Wintry Ties

by

Erin Uhle and Brian Morgan became engaged in July 2013 and set the date for January 25, 2014 — an unnervingly short timeframe for a Brooklyn couple trying to stage a Richmond wedding. “I’m not one who’s been planning my wedding since I was 14,” said Erin, who graduated with Brian from Trinity Episcopal School in 2001. “I tried to do it myself, but I ended up with a wedding planner, which really helped.”

Erin became a frequent presence on Interstate 95 between New York and Virginia, and the wedding came together perfectly, with only a massive cold front putting a chill on the day. “It was freezing cold and overcast, and there was snow on the ground, but everyone was able to make it,” she said. A knee-length sleeveless dress made the prospect of outdoor photos painful, but the bride was saved by a cashmere and wool wrap made for her by one of her mother’s friends.

The couple had a traditional nuptial mass but put their own touches on the reception. The celebration was held at the Virginia Holocaust Museum, a site that raised a few eyebrows but had the open barn/warehouse feel Erin wanted. “I fell in love with it,” she said. “I loved the historical significance of the building.”

Dinner was served family-style to keep food warm and encourage guest interaction. Erin doesn’t eat sweets, so the couple searched online for alternative wedding cakes. They settled on a four-tiered “cheese” cake. “Erin and I love cheese — there’s at least three varieties in our refrigerator at any given time,” Brian said. “I was really drawn by the fact it was a creative alternative that actually resembled a wedding cake.” A cupcake and dessert table satisfied the sugar cravings of friends and relatives. Instead of throwing her bouquet, Erin had the disc jockey read a letter she had written to the most influential woman in her life — her mother, whom she presented with her flowers.

January 25, 2014

CHURCH: St. Bridget Catholic Church

RECEPTION: The Virginia Holocaust Museum

WEDDING PLANNER: Events by Elizabeth Palmer

OFFICIANT: Monsignor William Carr

GOWN: Theia (Saks Fifth Avenue)

FLORIST: Flowers by Zoie

CATERER: Champagne Taste

D.J.: Choice Entertainment (Bill Gilliam)

DESSERT TABLE: Sweet Fix

LIGHTING: Lighting Professors