Richmond, VA

There are wedding days that feel beautiful from beginning to end, and then there are wedding days where the little personal touches make the entire celebration feel unmistakably like the couple. Abbey and Cory’s summer wedding at Seven Springs was both.

Set against the historic property and lush grounds of Seven Springs in Virginia, their June wedding was filled with soft blues and whites, meaningful details, plenty of personality, and one very well-dressed four-legged member of the family.

And before Cory could even see his bride, he had to survive one particularly memorable first look.

Getting Ready for Their Seven Springs Wedding

The dusty blue and white palette started in the smallest details. Their invitation suite featured delicate blue floral artwork, while Abbey’s blue velvet ring box added another soft touch to the flat lay. White and blue flowers carried the color story into the bouquets, ceremony design, and reception tables.

Abbey got ready surrounded by her people before stepping into her gown from Ava Laurenne. Her long veil added a classic, romantic element that looked especially beautiful against the historic character and greenery around Seven Springs. Meanwhile, Cory and his groomsmen wore light gray suits with pale blue accents that tied naturally into the rest of the design.

These early hours also gave us time to photograph the details Abbey specifically wanted remembered. The stationery, rings, florals, grounds, and reception decor all became part of the larger story rather than getting lost once the celebration began.

A First Look Cory Definitely Wasn’t Expecting

Before Abbey and Cory had their actual first look, their wedding party had another idea.

Cory turned around expecting to see his bride and instead found one of his groomsmen dressed as Lord Farquaad.

Yes, Lord Farquaad.

The full costume, complete with the red cape, hat, and wig, made Cory’s reaction even better. It was one of those moments that had absolutely nothing to do with perfectly posed wedding photos and everything to do with remembering what the day actually felt like.

Those are always some of my favorite moments to photograph.

An Outdoor Ceremony Surrounded by the Virginia Countryside

Abbey and Cory held their ceremony outdoors on the Seven Springs property, surrounded by mature trees and greenery. A geometric wooden arbor framed the ceremony and featured flowing white fabric with soft blue and white florals. The natural wood, delicate flowers, and landscape worked together without overpowering the setting.

Family played an important role throughout the ceremony. Abbey had specifically hoped to preserve photographs with their parents, grandparents, and extended family, and her aunt also served as their officiant. Those relationships were just as important to document as the ceremony itself.

Their dog also had a starring role. Dressed in an adorable blue tuxedo, he arrived in a greenery-decorated wagon and later joined Abbey and Cory for portraits. It was one of those personal touches that instantly made the wedding feel even more like their own.

A Wedding Tradition with a Little Virginia Luck

Abbey and Cory also incorporated the Southern tradition of burying bourbon at Seven Springs before their wedding. According to the tradition, couples bury a bottle of bourbon at their venue in hopes of keeping rain away on the wedding day.

After the ceremony, they dug the bottle back up together.

Traditions like this are such a fun way to add personality to a wedding without making the day feel overly themed. They also create an experience the couple can actually participate in together, which naturally leads to photographs that feel more candid and memorable.

Blue and White Wedding Inspiration at Seven Springs

The design of Abbey and Cory’s wedding felt romantic and cohesive without becoming overly styled. Dusty blue appeared throughout the day, but the couple used different textures and patterns to keep the palette interesting.

The bridesmaids wore a mix of solid dusty blue and blue-and-white patterned dresses, while the groomsmen’s light gray suits kept the overall look soft. White hydrangeas, roses, delicate blue flowers, and greenery brought a garden-inspired quality to the florals.

Inside the reception space, wooden cross-back chairs, white linens, woven chargers, blue napkins, textured blue glassware, candles, and low floral arrangements created an inviting atmosphere. The warmer wood tones of the pavilion balanced the cooler blue palette beautifully.

Instead of making every detail identical, the design felt collected and intentional. That made the overall space feel relaxed enough for the kind of celebration Abbey and Cory wanted.

Cocktail Hour Was Part of the Celebration, Not Just the Waiting Period

Abbey specifically said cocktail hour was important to her, and it makes sense when you look at how much personality they packed into it. She wanted guest interactions, food, drinks, and the overall atmosphere documented instead of treating that portion of the day as filler between the ceremony and reception.

Then there was the goat.

As a fun surprise, a goat came out during cocktail hour so guests could interact with it and take photos. It gave everyone something unexpected to enjoy and created exactly the kind of spontaneous guest reactions Abbey hoped would fill their gallery.

Moments like these are why I love photographing cocktail hour rather than disappearing with the couple for the entire time. Your guests are part of your wedding story too, and some of the funniest, sweetest, and most genuine photographs happen when everyone is simply enjoying themselves.

Wedding Portraits That Still Felt Like Abbey and Cory

Abbey and Cory were clear that they didn’t want photographs that felt unnatural to them. They aren’t a couple that expresses a lot of PDA, so the goal for their portraits wasn’t to force them into poses that suddenly made them look like different people.

Instead, we focused on movement, connection, and enough direction to help them feel comfortable. Their portraits around Seven Springs included walks beneath the trees, quiet moments together, playful movement, and relaxed interactions with their dog.

Later, the evening light gave us another chance to step outside. Abbey’s veil caught the breeze beautifully against the historic brick architecture, while the greenery and soft golden light created a completely different look from the portraits earlier in the day.

This is one of the reasons I love building a little breathing room into wedding timelines. Even ten or fifteen minutes later in the evening can create a second set of portraits with entirely different light while still allowing the couple to spend most of the reception with their guests.

A Seven Springs Wedding Reception Full of Personality

Abbey and Cory were especially excited about cocktail hour and dancing, so the reception was never going to be an afterthought.

They began with their first dance, including a dramatic dip, before the evening opened into the kind of dance floor they had hoped for. Family and friends filled the space, and we focused on the laughter, movement, interactions, and reactions happening around them instead of only photographing the scheduled reception events.

Dinner mattered too. Abbey and Cory planned to greet each table so they could spend intentional time with their guests, while speeches from loved ones gave everyone another chance to celebrate them. Because they wanted their gallery to reflect the people who shared the day with them, those candid reception photographs were a priority from the beginning.

Even the decor included personal touches. Dog-bone treats offered another nod to their dog, while the food, drinks, florals, and table details helped complete the guest experience Abbey wanted documented.

By the time the dance floor opened up, the formal part of the day had given way to exactly what Abbey and Cory wanted most: spending time with the people they love and seeing everyone genuinely enjoy the celebration.

Planning a Seven Springs Wedding in Virginia?

A Seven Springs wedding gives couples the opportunity to create a day that feels romantic without being overly formal. Between the historic character, open grounds, outdoor ceremony options, portrait locations, and reception space, there is enough variety to let each part of the celebration feel distinct while keeping the day in one place.

If you’re planning a wedding at Seven Springs or another Richmond-area venue, I’d love to help document it in a way that feels true to you. From creating a thoughtful photography timeline and planning must-have family photos to capturing the completely unexpected moments no one could put on a shot list, the goal is to make sure your gallery brings you back to how your wedding actually felt.

Vendor Team

Venue: Seven Springs | @sevenspringsva
Photography: EmmiClaire Photography
Planning + Coordination: Marylee Marmer Events | @maryleemarmerevents
Hair + Makeup: BRIDEface Richmond | @bridefacerva
Florals: Marylee Marmer Events | @maryleemarmerevents
Cake + Dessert: Pearl’s Bake Shoppe | @pearlsbakeshoppe
Catering: EAT Catering | @eatcateringrva
Wedding Dress: Ava Laurenne Bride | @avalaurennebride
DJ: M2M Events | @m2mweddings
Invitations + Stationery: Minted | @minted