Heather and Raleigh met in 2020 on a group hike hosted by their campus ministry. “We talked a little throughout the evening, but nothing out of the ordinary since it was a group event. The next day, Raleigh asked for my number using GroupMe, which was the only way he had to contact me at the time. I got a call from him later that day asking me to have coffee. We ended up getting kicked out of the coffee shop because we had been talking so long we didn’t notice that they had closed.”
“Raleigh told me he wanted to take me to a salsa dancing class at 11 am. He picked me up a bit ahead of time and asked if I wanted to grab breakfast before going dancing. I didn’t even bother to ask where because it’s always Waffle House. We walked down the row of tables and reached one that was set up with a white tablecloth, candle, sparkling cider, and champagne glasses. That was when I knew. Raleigh got down on one knee and popped the question.”
120 guests, including a 12-person wedding party, helped the couple celebrate their August outdoor nuptials. “We were thankful to have our personal pastor from our church in Blacksburg officiate our wedding. It was extremely important to us to have a serious ceremony that properly conveyed the purpose of our marriage, not one for photographs. It was also important to us to use traditional vows that conveyed the permanence of our marriage and our individual dedication to choose to be together even on days that don’t feel as magical as our wedding day.”
The couple chose a color palette of light pinks and natural greens. “Neither of us like flashy, so we wanted earthy colors that would enhance the natural beauty of the venue and the people there, not overtake the visuals of the whole wedding.”
Heather is a sales consultant for a home improvement company, and Raleigh is a civil engineering student. They reside in Blacksburg, Virginia.
First dance: I Choose You by Ryann Darling
Honeymoon: Virginia and West Virginia
Vendors
Venue: Riverside on the Potomac
Photography: Sarah Wockenfuss Photography**
Catering: Travinia Italian Kitchen
Planner: Kelley Cannon Events
Dress: Posh Bridal
Dessert: Nicole Bias
Flowers: Mini Rose Farm
Hair & Makeup: Swept LLC
Entertainment: DJ Sway
Transportation: Road Yachts
**FrederickWeddings.com member
