
If you love nature and the outdoors, there is no better place to host your summer wedding than the West Virginia Botanic Garden in Morgantown. Julia and Jack first celebrated their special day with a Catholic ceremony and continued the festivities at The Terrace at Ribbs Run at the botanic garden with family and friends. This sweet couple’s West Virginia Botanic Garden wedding included small touches here and there to showcase their personalities and the importance of family.
It was so exciting to see Julia’s family again! I photographed Julia’s sister Ariana and her husband Nick’s wedding in September 2019. Julia graduated from WVU with a degree in music. She furthered her music journey by joining the master’s program at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. Here is one of Julia’s recitals from March 2023 (if you’d like to hear her sing!) Jack and Julia attended high school together but didn’t start dating until college. Being a very dedicated boyfriend, Jack would make multiple trips to visit Julia in Miami while she was away at school.
A Wildflower-Themed Wedding
Julia chose a wildflower theme for the wedding, along with the bridesmaid dresses symbolizing a rainbow. Her wedding dress was custom-made by one of her WVU professors Kym Scott, who owned Kym Scott Couture while living and attending school in Queensland, Australia. Julia’s gown was stunning and it really suited her personality. It was very delicate and detailed, which fit perfectly with Julia’s wildflower theme. The more I photographed Julia throughout the day, the more I could see her resembling a younger Julia Roberts. When Jack and Julia exchanged gifts via the bridal party while getting ready, Jack gave her a silver bracelet from Tiffany’s. This matched her necklace which is one of the most popular items that the company sells. Before the ceremony, Jack and Julia got some pictures of their two cute pups!
Italian Wedding Traditions
Jack and Julia’s wedding ceremony took place at St. Francis Catholic Church. Ariana, Julia’s sister sang Ave Maria during Catholic Mass, as Julia did for Ariana’a wedding. Ariana and Julia both have beautiful voices! Doug, Julia’s father, made the guest favors (he did the same for Ariana’s wedding), which was a little multipurpose dish. He also made homemade meatballs and sauce for dinner. They are a HUGE Italian family and cooking for everyone is Doug’s love language.
As in Italian tradition, guests throw candy and sugared nuts at the couple to symbolize a sweet marriage. In addition, five almonds are sometimes thrown to represent five wishes for the couple: health, happiness, wealth, fertility, and longevity. The La Tarantella is a joyous Italian wedding dance. The tempo increases throughout the music, symbolizing the couple’s happiness and the vibrant energy they bring to their marriage. These specific events took place during the reception and at Ariana’s wedding as well!
And we can’t forget about the infamous cookie table that is a popular wedding tradition in this part of the country. Julia’s grandma made all the cookies herself, and boy were they delicious!
Congratulations to Julia and Jack on their West Virginia Botanic Garden wedding this summer! I have enjoyed working with this lovely family again! Are you planning a wedding sometime next year that involves nature? Call the Botanic Gardens to book a spot and then email me to schedule a time to chat about your wedding photography!
Wedding Vendors
Ceremony Venue: St. Francis de Sales Catholic Parish
Reception Venue: West Virginia Botanic Garden
Catering: Biselli Foods
Groom/Groomsmen: Daniel’s of Morgantown
Florals: Bella Fiore by Jason Savage
Entertainment: Image Studios & Entertainment
Videographer: Sparks Media Agency
Cake/Dessert: Bonnie Belles
Invitations: Minted






































































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