I am so excited to share Carli and Matt’s spectacular Mount Ida Farm wedding!! Carli and Matt were married on May 4, 2019 at Mount Ida Farm’s lodge outside of Charlottesville, Virginia, in a beautiful ceremony overlooking the mountains.
Carli and Matt met in Austin, Texas at work when they both began a new job on the same day and in the same department. They soon started carpooling to work, and the rest was history! Carli and Matt both have family here on the east coast, so having their wedding in Charlottesville, Virginia, was perfect. Now these two have a family of pets: their two dogs, Sam and Shiner, their cat, and their bird. Last summer, Carli, Matt, and I met up at Stone Tower Winery in Leesburg, Virginia for their engagement session (you can see pictures from their beautiful engagement session here!). It was simply stunning; Stone Tower Winery is such a beautiful place. But these two also planned their wedding in another absolutely gorgeous place; Mount Ida Farm was such a lovely backdrop to their day. And it was such a great day!
Leading up to Carli and Matt’s wedding was day after day of rain – and a predicted forecast showing thunderstorms on their wedding day! Kelsey (my second shooter and sister), Justin (my husband and Carli and Matt’s videographer – who Carli’s mom’s Carolyn hired as a surprise to the bride and groom!), and I drove to Mount Ida Farm bright and early on Saturday, and although I checked the forecast literally every thirty minutes (if not more!) and it still kept showing rain, the sky stayed rain-free until the evening. Miraculously, on the wedding day it was clear, sunny, bright, and hot! It was the perfect day!
Carli started the day getting ready with her bridal party before everyone headed over to Mount Ida Farm to get ready. After getting ready in the gorgeous bridal suite at Mount Ida Farm, Carli headed to a separate area of Mount Ida Farm for her first look. I am always so excited when couples are ok doing a little travel to get the perfect backdrop, and Carli and Matt had such great ideas. Matt and Carli’s first look was so sweet; they both twirled for each other and couldn’t stop smiling :) And then they got another first look – with their puppies! Carli and Matt included their dogs Sam and Shiner in their wedding, and these two were so excited to see their parents! Justin and I had our three dogs in our wedding, too, and other than getting married, our absolute favorite part of our wedding day was having our dogs walk down the aisle with us. Carli and Matt’s dogs were so happy to be part of the festivities, and they were perfect gentlemen all day. After portraits with Carli, Matt, and their pups, we headed back to the Lodge at Mount Ida Farm for Carli and Matt’s ceremony.
Mount Ida Farm has a ceremony location set against a beautiful mountain range and the setting sun – and it was so, so pretty. Matt came down the aisle, following by the wedding party, with Sam walking with a groomsmen and Shiner walking with a bridesmaid. When Carli came down the aisle, Sam and Shiner looked SO happy to see her (it was adorable!) and Matt could not stop smiling. Carli is a STUNNING bride! These two shared special vows for one another, and then were announced as husband and wife – and they processed down the aisle together while their guests threw celebratory rose petals toward the aisle. It was so pretty!
And then it was time for the wedding reception! I’ve raved about how beautiful Mount Ida Farm is from the outside, but the inside of the Lodge is just as stunning – and Carli and Matt’s wedding décor and flowers were incredible! The barn was draped with flowing chiffon, and Carli and Matt’s tables were topped with beautiful florals. Each guest was given a cute cactus as a favor (they were SO adorable!) and Carli and Matt’s dessert table was filled with cupcakes, rainbow treats, and their beautiful wedding cake – topped with a custom cake topper with a bride and groom with two pups and a cat!! So cute!!
Carli’s dad gave the sweetest speech about when Carli took flying lessons (airplane flying! I know! We were super impressed by that, too!), and Matt’s best man and Carli’s maid of honor gave such sweet and thoughtful speeches. And then the party began!! Carli and Matt had a fun photobooth from The Rosy Co. for guests to enjoy, a signature drink, and space for guests to dance or relax and reconnect. There was even outdoor seating and a fireplace!
And Carli and Matt’s wedding day was pretty meaningful, too; these two got married on May 4, 2019, of “May the Fourth be with You!” Star Wars fame. These two ended the night with a super fun light saber send off – complete with two Storm Troopers!JIt was such a great way to end the night, and a perfect end to such a fun wedding day.
Congratulations, Carli and Matt! Kelsey, Justin, and I LOVED celebrating with you two, your family, and your friends. You two are so sweet, kind, and hilarious, and we are so happy for you both. Your love for each other is so evident, and your special day was absolutely perfect. Congratulations, Carli and Matt!! Enjoy some highlights from your wedding day!
Carli’s mom decorated Carli’s shoes to match her wedding gown. It is such a sweet special touch!
And then it was time for Carli and Matt’s first look! We headed to the beautiful rustic bridge at Mount Ida Farm
These two are so cute – they each did a spin for the other!!
And then after their first look, Carli and Matt’s dogs joined them for portraits! Look at this beautiful family!!
I love this one!! These two were so brave to go in the tall grass!
So sweet!! The one on the right matches their wedding cake topper, too!!
I LOVE the one on the right!!
You two are so gorgeous!!
Love both of these so much!! This little lane at Mount Idea Farm is just so beautiful – these two look like they stepped out of a storybook!
I mean – could they be any cuter? Sam and Shiner were SO excited to be part of Carli and Matt’s wedding!
The prettiest wedding ceremony overlooking the mountains! How gorgeous is Mount Ida Farm?
Carli and Matt’s dog Shiner watched Carli walk down the aisle – it was SO cute!!
And Matt was just as thrilled to see his beautiful bride-to-be!!
So beautiful!! I just can’t get over how gorgeous Carli and Matt’s ceremony was!
Yay!! Married!! Isn’t this just the prettiest walk down the aisle as husband and wife? I love how Carli and Matt gave their guests flower petals to toss in celebration! Also, Kelsey’s angle versus mine in the next photo is so cool – I love that she captured their close up emotions while I got the wider shot!!
SO BEAUTIFUL!!
And horses too! Carli wanted a photo with the Clydesdales at Mount Ida Farm, and the Clydesdales wanted a taste of Carli’s bouquet! :)
The way these two smile at each other is just pure love :)
SO SO pretty!!
Look at this awesome group!! I don’t think Matt could have asked for a nicer group of groomsmen!
Love this and love their wedding colors!!
So pretty! Mount Ida is beautiful every direction you look – and Carli and Matt are just stunning!
Such a beautiful and sweet bridal party!!
I didn’t even say I was about to set this picture up – this bridal party literally read my mind! So beautiful! I love Carli’s flowers so much.
LOVE LOVE LOVE!! Two all-time favorites!!
Such a great group!! They were so happy for Carli and Matt! Matt’s best man and Carli’s maid of honor gave the SWEETEST speeches; it is clear that this is a close group!
Beautiful!
YES!! Another absolute favorite!! Could this be any prettier?
And then it was reception time! Look how GORGEOUS Mount Ida Farm is with Carli and Matt’s decor. WOW!
Kelsey and I literally said “wow!” when we walked in – and I heard some guests say the same!!
For favors, Carli and Matt gave everyone little cactus plants! This may be my all-time favorite favor – it is SO cute!
Such a cool grand exit!!
VENUE | THE LODGE AT MOUNT IDA FARM
PLANNER | JACLYN GRIEGER
CATERER | EXCHANGE EVENTS
FLORIST | COLONIAL FLORIST
PHOTOBOOTH | THE ROSY CO
DRESS DESIGNER | MAGGIE SOTTERO
WEDDING GOWN | URBAN SET BRIDE
HAIR AND MAKEUP | BRIDEFACE
WEDDING CAKE | CAKES BY RACHEL
OFFICIANT | SID LANIER
VIDEOGRAPHER | LAST AVALON FILMS
PHOTOGRAPHER | BROOKE TYSON PHOTOGRAPHY WITH KELSEY TYSON