It’s hard to know where to start with this post.  This is a very special wedding for me to write about because this is a very special young woman.  Abigail is not only my pastor’s daughter, but she is a wonderful woman full of love.  I loved hearing her tell the love story she shares with Shashtri and it’s very easy to see how he has already become such an important part of her whole family’s life.

First, let me preface by saying that the fastest way to a mommy’s heart is by loving her child.  And Abby has done just that. While I knew her family long before attending their church, I didn’t really know the heart Abby has for others.  When my son was a year old, I was really craving a Bible study with other women and mommies.  I started attending the Ladies’ Bible Study at what is now my church home and Abby was one of the child care providers.  When I left Judah in her care, I could see he was in good hands.  He seemed to always love his time with Abby.  One day I left the room for a restroom break and I peered in to see how Judah was doing without him seeing me.  I saw him sitting on Abby’s lap while she stroked his head and was smiling and laughing with him.  Her genuine care for him was evident and it warmed my heart!

It wasn’t long before he was asking for her by name.  And as the last few years rolled by, I have had the joy of singing with Abby, watching her work three jobs while also helping with her brother’s care and somehow finding the time to meet and fall in love with Shashtri!  I knew that Shashtri had a tough standard to live up to because Abby is well loved by her family and friends!  Shashtri has quickly become a part of Abby’s family and has shown the same love and care for her nephew, niece and brother that Abby has shown Judah.  It’s a perfect match.  In fact, Shashtri says it was pretty much love at first sight.  Abby told me how they met at work and when Shashtri saw her, he quite literally ran into the espresso machine and broke a bunch of cups in the process! Abby said she never saw that part and remained clueless for a while.  But they immediately hit it off and were best friends for almost a year before they began to date. It wasn’t till later that Abby discovered he had been in love with her the entire time they were “just friends.”  Seriously, insert heart eyes emoji here!  Shashtri managed to quickly win her over and Abby fell deeply in love with her best friend.

So fast forward to the proposal story and this is how Abby recounts what happened:

“So I had no idea he was planning anything. We had talked about marriage before but the day he proposed I had no clue he was up to anything. I had made plans for us with friends that night and he kept rushing us along and saying he needed to stop at the store. I just thought he was being impatient and I told him there was still plenty of time to get to the store. Little did I know he was trying to make it in time to the local florist before they closed. He had planned a big surprise with rose petals, flowers, candles and was planning on setting everything up in my living room before I got home. But we wound up leaving too late and everything was closed. This did not deter him though. He was determined that tonight was the night! So he sat me down, told me all of the things he had planned and said a bunch of very sweet things that made me cry, before getting down on one knee and asking me to be his wife. Obviously I said yes!”

So when it came time to plan their wedding, Debbie (Abby’s mother and my friend) told me about their trip to Wolftrap Farms and Abby’s idea to save a little and have the wedding on a Tuesday….which worked out perfectly for my schedule too!  Oh my goodness, was it fun watching them plan this wedding.  To be honest, a lot of DIY weddings have a lot of pinterest fails attached to them.  But I KNEW this wouldn’t be the case with Abby.  She and her mom are sooooo creative and talented and Debbie and Howie (Abby’s dad) have past experience working in the catering industry.  So when she said that both her family and Shashtri’s family would be cooking all the food, I had no doubt it would be an amazing mix of cultures, tastes and everything delicious!  And oh my, it was!!!  Abby is already a talented cake artist and she made ALL of her desserts on that dessert table.  They were INCREDIBLE.  I sampled six (the joys of being the photographer AND a guest)!  So many of the wedding vendors are already a part of our church…DJ Jazzy Jesse (sorry…I couldn’t resist adding the Jazzy in there), Howie officiating, an entire crew of youth and adults serving and decorating and Kathy Christensen who works for Bride and Joy with floral and event design.

Kathy, our friend Sue, Abby and I worked on the bouquets with greenery from a wholesale florist and fresh flowers from Wollam Gardens right up the road.  We had a lot of fun making bouquets and boutonnieres, but let me tell you…it is no joke!  Thank your professional florist because it is NOT easy.  I don’t know how they do it so well!  And when Abby said she was doing her own hair and make up, I knew it would be perfect.  Seriously she was the perfect Boho princess in that flowing BHLDN gown too!  And that headpiece!!!

I simply love a Fall wedding (that’s my anniversary month too!) and the weather was literally perfect.  Abby looked incredible and Shashtri was overwhelmed when he saw her for their first look.  And so was Emily, Abby’s sister!  I love her real tears of joy!  Shashtri was undeniably nervous leading up to the first look and I loved watching them have that moment together.  They had some genuine fun together during their couples’ portraits and photos with their bridal party.  Their bridal party was everything great rolled into one big group…they were supportive, fun and kept the day flowing with energy.  I knew some of them already and had the joy of meeting new people, spouses and family.

So when it was time for the ceremony, Shashtri was nervous but focused. abby’s father walked her down the aisle and both he and their close family friend/pastor officiated the ceremony.  Howie choked back tears and did a good job of not losing it entirely, which everyone anticipated might happen!  After the perfect ceremony, we finished up with some family group photos and headed to the reception.  The reception was fun and beautiful!  I could go on and on about the food, the decor and the dessert tables (seriously…my word) but honestly, it was the people that made it so special.  Watching everyone celebrate Abby and Shashtri was the best.

And I can’t resist sharing a few photos of Howie and Abby as they danced the father/daughter dance and Howie broke out in a pretty entertaining version of the crazy dance he used to do when abby was a little girl.  It was probably one of the best moments of the night!

I am so blessed to have witnessed this entire day and to be a part of it in more ways than one.  Congratulations Abby and Shashtri and may God bless you both and your marriage!

To see more Charlottesville Wedding Venues, engagement sessions, weddings and anniversaries, peruse HERE.

These are some of the wonderful folks who helped make their day so special:

DJ: Jesse Owens

Wedding Gown: Catherine Deane for BHLDN

Shoes: Modcloth

Veil: Bride and Joy

Rentals and Decor: Bride and Joy

Engagement Ring: Chris Peterson’s

Wedding Band: Melanie Casey Jewelry

Earrings: Harriet’s General

Menswear: Men’s Warehouse

Bridesmaid Dresses: JJ’s House

Officiants: Pastor Don Jagers and Pastor Howie Holmes

Invitations: Vistaprint

Hair and Make Up: Abigail Holmes

Desserts/Cake: Abigail Holmes

Michelle Lieb with Lieb Photographic is a Virginia Wedding Photographer, Charlottesville Wedding Photographer, Culpeper Wedding Photographer, Fredericksburg Wedding Photographer, Washington DC Wedding Photographer, Phoenix Wedding Photographer, Destination Wedding Photographer and a wedding photographer in the surrounding areas.