Wedding | Mary & Justin

Tell us a little about yourselves!

Justin and I met at a mutual friend’s pool party in June 2024 and barely spoke. A few weeks later, we ended up at a group movie night to see Longlegs—which I almost didn’t go to. We were the first to arrive, sat together by default, and spent the whole time half-watching, half-deciding if we were probably being set up since everyone else was suspiciously late. And a small struggle for the arm rest that I won.

After that, I heard Justin had been asking about me. So I took matters into my own hands and did what felt appropriate: followed him on Instagram and posted a very intentional story about a movie we’d mentioned, hoping for a response. He took the bait. I invited him over to watch it—he declined (later blamed nerves). But when I casually mentioned I was watching Love Island, he showed up thirty minutes later. Greenest flag. I assumed it would be a one-time hang - low stakes, low expectations. Instead, we’ve been inseparable since, completely up each other’s asses - in the best way.

Justin is warm, magnetic, disarming and a little impossible to resist. He’s troublesome in a sexy way. There’s a quiet certainty to our relationship that came immediately. In the cheesiest way, we’re just kinda meant to be.

We’re aligned in a way that still surprises us: same early bedtime, same love of food, travel, the gym, our pets, nerd shit, tattoos, movies and music, and anything that makes us laugh. There’s room for us to be completely authentic. I was new to Richmond and still figuring it out; Justin’s from here, and somewhere along the way, it started to feel like home because of him. What had felt temporary started to feel like ours. At the core, our relationship is built on stability, ease, and a kind of unconditional support that lets you exhale. We believe in low drama, high humor and light roasting of each other, keeping to ourselves, establishing a rhythm and routine and most importantly, mutual respect. We’re also usually surrounded by just enough welcome chaos to keep things interesting.

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

Initially, we wanted to get married in Las Vegas and just make a weekend of it. We were thinking no structure, just a party and call it done. But our families weren’t exactly enthusiastic about that plan, and somewhere in the middle of it, I also started designing my dress and realized what I wanted didn’t really belong in Vegas.

Around the same time, we were building a home just outside the city. On the way out one day, we saw a sign for the Estate at River Run and decided to look it up. We booked a tour, and my mom happened to be in town, so she came with us. None of us had strong expectations going in, which is probably why we all ended up immediately liking it. My mom described it as “enchanting,” which felt accurate in a way I couldn’t agree with more. The property felt meticulously cared for—nothing flashy, just a level of attention and detail that made it hard to dismiss. Kim Moody, the proprietor, was incredibly welcoming and we hit it off, which sealed it. The fact that we could have the property for the entire weekend made it feel less like a venue and more like a temporary escape we could fully inhabit. It was the first and only venue we looked at and it was an easy decision without overthinking it.

How many guests did you have?

We had about 120 guests.

What was your budget?

Our budget was about $300k.

Tell us about your outfits.

As the wedding evolved, so did my outfits. I had a clear idea of what I wanted for my bridal look, and I knew that trying on hundreds of dresses would only dilute it. In a slightly unreasonable (but committed) way, I also wanted something no one else had ever worn.

I looked into designers like Vivienne Westwood, Cinq, Honor, and Danielle Frankel, but kept noticing versions of the same references appearing everywhere. Using those as a starting point rather than an endpoint, I eventually found Paula Nadal’s work through a Reddit thread of all places.

My main bridal look became a custom gown by Paula Nadal in London. From the outset, it was understood I would travel three times for fittings. Paula asked me to write a love letter to the dress—less romantic sentiment, more a way of translating something entirely personal into form. It set the tone for the entire process: this wasn’t something I was selecting, it was something we were building.

We shared motifs and references that felt tied to me in ways that weren’t always literal. I didn’t want white, so we chose cream dupion silk. Every lace was sourced and hand-selected. The embellishments were inspired by thistles, giving them a sharp, almost defensive quality. The tulles were dyed with jasmine flowers, and my initials were embroidered into the back—quiet, but deliberate.

The references ranged widely: Marie Antoinette for the bows, Mary Queen of Scots for the sharper lace details, Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation gown for the thistle motifs, and unintentionally, Elizabeth Swann from Pirates of the Caribbean, which revealed itself later in the process rather than being planned.

I wore The Row ballet flats, chosen because they disappeared into the silk rather than competing with it.

My reception look came together midway through the process, when we decided to lean into something less restrained. Originally, in early Vegas conversations, we’d imagined bloomers in a slightly theatrical way, and this became the opportunity to explore that idea properly.

Paula created a corseted bodice with detachable bloomer shorts and a hooded cape. We shifted to an oxblood dupion silk—unexpected, but instantly right—covered in Swarovski crystals that caught light without feeling decorative for decoration’s sake. I found Dior kitten heels with matching crystal detailing, which felt like an unnecessary but satisfying coincidence.

Working with Paula was one of the most considered parts of the entire process. There was a sense of trust that allowed everything to become more precise, not more complicated. The final result felt less like a “bridal moment” and more like a fully realized version of something that had been forming all along—just with better structure, sharper edges, and a little more intention.

While in London for a fitting, I walked past Harrods and saw a chocolate velvet suit in the window. I just knew immediately that was what I wanted Justin to wear. He, to his credit, had already said he’d wear whatever, ideally something that made him look “a little like James Bond,” so this felt like a fairly seamless solution.

It was Ralph Lauren Purple Label, and it ended up working in a way that felt almost too easy. The deep brown of the velvet against my cream silk and red hair was complimentary. We paired the suit with a white button down, black Gucci tie and patent leather Dior dress shoes. I unfortunately remembered every detail except cool socks for him.

What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?

The most important consideration for us was imagining ourselves as guests. We kept coming back to weddings we’d loved—and more importantly, the parts of weddings we hadn’t and used that as a loose blueprint for how we wanted the day to feel. We planned it almost to the minute, not in a rigid way, but so that nothing would drag on. The goal was constant movement, constant energy, and a sense that there was always something happening or in the guests’ hands. Yes, everyone was there to celebrate us, but we didn’t want that to be the only thing happening. We wanted it to feel like a worthwhile experience, a rager and something people left thinking they were glad they didn’t miss.

Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?

There were many important elements—almost too many—but we were intentional about selecting an abundance without letting anything feel random. I was essentially texting our planner daily with increasingly unhinged ideas, all of which she executed with impressive calm.

We prioritized visuals and texture over traditional structure. The entrance of guests was greeted by a 'unicorn', alongside welcome peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, which felt both unnecessary and correct. The ceremony itself was intentionally brief—about five minutes—so we could move everyone quickly into cocktail hour and get on with the actual point of the evening (the party, duh).

From there, it became more layered: a living rose, a tarot reader, an astrological silhouette illustrator and a human horse carousel. We included photographs of people who couldn’t be there, which felt important in a quiet way. Music was tightly curated—we actually provided the DJ with a pre-approved playlist—and specific moments were chosen for impact rather than background noise, like Sandstorm by Darude kicking off salads and E.T. playing overhead during the dance floor.

Food and drink were central, and we wanted all guests’ needs anticipated. We also don’t drink, so having non-alcoholic options mattered, especially with a number of straight-edge guests. The most important element, without question, was the little people. That had been the one non-negotiable from the start. They served joints and cigarettes, candy, light-up toys, and late-night McDonald’s in custom packaging to celebrate our newly shared last name of McDonald.

Any tips for couples getting married?

Don’t overthink it. There’s a tendency to treat a wedding like something that has to be perfected, but most of it will unfold whether you stress about it or not. If it’s meant to happen, it will—just not necessarily in the way you planned.

If you have the means, hire a good planner and actually let them do their job. It removes a level of stress you don’t need to carry.

Prioritize photography and videography. Everything else is temporary, but that’s what you’ll return to for the rest of your life, and it shapes how you remember the day more than you expect.

Try not to organize the entire experience around pleasing other people. Someone will always have an opinion, and none of them are getting married except you. There’s no guide for what love is supposed to look like, so there shouldn’t be one for how you choose to celebrate it either.

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?

All of our vendors were incredible, but a few truly stood out.

Groovin’ Gourmets was an exceptional caterer. The food was unbelievable. At most weddings, it’s typical not to remember the meal, but guests were actively telling us how much they enjoyed every bite.

Skylark Events delivered truly unique entertainment that made a huge impact. People were still talking about them long after the night ended and asking how to book them personally.

Rebecca Lader and Catherine J Films captured the day so beautifully that it’s hard to imagine it being documented any better. Award-worthy camera work.

And we genuinely feel lucky to have worked with Rachel Rice from One Moment Events and jealous of anyone that gets the opportunity. She was our fairy godmother throughout the entire process and has now become part of our family. We don’t think anyone better exists.

Photographer: Rebecca Lader Photography @rebeccaladerweddings | Planning: Rachel Rice The One Moment Events @theonemomentevents | Flora: Yarrow Floral Co. @yarrowfloralco | Videographer: Catherine J Films @catherinejfilms | Ceremony Location: The Bluestone Terrace at The Estate at River Run @estateatriverrun | Reception Location: The Estate at River Run @estateatriverrun | Celebrant: Keith Harper @keithharpertattoo | Rentals: Lighting & Sound Co @lightingandsoundco; Something Vintage Rentals @smthingvintage; Rent-E-Quip @rentequipva | Hair: Anna Gladden @black.magic.hair (Mary); Rashod Jackson @aventushairco (Justin) | Catering & Beverages: Groovin’ Gourmets @groovin

gourmets | Cake: The Mixing Bowl @mixingbowlrva | Stationery: Allie Swanson Design @allieswanson

studio | Entertainment: Skylark Events; DJ & Piano - Chris Keys | BTS Content: LaFave Media @lafave

media | Photobooth: Richmond Photobooth @richmondphotobooth | Dress & Veil: Paula Nadal Custom @paulanadal_official | Suit: Ralph Lauren Purple Label @ralphlauren | Engagement Ring:

Family Heirloom | Wedding Rings: Tiffany & Co. @tiffany&co | Shoes: (Ceremony) The Row @therow; (Reception) Dior @dior; (Justin) Dior @dior | Necklace: Paula Nadal Custom @paulanadal_official | Bowtie & Brooch: Gucci @gucci | Miniature Horse: Teeny Tiny Farms @the_teeny_tiny_farm_llc