For a quarter century, Tara and Ben Wegdam have lived and worked in Virginia Hunt Country. But the path to finding their way home in the rolling hills of Virginia included stops in France and Holland along the way, places where they collected European sensibilities and an appreciation for its similarities to Southern hospitality and tradition.
After operating retail shops abroad, the couple moved back to the States 27 years ago, and immediately fell in love with an 1834 farmhouse in Marshall. Woodward Farm had both the land and history they envisioned when deciding to move to the Blue Ridge foothills. The property became the backdrop for raising their three children in the countryside and celebrating countless special occasions within their home’s nearly 200-year-old walls.
Beyond the farmhouse, Tara and Ben continued their retail ventures, opening the much-loved home goods boutique Crème de la Crème in the heart of Middleburg in 2000. Their little shop in the village has since expanded to five stores, where each one is like walking into a charming European boutique in a quaint Old World village. But their commitment to creating both a countryside home and a business that celebrates hospitality, beautiful details, and slow living has never wavered.
The busy holiday season is, of course, one that is celebrated each year at the shop, with twinkling ornaments and festive tablewares dotting the shelves, much of it sourced from abroad. At home, however, Tara and Ben find a respite from the hustle and bustle of the shop. Their holiday traditions are treasured, and their décor evokes a simplicity that’s fitting in the pastoral town of Marshall.
Each year, the family returns to their tried and true holiday trappings, decorating their home in the timeless palette of red and green. There are natural elements, like pinecones and greenery cut from their own yard. They display Santons de Provence figures—beloved heirlooms that depict traditional characters from Provençal village life in southwest France. Their santons are a nativity scene, brought back from their previous life in Ben’s native Netherlands. Paperwhites bloom on tabletop landscapes and coffee table vignettes alike. It’s this familiarity that brings both a warm and sentimental simplicity to the season.
Gathering in Nostalgia
The Wegdam family makes their pilgrimage to artist Cathy Zimmerman’s Buttonwood Farm in Middleburg to select the perfect oversized tree, one that brings back memories of rustic country holidays. Tara’s ornament collection is intentionally curated, with many of the wooden ornaments coming from Juliette Huber, an artist based in Flint Hill. Tara first stumbled upon her work years ago while decorating her second daughter’s nursery in paper-mâché marionettes from Huber’s shop (BoujourJulietteXo.com). The striking Eiffel Tower that stands proud amid the holiday décor is also Huber’s work.
Wooden ornaments are interspersed with the sparkle of glass bees and pears that Tara also sells at Crème de la Crème. Just next to the tree, vintage elements evoke a sense of memory, like a retro red wagon and an antique horse that was handed down from her grandmother.
The organic nature of the tree is echoed in the greens on the mantel. Tara cuts fresh greens—magnolia, pine, spruce, and fir—from her property and creates a freeform waterfall effect that spans its width. “The garland formed itself this way,” explains Tara. “I didn’t even need to use nails or wire. I kept it simple and inspired by the countryside.”
Sitting in his stately position presiding over the décor is an axis deer, shot by Tara’s mother at Y.O. Ranch in the Texas Hill Country. He’s made his way to Virginia, where his presence feels appropriately woodsy at the holidays.
On Christmas morning, the family will gather here for their annual tradition of slowly unwrapping each present. A drink station on Christmas morning kicks off the festive mood, along with snacks for sustenance, while each person takes their turn. “We make the opening of presents an occasion that lasts a long time,” says Tara.
Gifts wrapped in gold and green are tucked under the Christmas tree.
A German shorthaired pointer by Flint Hill artist Juliette Huber adorns a gift.
Entertaining in the Details
At the heart of her entertaining ethos is simplicity, and that leaves her time and space to think about the thoughtful details, whether tying rosemary on a napkin or adding an extra garnish to a cocktail. “Even people who don’t notice details have the feeling that someone paid attention to something. There was an effort put in to have people come over.”
Nowhere is that more apparent than in the dining room.
To set the stage for the centerpiece, Tara turns to fresh greenery from just outside her door, then mixes in flowers. The goal is an arrangement that doesn’t look highly curated and fussed over. “I like simple arrangements, as if you went out in the garden and picked things. Mix a few candles in for a dimly lit ambiance.”
Tara looks beyond traditional linens when creating a tablescape, and a thin John Derian quilt creates a lovely red and green backdrop for a holiday table. “Any textile can be used as a table covering. I love fabric. I’ll throw a piece of fabric on a table just because I like it! It’s all about the kind of feel we’re going for,” says Tara.
Silver pewter dinnerware from Italy-based company Match, antique coupe glasses, Christofle glasses and silver, and embroidered linens by Pomegranate add an understated elegance to the table. The look is shimmering yet subtle, punctuated by red berries that, while carefully coordinated, appear effortless at first glance.
One of Tara’s favorite delightful details is leaving a token at each place setting to add both texture and a moment of surprise. It could be a small wrapped gift or a bar of chocolate, but Tara also loves wish papers. These small papers make for an interactive moment at the end of the evening when each guest lights them on fire while making a wish. The papers float up into the air, taking the wish with them, and it’s become a beloved tradition.
Holiday drinks and a cheese and baguette board await the arrival of holiday guests.
A lounging wicker deer doubles as a Champage cooler in the living room. Huber’s blue and white Eiffel Tower is a focal point.
No detail gets overlooked at the Wegdams, including this elegant holiday cake with vanilla buttercream icing, decorated with rosemary and sugared berries.
A rosemary wreath, fresh-picked from Tara’s garden, serves as a centerpiece in the kitchen. Matching myrtle topiaries, pear ornaments, and a potted Crème de la Crème candle complete the holiday mantelscape.
The Wegdams’ dining room table, ready for entertaining.
Home for the Holidays
Throughout the season, the couple welcomes family and friends into their home for festive occasions, but Christmas isn’t complete without regional traditions like the Middleburg Christmas Parade, the Christmas service at Woodberry Forest School, where their son is a student, and a Christmas Eve candlelight service, which could be at their home church of Rectortown Methodist or at another house of worship with friends.
But, regardless of where the season takes them—and through the joyful yet long days at the shop—Woodward Farm is their merry retreat, all dressed up in its holiday best.
Tara and Ben Wegdam and their German shorthaired pointer, Joey, greet guests at their front door.
The front door garland was fashioned with magnolia, berries, and pine boughs, a combination that’s echoed in the vintage French metal buckets mounted on the wall flanking the entrance.
The Wegdams create an annual family Christmas card and preserve each one in a book that they enjoy revisiting year after year.
The Wegdams’ cherished Santon de Provence nativity figures, on display in their front hall, are nestled among eucalyptus, evergreen boughs, and candles.
Tara’s Holiday Entertaining Tips
As the owner of a shop that specializes in items to make homes warm and welcoming, it should come as no surprise that Tara knows a thing or two about effortless holiday entertaining. She focuses on thoughtful details and putting her guests at ease, but there’s a simple motto at the heart of everything she does: Don’t overcomplicate it!
Make Your Décor Multi-Task
Tara plans ahead to extend her fall and winter décor through the entire season. She’ll work on a foundation that can be easily spruced up for parties and occasions from November through December. “Set up your base, and you can just add fresh flowers and fresh greenery rather than starting from scratch,” she advises. “If I know my party theme is going to be green, white, and soft tones, I’m going to decorate to lead into that.”
Use the Real Stuff
“Always use real glasses and real dishes!” Tara insists, noting that it sets the tone, even for large groups. Don’t have a matching set big enough for your guest list? Think about what blends nicely. Then pull out the cloth napkins for dinner (but don’t hesitate to use whimsical paper cocktail napkins).
Consider Who is Coming to Dinner
Tara loves to set a table, and she’s learned there’s no one-size-fits-all formula. She carefully considers who’s coming to dinner and lets their personalities guide the décor. “Are these formal people? Relaxed friends? Do you know them well? Remember, you have guests over to break bread and be together. The goal is to make them comfortable.”
Put Out the Place Cards
Place cards shouldn’t be reserved for formal events! Tara enjoys thinking about who will hit it off or have fun together, and she places them accordingly. Her best tip is to keep in mind the guest experience. “If there are multiple adult children, and there usually are these days, I’ll sit them all together. They’ll have more fun!”
Always Plan Ahead—and Recruit Help
Tara’s shop, Crème de la Crème, is closed two days a year, Thanksgiving and Christmas. That means she’s often in the midst of the last-minute holiday shopping leading up to her Christmas Eve soirée. To pull off the pre-candlelight gathering, she plans ahead for a casual atmosphere and recruits her children to help. “One of my girls loves to cook, and the other is a great organizer!”
Keep Some Occasions Sacred
While the Wegdam family loves to entertain throughout the holiday season, they also emphasize spending time together without distraction. Christmas Day is an intimate occasion, and they’ve kept it that way purposefully. “We love to entertain, but we don’t do it on Christmas Day. We keep it small with just the five of us.”
Bowls brimming with berries line the dining room mantel, where Tara lights the sconces that deepen the holiday mood.
This article originally appeared in the December 2025 issue.
