Kara and Ryan’s Goodstone Inn and Restaurant Wedding was the set perfectly against the rolling countryside of Middleburg, Virginia. A full weekend celebration filled with warmth, personal touches, and unforgettable moments. With friends and family traveling from near and far, their wedding felt less like a single event and more like a cherished gathering of loved ones. Under a crisp autumn sky, they said “I do” surrounded by the golden glow of the season and the ivy-covered walls of the estate.
Planning & Design Chandon Jones Design / Photographer & Videographer Anna Wright Photography / Ceremony & Cocktail Hour Musicians-String Poets / Florist Rockingbird Flower Co / Hair Amanda Fiorita / Makeup Brushed Beauty / DJ Bryan George Music / Cake Fluffy Thoughts Cakes / Venue The Goodstone Inn / Rentals Select Event Group
As their wedding planning and design team, our focus when crafting their day was a thoughtful reflection of Kara and Ryan’s vision— a modern day fairytale set in a secret garden— romantic, timeless, and effortlessly natural. We chose a palette of ivory, oak, hunter green, and French blue, bringing a sense of understated elegance to every detail. Soft, creamy ceramics and plush velvets balanced against mixed metals, for a look that was refined yet inviting. Our goal was to create an atmosphere that felt romantic and organic, never overdone—just the way they wanted it.
The Beauty of a Goodstone Inn and Restaurant Wedding
One of the most special things about hosting a wedding at The Goodstone Inn is the ability to book out the entire property for the weekend, making it feel like an intimate retreat for your closest friends and family.
On the wedding day, Kara and Ryan exchanged handwritten vows in front of the ivy wall, the heartfelt moment left not a dry eye among those who gathered. With the rolling Virginia hills as their backdrop, it was the kind of ceremony that felt like a scene right out of a storybook.
After the ceremony, guests made their way to the poolside lawn for cocktail hour, sipping seasonal drinks as the sun dipped behind the hills.
One of our favorite details of the day was Kara’s artistic touch—she hand-drew each guest’s portrait, which we then framed and hung from garden trellises as part of the escort display. As guests wandered through, they found their own drawing with their table number on the back—a personal and touching keepsake from the day.
Dinner by Candlelight in the Conservatory
Dinner was held in The Conservatory, where a crackling fire and candlelit tables set the perfect mood for an intimate meal. With beautifully set tables featuring natural linens and glowing candlelight, the atmosphere was warm and inviting. The food, a nod to Goodstone’s incredible culinary reputation, was both delicious and beautifully presented.
As the evening continued, guests made their way upstairs to the Bistro, where the energy shifted from refined to full-on celebration. Laughter, music, and dancing carried the night forward, making for the perfect ending to an already magical day.
From the little nods to their love story—like the apples in their welcome bags as a tribute to their first date and astronaut ice cream as a memory of Kara’s first trip to visit Ryan in D.C.—to the thoughtful, intimate design, Kara and Ryan’s wedding wasn’t just beautiful; it was deeply personal. It was a weekend filled with love, laughter, and memories that will stay with everyone who was lucky enough to be a part of it.
