Photography by Michael and Carina Photography
Who: Brittany Pilkington, marketing director for Universal Pest and Termite, and Tanner Baine, sales representative for Beach Ford.
When: Aug. 5, 2017.
Where: Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk.
Guest List: Roughly 100 guests attended the wedding. Most were local and a few traveled from Washington, D.C.
Where They Met: Brittany and Tanner have known each other since they were about 9 years old. They grew up playing tennis together, went to school together and have been dating since they were about 13 years old. Brittany and Tanner then both went on to college at George Mason, where they both played tennis.
The Engagement: For her college graduation gift, Brittany’s parents took her and Tanner to the Bahamas. “There is this beautiful spot in the Bahamas called the Cloisters. It’s a gorgeous garden that has all these statues and old ruins. I thought we were just going there to sightsee, but when we reached the end of the island, we got to a gazebo and Tanner proposed,” Brittany says.
Wedding Wishes: “Running a family business and growing up together in this area, we probably could’ve had a huge wedding. But we really wanted to keep it to a smaller group of our closest friends and family who knew our story and could really appreciate the moment,” Brittany says. Having a smaller guest list also allowed the couple to have a larger budget for the venue, florals and rentals. “Our goal was that since we had this amazing venue, we wanted to have an amazing wedding that people would remember. And it was important that we put a lot of thought into all the little details of the wedding.”
What’s Next: Tanner and Brittany went on a cruise throughout Europe for their honeymoon. They purchased their first home in January and recently got a puppy. “We come from two amazing families and are excited to start a family in the future, but we love to travel and plan to travel some more before we settle down and have children,” Brittany says.
Bride: Dress—Maya Couture (Cristiano Lucci).
Groom: Suit—Dillard’s (Cremieux).
Floral Wall: While the Chrysler Museum is beautiful, the room where their indoor ceremony was held was a little too gray and cold for Brittany’s colorful taste. Her florist, Isha Foss, skillfully created the gorgeous floral background that brightened up the ceremony.
Pretty Postage: The invitations were created by April Foster of PaperDolls Design, complete with a watercolor monogram and a rendition of the Chrysler Museum.
Family Matters: Tanner’s father was his best man, and his other groomsmen were college friends and tennis teammates. Brittany’s younger sister was her maid of honor, and her bridesmaids were family members and her college roommate.
Garden Glam: Blush quicksand roses, white hydrangeas and other soft florals were displayed in mercury glass vases on the reception tables. French country chairs from Distinctive Event Rentals added a hint of rustic charm.
Glistening Cake: The silver frosting used on the cake’s top layer complemented the mercury glass used in much of the reception decor, while blush flowers helped tie in the floral theme. Incredible Edibles also created some custom flavors for the cake, including a chocolate and cookies and cream flavor.
Tennis Arch: Because the Chrysler Museum does not allow rice, sparklers and other items traditionally used in the send-off, Brittany was unsure of how they would make their exit special. The wedding party surprised the couple with a special tennis racket arch. “Tennis was how we met and has been such a significant part of our relationship, so it was a really special touch they surprised us with,” Brittany says.
Vendors:
Planner: Antonia Christianson Events, Virginia Beach
Florals and Design: Isha Foss Designs, Virginia Beach
Catering: Cuisine and Company, Norfolk
Cake: Incredible Edibles, Virginia Beach
Music: Astro DJ – Roger Cruise, Virginia Beach
Hair: Stephanie Boyce, Virginia Beach
Makeup: Dhalia Edwards, Virginia Beach
Invitations/Paper Goods: PaperDolls Design, Chesapeake
