Tell us your story! How did you meet? How was the proposal?

We met while working as camp counselors at a summer camp near Lexington, VA. Christopher and I were close friends for several years before becoming a couple. We were long distance for two years as I completed graduate school in Texas, then moved in together in Richmond, VA where Christopher was a medical student.

Christopher proposed to me on a cold, winter morning in NYC. He designed a ring with his grandmother’s diamond and my birthstone, an opal.

Tell us about your wedding day?

We planned our wedding date around Christopher’s medical school schedule. We were married at Big Spring Farm in late summer, which worked out perfectly because we both love warm weather and all the trees and flowers were in full bloom. We shared our special day with about 130 guests.

What three words would you use to describe your day?

Joyful, Sublime, Family

What drew you to Big Spring Farm?

We fell in love with Big Spring Farm the moment we laid eyes on the place. The location was meaningful, as it was close to where we first met. The outdoor-indoor flexibility and included amenities sealed the deal. Big Spring Farm was actually the only wedding venue we toured–we knew we wouldn’t find anything we liked better!

What element did you have the most fun planning?

I am an artist, so I loved working on all the visual elements of the wedding, such as decorations, flowers, and attire. I was inspired by all the natural beauty of Big Spring Farm.

What was your least favorite part of planning your wedding?

Creating the guest list was really tough. Some moments you want to include everyone you know, and others you want to keep it as small as possible! Tracking down everyone’s address and compiling the invitations, save-the-dates, etc. was a tedious task.

What was the best decision you made for your day?

When we first began planning our wedding, we had lofty goals of doing it all ourselves.  As the process advanced, however, we found ourselves drowning! Ultimately, we did our research and hired some experts. We were so pleased with all of our wedding vendors. From the food to the flowers, they all produced high-quality results that left us smiling all night. Our vendors took care of all the stressful behind-the-scenes details so all we had to do was enjoy our evening.

What is your favorite memory from your wedding day?

We were so touched by all the presence of all our loved ones. It was the joy of a lifetime to catch up with friends and family, old and new, in such a beautiful and joyful setting. It was wonderful watching all our loved ones’ hard work come to fruition. My sisters/maids of honor put together a video surprise for us!  At the start of the reception, they played a video filled with pre-recorded well wishes they had gathered from all our invited guests in the months leading up to the wedding. It got the evening off to a tear- and laughter-filled start.

How did you personalize your wedding day at BSF to reflect your relationship and marriage?

We are very fortunate to have many creative individuals in our lives! Our loved ones helped create and personalize so many of our special details. Our moms helped with decorations, Berangér’s sister baked both wedding cakes, another sister did everyone’s makeup, and their sisters-in-law and nephews had important roles in the wedding ceremony.

Sadly, Berangér lost her beloved grandmother just a few months before the wedding. To honor their special bond, she incorporated many of her grandmother’s heirlooms into the wedding: she embroidered lace from her grandmother’s dress on to her own veil, she carried her grandmother’s embroidered handkerchief and antique clutch and wore jewelry gifted to her by her grandmother throughout the years.

So far, what’s the best thing about marriage and what’s the hardest about marriage?

Life is full of stress and, at times, it can be challenging to maintain the intimacy and affection between you and your partner throughout all the chaos. It is important that each partner commits to care for and prioritize the relationship.

Marriage is also a wonderful feeling of security and commitment. In your spouse, you have a teammate for life and each step into the future is an exciting adventure!

As a newlywed, what advice do you have for an engaged couple?