Hannah Burton & Victor Shaheen
Whirlwind of Joy
Married
Jun 17, 2023
Richmond ,
Virginia
Photo Credit
Alex Tenser
Style Guide
Color Palette
Style
Rustic, Vintage, Whimsical
Season
Summer
The Proposal
Hannah and Victor got engaged at the University of Richmond, where they both attended law school. Victor had already graduated, and Hannah was in her final year. They had recently adopted a sheepadoodle puppy named Hazel, and they often took her for walks around Richmond. Since the campus was very close to their house, they frequently walked at the University of Richmond, with their favorite route being around the pond in the middle of the campus. One Sunday afternoon, Victor suggested they take Hazel for a walk at the pond, and they left the house to start their walk. Hannah vividly remembers asking Victor why he was wearing khaki shorts, and he said it was because they were the only clean pair he had.
As they approached the pond, they noticed a photographer sitting on a rock taking photos of the water and fall foliage. Victor slowed down behind Hannah and got down on one knee. Hannah turned around in surprise, asking, “What are you doing?!” There he was, the man of her dreams, holding the ring of her dreams, with their beloved puppy. It was then that she realized the photographer was actually taking their pictures, and she saw her mom’s head pop out from behind a tree along the pond. Her mom, sister, and best friend were hiding in the woods with champagne glasses, screaming with joy. As if that wasn’t enough, Victor had also planned a surprise engagement party that night with her friends and family.
In Preparation
When Hannah thought of wedding preparation, she thought of the word JOY and Kelsey at Glint events made it happen! The couple planned to get married after Hannah graduated from law school. The engagement lasted a year and a half, during which the couple planned their dream wedding.
Hannah always wanted to get married at the Country Club of Virginia, which boasts beautiful, sprawling, verdant gardens. The venue provided an indoor ballroom with access to the gardens with a tent where they could hold the ceremony. After the venue was checked off the list, Hannah decided on her color scheme, and though it was summer, she desired jewel tones of blue, purple, and peach. Working alongside Kelsey Walsh, wedding designer with Glint Events, she planned to have a garden ceremony which would be followed by cocktails and a plated dinner in the ballroom. Planning the wedding was one of the best experiences for Hannah’s life.
The wedding celebrations began with a welcome pickleball party on the Sunday before the wedding, followed by a bridal shower on Thursday and a surprise private church ceremony before the rehearsal dinner. It was a whirlwind of a week leading up to the big day.
The Big Day
Saturday, the day of the wedding, promised to be a marvelous day with its sunny skies. Hannah will never forget seeing the decorated venue for the first time – the hard work and planning executed beautifully.
For the ceremony, the couple wanted their sheepadoodle, Hazel, to be the flower girl. They spent time training her to walk down the aisle, and Hazel delivered a perfect strut on the very first try in the rehearsal. However, comedy ensued during the ceremony as Hazel ran to Hannah’s cousin seated among the guests. The couple still jokes that Hannah’s cousin had a hot dog in her purse. The comedic relief was welcomed among the 250 guests as it brought a lighthearted moment during the ceremony, which often feels serious, and was made perfectly imperfect.
The couple had three wonderful surprises during the night. The most memorable was when Hannah’s dad performed a song he wrote for the couple called “Lawyers in Love”. It was electric. He is retired and plays music around the outer banks during the summer – what a retirement! By the last chorus, Hannah and Victor (and their 250 guests) were belting out the lyrics. The second surprise was a Burton snowboard as their guestbook, Victor’s idea, and the third surprise of the night was Hannah DJing the after-party.
The Retreat
The couple was overjoyed to board a plane after the most perfect weekend of their lives. Hannah and Victor headed to the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay in Kauai, their favorite hotel chain due to its commitment to sustainability and exceptional service. The couple’s first vacation was at 1 Hotel Miami, and the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay had opened only four months before their wedding, making the couple feel like it was meant to be their honeymoon accommodation.
Kauai proved to be the perfect honeymoon destination as the couple searched for a place that provided a balance between activity and relaxation. Hannah and Victor went on scenic hikes among waterfalls, took a helicopter tour, snorkeled, and laughed at each other in their snorkeling gear. The couple plans to return to Kauai for their fifth wedding anniversary, and Hannah is already counting the days.
Featured Wedding Vendors
Photographer
Wedding Venue
Wedding Planner
Contributing Vendors
Bridal Shoes
Gucci
Wedding Cake
Sweet Fix
Bridesmaids Dresses
Revelry
Caterer
The Country Club of Virginia
Entertainment
Glint Events
Flowers
Sweet Root Village
Gown
Mira Zwillinger
Groom Tux
Alton Lane
Hair Stylist
Avenue 42
Engagement Ring
Fink’s Jewelers
Wedding Bands
Stephanie Gottlieb
Honeymoon
Reception Dress
Transportation
Veil