Glowing Gold and White Wedding with Historical Charm in Richmond, Virginia

In this article

Quick Facts:
How they met...
The proposal...
Wedding style...
Wedding shopping experience...
Fond memories...
Advice for engaged couples...
Looking for more wedding inspiration?
Vendors

After a college meet-cute led to nine years of love and adventures, Marion and Geoffrey tied the knot at their gold and white wedding at the historic Hotel John Marshall in Richmond, Virginia!

Marion and Geoffrey first met during a night out at a Wawa on the campus of the College of William & Mary. After striking up a conversation, to their surprise, they discovered they had many of the same interests, from TV shows to music taste, and more.

Their initial meeting blossomed into a whirlwind romance, filled with laughter, intellectual debates, and countless adventures.
– Soni Brown (Love Always Wedding Planning)

During Geoffrey’s spring break from law school in 2022, the couple traveled to North Carolina, where Geoffrey told Marion he had planned a special photo shoot for her birthday. Knowing how camera-shy Geoffrey is, Marion was immediately suspicious of a proposal. However, Geoffrey kept his cool and executed the perfect proposal during their photoshoot in Duke Gardens. Marion blissfully said, “Yes!”.

Marion and Geoffrey’s gold and white wedding glowed with warm golds and radiant white florals and decor, accentuating the historic and regal charm of the venue. They included a violinist during the ceremony and cocktail hour, creating a romantic and sophisticated atmosphere as guests mingled and awaited the beloved bride and groom.

Guests were delighted to discover a talented watercolor artist, Bristles & Design, capturing their joyful expressions during cocktail hour. These unique and cherished keepsakes served as a delightful and unexpected memento of the wedding festivities, offering a lasting reminder of the evening’s magic.
– Soni Brown (Love Always Wedding Planning)

See the glowing details of their gold and white wedding below!

Couple: Marion & Geoffrey
Occupations: Attorneys
Wedding date: October 4, 2024
Wedding location: Hotel John Marshall, John Marshall Ballrooms, Richmond, VA

Quick Facts:

Gifts for bridesmaids and groomsmen: The bridesmaids were given embroidered robes, personalized hangers for their dresses, bridesmaid flip-flops, a golden cup, and a necklace and earring set to wear on the wedding day. Groomsmen were given pocket watches with their names engraved on the back.
Gifts for one another: Geoffrey got a tattoo a week before the wedding of two love birds on a tree with the bride and groom’s respective birthdays on each branch. Geoffrey intends to add to the tree as they grow their family.
Wedding colors: Gold and white.
Ceremony entrance song: “Do For Love” by Snoh Alegra (on violin)
First dance song: “Endless Love” by Luther Vandross and Mariah Carey

How they met…

Marion and Geoffrey met in undergraduate school at the College of William and Mary through mutual friends.

Marion and Geoffrey’s love story began unexpectedly at the Wawa on the College of William & Mary campus in 2015. During their sophomore year, a chance encounter after a night out with friends sparked an immediate connection. They struck up a conversation, discovering shared passions for anime, trashy reality television, and vibing to classic R&B music.
– Soni Brown (Love Always Wedding Planning)

The proposal…

Geoffrey proposed to Marion in the beautiful Duke Gardens in Durham, NC, during his 2022 spring break from law school. He meticulously planned the event, disguising it as a birthday photo shoot for Marion. While Geoffrey hoped for a surprise, Marion’s intuition was sharp. Suspecting his intentions, she bombarded him with questions throughout the day, persistently inquiring about a potential proposal. Marion knew it was highly unusual for Geoffrey to willingly participate in a photo shoot, especially given his generally camera-shy nature. Given her suspicions, Geoffrey’s carefully orchestrated surprise almost backfired. However, the proposal ultimately went off without a hitch, and, to Geoffrey’s great relief, Marion blissfully accepted his offer of marriage.

Our bride looked radiant in a white Pronovias gown and pearled Steve Madden heels while carrying a bouquet filled with white lillies (a nod to her middle name). Her bridesmaids dressed in all black velvet dresses from Bridal Babes; the groomsmen sported black on black Vera Wang suits, and our groom added a pop of gold to his suit vest.
– Soni Brown (Love Always Wedding Planning)

Wedding style…

The wedding attire was chic, elegant, and classy. Attention to detail was essential. The bride wore an ivory fishtail dress with beaded details all over and a cathedral-length veil with lacing on the ends to match the lacing on the dress. The internet was their best friend for finding the accessories. The Groom chose classic attire: a black suit, modern and sleek, accented with a black shirt with a gold vest.

Wedding shopping experience…

Wedding shopping was amazing! The bride made each occurrence a special memory, bringing her mom, sister, and best friend. They visited two boutiques and many wedding expos. The final decision was made after three visits to the selected boutique. Geoffrey’s shopping experience was less eventful, as he and Marion were able to pick the perfect outfit on the first outing.

The wedding was a stunning spectacle of contrasting colors, gold and white. The opulent ballroom shimmered with gold accents, cascading chandeliers, and white floral arrangements. Against this backdrop, guests arrived in a sea of elegant black, creating a striking and sophisticated ambiance.
– Soni Brown (Love Always Wedding Planning)

The gold and white cake decor mimicked the design and architecture in the ballroom and around the hotel bringing the elegant, regal decor from the past into the present.
– Soni Brown (Love Always Wedding Planning)

Fond memories…

“The best memory from our wedding was the first touch. Geoffrey and I had not seen each other all day. We were both excited and nervous about the nuptials, but when we touched, a wave of comfort overcame us, sight unseen. We enjoyed one of our signature, random conversations despite the high energy of the day. This confirmed that we were soulmates, destined to share our lives and accomplish great things together.”

After nine years of cherished memories, Marion and Geoffrey sealed their love with a wedding ceremony, promising to embark on a lifetime of happiness together…
– Soni Brown (Love Always Wedding Planning)

The air in the ballroom was alive with anticipation as guests began to arrive. As they stepped through the doorway, they were immediately captivated by the mesmerizing sounds of a Dr. Violin, whose music filled the room with a sense of elegance and romance…Marion and Geoffrey committed to one another on a raised pedestal stage, beneath a nine foot tall and six foot wide white cherry blossom arch by Glamorous Events.
– Soni Brown (Love Always Wedding Planning)

Advice for engaged couples…

Make sure you stay true to your vision of the wedding. It is good to take on the advice of others; however, it is ultimately your moment to enjoy and shine. We would also 100% suggest hiring a videographer to capture the entire event!

At the reception, there was no shortage of details to admire… Glamorous Events dressed the tables in alternating, over the top cherry blossoms, and bud vases filled with over a hundred white roses. The bridal party sat at a king’s table boasting a four foot high, twelve foot long floral bridge and runner laced with hundreds of blooms… Guests were amazed at the life-size cherry blossom trees that draped over their tables.
– Soni Brown (Love Always Wedding Planning)

We loved planning, designing, and creating a wedding that was romantic, regal, and dripping with opulence. Marion and Geoffrey look forward to honeymooning in Italy and traveling to Japan next year.
– Soni Brown (Love Always Wedding Planning)