When we pictured our wedding celebration, we knew we wanted something different.
(My blog post explaining how we came up with this whole idea is coming soon!)
The Group: Family
Day 1: Travel Day + Welcome Toast
My brother Dan and his family made the trip from upstate New York, from a little town called Cazenovia. Matt’s brother Bob’s family took two flights from Tennessee before being scooped up from the airport by Matt’s parents. Matt’s Aunt Judy arrived a week earlier from Australia. We were so grateful to have more than just one day to spend together, especially knowing the effort everyone made to be there.
To make Mongeau House feel welcoming, I printed out photos for each guest, adding a personal note on the back to thank them for the role they’ve played in my life. The photos were taped to bedroom doors so guests could find their rooms and get settled in. Matt and I also wrote notes for our own parents and each other's.
After exploring our amazing lake houses, Matt and I picked up a catered meal we had pre-ordered from Vito’s on Lake Anna. The menu was Penne Vito, Chicken Alfredo, Lasagna, Caesar Salad, and House Salad - simple enough to set out buffet-style while everyone mingled.
The Culps arrived at Mongeau House, and we made one big circle in the kitchen - about 25 of us. Matt and I took a moment to thank everyone for being there. We acknowledged the time off work, the time and cost of travel, and the coordination it took for everyone to be part of our week. Then, we went around the circle and had each person introduce themselves. This was something Matt and I felt strongly about, because we’ve been to weddings where, by the end of the night, we couldn't even tell you who the mother of the bride was. Or you’ll have the groom’s parents come up and say, “oh, are you friends with our son?” We didn’t want that. These people are so important to us, and we wanted to make sure everyone felt seen and introduced, and had a chance to connect. What followed were some truly heartfelt words that made our hearts so full.
Cheers to love!
The rest of the night was spent eating, drinking, and playing a round of Jeopardy - wedding couple edition - so everyone could get to know us a bit better!
Day 2: Lake Day + Ceremony
I knew I didn’t want to start the day in a chair at 7 a.m. getting hair and makeup done, only to follow a packed schedule until 10p. Instead, we kept it relaxed - breakfast at the house with eggs, sausage, bagels, fruit, yogurt, and coffee, followed by changing into swimsuits. Thank you to my brother Dan and SIL Sarah, for buying all the breakfast items we used t/o the trip.
Matt and I had rented a boat for part of the week, so we all climbed aboard and cruised over to the Culp House for a full lake day.
We floated on inflatables, played floating beer pong, and hung out on their amazing double-decker boathouse. Some people tried the kayaks and paddle boards, while others enjoyed the boat throughout the day for tubing and sightseeing rides around the lake.
We’re lucky to have two brothers who live on lakes and several family members with boating licenses who helped shuttle everyone around. Huge thanks to them!
Matt's mom coordinated lunch with make-your-own sliders. Thankful to various family members for jumping in to help get everything set up.
Being on the boat and tubing was one of my favorite things about this trip. So many laughs with crazy wipeouts. I love that I could spend all day with Matt and family/friends, making memories by the lake, instead of "hiding" from him so he didn't see me before walking down the aisle. It made me much more relaxed. We realize not many ppl can say that a few hours before getting married, they were getting flipped off a tube in the lake hahah
Around 4 p.m., we headed back to the Mongeau House. Matt and I got showered and dressed. Having a friend who can do your hair and makeup? Absolutely amazing. Morgan, I thank you immensely. I literally just sat there while she came up with a look on the fly - Matt handed us 2 glasses of wine, and Morgs blasted the tunes as she worked. Dream.
Our photographer, Joanna, pulled up to the house - and it was pouring. She waited out the worst of it, then came inside to meet with us. She showed up with a full game plan and zero hesitation about adventuring out into the rain to get some incredible, moody shots by the lake. She had us darting in and out between showers so we didn’t get completely drenched - but honestly, I would’ve stood in a downpour for her. The photos were that cool. I even had an extra dress ready to go, just in case. Matt was such a good sport too - kicking off our shoes and walking around barefoot, carrying an umbrella.
Highly recommend Joanna! I actually found her by searching location-tagged photos on Instagram - she’s Virginia-based, and I instantly loved her style. I sent her a DM, and the rest was history. She’s incredibly kind, down-to-earth, reasonably priced, and made us feel completely at ease. We’re absolutely in love with the photos she captured!
Joanna captured shots all around the property. We ditched the original boat photo idea because of the rain and instead drove over to the Culp House to finish up photos and gather everyone on the boathouse for the ceremony. We appreciate everyone making the trek down there in the rain, as we loved being able to keep the outdoor steamy vibe going. It also cleared off again just in time for group photos.
Matt and I wrote and read our own vows. We exchanged rings. Than a kiss. Matt’s dad shared some incredibly endearing words, and his mom read a beautiful poem she had written for the occasion. Morgan read a collective speech from our friends, sharing their love and reflections. All the feels. All the love.
After their photos, my best friend Rachel and her husband Kenny did us a huge favor by going ahead to meet the evening caterer and make sure everything was ready for dinner.
We ordered from Butch's BBQ and had a spread of pulled pork, BBQ chicken pieces, baked beans, mac and cheese, coleslaw, buns, and sauce. It was exactly what we needed.
The rest of the night was filled with drinks, ping-pong, shuffleboard, good tunes, cousin-led fitness challenges, and a few hilarious rounds of Heads Up on the boathouse.
Day 3: By the Water + Sunset Bonfire
Breakfast was low-key again - everyone waking up on their own time. We gathered on the back porch, sipping coffee and chatting about the previous day’s festivities.
A few early risers - Matt’s uncle, brother, and nephews - headed out on the boat for some morning fishing.
This was our house-swap day: the Culps came over to the Mongeau House for the day. Meals were casual and easy - lunch was leftover pasta from night one, and dinner was round two of the BBQ spread from Butch’s. Honestly, it hit the spot. My SIL Sarah, and mom Joanne, coordinated it all with getting things in the oven and on the stove. The setup and cleanup were very much appreciated.
The day was spent out on the boat, kayaking, paddle boarding, floating in the lake, and lounging on the dock. Nothing scheduled, just soaking in time together.
As the sun began to set, Matt’s dad made his signature margaritas, and Matt made his signature New York Sour.
We played lawn games outside, along with more ping-pong and foosball.
We snapped some pics by the lake as a gorgeous sunset was happening, and my niece and nephews went for an evening dip.
We ended the night with s’mores around the bonfire as the moon came up.
After breakfast, we all pitched in to tidy up and say our goodbyes.
Matt and I lingered a bit longer, soaking in the last few moments. We grabbed some aerial shots of the lake and took one final look out over the water before heading out.
We had an amazing time - everything we could’ve hoped for and more. What made it truly special was our people. They brought the love, the laughter, and the energy.
Matt and I feel so incredibly lucky to have these people in our lives. Our wedding at Lake Anna will forever be one of our favorite memories.
One of the most special surprises came after the week was over—my best friend Audrey had been quietly capturing videos throughout the entire celebration. She put together the most incredible wedding montage as a gift for Matt and me. It perfectly captured the energy, love, and little moments that made the week so unforgettable. We’ll treasure it forever. Not to mention her photos that I've included in my blog post, that put my iPhone photos to shame lol
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