For many reasons, we decided early on that the location of our wedding would be kept a secret until we were ready for the big reveal. My reasoning has always been that I wanted to spend time relishing in the moment and enjoying each facet of the wedding planning period without answering questions about the venue. Chris's thoughts were much more practical as he thought that I was bound to change my mind at least once or twice along the way so why get people stuck on something we wouldn't eventually do.
Of course, my mind did change several times since February 2010 as we toyed with the idea of doing a destination wedding in Anguila and also scoped out some local venues since we could never have a wedding without the key figures of our lives present. Last fall, my friend hosted a group of us at her parents' vineyard. They were such gracious hosts that they schlepped us around Virginia wine country to get a taste of what each winery had to offer. One of our stops was Veritas Vineyard & Winery, a place that I had been to many times before, but never during wedding season. When we arrived there was a party setting up for their ceremony later that evening and the ballroom was already set with their beautiful tablescapes and welcome table. I knew immediately that I needed (yes needed!) to be wed there.
The peacefulness of Blue Ridge Mountains and its rolling hills leading up to the vineyard were perfectly, mind numbingly gorgeous. It is also a short drive from Charlottesville, a location that I had the luxury of calling my home for four years during undergrad. My life has been intertwined with Mr. Jefferson, his university, and the city ever since so it was only fitting that I return with my fiance in tow so that he could see and experience all that I had that weekend.
The following summer, I had my opportunity. We arrived in Charlottesville on a beautiful, sunny day giddy about being together at our wedding venue for the very first time. After a delightful lunch at Bodo's Bagels, a Charlottesville landmark, we were ready to go to Afton. Marcus instantly enjoyed the views and commented on how stunningly the mountainous backdrop added to the serenity of the drive. Once we arrived and stood out on the lawn gazing out at the surroundings and taking in the fresh air we knew we wanted to share this with our friends and family. There was no other place we would rather be married than right there at Veritas.
Aside from the beauty of Veritas Vineyard & Winery, wine has always had its special place in our relationship. For us, wine means sharing and, as its slogan reads "in vino veritas" or "in wine truth." Our best conversations with friends have been held over a simple glass of Pinot Noir or Viognier. This inspired Marcus and I to hold wine tastings at our apartment for a small group of friends that grew from 15 to 30 people over the course of three years. Aptly named "The Bailey-Burton Wine Tasting Extravaganza" by my maid of honor, Makena, we dined on delicious foods and sipped varieties of wine to distinguish their unique qualities that set them apart from each other. Our wine tastings allowed us to share one of our mutual loves, but unfortunately they were put off for three years while I was in law school. Marcus would always comment that the Saturday after Valentines' Day, the permanent date of our event, was on hold for 2013. In the meantime, however, we are excited to be having our wedding at a vineyard where we can share our love for wine with our family and friends once again.
