ELIZABETH SALAS
& MATTHEW FRAVEL October 1, 2011
The Inn at Old Virginia, Staunton
Him: Senior Branch Manager, Adecco Her: Marketing & Special Events, The Wintergreen Nature Foundation Our love story: Matt and I met through a mutual friend who spent quite a lot of time singing the other’s praise to us. A Star Wars movie and summer later, we listened. I fought for him and won. The Proposal: We celebrated our anniversary with a trip to the Big Easy. Looking back, I wondered when the flight attendant tried to check his carry on and Matt clutched it to his chest with both hands. The first night at dinner, we talked about us and where we were going and how amazing the dessert was. We got back to the hotel, opened the balcony windows, turned out the lights and listened to the haunted lantern tour below. I don’t remember much of the next few moments except I said yes, I screamed “Is that my ring?” and I asked him to ask me again so I could remember. He did.
“Couple Personality”: Loving, committed, fun Design Inspiration: My sister called our wedding “Cuban Country” (I’m a Cuban from Miami who grew up in the foothills of Virginia). I wanted everyone to feel connected and that they were part of the celebration and I wanted to build on the setting of the Inn which was so green and lush. I used candles to create a soft glow throughout the tent. The atmosphere ended up being very warm and inviting. Biggest Splurge: My father suggested we get a videographer. We did and were blown away with what we got. Josh Gooden wove our wedding story together so seamlessly every time you watch it, you relive those moments. Having both a video and pictures was a splurge for us and so very worth it. Family traditions: Matt carried a picture of him and his grandfather in his tuxedo pocket. His grandfather passed away when he was nine so it was his way of having him with us that day. I was extremely close to my grandmother who passed away when I was a child. My bouquet was wrapped in one of her vintage handkerchiefs. The groom’s job: He’s a musician with varied taste-- he was in charge of the reception music.
“Funnest” thing to plan: The ceremony was the most important piece of our wedding to us. We wanted everyone invited to feel included and special. I spent a lot of time designing and writing the wedding program. We wrote about our connection with each person in the wedding and why they had been asked to stand with us, we wrote about the songs they’d be hearing and what they meant to us and included a letter to our parents. Most stressful thing to plan: Keeping the number of guests on target. I was stressed about going over the number the venue allowed. Advice for the newly engaged: Enjoy every single moment of being engaged and do it all. You’re only engaged once. Take it all in.
PHOTOS BY SERA PETRAS
thehook | WEDDINGS
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