Venke + Heath: Romantic Beach Wedding

On July 14 of 2018, Venke and Heath were married at Herrington on the Bay. Read more on their special day including photos from their Beach-front, Yacht Club Wedding and the story of how they met, their wedding planning process, and what advice they’d give to other couples about to get married.

How They Met

After returning to the only place Venke calls home, her and her “Mr. Hallmark” reconnected after 10 years apart. On their first Christmas together, they exchanged gifts and at the bottom of her stocking. There was a note in the shape of a heart asking her to be his girlfriend!

“I then knew for sure he was and is my Mr. Hallmark.” – Venke

The Engagement Story

On a weekend getaway in Busch Gardens Williamsburg, the couple enjoyed their time riding roller coasters, eating, drinking, and then taking in the skyline view across the park. As she was taking photos, Heath got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. At first she didn’t believe he was being serious but then immediately screamed “YES! YES!”

Wedding Planning Process

Venke and Heath were engaged for about 10 months before the wedding. Although they had no idea where they wanted to have it, they knew they wanted an outdoor wedding ceremony and indoor reception. The bride knew Brielle Woods, a wedding designer at Herrington on the Bay. She suggested the waterfront venue as the ideal place.

“She guided us along the entire planning and designing process, and it was a true blessing since it can get overwhelming.” – Venke

Big Day Recap

For Venke and Heath, the two most memorable moments were when Venke met her dad outside of their suite for his “first look” and the look on Heath’s face as she walked down the aisle. Though those two moments happened early in the wedding, the overwhelming happiness was felt throughout the entire night. Venke even said she felt like she was in a Hallmark Wedding movie!

What about the details?

The couple’s vision was to have a romantic, yet beach-themed wedding. For the bridesmaids, Venke chose different light-colored dresses for each girl while the men wore light grey tuxes and each groomsman had a different colored tie to match the bridesmaids. The beautiful floral arrangements accented the dresses perfectly. In addition, they had wooden and floral signs throughout the ceremony and reception. The cake was a “naked cake” with a wooden cake stand accented with a floral arrangement on each tier.

What wedding advice do you have for other couples?

Their best piece of advice is to listen to your wedding designers and take time to enjoy the process. They add that while planning can be stressful, it will all come together in the end.

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