A fairy tale wedding in southern Virginia with warm weather, an elegant estate, a precious pup, and a few sprinkles. Follow me into this true royal fairy tale at Stoneleigh Estate that will stand the test of time.

ISABEL WANG + SCOTT WENKSTERN

OF MARTINSVILLE, VA

MAY 20, 2023

This royal level wedding was nothing short of perfection in the details. The invitation showcases the beautiful Henry County venue to leave guests desiring the wedding day even more than they were before. The grounds of Stoneleigh Estate were PHENOMENAL with the perfect blend of colors. Isabel loves purple, which you will be able to see throughout the detail photographs. The purple flowers that this historical Virginia estate boasts seemed to be made for this wedding! Each room in the estate holds a different history, a different look. And the view from the gardens to the back of Stoneleigh Estate literally look as if they are from a movie. Stoneleigh Estate surely made my photography dreams come true!

As I said before, the rooms make for endless possibilities inside this Tudor mansion. Bride and grooms have their choice of a more modern room all the way to a historical feel. Being built in the 1920s, you can imagine the character this home brings. And the windows are just perfect for natural lighting. I am definitely an off camera flash kind of girl, but you just couldn’t deny this opportunity in Stoneleigh Estate. The yellow music room with the bay window truly showcased the bridal gown and the bride’s beautiful hairpiece glistening in her purple locks. Isabel & Scott are definitely model material! They both gleamed that King & Queen glow!

I could literally show you a thousand photographs from this wedding that I think the world deserves to see, but to hold everyone’s attention span I will keep it short & sweet despite my desire to blast! Isabel & Scott opted fora first look down past the garden terrace by the trees. The large oak tree* (*I believe, could be wrong!) in the background of the first couple of photographs shows that this was just the perfect choice for such a moment. We proceeded back into the garden terrace for vow readings and a few photographs along the pebble stone path. We finished up in front of the Estate, showcasing the glorious home with their personal getaway car.

The beautiful ceremony took place in front of the Koi pond with chairs along both sides for guests. The guests and bridal party entered into the space underneath an archway with lavender linens draped over, providing that extra elegance. Despite the first look, Scott was very tear filled throughout the ceremony. As I have said in previous posts, I have seen many first looks where the groom still is emotional during the ceremony! There is just something about the ceremony that makes it all just seem surreal! Isabel’s father walked her down the aisle and was so sweet. Her father and mother flew in from China, being sure not to miss their daughter’s huge milestone. And I just LOVED the guests each having bits of flowers to toss to the bride & groom as they left the ceremony. Environment friendly, colorful, and just that extra detail, once again.

Everyone deserves a moment to rest and rejuvenate on their wedding day. Wedding days are long and tiring on the body. And not to mention emotionally charged (in a good way!). Taking 10 minutes or so before your reception to just chill, really taking in the reality of “Hey, we just got married!”, spending a moment with your pup. These are all things that can recharge you for the reception. Fortunately with a first look, this gives you that extra time without eating in to your cocktail or reception hours.

Lastly, the night ended with a bang! The rain started but was so light & didn’t last! The reception was under a large white tent on one of the many acres at Stoneleigh Estate, still in view of the home. The lighting set a mood for the night, the food was delicious, and the band was amazing! Their exit was SUPER unique and special with lanterns into the sky (like Rapunzel!). This was such a fun adventure for all the guests to top off what was already an unforgettable day.