89 years of expert advice and inspiration, for every couple.
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Faux Berry Garland
Butterflies, bumblebees, and more hot air balloons helped bring the duo's vision to life.
Kristy Hawley and Brian Schratz had their first date on March 1, 2020, just two weeks before the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the two of them started dating during the lockdown, their relationship progressed very quickly—so much so that they got engaged the following year.
For their first Valentine’s Day as an engaged couple, Brian took Kristy to The Inn at Little Washington in Washington, Virginia. During their romantic stay, the venue quickly stole the couple’s hearts, so the duo decided it would be the perfect place to tie the knot. “We fell in love with the story of the inn, the whimsical dining experience, and this lovely town at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains,” the pair says. The country escape also has a three-star Michelin restaurant and a charming feel that helped sweeten the deal.
From discussing their menu with the on-site chef to executing their vision with Grit & Grace, the wedding planning process was an overall enjoyable experience for Kristy and Brian. However, due to their jam-packed schedules—Kristy was a trauma surgery fellow and Brian was the lead engineer that supported Japan’s mission to Mars’ two moons—finding the time needed to plan their celebration was a challenge. But they managed to pull it off: On May 20, 2023, Kristy and Brian hosted their Parisian-inspired, carnival-themed wedding.
Read on to pore over the details and photos, captured by Perry Vaile Photography.
For their big day, the bride and groom envisioned a “Parisian carnival in the Virginia countryside,” brimming with butterflies, bumblebees, and hot air balloons. To set the tone, the duo embedded these motifs into their wedding invitation suite. They also used their stationery to introduce their color palette: emerald green (the color of the mountainous landscape and the bride’s birthstone) and hot pink (Kristy’s favorite color).
Before the big day, Kristy visited Boston for her best friend’s wedding shower. Since the bride didn’t have much free time to shop for wedding dresses, given her demanding job, her best friend took her to a nearby bridal salon, Flair Boston, after the event. While Kristy was there, an off-the-shoulder A-line gown featuring floral embroidery and a ruched bodice, designed by Blush by Francesca Avila, caught her eye. “The draped bishop sleeves with the ivory floral burnout organza were unique and whimsical,” she describes. “I imagined this springtime dress fitting perfectly into the idyllic Virginia countryside.”
On her wedding day, she decked out her romantic ensemble with pearl-studded accessories, including heart-shaped sunglasses by Lele Sadoughi, white leather boots by Freya Rose, and a cathedral-length Allison Webb veil. Other gemstones also made an appearance in her bridal jewelry collection and added a sentimental touch to her wardrobe, like a pair of drop earrings with a flower-shaped diamond and a pear-shaped emerald from her mother and a diamond tennis bracelet from her late father.
Since emerald green was an important emblem at the wedding, Kritsy made sure to incorporate a pop of the hue into her makeup look via emerald green eyeliner. She also embraced her signature lip with Chanel’s Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue Ultrawear Lip Color in strawberry red. Barreling curls, accented with a crystal pin, helped channel her desired “fairy-tale character” look.
Kristy’s bouquet of brightly-hued peonies, ranunculus, and roses weren’t just visually striking, but they also honored her late father: The assortment featured his favorite color, cobalt blue, and a charm that contained a photo of him.
For his look, Brian donned a custom tuxedo with satin lapels and a matching bow tie. The groom also included a nod to Kristy’s late father by wearing his watch. He accentuated his outfit with a vibrant boutonnière, which matched his bride’s bouquet.
Emerald green was a natural choice for the bridal party’s attire, figure-hugging gowns with ruffled cap sleeves from Mac Duggal. “I wanted the bridesmaids to effortlessly blend in with the beautiful lush green landscape, so their beautiful faces and bouquets would be the centerpieces,” Kristy explains. Meanwhile, the groomsmen stuck with a classic black tuxedo.
Kristy and Brian shared a first look in the garden behind the inn’s restaurant before taking a dreamy ride on a hot air balloon. “We felt like we were on top of the world on our wedding day when we took a ride up in the hot air balloon together,” the couple reminisces. “Looking out over the vast countryside made us feel like we could tackle anything in this beautiful world together.”
One of the reasons why the bride and groom decided to transcend the sky in this special aircraft was to keep the memories of Kristy’s late father alive—the last family trip she took when her father was still alive was to an international hot air balloon festival.
The couple found other ways to integrate this symbol into their affair: Guests’ seating assignments were attached to miniature hot air balloons, which floated above an elevated surface—emerald green, of course—stamped with the message, “Fly away with us.”
Clusters of colorful flowers along the aisle and a brightly-hued floral arch framed the lush green mountain backdrop. “We focused on pinks and cobalt blue as a nod to the late father of the bride, along with tertiary colors of sunshine yellow peonies that made the blues and pinks pop,” they mention.
Kristy’s niece kicked off the ceremony by tossing petals as she walked down the aisle. For her attire, she sported a tulle dress, tied with a dark green sash, and a flower crown.
When the time came for the bride to make her big entrance, she started her descent solo before meeting the groom halfway. “As Kristy’s father passed the previous fall, we struggled with who to walk Kristy down the aisle,” the couple shares. “We decided that having Brian walk Kristy down the aisle was appropriate as she has found strength and courage knowing he is always by her side.” During this special moment, a string quartet played “Canon in D” by Johann Pachelbel.
The duo took part in a Catholic ceremony, complete with traditional vows. After the service, “God Only Knows” by the Beach Boys led the newlyweds on to the next phase of festivities.
Right after the ceremony, a downpour happened, but once the rain let up, the sky turned into a beautiful medley of pink, purple, and gold tones. “We had the opportunity to leave the reception alone and walk along the misty fields in the idyllic Virginia countryside,” the couple recalls.
The reception took place in a tented structure, complete with patterned flooring, emerald green piping, and chandeliers illuminated with Edison bulbs.
Inside of the tent, each table showcased an eclectic array of “queen bee-themed” decorations. Vivacious floral arrangements interspersed with black and white taper candles—both striped and checkered—lined the center of floral-printed tablecloths. For place settings, the couple called on black and white striped napkins with gold bumblebee napkins holders, chargers stamped with a medley of butterflies, and gold and green flatware. “We wanted to emote a Parisian carnival with layers, textures, and details that could be appreciated at all angles,” the couple says.
Since the inn is known for its gourmet cuisine, the menu was a huge priority for Kristy and Brian. “It was important to share an intimate dining experience with our closest friends and family,” the couple mentions. “Preparing a delicious meal is one of the fine arts in our opinion, and we were excited to share the dining experience at The Inn at Little Washington with our guests.”
The two of them selected multiple courses, each made with seasonal ingredients and paired with a complementary wine. The lineup consisted of mint soup, caviar with sweet crab and cucumber rillette, pheasant with champagne cabbage, grilled king lamb chop on a bed of dijon lentils, a cheese course from a rolling cow cart, and cheesecake garnished with poached pears. Before the last course, the couple read the vows that they had written to one another aloud.
After the reception, the newlyweds and their guests continued the celebration at a celestial-themed after-party. “Brian works in the space industry, so we thought we would celebrate our marriage with an ‘out of this world’ party, complete with a dancing robot alien on stilts, astronauts, men in black, and aliens from all over the galaxy,” the couple explains.
To fuel their friends and family for the late-night affair, the couple made sure to stock their after-party with snacks, like sliders and French fries with celestial-inspired packaging.
For the final celebration of the evening, Kristy changed into a mini ruffled tulle dress, an ideal choice for dancing. From their hot air balloon ride to their full-course dinner, so many important moments and details wouldn’t have been possible without the couple’s vendors. “Find a core team of planners, photographers, and videographers that you can really connect with and share similar styles with,” the couple recommends. “Trust your team to help make your wedding as unique and personal as possible.”
Ceremony Venue The Inn at Little Washington
Reception Venue Patty O’s Cafe & Bakery
Planning & Design Grit & Grace
Officiant Monsignor Richard Hilgartner of St. Joseph Parish
Bridal Gown Designer Blush by Francesca Avila
Bride’s Sunglasses Lele Sadoughi
Bride’s Shoes Freya Rose
Hair MAB Hair & Makeup Artistry
Makeup MAB Hair & Makeup Artistry
Rehearsal Dinner Attire Double D Ranch
Second Bridal Gown Monique Lhuillier
Mother of the Bride’s Dress Lucian Matis
Groomsmen’s Attire The Black Tux
Engagement Ring Smyth Jewelers
Wedding Bands Smyth Jewelers
Floral Design Sophie Felts Floral Design
Music String Poets; Riverside Lights of East Coast Entertainment
Catering The Inn at Little Washington
Rentals Something Vintage Rentals + Design; Maison De Carine
Custom Flooring Sugarplum Tent Company
LED Dancing Robot Ultra Mix Events
Favors The Inn at Little Washington
Accommodations The Inn at Little Washington
An Old Hollywood-Themed Wedding in the Palm Springs Desert
This Couple Tied the Knot in Their Alma Mater's Chapel—Before Dancing the Night Way at Their Tented Reception
A Picnic-Inspired Wedding in a Wildflower Field in Vietnam
Over 3,000 Roses Were Used to Decorate This Pacific Northwest Wedding in the Woods
Not Even a Rain Storm Could Stop This Couple from Throwing Their Garden Party Wedding in Charleston
This Wedding in the English Countryside Was Inspired by “Bridgerton” and Infused With Yoruba Traditions
Jewel Tones Made This Fashion-Forward New York Wedding So Luxe
A Beloved Paris Restaurant Was the Inspiration Behind This Colorful Wedding in Washington, D.C.
35 Stunning Chuppahs from Jewish Weddings
A Vintage Elegant Wedding in the Virginia Countryside
This Couple Returned to the Spanish Region Where They First Met for a Relaxed, Elegant Outdoor Wedding
A Whimsical Garden Wedding With a Burning Man-Themed After-Party
70 Engagement Photo Ideas from Real Couples
A Backyard Wedding at the Bride's Family Home in the Garden District of New Orleans
A Bright and Bold Wedding With a Ferris Wheel in Virginia
Santa Christmas Tree A "Bridgerton"-Inspired Garden Was the Backdrop for This Moody Connecticut Wedding