Tara + Gabe decided fairly early on in the planning process that there was really only one rule that they had to follow: above all else, they wanted to make their wedding an honest reflection of the two of them. So, when Tara explained, We didn't want to inject anything into this day that wouldn't ordinarily be a part of our lives, we could totally understand where she was coming from.

With a big focus on LOVE - their love! - and lots of romantic details in shades of garnet + blush, executed beautifully by Sarah Park Events, this wedding seemed like a perfect thing to share right before V-Day weekend. We're beyond glad that Nessa K. was able to capture all the sweetness on camera for all eyes to see!

Gosh, what a pretty teardrop wedding ring! And that layered wedding dress ( BHLDN of course) is a total winner! Tara has the look of elegant-romance down pat.

Tara: Being a wedding professional myself, I had never expected to be so nervous on our wedding day. My heart was pounding, and I kept thinking I was going to be sick. I was nervous about the weather, about the cake, about having to recite my vows in front of others...All of this was running through my mind as I half-stumbled down a cobblestone street, headed to our "first look." At the end of the street, his back turned towards me, stood the man I was about to marry in about an hour, and I was sure I was going to throw up on him. I tapped him on the shoulder and he turned around and looked at me, and we were both shaking. As soon as we held each other, I was calm. I could breathe again. Not only was that the most memorable moment of the day, but one of the most memorable moments of my life. The rest of the day was mostly a happy blur.

Gabe: The most memorable moment of the wedding to me was the first look. I was standing in the middle of the street, facing the water. I was nervous, a little anxious, and definitely excited that I was about to see my bride for the first time. While I was waiting, I was trying to keep my mind occupied by practicing my vows. Then the big moment came that I was tapped on the shoulder and turned around. I couldn't stop smiling from ear to ear. I knew at that moment, I was the luckiest guy in the world!!

We love a gal who can really rock a rich, red bouquet! That beauty was constructed by Wild Green Yonder.

Processional: Walk the Line - Johnny Cash

Recessional: Ring Of Fire - Johnny Cash

First Dance: A Woman Like You - Lee Brice

What a fun LOVE backdrop!

Tara says, From the get-go, we knew we wanted our wedding to be intimate and heartfelt. Ideally, we would have had a dinner party wedding in our own home, but we also happened to be moving to a new home just days before our wedding, so we knew that wasn't a realistic goal. The next best thing was to recreate the mood, aesthetic and feel of an at-home dinner party, somewhere else. Everything from our love of chilly evenings in our garden, to our giant farm table and ghost chairs, to our eclectic-glam taste in decor, was taken into account when envisioning the overall look and feel of the day. We wanted to feel at home, and we wanted our guests to feel at home.

And a perfect winter naked cake by Bittersweet Catering, who supplied all the yummy eats as well!

Ignore trends and be true to yourself. Pick concepts and details that are meaningful to you as a couple, and not based on what you've been told a wedding is "supposed to be." Pick your dream team of vendors- this makes ALL the difference. Even if you want to be involved in every single aspect of the wedding planning process, at some point, you will have to relinquish control to your vendors, and it is important that when you do so, you do it with a sense of confidence and trust in their abilities. At the end of the day, for all my planning and controlling, had it not been for our fantastic team of vendors, everything would have fallen apart.

photography: Nessa K. // venue: The Athenaeum Alexandria, Virginia // event design + planning: Sarah Park Events // florals: Wild Green Yonder // wedding dress: BHLDN // hairpieces: Portobello // hair + makeup: Alison Harper & Co // groom suit: J.Crew // paper goods: Invitation suite by Elli, Calligraphy by Just Write Studios // catering + cake: Bittersweet Catering // vintage rentals: Rusty Love Vintage Rentals // rentals: Select Event Group // officiant: Doug McMillan // music: Drymill Road // hand warmers: Ginderellas // marquee letters: MarqueeMomma