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Blossoming Love: Rachel always knew that she wanted to get married at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden because of her happy memories of visiting the grounds with friends in high school.
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Love at First Sight: The bride and groom decided not to see each other until the ceremony. “I didn’t want Alvin to see me until I walked down the aisle. I wanted to see true surprise,” Rachel says. “I was happy that we waited until that moment.”
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Mix and Match: Rachel loves color and variety, so she knew she didn’t want her bridesmaids’ dresses to match. “I also like to combine not only color, but style, pattern and material,” she says. “In addition, they could get something they are more likely to wear again.”
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On a Pedestal: Rachel already knew which bakery she wanted to enlist for her wedding cake. “I worked at Frostings Bakery back in high school,” she says. “I just knew their cake was the best of the best, so it had to be them.” She selected red velvet with cream cheese frosting for the couple’s confection, plus a variety of mini cakes for the guests in flavors including lemon, chocolate and Funfetti.
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Handmade Bouquets: Rachel is an art teacher at Centreville High School in Fairfax County, and when her students heard about her impending nuptials, some of them wanted to contribute. One pupil crocheted bouquets, and another helped assemble vases for them. “I knew I wanted to have my students be a part of my wedding in some way, and I’m happy that it was shown through their artwork,” she says.
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A Retrospective: While she was in high school, the bride annually visited Lewis Ginter on field trips to paint in the gardens. This piece she created in her sophomore year was formerly displayed on-site, and she brought it back for her big day as a cherished memento.
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Flower Power: Alvin’s nieces Eliza (age 6) and Chiara (age 4) were the flower girls. “They were excited but nervous,” Rachel says. In anticipation of the big day, once their dresses arrived, the girls practiced their wedding march and petal toss.
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Bold Blooms: Rachel worked closely with Joseph Barragan of Riverwood Designs to create her dream bouquet. “I trusted his expertise and was absolutely in love with how [my arrangement] turned out,” she says.
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Dazzling Feet: The bride donned Dolce Vita heels bedazzled with tiny crystals that complemented her sparkling wedding jewelry.
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Uplifting Group: Alvin’s groomsmen included three friends from childhood, two friends from college and Rachel’s sister’s fiance. “All of them were no-brainers; they have been a huge part of his life and also mine,” Rachel says.
Rachel Jenkins and Alvin Adinata met in 2014 through mutual friends during their freshman year of college at George Mason University. “We quickly turned from friends into more and made it official,” Rachel says. “From that point on, we dated for nine years before a proposal, and now I’m happily married to my best friend.”
She recalls how nervous Alvin was when he proposed in 2023 during a trip to Indonesia, where his family is from. While they were at the beach, Rachel wanted to swim, but Alvin wouldn’t go in past his calves, which she found strange. Then, he requested that they walk along the sand. “Next thing I know, he gives his little speech and gets down on one knee and asks right there,” Rachel says. “It was very special.”
Rachel’s love of spring inspired her desire for a vibrant, colorful wedding. She also had her heart set on Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden as the venue, thanks to her nostalgia for her teenage visits. “I went to Henrico High School’s Center for the Arts. Every year, we would take a field trip to Lewis Ginter to paint in the gardens,” she says. “I have some of the fondest memories there with my friends and creating art in the beautiful space.”
The couple selected the historic Bloemendaal House on the grounds of Lewis Ginter as the site for their marriage ceremony, where they were surrounded by friends and family. One of Rachel’s favorite moments from the day was when she and Alvin took a pause from the festivities to observe their reception. “It was just the two of us, and we made sure to have that time to take it all in — everyone we love all in one place to support and celebrate us,” she says. “It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime feeling.”
Coordinator and Florist: Riverwood Designs
Caterer: Restaurant Associates
Cake: Frostings Bakery
Hair and Makeup: Whole Life Beauty by KK Shoaf
DJ: Sho DJ
Photo Booth: Richmond Photobooth
