A Vibrant Rehearsal Dinner Started Off This Equestrian-inspired Wedding in Leesburg, Virginia
It’s a dating-app tale as old as time: Boy SuperSwipes on girl, girl shows screenshots of boy’s profile to her friends, the couple matches and lives happily ever after. But in the case of Rachel DeMuro (30, a home organization specialist) and Steven (Steve) Sadlon (34, a vice president at a benefits consulting firm), there were some hurdles before that last step. The pair met right before the pandemic and, to top it off, Steve was soon moving from Washington, DC—where he and Rachel lived at the time—to Connecticut.
“I was like, ‘Of course. Finally found a guy I’m actually interested in, and he’s moving,’ ” says Rachel. The pair’s love bloomed despite the logistics. It began with a taco-takeout first date, when they were so caught up in conversation at Rachel’s house that Steve missed DC’s COVID curfew, and blossomed over long visits between Connecticut and DC (thank you, remote work). While the couple has plenty of happy memories from early in their relationship, Steve says that navigating hardships, like the pandemic, is what really brought them together. Rachel’s ability to roll with challenges made him know he wanted to marry her. “I knew we found something to last a lifetime,” he says.
When it came time to propose, Steve drew inspiration from the other love of Rachel’s life: horseback riding. Alongside Rachel’s favorite horse, Gameboy, Steve popped the question with a marquise-shape black diamond during a trail ride. The proposal took place at the farm where she trains for equestrian competitions—a passion of hers since age 7.
Horses, therefore, played a role in the theme of the couple’s wedding on June 3, 2023. Rachel and Steve entrusted Jessica Ashley Events to plan the 140-person fete after seeing the planner in action at a friend’s nuptials. And the pro wove in the equestrian elements even before the main event: An elegant welcome dinner peppered with pony details gave guests a glimpse of the wedding-day theme.
For her wedding, Rachel always imagined an intimate, immersive outdoor space bursting with blooms and weaving in subtle nods to her horses. After the venue walk-through, the pair knew that Fleetwood Farm Winery in Leesburg, Virginia, was the perfect fit for what they describe as a “secret garden meets modern equestrian” aesthetic.
White peonies and pink roses cascading over a pergola greeted guests upon arrival—a wink at the wonder to come. “We wanted to give people an idea of what they were going to see, but keep all the good stuff hidden,” says Rachel. This built anticipation before loved ones laid eyes on the dramatic rustic ceremony space. Thoughtful touches await- ed attendees right outside the entrance to the ceremony area, like an infused-water station and chilled towels to stave off the heat. A welcome table displayed photos of dearly departed loved ones like Rachel’s paternal grandparents, her maternal grandmother and Steve’s sister.
The couple also shared special moments of their own ahead of the ceremony. They exchanged personal notes and gifts—a necklace for her, two kinds of bourbon for him—and Rachel had a first look with her father before he walked her down the aisle. The couple’s own first look in their wedding attire would come at the start of the ceremony. “Steve and I did not have a first look,” says Rachel. “We discussed it but decided not to, as we wanted the moment to be special and felt by everyone.”
What awaited inside the walled, greenhouse-like ceremony space was simply enchanting. Delicate vines, strands of greenery and white flowers like larkspur, snapdragons and foxgloves hung from the transparent ceiling and mirrored the tufts of baby’s breath and white roses that flanked the aisle. The couple met to say their vows under a pergola decked out with hydrangeas, peonies and delphiniums in vivid hues of pink, purple and blue.
“Steve and I wanted a short, meaningful ceremony to celebrate with all our guests who traveled to be with us that day,” says Rachel. The couple kept their loved ones top of mind during the proceedings and included a tribute to Steve’s absent grandparents. Rachel also wore her grandfather’s black-and-gold ring, which matched her engagement ring, wedding stationery and reception palette. “He’s no longer with us, so it was really special to have something of his involved in the wedding,” she says.
After the “I dos,” attendees migrated to the patio and barrel room to sip signature cocktails: a modern old-fashioned for Steve and a French kiss (gin, prosecco, elderflower, lemon and strawberry) for Rachel. Guests could also grab a flute of pink bubbly from a woman donning a “champagne dress,” which arranges the glasses in a tiered, wearable skirt holder. Hors d’oeuvres included warm lobster rolls with Old Bay chips, a guest favorite and a tribute to the pair’s East Coast upbringings. The abundant appetizers felt more like a dinner than a cocktail hour, echoing the big meals Rachel shares with her Italian family. “The food just kept on coming,” she says.
An equestrian-inspired escort card display depicted a graphic of a jumping course and award ribbons and guided guests to their seats. At the reception, the food and flowers continued. Clouds of baby’s breath and hydrangeas floated above guests’ heads, while centerpieces of varying shapes and double-height floral arrangements by the dance floor finished the look. Frosty gray and gold custom bar inserts complemented the tinted, fluted glassware that brought interest to the tables. Places were soon set with plates of Angus tenderloin and Moroccan-spiced chickpea cakes.
The couple shared a sweet first dance to Leon Bridges’ “Beyond,” a song Steve’s brother and sister-in-law introduced the pair to. Then they sliced into the three-tier wedding cake: two vanilla layers filled with pas- sion-fruit curd, blackberry Italian meringue buttercream and fresh blackberries, and an almond layer with hazelnut buttercream filling.
After everyone danced to classic and country tunes, the reception concluded with Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family,” a “DeMuro classic that’s been played at every family wedding at the end of the night.” It was a fitting tribute to what made the day so special for Rachel and Steve—not the petals or the ponies, but the people. “All our friends and family came together as one, and it was special to see,” says Rachel. “New friendships were made—as well as a new family.”