Autumn Soirée

by

Couples

It wasn’t exactly love at first sight for Christian Tiller and William Casey. The two met in 2011 during then-Gov. Bob McDonnell’s internship program. Christian, a Randolph-Macon College alumna, was in the press office, while William, who was attending Harvard graduate school, was in the finance department. They shared a desk one day, but it took some joint projects, happy hours and solo dates to get the sparks flying. Christian says she realized they had a lot in common. William says he found her interesting and loved her great attitude.

When it came time to plan their fall wedding, the couple became attached to the intimate setting of The Manor House at King’s Charter in Hanover. They used various parts of the venue to make it feel like a much larger space than it is. First, the ceremony was held outside under the gazebo. There was no backup plan for weather. “Christian was checking every weather app the week before the wedding,” William says. During the nuptials, William’s brother Mike Casey played the keyboard, and Christian’s grandmommy, Brenda Robinson, read a poem she wrote for the couple.

In the garden area, guests enjoyed a cocktail hour featuring his and hers signature cocktails. Dinner was served family-style on the lawn before everyone was invited inside for cake and dancing. At party’s end, the entire bridal party was whisked away in an open-air trolley.

Christian and her mom, Lori Tiller, planned every detail of the big day, right down to the programs adorned with silhouettes of the bridal party. She enjoyed the process, but she says she wishes she had someone to help on the day to relieve her mom of the stress. So she’s doing her part to make sure no other brides (or their moms) are strained by interning with Events by Elizabeth Palmer, a local wedding planner.

October 5, 2013

CEREMONY/RECEPTION: The Manor House at Kings Charter    

CAKE: The Buttercream Bee    

CATERING: IK Catering    

HAIR: Mary Ellen Nunnally, Bangs Spa & Salon    

MAKEUP: Kristy Wingfield, Richmond Make Up Artist    

DJ: Jason Paige, Celebrity Radio DJs    

FLORIST: Flowers by Kay