Jennifer and Jasen
December 18, 2016

How They Met:
Jennifer and Jasen met in September 2012 at a local bar. Jasen, who was known as DJ Cool J at the time, spotted Jennifer, the tall beautiful redhead, from across the bar and ended up asking all of her friends about her. As fate would have it, the two ended up running into each other in Downtown Richmond where they exchanged phone numbers. A week later, they went on their first date at a local Pho restaurant. Jennifer explains, “I was highly impressed with Jasen’s chopstick skills and felt embarrassed using a fork.” The two ended the night with a trip to Jefferson Hill Park and talked for hours, overlooking the city they both love, Richmond.

The Proposal:
Jasen asked Jennifer to be his wife in the fall of 2015. “Jasen knew how important my family was to me and figured that the annual Thanksgiving walk-to-the-beach in Norfolk would be a perfect time.” Jasen told no one, so the surprise wasn’t just on Jennifer when he dropped to one knee on the beach. Jennifer, of course, said yes!

The Details:
“Back in high school, I attended a wedding reception at The Mill at Fine Creek. The beauty of the mill ruins, the creek rushing by, and the homey, warm feeling of the house stuck with me through the years.” Since the two decided on the month of December, they wanted a space that had a beautiful indoor space and The Mill at Fine Creek fit the bill. They were so ahead of the planning game that they picked the venue only TWO days after getting engaged!

Jennifer and Jasen, wanted a “Winter Wedding” theme, rather than a Christmas wedding as their date would suggest. “I had a clear vision in my head, filled with white and gold and hunter green.” They wanted their special day to exude classic elegance, but be warm and inviting at the same time. Jennifer’s bridal party fit the theme with long hunter green dresses, while Jasen and his groomsmen looked regal in their classic tuxedos. “Not only did the hunter green pop against the natural colors of The Mill, it looked really good with my red hair!

For flowers, the happy couple wanted everything green and lush. They used farmhouse tables and classic white tablecloths to make the room not only cozy but also wonderfully bright. “One of my favorite things was the name cards placed on each plate.” They used magnolia leaves with gold lettering, which tied in the perfect touch of green and gold.

For favors, Jennifer’s mom worked very hard making 120 of their family’s famous sugar cookies. Jennifer’s dad used his wood-working skills to make a beautiful guestbook that their guests signed in gold. “It now hangs in my living room and the perfect reminder of my favorite day ever.”

Favorite Part of the Day:
“It’s so hard to pick one favorite wedding day moment, so I’ll narrow it down to two! Our first look was such a special moment. I snuck up on Jasen, tapped him on his shoulder, and watched as he turned around to see me in my dress…You could feel the genuine excitement between us! It brought tears to my eyes to see the love of my life, who was soon to be my husband. My second was the toasts! We actually had four and they were each equally hysterical and heartfelt.”

Biggest Challenge:
“I think the biggest challenge, as a bride, was making sure that my husband, family, and bridal party were all happy with the decisions I was making…I count my self blessed to have had my sister and mom by my side because, without them, there would have been so many more challenges!”

Best Piece of Advice:
“Your wedding is probably one of the few times that all the people that you love are in one place, laughing and enjoying each other’s company…Take time to say hi to everyone, but also take moments to yourself and just soak in your surroundings. Also, invest in airbrush makeup if you’re a crier, like me. It is SO worth it!”

See them in our latest issue here!