It may seem like Washington’s rain and cloudy sky forecast is endless, but Mary Katherine (Katy) Taylor and Joel Bassam are an example to us all in how to weather a storm. Though their October wedding date happened to coincide with Hurricane Joaquin-induced showers and a nor’easter in Virginia, where they’d planned their perfect vineyard wedding, this pair managed the grey skies like champs—and have these beautiful wedding photos by Sarah Shepard Photography to show for it.
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When the cute junior sat beside her in their Spanish class at University of Mary Washington, where Katy was a sophomore, she was smitten–so smitten that within a week she’d told her roommate she would marry him. When Katy and Joel started dating six months later, it seemed that her prediction might come true.
They’d dated four years when Joel and Katy decided to take their virtual, work-anywhere jobs on the road to spend a month in California with their bulldog Roux. After their long trip, they arrived at Katy’s great-grandmother’s house. Joel invited Katy out into the backyard, and got down on one knee beneath an ancient oak tree. A hidden photographer captured the moment, and after Katy had said yes, they let Roux into the yard to join in the celebration.
Katy and Joel had a little over a year to plan their vineyard wedding, but there’s only so much good planning can do when it comes to weather. Rain poured on the day of their wedding, but Katy took it as a good omen. “I felt it was some sort of blessing,” she says. “People arrived despite the weather, and we got married under twinkling lights with our closest family, friends, and our bulldog, Roux.”
The ceremony was moved to Pippin Hill’s covered porch, followed by a reception in The Granary that was accented with pops of pink and red dahlias and ranunculus. Pashminas were set out for any guests who felt chilly, while kids tables packed with coloring books and toys kept little ones entertained. At the end of the night, guests took home pots filled with a few of the bride and groom’s favorite things from their travels, before the bride and groom departed for their next adventure: a honeymoon in the United Kingdom.
VENDORS
Venue: Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards | Photographer: Sarah Shepard Photography | Event Coordinator: Sharon Becker | Bride’s Gown: Hayley Paige, Nordstrom | Groom’s Attire: J. Crew | Hair Dresser: Elise Sherman | Makeup Artist: Jeannette Moore | Florist: Nature Composed | Caterer: Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards | Transportation: Vintage Limos.Biz | Videographer: George Street Photo & Video | Music/Entertainment: Scott Chapman of Dr. DJ Entertainment | Invitations: Minted | Lighting: Blue Ridge A/V and Lighting | Photo Booth: Black Tie Events | Calligraphy: Shannon Kirsten | String Trio: Blue Skies Entertainment
Need a venue where you can host your wedding, rain or shine? Try our list of Washington’s best reception spaces.
Caroline Cunningham joined Washingtonian in 2014 after moving to the DC area from Cincinnati, where she interned and freelanced for Cincinnati Magazine and worked in content marketing. She currently resides in College Park.
