Wedding Day

The Seclusion

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

The start of a new year often brings new beginnings, and this holds especially true for us. As Jane Austin wrote in Pride and Prejudice, “A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment.” Our life changing odyssey began on January 1st of 2024. We talked throughout the next few nights and often into the early morning with conversations that never strained. Our first date of Blue Cow ice cream then a nice dinner embodies the both of us so well. And like two little love birds, we’ve been inseparable since that night. The truth is our story has been like a never-ending dream. Not a single friend or family member who saw us together asked if we were moving too fast or voiced that maybe we should take things slow. It was obvious to the world that we finally found our soulmate, our other half, and our partner for life. We could write about our many weekend adventures, trips to new cities, the baseball stadiums we’ve seen, the celebrations, the many hikes, the challenging runs, the endless puns and even the story behind how our wedding came together. Those tales are well worth the time. However, we’ll keep this on point and fast forward to the first weekend in November 2024.

The Beginning 

The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina captivated us from our first visit. The grounds have a natural romantic allure that makes it the perfect place for a wedding proposal. I had the ring and the place. I simply needed the right time. Earlier that fall Asheville, North Carolina was severely damaged by a catastrophic flood. The Biltmore also received damage and closed for a period to rebuild and clean up. All of this occurred after the proposal plan was created. In Biltmore Village there is an old stable on the grounds that doubles as a wedding venue. When we visited the estate earlier that spring the stable was being set up for that exact purpose. We walked through the stable doors and under the old wooden beams just to get a glimpse of what the venue could possibly hold. Wren walked further inside while I stood and watched her as she took in the romantic vibes. When Wren turned around to face me, she smiled. There was something in that moment that clicked for us—we are getting married. We didn’t say it aloud, but months later we told each other that this moment was when we knew. I wanted to recreate that same experience for Wren but there was a slight problem. Because of the flood it was impossible to know if the stable had been damaged. The Biltmore reopened the first weekend of November and under the guise of visiting to help support one of our favorite destinations, we headed out. To my relief the stable and its’ surrounding area wasn’t damaged. The proposal was still on. After an amazing dinner at the Inn we headed into the Village for a walk around 10pm. Christmas music was playing from hidden speakers, the paths illuminated with perfect lighting, and best of all, we had the place to ourselves. We walked up to the stable and set our things down. The stable itself was locked but that created no problem. There is a well-kept grassy area in front of the stable that was my real target. We walked hand in hand to that spot and with one knee on the ground I proposed. After an initial response of, “Are you sure?!” Wren did say yes. We spent the next hour dancing (and taking pictures) to Christmas music in that little grassy area by the stable.

The Proposal

Our Story

Click on photo to see full image

Photos

Anna Montgomery

Noel Turner

Tracy Schaefer

Mary Semler

Zara Zahid

Mike Dove

David Dove

Wes Poff

Nick Hoyt

Ben Hoyt

Henry Hoyt

Charlotte Hoyt

Amelia Montgomery

Olivia Hoyt

Elaine Dove

Joann Hoyt

Wedding Party

Sage

Olive 

Ivory

Gold

Lavender

Our Wedding Colors

Is parking available at the venue?Yes, parking is available at The Seclusion. If you choose to drive and leave your car over night, it has to be picked up by 9am on Sunday. Will there be transportation provided?There will be no provided transportation. The Seclusion has two main routes from I-81, depending on your direction. Please note there are some back roads and The Seclusion's main entrance is up a unpaved driveway. When Should We ArrivePlease aim to arrive around 3:30 pm and no later than 3:55 pm. Are kids welcome?Unfortunately, no. While we love your little ones, our wedding is going to be an adults-only event so that everyone can relax and enjoy the evening. We appreciate you making arrangements ahead of time and leaving the kids at home so you can celebrate with us. Can I have a plus one?No, our goal is to keep our very special day as intimate as possible, we are choosing to celebrate with only our closest family and friends. Thank you for respecting our wishes. What is the attire?Wedding attire is semi-formal. Ladies should wear either a maxi, midi or cocktail dresses and the gentlemen should wear a suit and tie. What kind of shoes should/shouldn't I wear?We recommend you do not wear stiletto heels. There are gravel and grassy areas that you might have to walk in so wear chunky heels or sandals. We don't want you ruining nice shoes or breaking any ankles. Make sure you're ready to dance! What will the weather be like?It's always a gamble with March weather in Virginia! Weather ranges from low 30s to 60s or could be in the 70s. We recommend looking up the weather forecast prior to the wedding date. The ceremony will be indoors. The Seclusion has an expansive covered patio that will be used during cocktail hour and for the reception setup, so prepare accordingly for the weather.

Room Blocks We have reserved a block of rooms at the Hampton Inn Lexington-Historic District. If you're interested in using one of our room blocks call the hotel directly. For the discount you'll need to use code HDW. There are numerous hotels and short-term rentals available in the Lexington area. We look forward to celebrate with everyone!

Located in Lexington, Hampton Inn Lexington-Historic District is in a rural location, within a 15-minute walk of Stonewall Jackson House and Stonewall Jackson Grave. Free self parking is available onsite. A complimentary buffet breakfast is served daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM.

Hampton Inn Lexington-Historic District

The Georges occupies five buildings on Main Street in Lexington, Virginia, a quaint town steeped in history and located in the heart of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Each building is a unique piece of the past, revitalized with fine accommodations.

The Georges

The Gin Hotel, Ascend Hotel Collection

Free self parking is available onsite. A complimentary continental breakfast is served daily from 6:00 AM to 9:30 AM.

Wingate by Wyndham Lexington

Roanoke Regional Airport is the closest airport if flying in for the wedding.

Wren & Joshua

Wren & Joshua

Registry