Julia and Jake kissed their way into forever at Lesner Inn on May 25, 2019 overlooking the Lynnhaven River. The day was perfected with light blues, cake to feed the guests as they danced the night away, and love that filled Lesner Hall to the brim. After their big day was over, we asked Julia and Jake to take a second a reminisce on their relationship and their wedding day – take a look at their love story below!

How, when, & where did you meet?

Jake and I met back in 2013 while both attending Longwood University.  

Tell us your engagement story? When did it happen?

Jake had been stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina for the past two years, so Jake’s mom and I went down to visit him for the weekend in September 2018.  The three of us met up for lunch in Fayetteville Downtown Historic District, which is a beautiful area with lots of cute boutiques and shops.  After lunch, Jake and I were walking around downtown sightseeing, and Jake got down on one knee and popped the question.  In a funny twist of events, Jake had the ring box in his back pocket during lunch so he had to pry it open with a pocket knife because it was bent…his execution wasn’t as smooth as he had hoped for but I still said yes.

What made you pick Lesner Inn as your wedding venue?

Jake and I were both immediately drawn to the Lesner Inn.  Aside from how beautiful the venue is, my favorite aspect of the Lesner Inn is the Sunset Deck.  I’ve always known that I wanted to get married by the water, but I loved that the Sunset Deck offered shade and protection from inclement weather, as well as phenomenal scenery to serve as the backdrop for us as we said our vows.

What additional vendors did you choose for your wedding day, and why?

We didn’t really exceed the standard choice of vendors most couples choose.  For obvious reasons, we hired a florist, photographers, DJ, hair/makeup artists, and a bakery.  (Fairfield Flowers, Blushwood Studio Photography, DJ Barry McKay, Darling & Dapper, and Plaza Bakery).  These vendors were all chosen based off of online reviews and exceptional conversations/meetings with each respective vendor.  One decision that we made during the planning process was hiring The Happy Hour Hostess to assist us with the “day of” coordinating—which turned out to be one of the best decisions we made.

What décor & other design aspects of your wedding were most important to you?

I was a pretty carefree bride so I didn’t dwell on decor as much as much as I probably should have.  But it meant a lot that the majority of my decor/signs were made by both my mother-in-law and my maid-of-honor, who are two of the most creative souls I’ve ever known.

What was your vision for your wedding day?

I guess the words I’d use to describe my vision for the wedding day would be rustic, relaxed, and classic.

What unique details did you add to your wedding?

The only really unique detail we added was that the handkerchief in Jake’s pocket was a piece of his grandmother’s own bridal gown—which she had Jake’s names stitched into.  As a side note, I had to put my dog (who had been the love of my life for 15 years) down days before our wedding, so it meant a lot to see that my mother-in-law had added his picture to the memorial table.

What were you most excited for your wedding day?

It’s hard to pinpoint just one aspect that I was excited for…it’s cliche but I think I was most excited to walk down the aisle with my father and to see Jake standing at the arch.

How did you handle the stress of wedding planning? Were there any major hiccups along the way?

There weren’t any major hiccups during the planning process, but again, our coordinators definitely helped ensure things ran smoothly for us.  As far as handling the stress of planning, I self medicated with Cabernet Sauvignon and copious amounts of cardio to keep the stress at bay.

Do you have any advice for couples who are planning their weddings now?

My biggest recommendation to anyone planning a wedding is to utilize a coordinator—Krystinia and Carrie were a crutch for us in the weeks leading up to the wedding and of course the day of. 

A wedding coordinator is something we suggest as well! They help take so much off your plate the weeks leading up to the wedding and the day of! We actually offer day-of coordination services as well, just ask us about it! And, of course, a huge thank you to Julia and Jake for sharing their reflection of their wedding day!

Vendors:

Day-of Coordinator: Happy Hour Hostess

Photographer: Blushwood Studios

Florist: Fairfield Flowers

DJ: Barry McKay

Hair/MUA: Darling and Dapper 

Bakery: Plaza Bakery 

Bridal Gown: BHLDN