Visit Martha Stewart Weddings Real Weddings Wedding Styles Seasonal Weddings Spring Weddings This Wedding in Virginia Was Inspired by Chinoiserie and Tortoise Shell Patterns By Marilyn Oliveira Marilyn Oliveira Marilyn is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Editorial Guidelines Published on August 11, 2021 Trending Videos Close this video player Liz Fogarty Photography Though two pandemic-related postponements did affect Christie Yerks and Chris Luhrs' wedding plans, the pair was in the best possible hands—those of the bride herself. The co-owner of Grit & Grace, a premier Washington, D.C., event-planning firm, Christie had her own expertise to lean on—plus the insight of her business partner, Laura Ritchie, event producer Brittany Hagaman, and a team she already had established relationships with. "We were so lucky to be able to work with all of the most amazing vendors that are truly more like our friends," says Christie. "The feeling of being taken care of by everyone we hired made the stress of rescheduling and replanning so much lighter. We also felt like each and every vendor put extra love and care into their work that day and we were so thankful for that." Thankfully, the couple's guest count for their original affair was exactly the same for their rescheduled event, clocking in at 75 loved ones. "I was incredibly touched that so many people made the time and effort to be with us and celebrate our wedding," says the bride. Choosing a venue proved to be Christie's biggest challenge, as she was already extremely familiar with many of the event properties in the area. "Every time I would take Chris venue hunting, nothing felt quite right because they all felt like 'work,'" Christie explains. Fleetwood Farm Winery in Leesburg, Virginia, was not only a place she had never seen before—it also impressed Chris so much, that he walked in and said, "This is where we are getting married." The idyllic estate offered picturesque outdoor areas for the ceremony and cocktail hour, as well as a handsome indoor space for the reception. As for the vibe the couple wished to create? Christie reports they "wanted to focus on family and the feeling of an epic dinner party with dancing for our guests," with "family" including the couple's three-year-old son. "We were so excited for Grant to be with us on our wedding day," she enthuses. "He was our ring bearer and he was super excited. He called his tuxedo his 'costume' and told everyone he was a superhero. In the end, he walked down the aisle with Chris' brother (the best man) and my sister (the matron of honor), and demanded they swing him by the arms. It was such a great, lighthearted start to the ceremony." The entire event was a smashing success, and Christie thoroughly enjoyed trading places with her clients for the day. "It was so fun being on the bride's side!" she says. "I feel so strongly that weddings are the absolute best ways to make memories, so I felt like I was holding onto every moment as tight as I could." And she was more than willing to share her added insight as a bride with others: "Never forget the real focus of the wedding: you and your partner committing yourselves to each other surrounded by those that you love," she advises. "If you keep coming back to that, it doesn't matter how many changes, postponements, or crazy things happen—you will have made incredible memories." 01 of 23 Original Character Liz Fogarty Photography After the pair's wedding was rescheduled, Christie and Chris distributed a digital version of their paper suite, which was a beautiful, letterpressed collection with chinoiserie accents and a custom monogram by Emily Baird Design. 02 of 23 Delicate Flower Liz Fogarty Photography Christie's graceful Mac Duggal wedding dress featured a sheer tulle overlay dotted with hundreds of floral appliqués and gleaming pearls. "I loved how soft the flowers looked, and the fact that I could add sleeves made it all my own," she says of the customized look. "It made me feel like I was glowing from within!" Her sister's veil served as her "something borrowed" and added the perfect finishing touch. Wedding Planners Share Their All-Time Favorite "Something Old" Ideas 03 of 23 Beautiful Bride Liz Fogarty Photography The bride's great-grandmother's pearl earrings were one of her only accessories. "They have always been special to me—they are so beautiful," says Christie. 04 of 23 Blush Flats Liz Fogarty Photography Pale pink flats from BHLDN referenced her gown's blush underlay. 05 of 23 Bright Blooms Liz Fogarty Photography Sweet Root Village composed Christie's soft, delicate bouquet of warm-hued and cream blooms, which included sweet pea, garden roses, butterfly ranunculus, jasmine vine, and novelty ranunculus. A Comprehensive Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes 06 of 23 Right on the Dot Liz Fogarty Photography The coat and tie of Chris' tuxedo featured white pin-dots as a nod to the pearls on Christie's dress. "He looked amazing!" says the bride. 07 of 23 A Family Affair Liz Fogarty Photography A formally-dressed Grant beamed between his parents before the ceremony. "He told us we looked beautiful and shouted, 'Family hug!'" shares Christie. "It was the perfect 'first look' for the three of us." 08 of 23 Carte Blanche Liz Fogarty Photography The bride gave her attendants free rein over their attire, telling them to choose any dress they felt amazing in. "It did not matter to me at all if they matched, I just wanted them to feel great!" she explains. 09 of 23 A Little Grit, a Lot of Grace Liz Fogarty Photography Christie planned and designed the wedding with the help of her Grit & Grace co-owner, Laura Ritchie, right, and event producer Brittany Hagaman. 10 of 23 The Ground Up Liz Fogarty Photography Stalks of white delphiniums were used to create a lovely installation at the ceremony site. "We wanted to feel surrounded with beauty and love, and the flowers 'growing' up out of the ground around us were breathtaking," says Christie. Benches formed a square around the altar, offering every guest an uninterrupted view of the vow exchange. 14 Beautiful Ways to Elevate Your Ceremony Aisle 11 of 23 Unveiled Liz Fogarty Photography The groom got emotional as his bride walked down the aisle, surprising him with "All I Ask of You" from Phantom of the Opera, one of his all-time favorite songs. 12 of 23 Together Forever Liz Fogarty Photography "We wrote our own vows with funny, meaningful promises to each other, like giving five-second hugs every day and raising our son in a home filled with love and laughter," says the bride. Laura oversaw the proceedings, a choice Christie says was the easiest decision she made throughout the planning process: "We knew that we wanted someone who loved us, who knew our story, and who would put a personal spin on a traditional ceremony," says the bride. "Laura was the perfect person to mix in both the humor and seriousness of the day." 13 of 23 Freshly Minted Liz Fogarty Photography The pair attended nearly all of the cocktail hour, walking into the outdoor space hand in hand. "We couldn't wait to give everyone hugs!" says the bride. 14 of 23 In Good Taste Liz Fogarty Photography Attendees were offered an assortment of passed appetizers, which paired nicely with the wines the pair selected for the evening; they provided tasting sheets, emblazoned with the event's signature imagery and colorways, that included fun facts about the varietals. Unique Passed Appetizers Guaranteed to Elevate Your Cocktail Hour 15 of 23 In the Cards Liz Fogarty Photography Christie envisioned a seating station that nodded to Chris' passion for the guitar. So, pick-shaped accents in a tortoise-shell pattern were adhered to each escort card and layered over thin twine, which was reminiscent of a guitar string. 16 of 23 Chinoiserie Liz Fogarty Photography Antique wallpaper was installed on panels behind the table, creating a British-inspired backdrop that referenced the bride's love for all things Jane Austen. Insanely Creative Escort Cards and Seating Displays 17 of 23 To the Table Liz Fogarty Photography Custom linens echoed the aesthetic of the chinoiserie escort display, while cane-backed, velvet-cushioned chairs offered an Old-English vibe. 18 of 23 In Full Bloom Liz Fogarty Photography Sweet arrangements of fringed tulips, butterfly ranunculus, and garden roses were placed down the center of each table; fresh greenery was woven into the wicker lanterns overhead. 19 of 23 Nuanced Settings Liz Fogarty Photography Multiple elements came together to compose striking settings, including tortoise-shell flatware, gilded plates and chargers, exquisite crystal, and menus emblazoned with the couple's monogram. The Prettiest Place Settings from Real Celebrations 20 of 23 Crowd Pleaser Liz Fogarty Photography Chris and Christie wowed the crowd with their expert dance moves as they took their first married spin to "Joy of My Life" by Chris Stapleton. "The lyrics perfectly describe how we feel about each other and about Grant," says the bride. "There is so much joy now that we are together and living life as a family." 21 of 23 Baby Cakes Liz Fogarty Photography Come dessert, each attendee was treated to their own miniature cake topped with a fresh flower, courtesy of Fluffy Thoughts. "We went with a candy bar crunch flavor, which had marble cake filled with homemade salted caramel, dark chocolate ganache, Italian meringue buttercream, and crispy chocolate crunchies," Christie describes. 26 Single-Serving Wedding Cakes That Are Beyond Adorable 22 of 23 Extra-Special Exit Liz Fogarty Photography Loved ones lined the path out of the reception to give the wedding couple a sparkling send-off. Before the pair left for the evening, however, they shared one last song with the crowd: "The last song was 'Friends in Low Places,' and all of our guests locked arms and created a circle around us," reflects Christie. "We will never forget how amazing and fun that was." 23 of 23 Sources Liz Fogarty Photography Photography, Liz Fogarty PhotographyVenue, Fleetwood Farm WineryWedding Planning and Event Design, Grit & GraceFlowers, Sweet Root VillageInvitations and Day-of Paper Goods, Emily Baird DesignOfficiant, Laura RitchieBride's Gown, Mac DuggalShoes, BHLDNHair and Makeup, Claudine FayBridesmaids' Dresses, BHLDNMenswear, The Black TuxEngagement Ring and Bride's Wedding Band, Brilliant EarthMusic, Premier DJ ServicesCatering, Design CuisineCake, Fluffy ThoughtsRentals, DC Rental; Something VintageTransportation, Limos Inc. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit