September 23, 2017 • Fort Lewis Lodge & Farm, Millboro
When Austin Hansen accepted Josh Cowden’s marriage proposal at sunset on the top of a lighthouse in San Francisco Bay in December 2016, there was little doubt about where the couple would tie the knot. Fort Lewis Lodge and Farm, a 3,200-acre estate in Bath County, has been in Josh’s family for three decades.
The bucolic country inn tucked into the folds of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley was one of the first places Josh brought the California-born Austin after the two began dating as students at the University of Virginia. After graduation, the pair visited frequently while living in Washington, D.C. “We wanted an upscale country wedding that would celebrate the natural setting,” says Austin. Choosing colors to reflect the farm at dusk—soft oranges, navy blue and dusty greens—the ceremony and seated dinner reception under a tent glowed with candlelight from lanterns and white lights strung overhead.
Photographer & Videographer: Jeremy & Ashley Mitchell, WeAreTheMitchells.com Wedding Planner: Barb Wired Event Management, BarbWiredLLC.com Wedding Gown: Monique Lhullier, MoniqueLhullier.com Florals: Jefferson Florist, TheJeffersonFloristAndGarden.com Cake: Little Hill Pastries, LittleHillPastries.com
For a complete list of Austin and Josh’s vendors, and for inspiration for planning your own big day, be sure to check out our 2018 Virginia Living Weddings issue.
