The Magical And Movie-esque Richmond Wedding Of Rebecca and Christopher
August, 18 2022
Fresh, pretty, and charming, that is how we’d describe Rebecca and Christopher’s September wedding! The day was sunny, bright, and breezy, much like the wedding and the couple! Surrounded by the happiness of loved ones and romance, the couple tied the knot on September 25th with big, bright smiles. Before the day progressed, the two had been excited, waiting for the moment they’d walk out of their wedding ceremony, hand-in-hand, chasing the many happily afters they had in mind and it was easy to see in their actions. From getting ready for the wedding to their wedding reception, Rebecca and Christopher could not keep their eyes off each other. The subtle smiles our wedding photographer witnessed, made them feel they were in the presence of true love only books and movies talk of. And when our wedding photographer took photos of the two, during the wedding ceremony, their first look photos, their first dance, and their wedding exit, our photographer was sure that theirs was a love most people only dream of.
This Richmond couple planned their wedding to a T and made sure that even the tiniest details were well-planned before the day’s celebrations began. The two wanted to get married in a church, so they decided to throw the wedding reception in a different venue. Playing out like a well-written romance movie, the two tied the knot in St Peter Catholic Church, and the reception venue was chosen to be the beautiful Bolling Haxall House. When the couple had been choosing their wedding reception venue, the two had many options. However, being careful and ensuring that the experience of wedding guests is just as perfect as theirs, they chose Bolling Haxall House because not only was it beautiful but it is only a three-minute walk from the church! The venue choices for the day were nothing short of magnificent.
St. Peter Catholic Church in Richmond is one of the oldest churches in the city. What stands out about this church is the stunning architecture, which is an amalgamation of restrained neo-classicism of the 1810s and 1820s, and the full-blown Greek revival style of the 1840s. The blend of these two styles of architecture gives the church a fairytale-esque wedding venue, which is what attracted Rebecca and Christopher. Interestingly enough, the architecture of the church is inspired by the monumental Church of St.-Philippe-du-Roule in Paris, from the columns to the interior arches, the similarity is uncanny. The brilliant architecture only added more details to the couple’s wedding ceremony, making it wonderfully fairytale-like. And perhaps, a part of the architecture added some bits to the movie-like wedding.
The couple, when dressed, looked just perfect under the huge arches of the church. But before we witnessed the two saying their “I dos” we saw them get dressed for the wedding. Choosing to get dressed apart, the excitement had made the air thick and electric. The bride got dressed with her lovely bridesmaid, her mother, and the groom’s mother. The getting-ready dress code for the girls was colorful and fresh! Rebecca expressed to our photographer that she wanted the girls to have fun. So she, after discussing it with her girls, decided to leave it up to them. She chose the colors for the dresses, which were burgundy red and rose pink with denim skirts. While the mother of the bride was dressed in a classy, casual blue dress as her getting-ready outfit. The girls had their customary pre-wedding toast and a glass of champagne. Before the girls got dressed for the day, they sat down, shared some good laughs, and reminisced some memories. Before the girls started getting dressed, our wedding photographer took some shots of the girls having fun. Our photographer took snaps of the beautiful bride with her mother and the groom’s mother.
After unwinding, the girls jumped into action. The bridesmaids were quick with everything, they told our wedding photographer that they wanted to make Rebecca’s getting-ready photos a breeze for her. As the girls were putting on their beautiful pink bridesmaid dresses, our photographer took the time to capture the bridal detail photos. The beautiful wedding invitation had stunning purple roses on the edges and impressively beautiful cursive lettering. The bridal bouquet Rebecca had chosen went perfectly well with the wedding invitation! The white and baby pink roses in her hand-tied bridal bouquet were pretty, charming, and fresh, just like the bride. The bridal dress was a gorgeous empire-style dress, with a V-neck and a small belt. Rebecca’s bridesmaids every step of the way from water to slight make-up touches. The groom’s mother dressed in a deep pink ensemble, and the mother of the bride put on a stunning navy-blue dress, with sequined sleeves. She helped her daughter fix the bridal veil to her textured hair-do for the wedding. With that, her bridal look was complete! Rebecca looked into the mirror and admired her dress with a smile on her face. She was about to leave the room to see her father, and then her soon-to-be-husband, who was waiting for her. Her bridesmaids delicately handed Rebecca her bouquet and asked her to pose for a few bridal portraits first. As Rebecca smiled for a portrait, a little excited and a little shy, the room burst into excited cheers and claps. Rebecca blushed a little.
Once the group was satisfied that the bride looked nothing short of stunning, they ushered her out of the room. And the moment Rebecca stepped out of her room and into the lobby, her father gasped. He had been waiting for his little girl to step out with her bridesmaid holding the dress’s train, but he was not prepared to be blown away. Happier than his expressions would allow him to express, he gave his daughter a big hug and a loving forehead kiss as if to say, “you’re beautiful.” Rebecca blushed, and blinked away some happy tears, talking to her father, who was dressed in a navy-blue suit with a white rose in their boutonniere, and a blush pink tie, matching the roses in his daughter’s bouquet. Before walking down the stairs to surprise her fiancé, she gave her father a quick peck on the cheek, and our photographer took the adorable photo!
As Rebecca was getting dressed for the day, Christopher had dressed up in his dark navy-blue wedding suit, a black-tie, white pocket square, and white rose for a boutonniere. To finish his look, he wore one of his favorite analog watches. Dressed and ready to go, Christopher tried his best to not remain calm as he waited for his soon-to-be wife. The two had decided to have a first look photo session first and were very excited. Even though he knew she wouldn't be long, his heart couldn’t take the time away from her. The moment he heard that the bride was on her way, his face lit up and he hurried to the foot of the stairway right outside the area they were getting dressed in. Eagerly waiting, to calm himself he held his hands behind his back and bowed his head. Patiently waited for the tap on his shoulder, the tap that would tell him to turn around to his dressed-up soulmate for the day. The moment Rebecca tapped on his shoulder, he wasted no time turning around, with a broad smile on his face and pulling her into a tight hug. He delicately kissed her cheek, still smiling. The happiness of the day, the ceremony, and the party they had planned together were easy to see in their smiles and eyes. Rebecca slightly turned to smile at her parents and bridesmaids, surprised and happy with Christopher’s expression of joy.
Before the couple entered the church for their wedding ceremony, the two posed for some adorable first-look photos. Christopher looked into Rebecca’s eyes, smiling. The two struck some traditional couple photo poses, laughing and talking to each other as they switched between their poses. As Rebecca posed for the camera, and Christopher was behind her, Rebecca turned to face Christopher, and the two shared a laugh. Rebecca had caught her soon-to-be husband off guard, which made him laugh out loud. As the time for the ceremony was coming closer, Rebecca quickly hugged her fiancé from the back and posed. For the last first-look photo shoot, she gently placed a kiss on his cheek. Not expecting the kiss, Christopher was a little surprised and a little happy! Our wedding photographer captured the moment, making it timeless. The wedding ceremony was everything the two had envisioned, delicate, beautiful, and grand. The altar of the church was decorated with beautiful green details and ornaments. Two large candlesticks stood on either side of the altar, illuminating the space. Under the big arches of St Peter Catholic Church, family and friends of the couple witnessed them taking their wedding vows, and sealing their marriage with a soft kiss. Smiling at his soulmate, now his wife, Christopher held Rebecca’s hand as they exited the aisle, smiling and laughing as their guests clapped and cheered for them.
Before the wedding reception party, the couple decided to pose for the camera as a newlywed couple. Taking the chance to show their love and happiness, the two went back to the altar to pose after the guests cleared out. Standing right in front of the altar, the two smiled for the camera, holding Rebecca’s beautiful wedding bouquet. The two asked our wedding photographer to capture a photo of them kissing each other. They wanted to recreate and capture their first kiss as a married couple as a memory of the day. Then the two stepped out, smiling and hand-in-hand. When outside, the two separated for a while to take some photos with the bridesmaids and groomsmen. The groom and his groomsmen were dressed in the same colors, so much so that they looked alike. As for the bride’s squad, the girls were dressed in pretty pink bridesmaid dresses, and their bridesmaid bouquets were smaller versions of Rebecca’s wedding bouquet! The groom posed with his groomsmen and loved ones, with a pretty smile playing on his lips. Rebecca gave our wedding photographer a big smile, as she took the center spot of her girl squad. The bridesmaids matched the bride’s excitement and smiles. For the last photo with her bridesmaids, Rebecca pulled her wedding gown’s train to the front and raised her bridal bouquet with her bridesmaids. Before our wedding photographer took the photo, the girls cheered together, which only made our photographer feel the deep connection the girls shared.
Before going to the reception venue, Rebecca waited for Christopher to join her. She was looking at her bridal bouquet, adoring its beauty. Our wedding photographer took a stunning bridal candid photo! She realized that our photographer was taking a photo of her, so she turned around and posed for the camera, sideways so her bridal gown’s silhouette and her bridal veil is visible clearly as well! Right then, Christopher found her, and they started walking toward the wedding reception party. As the two were talking to each other, Christopher led her to a stairway, pulled her close, and leaned in to kiss her. Our photographer was quick to capture the sentimental moment between the two! Rebecca’s wedding gown looked wonderful in the shot. As the two were waiting to get their wedding reception party started, Rebecca sat down at a large chair, smiling and ecstatic. Our wedding photographer helped her get her dress spread out on the couch, which made her look like a stunning mermaid. As she is waiting, Christopher finds her and takes her hand to lead her up to the reception! But before they go in, the two stand next to their parents for some lovely photos with the families. As they were climbing the stairs, our wedding photographer took some more wedding couple portraits! Right after posing for a few lovely photos, the two begin climbing up to their wedding reception venue.
The reception venue was the beautiful Bolling Haxall House. The venue is one of the oldest places in the city! The venue is a magnificent 1859 Italianate Villa, sitting close to the wedding venue! The exterior of the reception venue is not only imposing but also ultra-stunning, befitting the couple’s movie-like wedding! After being restored, the villa looks just perfect and very authentic. With elaborate history and delicate interiors, the venue was dressed in minimal wedding décor, which fit the couple well! The wedding welcome signage was simple and elegant, complete with cute cursive lettering on a wooden plaque. Before the guests found their spots, our photographer took some wedding detail photos, capturing the venue spot in its natural glory. The beautiful vintage-like chairs, white tables, and white cutlery made the area look just perfect. The wedding guest escort cards were elegant. The couple had used similar cursive lettering for their guests’ names on a white background framed in gold clear frames. Slowly, the guests entered and found their tables, and when they were seated, the couple took the floor for their first dance! The two twirled around the floor, looking into each other’s eyes with soft smiles. The guests couldn’t keep their eyes off this beautiful couple. As their song ended, the two took the time to dance with their family before opening the floor to their wedding guests. As the guests were enjoying their time, the couple sat down next to each other. Christopher subtly held his wife’s hand. After the wedding guests began settling down after dancing, the couple decided to have their cake-cutting ceremony!
The wedding cake was a pristine white cake, with textured sides. Their textured wedding cake was decorated with a single cake topper, which was a cursive M. The cake topper stood for their shared last name, Murguia. The two cut the cake together, and the entire space erupted with cheers, happiness, and calps! After that, the two spent the night talking to their friends, and family. Smiling and going over some memories. The wedding guestbook had a photo of the venue, and let the guests leave their thoughts and wishes for the couple! As the night came to a close, the two walked out of the reception venue, smiling and holding hands. The guests lined up for the couple’s exit with sparklers in their hands, sharing smiles and claps. Before the two made their exit as newlyweds, the two stopped for a moment to kiss under the sparklers! Their magical wedding had come to a close and the two were starting a new chapter. Our wedding photographer waved the two goodbyes and wished them luck on the new journey. As our photographer returned, they couldn’t help but smile at the wonderful wedding, the movie-esque dramatic details of the venues, and the lovely couple’s adorable smiles.