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After Mara lost her first husband, it was two years before she was ready to date again. A friend set her up on a blind date with Matt in March of 2016. That first blind date ended up being her last. She fell in love with Matt, and he proposed to her behind the Governor’s Palace in Williamsburg the following spring.
Mara and Matt were married on March 24, 2018 in Williamsburg, VA. The morning of the wedding they participated in the D.O.G. St. 5K run. They then had a gorgeous Catholic ceremony at Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham and a lively reception at Williamsburg Winery.
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A Bride’s Resilience
Mara is one of the spunkiest brides I have ever worked with. She has a contagious zest for life and an energy you can just see radiating from her wedding photos. Moreover, Mara has a spirit of resilience that we can all look up to during these trying times.
Just a few weeks after her beautiful wedding, Mara’s father got sick. He was then hospitalized, and his family learned that he had cancer that had spread throughout his body. He died a month later, on Mara’s birthday.
Mara has suffered a great deal of loss in her life. Yet, she remains a bright light who takes every moment to love her people well. She understands how finite this life is, yet she chooses to see goodness and beauty even in the midst of pain. She is a picture of resilience, and we would all be wise to look to her example as we face difficult circumstances.
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The Wedding Florals
Mara’s personality shines through in her choice of wedding florals. Her hand-tied textured bouquet featured gorgeous contrasts of light and dark colors. The greenery was composed of eucalyptus, boginia foliage, Italian ruscus and curly willow. For florals, we incorporated white bouvardia, nutmeg spray roses, champagne roses and carnations, chocolate lisianthus, white ranunculus, and honey flair hypericum berry. We wrapped the bouquet with ivory ribbon and draped Japonica in the front.
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Vendors:
Ceremony Venue: National Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham | Reception Venue: Williamsburg Winery | Photographer: Danny Gorman Photography | Dress: Sorelle’s Bridal Salon | Groom’s Attire: Daniel’s of Morgantown | Baker: Kadi Bakes | Wedding Planner: Two River Events | Band: Bachelor Boys Band