Great Marsh Estate: Jonathan & Megan

Love

A Dream December Wedding at Great Marsh Estate

My final wedding of 2023 (and last wedding before Baby Eko makes his or her appearance, any day now!) was a dream. The vendor team, the venue, the couple, the December weather… I truly couldn’t think of a better way to wrap up this year of weddings!!!

A Last-Minute Venue Change to Great Marsh

Megan & Jonathan have been through the ringer with venue changes and ups and downs with wedding planning over the last year+, so seeing their day come together SO beautifully made me so grateful they persevered to have such a phenomenal party. They had to change from another location to Great Marsh in the ninth hour, and since this gorgeous estate is one of my favorite Virginia venues, I was so glad when the stressful dust settled with their other venue and we found ourselves celebrating their wedding on Great Marsh’s grounds!! Surrounded by their sweet family and friends (including their beyond adorable two year old son!), Megan & Jonathan partied with much joy last month, carried through their day by an amazing vendor team:


Coordination: @eventstudio, https://eventstudiova.com/
Venue: @great.marsh, https://greatmarshestate.com/
Hair-makeup: @makeupbyivettb, https://mubyivett.com/
Dress: @jbbridals, https://www.jbbridals.com/
Florals: @eventstudio, https://eventstudiova.com/
DJ: @blacktiedmv, https://www.musicdj.com/
Catering: @serendipitycateringvirginia, https://serendipityvirginia.com/
Desserts: @signaturesweetsbyamanda, https://www.signaturesweetsbyamanda.com/

The Wedding Day in Photos

Enjoy the snapshots of their day, and drop them some love in the comments!! 🙂

Tiered tulle wedding gown with a beaded bodice hanging on cream cabinet doors beside a window

Bride's layered gown hangs by a sunlit window with a red and pink bouquet on a chair nearby
Sparkling silver ankle boots displayed on a chair with a knit shawl tied with satin ribbon

Bridal bouquet of red roses, anemones, and pink blooms resting on a white cane-back chair

Red and blush wedding bouquet in a glass jar set on an antique armchair

Black and white flat lay of the wedding invitation suite with jewelry, rings, and roses
Navy invitation for the Great Marsh Estate wedding topped with rings and rose gold jewelry

Wedding rings tucked into a white rose atop the navy invitation suite

Crystal-embellished bridal booties laid flat beside a blush rose and green leaves

Mini bottle of prosecco, floral perfume, and a deep purple bloom arranged on white linens

Bridesmaid leaps onto the bed as the bride and friends laugh in matching pajamas

Bride in pale pink pajamas laughing with her bridesmaids gathered on the bed

Bride and five bridesmaids in cozy pajamas pose together on the bed while getting ready

Bridal party kicks up their feet to show custom socks with their wedding titles

Bridesmaids wrap their arms around the smiling bride seated at the edge of the bed

Groom lines up a shot on the pool table while a friend looks on

Groom and friends share drinks and laughs by the fireplace during a game of pool

Groom and two groomsmen laughing around the pool table in a relaxed lounge
Groom holds the couple's toddler son, who grins behind his pacifier

A woman in a sparkly black dress smiles while strapping on her heels
Seated in an armchair, a guest in black sequins buckles her shoe before the celebration

Red spray rose boutonniere pinned to the groom's navy tuxedo lapel

Black and white moment as a groomsman straightens the groom's tie by the window

Groom adjusts his ivory tie in a green-walled room with a painted ceiling

Emotional black and white embrace between the bride and a loved one beside a full-length mirror

Bride glances over her shoulder as a loved one in teal fastens her beaded gown

A woman in a teal gown helps the bride with final adjustments near the window

Smiling bride fastens a sparkling earring, her hair swept into a low updo
Helping hands clasp a delicate crystal bracelet around the bride's wrist

Bride laughs with a loved one wearing emerald sequins beside the canopy bed

A friend in green sequins spritzes perfume as the bride leans in laughing

Bride laughs candidly in her ruffled tulle gown beside a full-length mirror

Bride in beaded gown smiling over her shoulder beside a full-length mirror reflecting her dress

Bride looking down at her layered tulle skirt in front of a tall mirror while getting ready

Bridesmaid in emerald sequin gown kneeling to help the seated bride put on her shoes
Bridesmaid slips a sparkly ankle boot onto the bride's foot as she laughs on the bed

Bride standing in a soft pink and cream bedroom, laughing in her layered tulle gown

Bridesmaids in emerald green gowns gathered around the bride, helping with her dress
Bride smiling as five bridesmaids in dark green sequin dresses fluff her white skirt

Black and white overhead view of the bride carrying her bouquet down a curved staircase

Bride descending the staircase with her bouquet, photographed in black and white

Groom in navy tuxedo with red rose boutonniere checking his watch before the first look

Bride waiting on the mansion steps behind the groom before their first look at Great Marsh Estate

Bride holding her red bouquet on the steps as the groom waits to turn around

Groom grinning in the foreground while the bride approaches for their first look

Bride rests a hand on the groom's shoulder to begin their first look on the estate steps
Groom turning to see the bride with her red peony bouquet for the first time

Bride and groom laughing together after their first look outside the historic mansion

Couple holding hands in front of Great Marsh Estate's grand entrance and sweeping staircases

Groom smiling up at the bride as she reaches out during their first look outdoors

Couple holding hands on the stone patio beneath bare winter trees at Great Marsh Estate

Close-up of the bride's sparkly heeled boot peeking out beside the groom's polished shoes

Bride in a knit shawl touching noses with the groom on the front steps of the estate

Bride wearing a cozy knit wrap leaning in close to the groom by the mansion steps
Smiling bride and groom cheek to cheek in front of the wreath-decorated front door

Couple posing together at the base of the curved staircases outside Great Marsh Estate

Bride carrying her flowing skirt as she and the groom stroll and smile at each other

Black and white candid of the couple walking the winter grounds, bride holding her bouquet

Bride in a knit shawl posing with her red bouquet on the mansion's front steps

Bride glancing down at her red and pink bouquet on the steps of Great Marsh Estate
Bride looking over her shoulder while holding her bouquet on the wide stone steps

Close view of the bride smiling down at her red peony and anemone bouquet

Laughing bride holding her lush red, pink, and white winter bouquet close to the camera

Bride facing the mansion's dark double doors, her tulle train fanned across the steps

Bride in a knit shawl laughing on the steps outside Great Marsh Estate, holding a red bouquet

Groomsman in sunglasses waits with hands clasped as the wedding party gathers on the mansion steps
Black and white candid of groomsmen in tuxedos gathered outside before the ceremony

Wedding party in emerald gowns and tuxedos lined up with the couple outside Great Marsh Estate

Wedding party gathered beneath the grand portico of Great Marsh Estate on a winter afternoon

Black and white portrait of the wedding party laughing together on the mansion steps

Bride and groom kiss in front of their cheering wedding party, red bouquet in hand

Wedding party smiles behind the couple as they share a kiss during portraits

Bridesmaids and groomsmen cheer around the couple outside the estate's front door

Friends raise bouquets and cheer as the bride and groom kiss during wedding party portraits

Groomsmen leap in the air behind the laughing couple and their wedding party

Groom with his groomsmen and a groomswoman in black posing on the estate lawn

Groom in a dark tuxedo and ivory vest smiling with hands in his pockets on the lawn

Groom seated on the mansion steps with his wedding party posed formally around him

Groomsmen and groomswoman laughing as they walk a path lined with bare winter trees

Groom's side of the wedding party sharing a laugh mid-stride on the estate grounds

Groomsmen make playful hand gestures at the camera while walking together outdoors

Bride and bridesmaids in emerald sequin gowns smiling closely together with winter bouquets

Bridesmaids beam at the bride as she laughs during portraits outside the mansion

Close-up of the bride's red anemone bouquet framed by bridesmaids' champagne pashminas

Bride and bridesmaids wrapped in cream shawls beneath sweeping bare branches at dusk
Full-length portrait of the bride with five bridesmaids holding bouquets under winter trees

Bridesmaids in pashminas laughing warmly around the bride at golden hour

Bride surrounded by her bridesmaids in green gowns and shawls on the winter grounds

Rows of white chairs and a stone aisle set for the outdoor ceremony at Great Marsh Estate

Lush red, pink, and white ceremony arrangement in a gold urn on a stone pedestal

Front facade of Great Marsh Estate framed by bare trees and manicured hedges in December

Officiant in a black suit holding a leather folio beside ceremony florals before guests arrive

Guests stand as the bride and her escort appear at the mansion's columned portico

Black and white view of the bride descending the portico steps with her bouquet

Bride escorted down the walkway toward the ceremony beneath the estate's grand columns

Black and white moment of the groom waiting at the altar with his groomsmen

Wide view of guests seated for an outdoor terrace ceremony overlooking open fields at Great Marsh Estate

Bride and groom exchange vows at a balustrade altar with red florals and bridesmaids in green

Groom raises a fist in celebration during the ceremony as the bride and officiant laugh

Bride slides a ring onto the groom's finger while the officiant holds an open book

Newlyweds share a kiss beside a gold urn of red and blush flowers on the stone railing

Black and white of five bridesmaids in sequined gowns smiling with bouquets during the ceremony

Beaming couple walks back up the stone aisle arm in arm after the ceremony

Bride and groom pause for a kiss in the aisle as seated guests look on

Black and white portrait of the couple framed by the columned portico of the Great Marsh Estate manor

Couple poses on the mansion steps, bride in a knit wrap holding a red bouquet

Detail of the bride's red and blush bouquet beside the groom's tuxedo and champagne vest
Groom reaches back for the bride's hand as they descend the steps, her train trailing

Overhead view of the groom guiding the bride down wide stairs onto a patterned brick path
Couple strolls hand in hand down the paver aisle past empty white ceremony chairs

Newlyweds walk toward the balustrade overlooking Great Marsh Estate's sweeping winter fields

Groom wraps his arms around the bride from behind, her wedding ring and bracelet in focus

Bride and groom hold hands walking a garden path between tall hedges at golden hour

Smiling couple walks hand in hand, the groom's red boutonniere bright against his navy tuxedo

Black and white of the couple kissing on a garden path framed by dark hedges

Bride in a knit shawl breathes in her bouquet of red peonies and blush roses

Bride seen from behind in a cozy wrap, ruffled train spread across the stone patio

Reception time!! AMAZING work by Serendipity Catering, Event Studio, and Signature Sweets by Amanda!

Sweetheart table centerpiece of burgundy, red, and blush blooms flanked by candle lanterns

Barn reception hall at Great Marsh Estate with timber beams, string lights, and a candle chandelier
Head table dressed in green velvet with lush centerpieces, lanterns, and candlelit florals below

Dinner menu card propped beside a pillar candle in a glass lantern, string lights glowing behind

Long farmhouse table set with salads, vintage green goblets, gold lanterns, and a rose garland

Round guest tables with cross-back chairs and red floral centerpieces in the white barn hall

Calligraphy table number card nestled among red roses and white blooms on emerald velvet

Petite white wedding cake decorated with red icing flowers and pinecones atop a wooden barrel

Dessert table filled with tiered stands of mini cheesecakes, cupcakes, and pecan tarts

Close look at the dessert display with cupcakes, cheesecake shooters, pecan tarts, and a framed photo

Framed dessert menu listing mini cupcakes and shooters, chocolate-topped cupcakes lined up below

Raspberry parfait shooters on a gold stand beside a framed engagement photo at the dessert table
Tiered stands of raspberry parfaits and blueberry-topped creme brulee jars line the dessert table

Gold-framed welcome sign for Megan and Jonathan dated 9 December 2023 in Bealeton, Virginia

Party time!!!

Guests wrap arms around each other laughing on the crowded reception dance floor

The bride laughs on the dance floor holding a canned drink, captured in black and white

Guest in an emerald sequin dress reaches out to a toddler taking steps at the reception
A couple shares a dance, the man holding a beer, beneath the barn's exposed beams

Guests throw their hands up dancing beneath string lights, shown in black and white

Bride cuddles a blond toddler with a pacifier while guests mingle around them

Guests break out dance moves in the timber-framed reception barn at Great Marsh Estate

A couple cradles a small child between them on the dance floor, in black and white

Kelley (@eventstudiova) was the best!!!! SUCH a delight to work with and a phenomenal florist+planner woman of many talents!

Attendant gathers glowing foam wands from a woven basket to hand out to guests
Smiling woman carries an armful of foam glow sticks beside a full basket, black and white

Kevin (Black Tie Entertainment) also kept the party going all night!!!

The DJ gives a thumbs up while groomsmen wave foam glow sticks behind the booth

An older couple grins at each other while dancing amid the reception crowd

Guests laugh and sing along in the hallway with drinks and foam wands in hand

A guest in a green sweater dances center stage as friends arch foam wands overhead

Groomsman in a tuxedo shares a laugh with a guest in teal beside candlelit tables

Three friends squeeze together laughing mid-party, drinks in hand, on the dance floor

Groomsmen in vests chat over drinks while the bride mingles in the background

Friends pose together waving foam glow wands during the Great Marsh Estate reception

Bride sits on the floor in her gown, toddler in her lap, waving foam wands

Guests pile glowing foam sticks around the bride and a little boy seated on her gown

Seen from above, the bride hugs the toddler amid a rainbow of glowing foam wands

Guests raise glowing foam batons overhead beneath the barn's string lights and timber trusses

Guests in sparkling dresses dance with foam glow sticks as the party winds up

A seated guest snaps a phone picture while a man playfully lifts her foot at a candlelit table

An older guest in lace cradles a sleeping toddler, captured in black and white

The bride raises her arm stepping through barn doors for the send-off, in black and white

Groom carries a toddler as the bride waves goodbye through a tunnel of light-up wands

The couple kisses amid guests waving light-up wands, a toddler in the groom's arms
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