From Elle Ellinghaus Design: “Cue “My Best Friend’s Brother” by Victoria Justice. Over a decade ago, Dana was crushing hard over her BFF, Sophia’s brother, Anthony, and hoped they would get married someday thinking it would be an added bonus that Sophia and Dana could become sisters! Little did she know, the feelings were mutual! On Valentine’s Day in 2019, Anthony confessed his feelings for Dana and after two years, the two got engaged! Dana and Anthony’s “happy place” was Anthony’s family’s lake house estate in Virginia, so naturally, it made it the perfect place for the two to get married. Dana had a dream of a tented wedding, but when the Groom’s family started renovating the historic property, she was hooked. The couple’s wedding planner, Elle Ellinghaus Design and Florist, Designs By Oochay completely transformed this private lake house into the wedding weekend of the couple’s dreams–starting with a Casino themed Welcome Party followed by an intimate and dreamy Rehearsal Dinner in the civil war era barn, breathtaking lakefront wedding and reception with a mountain view and complete with parlor style donut shop, and finishing with post-wedding weekend brunch. Elle Ellinghaus used the blush, feminine style that Dana loved so much to highlight the family’s favorite aspects of the property, and turned this historic venue into a wedding dream.

The weekend started with a casino-themed welcome party at the family’s estate. The estate quickly transformed into a swanky pink and white casino and guests enjoyed pink bills for guests to spend on every casino game imaginable. Their signature cocktails had floral sphere ice and casino-themed imprints. The following night was the couple’s dream rehearsal dinner. Elle Ellinghaus Design and Designs By Oochay transformed the civil war era barn by draping soft silk, floral, and greenery throughout the barn’s pillars. John Hall from Washington Talent played soft music on the piano in the background to a perfectly plated dinner by Occassions Catering. The next day, an aisle of rose petals led a path down the hill to the lake and to the biggest arch of roses to say “I do.” The break in the middle of the arch was for the mountains in the background to be visible. Cocktail hour surrounded a fountain lined with floral, original ice house-turned-bar and a piano overflowing with floral with a backdrop of the Virginia mountains and the picturesque lake. Dinner was on the further side of the property where custom-made posts to match the barn held bistro lights overtop of chic seating. The linens, chairs, and floral were romantic and elegant while guests dined al fresco under the twinkling lights and clear sky.

The barns had been completely restored to the time period and were used for rehearsal dinner, dancing, and desert creating lounge & conversation spaces. Tree trunks still intact that were used on the ceiling from hundreds of years ago were filled with greenery and accented with drape, the music peaked out a barn window to be hidden from the guests, and the cake had a floral-covered wooden swing that hung from the tin roof. The restored silo was turned into a swanky bourbon bar and the main barn was transformed into a patisserie. The couple mentioned to Elle over and over again that a wall of donuts was a necessity. Complete with a custom-made “Donut Stop the Party” archway over glass display cases, striped awning, and cake-shaped floral, it also served lattes and had a grilling station for the donuts and ice cream toppings. It was the anti-barn wedding at this historic property and it worked so well.”

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