On a beautiful summer afternoon in Keswick, VA, Sean & Tom were married on the Oval Lawn of Keswick Hall, before enjoying the best dinner party of their lives in the Marigold Restaurant by Jean-Georges.
How They Chose a Keswick Hall Wedding
Living just a few minutes down the road from Keswick Hall, Marigold was a place Sean & Tom already felt comfortable and at home. One of their favorite ways to connect with their family and friends is over a delicious, lingering meal. It felt natural to incorporate this into their wedding day by curating an elevated dinner party vibe. Their evening at Marigold absolutely delivered!
Ceremony on the Oval Lawn
Every decision that Sean & Tom made throughout the planning process was grounded in how they wanted their wedding day to feel – full of warmth, connection, joy, and lightness. They achieved this atmosphere by setting the tone of the day with a sweet ceremony, full of emotion and connection to their loved ones. In addition to a reading by a family member and their exchange of vows, one of Sean’s cousins sang a beautiful rendition “Let it Be” during their ceremony in memory of grandparents who have passed away.
One of my favorite touches of the day was the collection of advice cards during the ceremony. At their rehearsal dinner, Sean and Tom distributed cards for guests to write down advice for their future together. During the ceremony, guests placed the completed cards in a basket at the altar. It was a meaningful and untraditional way to include all of their guests in their ceremony.
The vision for their design was summer in the French Riviera, with lots of beautiful baskets full of lush flowers. We wanted to keep everything light, but still sophisticated and upscale. Sean’s mom has an incredible basket collection, so we were able to use those as vessels for their beautiful florals. The floral baskets served as a subtle addition to the beautiful Oval Lawn at Keswick Hall, which served as the backdrop of Sean & Tom’s ceremony. We even were able to repurpose these baskets into the Marigold Restaurant to bring the same softness into their reception.
Dinner and Dancing at the Marigold Restaurant
The star of the evening was their dinner. After cocktail hour on the veranda overlooking the golf course, guests made their way into Marigold. With salads & sides made with fresh, local ingredients and served family style, guests sat amongst their friends & family, sharing stories and laughter over a delicious meal. Guests enjoyed a long, unrushed, gorgeous dinner until dancing began.
To guide guests to their table, Sean & Tom opted for a unique twist on the traditional escort card. Hand-calligraphed tags with each guest’s name and table number were tied to raffia fans, which were distributed at the start of the ceremony. It was a practical and beautiful way to help their guests withstand the summer heat, while also guiding them to their table when it came time for dinner to begin.
To curate the intimate dinner party feel, Sean & Tom also took the time to write handwritten and personalized notes to each guest that also served as their place card. This was one of my favorite touches and was something their guests absolutely loved. The reactions to the sweet words of gratitude and love Sean & Tom had written were beautiful to observe. As their guests found their seats and read the handwritten notes, the love and joy in the room was palpable.
Table numbers served double duty as small guest books. Each table featured a small white book with the table number displayed in beautiful calligraphy on the front. Guests were able to sign the guest books at their leisure during dinner. Having guest books placed on each table gave guests ample time to write a heartfelt note that Sean & Tom will cherish for years to come.
Sean & Tom’s wedding was also our first with a caricaturist! Set up on the veranda as dinner came to a close, the caricaturist provided a fun and unique activity for guests looking to take a break from dancing. The caricatures doubled as one-of-a-kind favors and were such a hit that Sean and Tom extended his services to the after-party at Crawford’s in Keswick Hall.
After Party at Crawford’s
As the after party began, guests strolled over to Crawford’s for cocktails and coffee. In a nod to Sean and Tom’s history in New York City, coffee was served in classic NYC bodega-style cups, adding a playful, nostalgic touch.
It’s easy to get caught up in the details and lose sight of your priorities when planning a wedding, but Sean and Tom stayed true to theirs. Their wedding day was a perfect example of the beauty that comes from grounding every decision in what matters most to you. The result was a day filled with warmth, connection, and joy – exactly as they had dreamed.
What They Have To Say
“Most wedding planners can get the details and timeline right but few can get your wedding day to feel the exact way you dreamed. Delaney can do both and does it absolutely perfectly. From the first conversation I had with Delaney, she focused on that feeling we wanted our guests to experience and that the two of us wanted to have on our wedding day. Every interaction with Delaney and decision we made was grounded in that feeling. She pulled it off exquisitely and with such admirable poise and grace. I would recommend Delaney to any bride who wants a planner who is equal parts brilliantly organized and genuinely invested in your day being the best of your life. Thank you, Delaney!!”
– Sean & Tom
Sean & Tom’s Keswick Hall Wedding Vendor Team
Venue, Catering | Keswick Hall
Photography | Kate Thompson Weddings
Wedding Management | Events by Delaney
Band | JTucker & The Krewe
Florals | Tourterelle Floral
Caricaturist | About Faces Entertainment
Makeup | Captivating Complexion
Hair | Ave 42 Salon
Invitations | Little House Shop
Calligraphy | Kathy Hughes Calligraphy
Transportation | Ablemarle Limousine
