Kelley and Chris’s story is the epitome of a long distance romance. She’s from Northern Virginia and he’s from Newcastle, England and they met as counselors at a 9 week summer camp in New York. Their relationship took them from New York to Australia to California to Great Britain and everywhere in between.
The couple’s long distance relationship was evident in their wedding day details as well. Guests enjoyed their signature drinks - The Englishman and The American Girl - and picked up British and American flags to wave on the dance floor.
Kelley created a seating chart from a world map, naming each table after places that she and Chris had either lived in or visited together. And at each place setting, a luggage tag served as both a place card and a favor. On the bag of the luggage tags were the coordinates for the wedding venue. Guests signed vintage postcards the couple had purchased online in lieu of a guestbook, placing them in a vintage suitcase for the couple to read later.
Appropriately, Kelley and Chris danced to I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles). For much of their relationship, much more than 500 miles had separated them.
Kelley and Chris shared a sweet first look together before taking portraits. Kelley had to show off the pockets of her wedding gown and they both took a few moments to catch each other up on what they had been up to since they last saw each other the night before. Later, they shared vows in front of their family and friends in an outdoor garden space. Kelley wore her mother’s pearl necklace and Chris completed his wedding day look with an engraved pocket watch and tie clip, also a gift to each of his groomsmen.
Kelley’s sister put together all of the floral elements. Kelley made her own wedding cake, a two layer lemon rosemary confection and she and her parents baked all of the sweets on the dessert buffet. The best man and most of Chris’s groomsmen were pals from England, so the best man speech naturally contained several lighthearted jabs about Americans and the fact that Britain ‘used to own the place’ as well as a light roasting of the groom, complete with photographic illustrations of people Chris resembles: Prince Harry, Ed Sheeran, and Beaker from the Muppets.
Caitlin Gerres Photography | Photography
Norfolk Botanical Gardens | Venue
Ava Laurenne Bridal | Bridal Salon
Best Face Artists | Makeup
Blue Steel Lighting Design | Lighting
Chef By Design | Catering
Cherry Blossom Planning Factory | Wedding Planning
Curry's Leather Products, Inc | Weddings Favors + Gifts
DJ Taylor Haycox | DJ
Men's Warehouse | Menswear
Minted | Wedding Invitations
Monique Lhuillier | Wedding Dress Designer
Orange Peel Transportation | Transportation
