As residents of the lively mid-Atlantic hub of Washington, D.C., Austin and Livia (Livy) were well aware of the impressive venue options convenient to them. But, as the couple says, “convenience was not special to us.” This sentiment carried Austin and Livy southwest about two and a half hours to a slice of mountainous paradise just outside Charlottesville. Their charming Virginia wedding at Hazy Mountain Winery, marked by rolling hills dotted with autumn colors, fulfilled the couple’s vision effortlessly.

To tell this story properly, we have to rewind the clock to the origins of Austin and Livy. Interestingly, they attended the same college at the same time. Although they shared several mutual friends, their paths didn’t cross until years down the road when both were living in Atlanta. At the behest of friends, Livy and Austin met up, and the fireworks were instant. After dating for three years and moving back up the East Coast, the two got engaged at a vista point in Maine’s Acadia National Park.

Suffice it to say, Livy and Austin enjoy adventurous experiences. Selecting a destination wedding among the fall foliage of Virginia didn’t come as a shock to their guests. They had a location in mind from the jump, too.

“We knew we wanted to get married in Charlottesville,” Austin says. “The city has a sentimental history for us and is filled with cherished memories.”

The beauty of the area, mixed with the calm atmosphere of the town, led Livy and Austin to start their venue search in and around Charlottesville. Hazy Mountain Winery appealed to the couple immediately.

“Austin has a special admiration for the mountains and Shenandoah National Park, and we wanted that aspect to be incorporated into the wedding by having a mountainous backdrop,” Livy explains.

Hazy Mountain offered the best view by far, according to the couple, alongside a solarium with panoramic views and a villa-style reception hall. Living away from the venue presented a unique challenge, making their on-site planner, Makayla, essential to bringing the vision together.

“Living away from the venue presented a challenge of not being able to see a majority of details in person, leaving our trust solely in Makayla,” Livy explains.

Livy and Austin visited the venue three times before the wedding day: once for scouting, a second time for food and beverage tastings, and a final time for a walkthrough and cake tasting. If they’re being honest, they found a lot of joy in making these preparations alongside their vendor team, including Cakes by Rachel, florist Amanda Veronee, and photographer Meredith Coe.

“For us, things like cake tasting, matching color palettes, and going through portfolios and photography concepts were highlights and shared moments of planning,” the couple says.

The biggest hurdle to overcome was guest lodging and transportation, something Austin and Livy desperately wanted loved ones not to stress over. The bride and groom contacted two hotels near one another in Charlottesville and arranged for a shuttle service to transport guests to the venue on the day of the event.

Luckily, come wedding time, the logistics had been handled, allowing Livy and Austin to fully soak in the sights, sounds and emotions of this momentous day. The ceremony, saturated in fall colors from the aisle and altar floral arrangements to the changing leaves on the mountains beyond, beckoned guests to follow in the couple’s practice of mindfulness. Forgoing tradition, one of the bride’s four sisters led the ceremony with a heartfelt telling of the couple’s love story. Another of Livy’s sisters then read a tear-jerking snippet from Pixar’s “Soul,” and Austin’s sister recited a quote by Viktor E. Frankl, both on the topic of love. Immediately following the ceremony, the couple stole away for a private moment to watch the sun sink below the mountains.

Meanwhile, awaiting guests in the reception hall were tables named after places the couple had visited, identified by photos they took on each trip. Ceremony florals were relocated inside for a consistent fall foliage color palette. When the couple returned from their sunset viewing, the reception commenced with speeches and dancing.

“We had two focal points going into our wedding day,” Livy says. “The first was to be intentional with the precious minutes that can quickly slip away on a wedding day, and the second was not to be distracted with factors outside our relationship.”

Once the cake had been cut and the day so carefully planned came to a close, Livy and Austin felt they achieved the dream destination wedding they had hoped for among the serenity of the Virginia countryside.

Vendors: Photography: Meredith Coe Photography; Venue & Planning: Hazy Mountain Winery; Planner: Makayla Baxter with Hazy Mountain Winery; Florist: A Morgan Floral; Stationery: The Knot; Cake: Cakes by Rachel; Hair & Makeup: Amanda Perry; Grooms Attire: State and Liberty; Bride’s Dress Shop: Lovely Bride; Dress Alterations: Green and Blue Studio; Videographer: Nolan of Reminiscent Films; DJ: DJ Derek Tobler; Rentals: MS Events & Argent Events; Musicians: Two Rivers Chamber Music

@destinationidoAs residents of the lively mid-Atlantic hub of Washington, D.C., Austin and Livia (Livy) were well aware of the impressive venue options convenient to them. But, as the couple says, “convenience was not special to us.” This sentiment carried Austin and Livy southwest about two and a half hours to a slice of mountainous paradise just outside Charlottesville. Their charming Virginia wedding at Hazy Mountain Winery, marked by rolling hills dotted with autumn colors, fulfilled the couple’s vision effortlessly. Videographer: Nolan of Reminiscent Films Photography: Meredith Coe Photography; Venue & Planning: Hazy Mountain Winery; Florist: A Morgan Floral; Stationery: The Knot; Cake: Cakes by Rachel; Hair & Makeup: Amanda Perry; Grooms Attire: State and Liberty; Bride’s Dress Shop: Lovely Bride; Dress Alterations: Green and Blue Studio; DJ: DJ Derek Tobler♬ original sound – Destination I Do