Real Wedding: Nancy & Tom's At-Home Wedding in the Virginia Mountains | Galax, VA Wedding

Sharing one of our favorite at-home weddings today, currently featured on Carats & Cake and winner of a Triangle NACE award for Best Wedding! 

In the heart of the Virginia mountains, Nancy and Tom chose Nancy’s grandmother’s homestead as the gathering spot for their summer wedding. Take a peek into this heart-warming wedding with a special family story.

A custom invitation suite included a hand-drawn map of the property and personalized programs with a sketch of the house.

Nancy's original dream of a ceremony at the church her mother was married in was derailed by church renovations, less than a week before the wedding! With some quick changes and help from Mother Nature, we created a beautiful outdoor "Plan B". The ceremony was moved to the private home, under towering oak trees and overlooking the green rolling hills.

Nancy and Tom's guests walked through the same arch that was at her parents' wedding, which also took place on the property!

Guests were shuttled to the mountaintop and entered the side yard through a rose-covered pergola.  We wanted to create an outdoor "church" on the property, which was a host to 3 generations of weddings.  The altar table and other pieces from the church were brought in to have special touches of the sanctuary in the new ceremony setting.

A clear top tent at the bottom of the garden staircase showed the surrounding trees at twilight.

We adored this garden statue of a little girl with a basket of flowers, greeting guests as they walked down the stairs to the tent.  The family jokingly called the stairs the "steps to nowhere" since they just went onto the lawn, but with the tent there they finally had a purpose!

At this black tie wedding, we had to incorporate both formality and a feeling of the mountains that was true to place.  Using wood textures and antique furniture with touches of gold created a formal yet welcoming garden scene. 

Since Nancy & Tom were getting married in the VA countryside, we dubbed their signature drink (a Manhattan) the "Far From Manhattan."  Tom's family from Chicago got a true taste of southern hospitality!

If guests wanted to take a break from the party tent, they could head toward the pool area for liquid nitrogen lollipops with herbed crystals or frozen crème de menthe meringues, creative and fun southern summer treats. 

Gather Together (Event Design & Planning)

Bride's grandmother's home (Venue)

Pastor Don Gordon, a bridesmaid's father (Officiant)

Kristin Moore Photo (Photography)

Mason Dixon Designs (Paper & Calligraphy)

Watered Garden Florist (Flowers)

Paisley & Jade (Furniture & Decor)

Mitchell's Catering (Catering & Cake)

Party Reflections (Tent & Rentals)

CE Rental (Linens)

Mike Mitchell Music (String Trio)

Affirmative Groove via Sam Hill Entertainment (Band)

Sound Illusions (Lighting)

Silverceiling (Hair & Makeup)

Holiday Tours (Transportation)

McLaurin Parking (Parking)

Piedmont Portables (Restrooms)