Rolling vineyards. Blue Ridge Mountains on the horizon. String lights catching the last of the golden hour light. Pippin Hill Farm has a way of making even a Friday night rehearsal dinner feel like the main event.

Margaret and CJ kicked off their wedding weekend here, surrounded by their bridesmaids, groomsmen, and the people who mean the most, with a table dressed in blue and white and a toast that set the tone for the whole celebration to come. Simply Chic Events designed the evening down to the last candle, and it’s easy to see why Pippin Hill is one of our favorite venues to photograph in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Tablescapes, String Lights, and Blue Ridge Views

The patio at Pippin Hill overlooks the vineyard and the Blue Ridge Mountains beyond it, and Simply Chic Events used every inch of that view — wine barrels, wildflower arrangements, and a table set for the people who mean the most.

Toasts, Champagne, and Golden Hour at Pippin Hill Farm

As the sun dropped lower over the vineyard, the toasts began — a night of laughter, a few happy tears, and champagne glasses raised again and again.

Wildflowers and Dusk Over the Vineyard

Margaret and CJ slipped away for a few quiet minutes in the wildflower meadow before the night wound down, the string lights glowing warm against the last blue light of dusk.

How We Approach Rehearsal Dinner Photography

A rehearsal dinner sets the tone for the entire wedding weekend, and we treat it that way. It’s often the first time we’re photographing a couple’s family and wedding party together, and some of our favorite images come from these lower-key, candlelit evenings — the toasts, the in-between laughter, the way a couple looks at each other before the busier wedding day takes over. We love being there for it.

Planning a Rehearsal Dinner or Wedding at Pippin Hill Farm?

Pippin Hill Farm is one of our very favorite Charlottesville, Virginia wedding venues to photograph, and we’d love to be part of your weekend there too. If you’re planning a rehearsal dinner or wedding at Pippin Hill — or anywhere in Virginia — we’d love to hear from you.

The Details

Venue: Pippin Hill Farm
Planning & Design: Simply Chic Events
Photography: Lindley Battle Photography