Rachel and Tommy’s waterfront wedding in Northern Virginia was the classic and chic wedding they always wanted. In classic spring wedding fashion, there was some rain, but these two lovebirds didn’t let that ruin their day!
Rachel reached out to us back in December of 2021 right after they got engaged. They wanted to get married at The River View at Occoquan, and we have lots of experience with weddings at this wonderful venue! This large space can accommodate up to 400 people which is very rare in the Northern Virginia area. This waterfront wedding venue is a hidden gem with lots of great outdoor options. You can have the ceremony on their lawn or on the patio overlooking the water. They can also accommodate the ceremony indoors, with floor to ceiling windows still showcasing the amazing view.
We were grateful for those floor to ceiling windows because we ended up inside due to storms on Rachel and Tommy’s wedding day.
We watched the weather all day and kept going back and forth on the decision to move indoors for the ceremony. Small pockets of rain kept coming through and at one point our team was outside wiping all the chairs down with towels only for it to rain again unexpectedly 30 minutes later. That’s when we made the decision to come inside for the ceremony. Even with the weather going back and forth, Rachel and Tommy were very calm and never showed any signs of stress or feeling overwhelmed with the decision. They just wanted to get married and be able to celebrate with those that love them the most, which is what we did. It was a great day!
I love when couples add personal touches to their day, and these two had some great ones.
Tommy is a sneakerhead and collects sneakers, and he’s turned Rachel into a bit of a sneakerhead as well. Tommy gifted his groomsmen sneakers, which they changed into post ceremony. Also, the wedding favor to all of the guests was a custom sneaker cookie at each place setting. Such a unique touch! They also included Rachel’s dog of 15 years Coco in the ceremony, carried down the aisle by her sister and maid of honor. Can’t forget the furry family members!
Speaking of family members, Rachel and Tommy have amazing people surrounding them. This was one of the most fun wedding parties ever! They were all so fun and had so much energy – even their parents. Everyone planned epic intros into the reception. There were bridesmaids with bubble guns and signs and the groomsmen did a choreographed dance with a make-it-rain money maker. The parents of the bride came out dancing to Can’t Touch This – Rachel’s dad has moves! Tommy’s parents didn’t disappoint either with their take on a popular TikTok dance.
I’m usually a sap for sentimental moments, but my favorite part of their event was the dancing. So many fantastic dancers, they were non stop once the dance floor opened. Rachel and Tommy too – everyone was having a blast.
Even though some of the day didn’t go exactly to plan because of the weather, this waterfront wedding was still an absolute blast.
I’m so glad Rachel and Tommy chose us to be a part of their chic and minimalist wedding full of love and fun!
Are you thinking about getting married at The River View at Occoquan or another Northern Virginia wedding venue? Reach out and let’s talk about how we can help you plan your dream day!
