So to say I am excited about this post might be a bit of an understatement. Colleen and I have been friends for a while and Jason and my Ben are also friends. I have been praying for these two for a while and anticipating this day. So without further ado…

Colleen and Jason were married at one of my favorite places, Rixey Manor on a PERFECT summer’s day…not too warm and not too cold and the rains stopped literally just in time for their outdoor ceremony. Pastor Howie and Isadora (owner of Rixey Manor) wiped down chairs to help make it perfect right after the rain. And this really describes a major aspect of the day…so so many people helped. It seemed like everyone there delighted in helping these two.

Colleen’s style is so incredibly perfect…she wore her birdcage and tea length dress with all the charm and grace of an “Old hollywood” starlet. Their green and navy color scheme was bright and full of personality. A lot of greenery and bright blooms (including my favorite…belles of Ireland) from Good Earth Flowers accented the beautiful details of the day. Colleen was stunning in that dress and heels so high I could never walk an inch in!! This girl can ROCK some heels…in fact, I am not even sure she owns flats.

The day was so lovely…the ceremony started the wedding off with promises made before God and friends to love and honor each other, pursue God and raise a family with dignity and love. Colleen was glowing as she was escorted down the aisle by both her parents. Her two bridesmaids (her sisters) were beaming ear to ear with joy and one of her sisters…Emily…sang for the couple as Colleen walked down the aisle.

The Elias family is Jason’s “Virginia” family and you seriously couldn’t ask for a better one (or a bigger one!). The way families and friends came together for this day was pretty special…and having my own son and husband there was also special!!! Judah’s first wedding reception was for two people he really loves! Momma happy.

And watching everyone play lawn games and eat ice cream from the Brusters ice cream truck was a pretty special alternative to eating cake. Let me tell you, folks, it was a big hit!!! And not just with the kids…

And how about these bridal and couple portraits?! Can I just say again, they ROCKED them! It has been an enormous pleasure to serve Colleen and Jason and I have been waiting to share this blog post for everyone to see! So I am going to end with two special treats…1. How they met. 2. Emily’s words for Colleen and Jason. Both are pretty sweet!

So how did these two meet?

Colleen and Jason met at a Younglife event. She noticed him right away. A few months later, they started talking and discovered they were also neighbors so they began to spend some time together. Colleen said she told him she loved him that spring and a month later he whispered it in her ear. This was Colleen’s first relationship and both she and Jason were unsure of how to share their lives, unlike many young couples. They both matured in their love and their relationship and one day, while Colleen was reading a book, Jason laid an exquisite ring on the book for her. And it wasn’t but a few months later that they began seriously planning their Rixey Manor wedding!

As Colleen quoted from the book, Allegiant, “I fell in love with him. But I don’t just stay with him as if there’s no one else available. I stay with him because I choose him…and he chooses me.” And these two have happily chosen each other to go through the good times, the trials and the joys of life together.

Emily’s words for Colleen and Jason:

“Hello! I am Emily, Colleen’s middle sister. I just wanted to say a few words on behalf of Anna (our other sister) and myself in honor of this beautiful union between Colleen and Jason.

I remember growing up, my parents would tell everyone that they had three daughters and people would scoff and say, ‘That must be horrible.’ … My parents would just smile. I don’t recall it ever being horrible. Sure, things would get a little catty during puberty and our middle school days, but growing up,my sisters and I were best friends. You had a constant friend that was basically forced to play with you.

I remember when Colleen and I were little, she used to make me play this game that was creatively named, “Brother-Sister,” where all we did was walk around pretending to be a brother and sister duo. Since it was Colleen’s game and she was older, I was always assigned the important role of Brother. I was constantly the boy, but I never refused. I don’t really remember why I never refused, but it probably had something to do with the fact that I just loved Colleen and wanted to play with her.

Even when we were a little older in high school, my sisters and I got along great. We all make each other laugh immensely, whether its Colleen’s witty comments or Anna’s impeccable impersonations of people,we’re basically a fun time.

My mom often tells the story of when I was in high school, I was describing what was, at the time, my ‘perfect guy.’ He had to be funny, witty, think I was funny and witty (because, let’s face it…I am), laugh at my jokes, like athletics, love to read books like Harry Potter, and he must, beyond anything else, have a knack for being able to quote movies and books on the fly in order to have an entire conversation out of these quotes. My mom looked at me and said, ‘You realize you just described Colleen, right?’ That’s right, my perfect guy was my sister.

But in all seriousness, I remember when Colleen first started dating Jason, how new and exciting it all seemed. And it has been so beautiful to witness what was once the exciting, young, and nervous new love of Colleen and Jason blossom into a deep, mature, and respectful love of one another.

I was talking to Colleen a few months ago, and she was saying that she just loves how Jason can just make her laugh at stupid, silly things, and that she was so happy to be dating her best friend.

Colleen, I am so glad you have found your best friend: a man that loves Jesus, and is devoted to Him and to the people he loves. And Jason, I am so thankful that God has brought you into our family…and that I will finally have a real Brother.

I have prayed for your marriage often, and will continue to pray for your marriage, and I am so excited to see where the Lord takes you on this beautiful blessed journey.”

The Wedding Professionals who helped make this day perfect:

Venue: Rixey Manor

invitation Suite: Kay Kay’s Printing and Stationery

Florals: Good Earth Flowers

Catering: Shawn’s Smokehouse BBQ

Ice Cream: Bruster’s

Bride’s Hair: Barbara DeRenzo

Bridesmaid’s Hair: Miarra Robinson

Dress: David’s Bridal

Shoes: DSW

Bridesmaid Dresses: Target

Officiant: Howie Holmes

Michelle Lieb with Lieb Photographic is a Charlottesville Wedding Photographer, Culpeper Wedding Photographer, Fredericksburg Wedding Photographer, Alexandria Wedding Phtogorapher and a wedding photographer in the surrounding areas.