Maggie and Shannon met online, went on a coffee date, and clicked immediately. She's a political reporter. Maggie is a biologist. They call themselves the humanities and STEM power couple, which feels exactly right for two people who managed to propose to each other simultaneously at the sculpture garden where they'd had their second date. Shannon had a plan, Maggie had a secret, and neither of them saw the other one coming.

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By the time they got to The Inn at Vint Hill on October 25th, the trees were deep into autumn. The inn sits on a historic Virginia estate that started life as a manor house in the 1800s, later served as an Officers' Club for the US Army, and today holds all of that layered history in its bones. Arched windows, hardwood floors, heirloom trees burning orange and gold on the sprawling lawn.

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The details told their story well. Books fanned open with flowers tucked into the pages sat on windowsills around the inn. Both Maggie and Shannon adorned themselves with vintage jewelry. Their florals were a study in contrast done right: same palette of burnt oranges, deep reds, and amber dahlias, but each bouquet with its own personality. One softer, one bolder. Different shapes, different textures. Side by side, they just worked.

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Maggie wore a white gown covered in hand-embroidered botanicals — pansies, thistles, wild vines crawling the length of the skirt and up into the flutter sleeves. Shannon wore a fitted lace gown with an open back and long lace sleeves. Their bridal party wore a full autumn gradient from sage to gold to rust to burgundy, which against the turning trees looked like the whole landscape had dressed for the occasion.

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The ceremony was held outside on the lawn under the old trees, with clusters of dahlias and autumn florals marking the aisle. Between the laughter, tears and looks of such absolute, pure love between the two, it was another ceremony where I once again found myself tearing up, too. After a heartfelt first kiss, they walked down the aisle with wide smiles and arms raised.

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Maggie and Shannon, thank you for letting me be there to document your wedding. If their story resonates with you and you're planning a wedding at The Inn at Vint Hill or anywhere in Virginia, I'd love to hear from you.