Story by Liesel Schmidt | Photography by Bri & Wes Photography
They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and while that doesn’t always hold true, it certainly proved the case for Katherine Snow and Andrew Cameron, who met in 2015 during the interview weekend for the Young Adult Service Corps program to which they both applied. Both seniors at their respective schools in different states—Andrew, at JMU, while Kate attended Sewanee: The University of the South in Tennessee—they parted ways determined to keep their initial chemistry going, despite the fact that they knew they would soon be separated by even greater distance during their year of service abroad.
For the next year, Facetime, texting, and long letters became their lifeline, keeping them connected over the 14-hour time distance between Hong Kong and Costa Rica; and when they were finally reunited, their love had only grown that much deeper. “It was one of those situations where the challenges were most likely going to work against us, but they didn’t—they just made us stronger!” Kate contends.
Three years of dating proved that they were indeed meant to be, and just a week before their three-year anniversary, American Association of Port Authorities employee Andrew proposed on Father’s Day in 2018. “Andrew planned a Father’s Day celebration tour and tasting at Stone Tower Winery in Leesburg with both of our families. When we got to the Cabernet Franc vines, Andrew got down on one knee and proposed with my great-grandmother’s diamond engagement ring in front of our families,” recalls Kate, who works as a Marketing Specialist for The Society for Human Resources Management in addition to teaching barre classes at Studio Barre Alexandria. “Obviously, I said yes, and we celebrated with lots of champagne afterwards!”
There was cause for celebration again just over a year later when Kate walked down the aisle at Woodlawn Plantation in Alexandria to meet Andrew at the altar wearing a sleek, fitted Vera Wang gown with a trumpet skirt. And after the two exchanged vows, the newly married Camerons joined their guests at an elegant tented reception on the grounds, dancing the night away before cutting into a beautiful ivory three-tier pumpkin cake with Italian buttercream and a layer of dulce de leche, adorned with gold touches and real flowers. “We had asked that the design of the cake would include a fondant chocolate Lab on our cake in honor of our fur baby, Eloise; but due to a miscommunication with the bakery, it was left off the cake,” Kate says. “Our wedding planner, Amanda Chambers, called her husband to have him buy a ceramic dog figurine, which she and our caterer, Claire from Design Cuisine, then painted brown during cocktail hour and put on the cake. I was seriously blown away! They knew how important it was to me, and they didn’t want it to be left off. I will never, ever forget that.”
After a sweet send-off from their guests, they honeymooned in Thailand before returning to start their new life together in Alexandria.
The Details
Venue: Woodlawn Plantation, Alexandria, VA
Photographer: Bri & Wes Photography
Planner: Amanda Chambers of Colorfully Yours Events
Dress: Vera Wang, Carine's Bridal Atelier
Engagement Ring: Great Grandmother's (restored by King's Jewelry)
Flowers: The Enchanted Florist
Cake: Fluffy Thoughts
Catering/Rentals: Design Cuisine
Entertainment: Band, The Bachelor Boys
Car Services: DC Livery