Author Archives: Tammy Keefer

In this world of many colors

The storms of life, the joys of life move by

The dark, the light, the day, the night

The river of our life flows

-Julee Cruise

The first time that Jason and I met Drew and Karine was about four years ago on Halloween.  Jason and I were dressed as… photographers (default costume for procrastinating photographers), and we were in downtown Charlottesville having fun and taking random pictures of Halloweeners.  Then there was Drew and Karine.  Dressed like flappers from the roaring 20’s.  I think Jason did a whole photo shoot of them that night, they were so hot.  A few months later, I ran into Karine again when we both joined the same roller derby team.  Her derby name was Tikki Torcher, I think?  Mine was Tamikaze.   I also met her enchanting daughter, Vaiana, who is a fearless old soul.

These portraits were taken at the beginning of November at Ash Lawn-Highland and Carter Mountain Orchard.

night portrait

First, you’ve got to take a look at Matt and Kristen’s wedding website, created and designed by them!  Isn’t it neat?  Aside from being a handy-dandy resource guide for their guests and wedding professionals, it has a clever design and many thoughtful accents throughout.  I like how some of the images look mounted by photo corners.

I will never tire of reading about how they met.

Matt and Kristen met while working together at the Richmond Times-Dispatch. On Valentine’s Day of 2007 Kristen left work to go pick up some flowers for the people she worked with. Even though she had never spoken to him before, she decided to pick up two extra flowers for Matt. When she got back to work she passed out all the flowers except for the two she bought Matt. She put his two flowers in a small cup and called him to come pick them up. The first time they spoke to each other was when Matt came to pick up his Valentine’s Day gift. The next morning Kristen came into work to a single rose and a Valentine’s Day pencil. Her thank you email to Matt was the first of over 3000 emails they’d send to each other over the course of 2 years.

That’s so romantic!

I also loved reading about the wedding party.  Matt and Kristen are two of the sweetest, most lovable people you could ever meet, and now I couldn’t wait to meet the wedding party.   I remember reading that Matt’s brother and Best Man Tim thought that Battlefield Earth was the worst movie ever made.  Come on, it’s not that bad of a movie.  Is it?  I like that movie.  I’m actually quite fond of it.  It’s bad enough to be funny, and I think that’s what makes it watchable.

Matt and Kristen’s wedding celebration took place at downtown Richmond’s Hilton Garden Inn.  This Hilton was renovated from a department store once known as Miller & Rhoads.   Most of Matt and Kristen’s lives were spent in Richmond, and they really wanted to streamline a lot of those elements into their wedding.  Kristen claims that if she had to pick a theme for her wedding, it would probably be vintage Richmond with a modern twist.  Here is a highlight of their wedding weekend.  Check out the custom made bridesmaid dresses!

Event Planning:  Ryan Hall with Cheers Consulting

Rehearsal Dinner:  Bank Restaurant

Wedding Gown:  Jingles Bridal

Suits:  JoS. A. Bank

Floral:  Flowers Make Scents

Hair & Makeup:  Lou Stevens Glam Squad

Cake:  The Buttercream Bee

DJ and Lighting:  Jason Paige with Celebrity Radio DJs

Chair Rental:  Magic Special Events

Photo Booth:  Freeze Frame Photo Booth

miller & rhoads