Ruth and Adam met at church five years ago, but didn’t have their first date until two years later. They clearly hit it off. As Ruth put it, “... and the rest is history!” Adam was born and raised in Winchester while Ruth moved to the area from Charlotte, NC to attend grad school.
When their search began for a wedding venue, they found a gem in Danville. “We thought Warrenwood Manor was absolutely beautiful! Their team was really helpful and fun to work with,” Ruth explained. “We couldn’t have dreamed of a better venue!”
On the way to their ceremony, the couple spotted a beautiful rainbow in the sky. The forecast called for rain in the afternoon, but it stayed only misty and overcast until the late-night guests were leaving -- and then it came a torrential downpour! “We were thankful it held out to the very end!”
The wedding ceremony was full of heartfelt moments. Ruth’s father passed away when she was young. Her aunt and uncle were able to come all the way from Ireland to walk her down the aisle, a special moment for each of them. Two of the couple’s friends sang a duet and the bride and groom presented their mothers with roses to honor them for everything they’ve done for their children. Ruth is a direct support professional for clients with intellectual disabilities; their ring bearer was someone very special to them who is a person with Autism. They were proud to have him as a part of their day.
The couple loved the personal details of the day’s décor. “Jeannie Gorrell blew us away with the bouquets and floral designs! They are still to this day the most beautiful wedding bouquets we’ve ever seen,” Ruth said. “Friends of ours decorated the tables with picture frames, candles, bouquets and lanterns.” The peaches, oranges and golds in their palette were the perfect accents to their October wedding date.
The food was just as important to the couple. “Adam’s aunt (of Suzie’s Sweets) made our beautiful cake and cupcakes, which were delicious. LaDonna’s Catering is amazing, as well! She goes above and beyond with all kinds of thoughtful touches for your special day,” Ruth reflected.
The couple has this advice for others planning their weddings: “Splurge on the things that are really important to both of you and cut out anything that you don’t really need or can live without. Make sure you have a really good DJ! Ours was excellent, and our friends still talk about what a great job he did.”
One thing the couple might’ve changed if they had it to do all over again? The day of the week. “We probably would have chosen a Saturday instead of a Sunday, as our guests would have been able to stay later,” Ruth said. “We also would have invited more people: we tried to be really careful with our guest list numbers, and as it turned out, we could have invited more of our friends and loved ones.”
For Adam and Ruth, the most important moments of their big day centered around sharing the moment with all their loved ones, who traveled from near and far to be there for them. From getting ready with the wedding party to dancing to the Backstreet Boys at the reception, each moment was about celebrating a love to last a lifetime.
Photo | Liz Terry Photography
Venue | Warrenwood Manor
Flowers | Jeannie Gorrell Floral Design
Wedding Planner | Lisa Manning
Catering | LaDonna’s Catering
Cake | Suzie’s Sweets
Bridal Gown | Relix Bridal
Grooms Attire | Macy’s
Rentals + Decor | Warrenwood Manor
Hair + Makeup | Chelsea Neal
Stationery | Zazzle
Bartender | Kaycee Davis
DJ | Stephen Manning
