WEDDING BLOG

What do you do when your venue suddenly falls through, your partner is deployed, and you’re planning a wedding solo? If you’re Alex, you pivot, persevere, and end up having the wedding of your dreams at Birkby House. With a little help from her mom and best friends, Alex designed a celebration full of intentional touches, historic charm, and a joyful spring palette—even in late fall.

Alex and Wyatt originally had another venue lined up. But when that plan fell through just as Wyatt left for Navy deployment, Alex had to start over—alone. She admits, “In the moment when it happened, I wanted to cancel everything. And I’m so thankful I didn’t.”

Instead, she found Birkby House and immediately fell in love with its charm—especially the newly added conservatory and the front hallway’s vintage wallpaper. That wallpaper became the foundation for their entire wedding design.

“I abandoned my original color scheme and based the entire design off the wallpaper in the front entry hall,” Alex says. “We were having a late fall wedding, but I wanted more spring colors, and I found that was the perfect way to blend the two.” The resulting palette—light moss green, cream, dusty pink, light blue, and orange—brought a warmth that matched the unseasonably sunny 70-degree November day.

With such thoughtful design choices woven throughout the day, Alex knew she needed a photographer who could capture not just the look, but the feeling behind it all. She found that in Junebug vendor Ridge and Ramble. “Photography is so personal, and she was everything I was looking for. Her vision is organic and timeless, and I wanted our day to be about those small, unexpected moments captured.”

What We Love About This Birkby House Wedding:

• A fresh, spring-inspired color palette in a late fall setting
• A meaningful ceremony with a simple, traditional structure
• Personalized DIY details designed with the help of the bride’s best friend
• A late-night wedding favor guests actually wanted (sandwiches!)

Featured Vendor:

Ridge and Ramble

Rethinking Traditions to Make Room for Meaningful Moments

That same intentionality extended to other parts of the day. The couple skipped a formal rehearsal dinner in favor of a brunch at Tuscarora Mills (conveniently owned by the same people behind Birkby House), followed by a relaxed dinner at the bride’s parents’ home with out-of-town guests.

When the Look Matters Just as Much as the Feel

Alex and Wyatt approached their wedding-day style with personal intention. “I actually inadvertently ended up designing my wedding dress. I had something very specific in mind. After not really finding what I was looking for, I chose a design that was close and had someone alter it.” The result was a gown that felt entirely her own—classic, custom, and aligned with the vibe she had imagined from the start.

Wyatt had just one request when it came to the wedding day attire: “don’t make me wear my uniform.” Wanting the day to feel relaxed and true to who they are, he added a personal touch by gifting each of his groomsmen a stylish watch to wear. It was a small but meaningful gesture that brought everyone together while keeping the vibe authentic and low-key—perfectly in line with the rest of the celebration.

Keeping Some Traditions, Breaking Others

Some traditions were a must—like the ceremony. “I grew up Catholic and Wyatt did not, but it was important for me to have some type of religious ceremony.” Fr. Jason Lody officiated, keeping things simple, traditional, and meaningful.

On the flip side, the couple skipped a first look. “I wanted the first time he saw me to be when I was walking down the aisle. I was ultimately more interested in doing portraits together at night in and around the Birkby House property. They are some of my favorite moments that Kelsey captured perfectly.”

Creating a Birkby House Reception That’s Pure Celebration

The reception vibe was clear: celebration above all else. “Dancing is one of the best parts of any wedding. After an extremely stressful year of planning, deployment, new jobs, and moving—I wanted this just to be our time to celebrate.”

Thanks to Birkby House, that celebration unfolded in a space that felt just right. “I knew I wanted something different from the stereotypical barns and wineries of the area. And Birkby House was the answer to just that,” she says. “I spent the morning quietly relaxing on the upper porch just watching the space slowly start to come to life. It was the best way to truly take in the start to our day.”

From its conservatory’s glow to its vintage charm, their venue offered a stunning canvas for a wedding filled with personality and heart. And thanks to Alex’s vision, the entire day reflected a couple who knows how to weather change, and find joy on the other side.

Personal Details That Made a Big Impact

From sandwiches as favors to handmade signage, nearly every element of this wedding had a personal touch. “I did not want traditional wedding favors, so our favors were sandwiches from a local restaurant, Cafesano, which is owned by my MOH—because who doesn’t want a sandwich for the road after a long night of dancing?”

And about those design elements: “I enlisted my best friend and bridesmaid for help with all my DIY, as that is not my strong suit. She helped design and create my save the dates, invites, menus, table numbers, and every piece of signage.”

Junebug Tip:
When your first plan falls through, don’t be afraid to revisit venues you may have originally overlooked. Sometimes the perfect place isn’t the one you imagined—it’s the one that makes you feel at home.

The Beauty of Letting Go of Perfection

And that’s what Alex and Wyatt’s day reminds us. Weddings aren’t just about getting every detail right. They’re about staying open, being flexible, and trusting that even the most unexpected changes can lead to something even better. Whether it’s a vintage wallpaper that inspires your color palette or a porch moment that grounds you before walking down the aisle, the magic often happens when you let go of perfection and lean into what feels true to you.

So if you’re deep in the thick of wedding planning, overwhelmed by changes or curveballs, take a breath. Like Alex and Wyatt, you might just find that the best day of your life comes together not in spite of the detours—but because of them.