Morais Vineyards & Winery

I stumbled upon Morais Vineyards on a photographer's blog years ago. I wasn't planning a wedding yet, but I was so taken aback by the beauty and uniqueness of the venue that I filed it away in my memory for when my time came. A few years later, Morais Vineyards was the first and only place that my fiance and I toured before choosing it as our wedding venue. The stunning Portuguese architecture makes you feel like you've stumbled into Europe. Although vineyard weddings are somewhat common, this venue provided such a unique, elegant, and chic aesthetic for our wedding day. Another important element for us was having a suitable Plan B for weather. The outdoor ceremony site by the pond is gorgeous, but we also wanted to have an option that would be just as beautiful in photos should the weather not be ideal. Sure enough, it wasn't rain that was an issue on our wedding day, but actually heat! Although we were bummed to not have our ceremony outside, we were confident in our decision to move things indoors because the grand hall inside of Morais is absolutely gorgeous––tall ceilings, huge windows to allow in a ton of natural light, a balcony for overhead shots, and a beautiful raised "altar" in front of the windows. ALSO, the bridal suite that Morais recently constructed is absolutely amazing. With a sitting area, large vanities for hair/makeup artists to work, a curtained-off changing area/bathroom/shower, high ceilings at the entrance, a ton of natural light, and more, it was seriously a dream for everyone getting ready AND the photographers and videographers to capture this part of the day (not a stuffy hotel room with bad lighting!). Finally, every step of the way, our planning and communications with the Morais staff were wonderful. Cathy Ricciardi, in particular, was amazing. She was responsive, helpful, and never made us feel like our questions were too small or nagging. Thank you Morais for being the beautiful backdrop to our big day!

Morais Vineyard made our wedding absolutely perfect and flawless. The venue itself is breathtaking. All of our guests commented that they felt as though they were transported to Europe! It is such a unique venue for Northern Virginia. There are so many beautiful spots throughout the venue to take gorgeous pictures. It's a naturally stunning setting. We worked with Cathy R. throughout the planning process. She is fabulous! Every time I contacted her, or saw her in the tasting room, she always made us feel special! Cathy is very patient and was always responsive. Morais will forever hold a special places in our hearts. Side note, the wine is the BEST wine in the entire state. Reds, whites, and the rose are all delicious!