David and Nichole's Wedding in Middleburg, Virginia

Two months and nine days later, March 29, 2019, my husband and I were married at the Salamander Resort in Middleburg, Virginia, in front of 80 of our closest family and friends. From getting ready in the ultra-luxe bridal suite, to saying our vows in their made-for-intimate-ceremonies foyer, to treating our guests to a cocktail reception overlooking the rolling hills, to throwing a black-tie celebration in their grand ballroom, to surprising everyone with an after-party by the fire pits… every single event created memories that would last a lifetime!

Below are the details...

The evening before our wedding, we treated our guests to a rehearsal/welcome reception in the Library room of the resort, as well as welcome bags with gourmet, custom goodies from Olivia Macaroon, M&M, Bleu de Blanc, Whiteley's Peanuts, as well as a few others!

The day of our wedding, our guests took advantage of the many all-included activities around the property (such as zip-lining, horseback riding, and archery) while I and my beautiful bridesmaids went to the spa, then set to getting ready for the evening ahead in the most beautiful bridal suite! Our glam looks were the amazing work of WeddingWire favorite, makeup artist Jamie D'Agostino, and award-winning hair stylist, Nam Nguyen. My bridesmaids wore black, floor-length gowns from Lulu's and carried pure white hydrangea bouquets from Lark Floral, while I wore a custom Nicole Miller gown, Swarovski-embellished Christian Louboutin heels, and a custom-made Swarovski crystal garter from L.A. Gartier. I carried a large bouquet of blue and white hydrangeas and white roses from Lark Floral.

As for the groomsmen, I wasn't picky on matching tuxes, so long as they were black and didn't have a cummerbund or suspenders! (My husband wore a tailored Suit Supply classic tux). In addition, they all wore two white Ranculas on their lapel.

Prior to the ceremony beginning, guests were handed hand-silver-leafed programs, could sign our photo guest book, filled with pictures of my husband and I, as well as our guests; and could also drop their cards in a custom glass card box.

Our 15-minute ceremony was the most memorable part of the festivities for us! First, our decor was elegant but simplistic. We had two, tall tapered arrangements that matched my bouquet, flaking either side of the aisle in the front, with two lighted topiaries flanking the aisle in the back. We also had a custom aisle runner from Favors and Flowers to add a little something extra! But, it was the music that tied the ambience together. It was hard not to cry to Violinist, Chelle Fulk's violin-playing as I walked towards my soon-to-be husband! Thankfully, Minister Bill Cochran (of Say I Do Your Way) kept us laughing once my dad gave me away. He was such a dream to work with, being incredibly flexible with last-minute changes to our ceremony that kept our guests engaged and their eyes (somewhat) dry.

After we were officially announced as "Mr. and Mrs. Setia" and walked down the aisle as husband and wife, we immediately walked to our first photography area to do seated portraits with our family and wedding party, while the rest of our guests headed off to the cocktail reception that overlooked the farms of the resort. I'm super picky about photographers, having worked with many in the past and not being too thrilled with many. Finding Genevieve Leiper was an absolute dream! Her use of lighting, flexibility in styles and wants, and her creativity made it super fun and really easy! Not only that, but my usually impatient husband said he had a great time working with both her, as well as her assistant, that it didn't bother him at all the few hours spent having to pose!

Once we were done, we snuck off to a separate room so I could change into my reception gown, as well as have a few (breathable) moments alone. (Note: When I say "breathable moments"... it was me changing into different undergarments for the next gown... and him zipping up the gown when I was ready.) For my second gown, I chose a white floor-length, bead and sequined one by British designer, Nadine Merabi; and carried a custom crystal clutch by MARC DE FANG of New York.

Then came the big moment I was excited for... food! :) We were announced, for the second time, as "Mr. and Mrs. Setia" and took our seats. We forewent the bridal party intros and speeches, as well as the first dances, in favor of my parents giving their speeches so we could start the dinner service.

I chose a Miami-esque vibe, with family-style seating for 20, to provide a more intimate, all-inclusive feel (which also helped keep any family issues to a minimum). All of our linens, centerpieces, chair decor, entryway crystal columns, fairy light wall, and red carpet were provided by C.C.'s Linen Plus. Our programmed up-lighting, custom projector, music, and laser lights (for our dancing portion) were provided by DJ Will Gralley.

Our guests dined on a wedge salad, followed by their choice of short rib, chicken, or gluten-free vegetable pasta. They were also served their choice of white or red Barbersville wine, as well as a glass of champagne for the toast. (Yes, there was also an open bar.) For the third course, we cut into a custom-designed four-tier, three-flavored cake, courtesy of award-winning Pastry Chef Jason Reaves and his team! Never have I been to a wedding were people were disappointed there wasn't leftover anything!

For entertainment, our guests were treated to a six-minute Bollywood performance by two Rhythmaya Dancers (celebrating my father-in-law and his family's heritage), followed by an all-out nightclub experience, which included custom LED foam sticks and plenty of neon accessories. Throughout the evening, guests could also take advantage of the Photo Mirror, also courtesy of C.C.'s Linen Plus, which they did in droves!

At 11:30pm, the house lights came on, and it was announced that everyone was invited to join us at the reserved fire pits for gourmet s'mores. It was such a fun experience to see everyone in their evening gowns and tuxedos, roasting marshmallows.

A few hours later (seriously... I think we got back to our room at 2:30am and had to be up at 6am for an 9am flight), once we were on our flight to Hawaii, we agreed that we wouldn't have done a thing differently, that it was the people we chose to invite and the little details that made the big difference. In our opinion, the tone set through the music and lighting, as well as the creative differences that set us apart from the traditional, are what brought it to life.

We are forever grateful to the entire staff at Salamander Resort, Sarah Obenour at Etc. Coordinators, as well as all of the vendors that made this entire experience amazing!