This relationship all started with a sweet, beautiful, cheerful Kindergarten teacher and a “cute IT man” (as Anna said in her love story) who came in one day to help with classroom technology issues. As technology issues arose over the course of the months, she had only hoped he would pop back in to help … And if he had known she had interest, I wonder if he would have thought she was messing with the system just for that chance of seeing him again. 😉 HAHA! #genius. That was not the case becauseeeee she ended up finding him a year later on an online dating app when she decided to give online dating a try! Truly fate at an appropriate time and place!!!
Knowing how much Anna loves Disney and Paris, Rob proposed in Epcot in front of the Eiffel Tower! How would she dare say no to that?! Of course, she said a BIG YES! 🙂 Since then, they knew that they had to integrate Disney into their wedding day plans. Before their wedding day, though, we met last fall for their engagement session!! I remember walking around Alexandria spotting “Princess Street” and “Prince Street.” Gosh, how perfect did that work with their Disney wedding theme?! #meanttobe I’m just glad we didn’t have a bunch of planes flying overtop of their wedding venue so I didn’t have to yell directions to them from afar, like their engagement session! 😉 Haha! Their engagement session was quite the experience, but gosh, it was only the start of really getting to see the joy and happiness they share in their relationship!
Fast forward to last Friday … The big day!!!!! TWO YEARS in the making!!!! I don’t want to spoil it too much before you see the photos, but you have to check out their fairytale day below!!! 🙂 It’s a magical one filled with an abundance of happiness!!! Plus, if you love Disney, you will LOVE this wedding as much as I do!
Rob & Anna’s Wedding Day
And so the day began on a sunny Friday afternoon at Heritage Hunt Country Club in Gainesville, Virginia. Rob was with his guys casually hanging out while prepping to see his bride at the ceremony.
While Rob was upstairs prepping, Anna and the girls were downstairs helping Anna get into her dress! It was FINALLY time to get ready for the “ball!” Her bridesmaids looked beautiful in their baby blue colored dresses! Worked well with the theme, and let’s not even get started on Anna’s Sottero & Midgley dress!!! Talk about perfect for this Disney inspired theme!
While Anna was finishing up with hair and makeup, we took some time to catch up and chat. In the midst of talking and admiring her dress, I asked if this was one of the Disney gowns. I didn’t realize it, but Anna said that was absolutely her intention to purchase one of the “Disney wedding gowns,” however, the designer, Alfred Angelo, went bankrupt right before she scheduled an appointment. Thank goodness she didn’t purchase one of the dresses!!! I didn’t realize that there are so many risks planning a wedding two years out! This dress was meant to be because Anna looked like a fairytale princess!!!
Anna’s prince charming was upstairs finishing his touches while Anna was making sure the shoe was just right. 🙂
Gosh, Anna!! You’re so photogenic without even knowing it!!!! She finally got to see the entire look together in the mirror for the first time. 🙂 STUNNING.
I love this time of the day when everything starts to finally feel REAL. Beautiful mother-daughter moment! <3
Speaking of beautiful! HOLY MOLY, Rob! You found yourself a beauty!!!!
Oh, and Anna!!! There’s your “Cute IT Man!!!” Goodness, I love how happy you two are! … Always happy!!! <3
Awe, and another sweet moment between Rob and his mother. <3 After this photo was taken, she apologized a few times for tearing up in front of the camera. I reassured her that these genuine emotions hold so much value in a photograph!!! Rob will hold on to this photo forever always remembering the special bond he has with her. <3 That is worth the tears.
And speaking of tears!!!! I’m not sure if it was the music … the anticipation … the entrance … BUT, I had tears flowing down my face when Anna and her father walked through the doors. It was perfect because Rob, the guests and I were all anticipating her arrival, and when we looked above, the doors opened and she walked across the balcony and down the stairs as if it was a scene from one of the fairytale movies!
Custom made signs lined up the aisleway with different Disney love songs! Even the ceremony script had Disney quotes and pings intertwined!
And you may kiss your Princess and Prince Charming!
SO happy!!!! <3 <3 <3
Talk about a photogenic group!!! This was so much fun!!! We had to scramble to hop on golf carts and make these photos work at the gazebo, but it was definitely worth it! 🙂
At one point setting up, I turned around and saw Anna’s brother helping her fluff her gown and veil. So sweet!!! Always looking out for his sis!
Haven’t I told you? They are always smiling!!! LOVE IT! <3
Be still my heart!!!! <3
Before I dive into this HILARIOUS story, I have to tell you all that this was a true Disney wedding… Anna was all the princesses that day because she had all sorts of animals come out during our portrait time. It was unreal! Even the coordinators pointed it out! Haha! We had squirrels, birds, and even a snapping turtle?
YES.
As we were driving in our golf carts along the road, the coordinators and I noticed a bunch of cars swerving around a big turtle in the middle of the road. I grabbed my camera, took a photo of the snapping turtle in the road, and then we pointed Rob and Anna to see it. The coordinator and I drove to a tree for the next destination for their portraits, but Rob and Anna weren’t behind us. We looked back at the road from afar and saw Rob running across the road with the snapping turtle in his hands!!! I whipped out my camera as fast as possible … Didn’t have the correct settings or the correct lens to take this photo perfectly, but I HAD to snap a photo of this super unexpected moment because it totally caught us off guard! I couldn’t stop laughing! Rob totally surprised me, as well as that guy getting out of his red truck, but I gotta love a couple who cares for the environment!! HAHA! He said the turtle tried extending his neck around to bite him … Thank goodness that didn’t happen! Rob, you weren’t just Anna’s Prince Charming that day, you were also her Superhero for saving that turtle’s life and his mission to cross the street! Haha!
LOVEEEE! Rob and Anna, you must print this right photo below!!!
If you thought they did a great job integrating the Disney theme so far, just wait till you see the details below!!!
“I’ve been looking for you since I heard my first fairytale.”
Their signature drinks looked SO yummy!!!
One of my favorite details! They dressed the napkins to be dresses and suits! Doesn’t it look like a dress?! So unique and classy! See a photo below of what the suit looks like! 🙂 Have you seen such a classy Disney themed wedding like this before?!
The bow ties were a surprise from the venue coordinators! What a cute idea that tied in perfectly!!!!
“Ohana means family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.” – Lilo and Stitch
Now. THIS cake is worth checking out!!! It’s the Little Mermaid castle cake! Amazing.
“I wanna be where the people are. I wanna see wanna see them dancing.” – The Little Mermaid
Speaking of dancing, it was time to start the PARTY!!!
Naturally, as the spotlight aimed in their direction, the doors opened and they came in doing the “Princess wave!” Ha! I love their sense of humor!!!
Even the parent dances were Disney songs, like “You’ll be in my Heart” from Tarzan!
This was cute! When the longest married couple had to say a few words of wisdom to the newlyweds, they said to have a great sense of humor. CHECK! They definitely do with those smiles on their faces 24/7! <3
When I was hanging out with the bridal party earlier that day, they told me when Anna gets on the dance floor, she LOVES to spin and twirl. I anticipated that to happen during the reception, and her dress was the perfect twirling dress. 🙂
They provided late-night bites for their guests to enjoy — Hamburgers and BBQ sandwiches! Great way to refuel before the clock struck midnight!
And they lived happily ever after!!! <3
Congratulations!!!!
Thank you, Rob and Anna, for having me last Friday!!! It really was a dreamy, romantic fairytale day photographing your celebration! I’m so glad my business brought your joyful light into my life!!! I could not be more excited for you and how perfect this day turned out! CONGRATS!
Thanks to the vendors for making this day perfect for Rob and Anna!!!
Venue: Heritage Hunt Golf and Country Club
Venue Coordinator: Kara Birkenfeld
Photography: Stephanie Messick Photography with Krysta Norman Photography
Hair and Makeup: Amazing Occasions, Trisha Uraje
Caterer: Heritage Hunt Golf and Country Club
Florist: Shelley’s Floral Enterprise
Baker: Cupcakes by Krissy
DJ: Hesson Entertainment, Mike Hesson
Videography: Scene Clearly Films, Darryl Johnson
Stationery: Vistaprint
Dress Designer: Sottero & Midgley, Amelie // Purchased: Cherry Blossom Bridal
Menswear: Men’s Wearhouse
Officiant: Phillip Campbell
Photo Booth: DMV Photo Booth
Transportation: First Student Charter Bus Rental
Wedding Painter: Len Garon
Disney signs: Mary Williams
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