue,” the bride says. The attention to detail was evident, with a grand, arching bridge of assorted florals and greenery welcoming guests upon arrival, the wisteria-covered mantle acting as a waterfall-like backdrop and the estate tables adorned with flower arrangements of all sizes surrounded by opulent ginger jars and brass bowls.

Kelly details that the wedding-day flowers were designed to create “maximalist wow moments” throughout their space. The bride was particularly drawn to the asymmetrical waterfall bouquet Princess Diana carried on her wedding day. “My bouquet was an arrangement from our moody palette, but with a vintage twist,” Kelly describes. “The different flowers and greenery, including anemones, roses and amaranths, gave the feel that the bouquet was plucked right from the castle garden itself.”

The couple had bud vases dotting the space for cocktail hour and a show-stopping “wishing tree” in the solarium. “To keep with the waterfall effect, a tree was created and suspended from the ceiling with hanging florals and greenery that guests could walk through and interact with,” Kelly says.

The couple emphasized intentionality in their decor. “Every nuance had to be carefully thought out to achieve our goal and tell our personalized love story,” Kelly shared. They even designed a “spin on the 1800s’ Society Paper’” to showcase all the personalized design elements that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. “The Dover Hall Society Paper” allowed guests to read about some of the most impactful details and features from the day’s events.

Kelly and Corey also put a lot of thought into their signature cocktail, “Lavender Haze,” named after Taylor Swift’s first song on her 10th album. “We wanted our wedding to be impactful on all levels, beyond just the visuals,” Kelly explains. The new Mr. and Mrs. also used lavender in their custom crest, inspired by the Regency Era’s family crests and British royal monograms. “It was composed of the Mahoney coat of arms and an intertwined K and C in the center.”

Kelly emphasized the importance of embracing your likes and dislikes when planning a wedding. “This is one of the few events in your life that is truly about you and your partner,” she says. “Go into the planning process with an open mind and make decisions that make you happy. Then, let go of the rest.”