Carter and Hilary's Wedding in Charlottesville, Virginia

The story of our wedding

Carter and I met 4+ years ago and it was love at first sight (for me!). We both attended the University of Virginia for undergrad, but never crossed paths. Years later at a pre-football-game brunch, we were introduced by a mutual friend.

Throughout our four year together we had many highs and lows. We lived an hour apart for 3.5/4 years, which was fun for a few years, but then we were READY to move in together in the same city. Along the way we also grew together through my mom's cancer diagnosis, and eventual passing in 2018. Less than a year into her cancer fight she slipped into an abrupt 2 week coma, and when she miraculously awoke, Carter went home and told his parents he was proposing. He planned a weekend at the Rappahanock River with both of our families, my mom included, on June 22, 2018, and popped the question on my family's dock. We planned the wedding immediately knowing we had little time with my mom. We were able to find my wedding dress, choose our venue, find bridesmaids dresses, book our caterer, bands, photographer, florist, fully design our invitations, and even sit down with our planner so that she could hear my mom's desires firsthand. We picked our wedding day, 18 months in the future, knowing that rushing the wedding didn't feel right for us. My mom passed away in August of 2018, which gave us time to begin the grieving process before celebrating our marriage.