By Kim Moody, The Estate at River Run
You spend months, sometimes even years planning a wedding. But when the big day finally arrives, the whole experience can seem to pass in a heartbeat. What if you could slow time, stretch the magic, and experience the moments you worked so hard to create? A wedding weekend makes this dream possible!
A multi-day wedding weekend not only offers convenience, but also presence. Experience space to breathe, time to connect with your partner, your people, and even yourself before stepping into the spotlight.
The Deeper Value of Time
One of the most underrated luxuries in modern weddings is time.
A traditional wedding day often runs on a tightly packed timeline: hair and makeup before sunrise, a flurry of photos, then vows, dinner, and dancing, all in a single emotional whirlwind.
When more time is built in, it lets the experience unfold with intention and ease. This can come in the form of an extra afternoon or even a full three-day weekend. This allows to not only celebrate the marriage but also live it with the people you love.
The emotional benefits are significant:
- You and your partner get grounding moments together before saying “I do.”
- Both families have space to bond instead of just bumping into each other in line at the bar.
- You feel the shift from planning to presence — and so do the guests.
Logistically, it’s a game-changer!
- There’s time to drop off alcohol, décor, and personal items the day before.
- Hair and makeup can be onsite, not rushed or squeezed into a hotel bathroom.
- Amenities like a pool, sauna, or soaking tub that might otherwise go untouched are enjoyed.
If this sounds like your vibe, find a venue where the entire property can become a private retreat. Host a welcome dinner, get ready in grand suites, take golden-hour portraits with the photographer the day before, and still have time for a nap or a late-night swim. It’s about allowing space around each moment, so you don’t miss the meaning in the margins.
The Rhythm of the Weekend
The Day Before
Arrive to the venue with attire, gifts, and accessories in tow. Everything is dropped off in the exact space where you’ll be getting ready — no last-minute shuffling needed. If the venue allows alcohol, have it delivered, checking one more thing off the list.
Set out pajamas and thank-you gifts for the wedding party, then settle into the rhythm of the weekend with ease. There’s time for a sauna or a peaceful nap before the festivities begin. Meet the wedding party and officiant for a relaxed rehearsal, walking through the ceremony steps together — clear, calm, and unrushed.
Afterward, it’s off to the rehearsal dinner. Whether it’s an elegant meal in the formal dining room or a casual al fresco gathering on the terrace. Imagine sharing stories, hugs, laughter, and toasts with your closest circle. Maybe just the two of you sneak off for a golden-hour photo session with the photographer or enjoy a quiet glass of prosecco together as the sun sets over the river.
The night winds down with a late-night swim or cozy hangout with the wedding party. No curfews. No driving. Just presence.
Wedding Day
Wake up to the smell of breakfast in the formal dining room. Coffee served in beautiful teacups, fine China at your fingertips, and laughter floating around the table in a room full of people who love you. No one is commuting. No one is stressed.
Hair and makeup will already be set up. There’s a midday break for lunch in the foyer gallery. Get dressed slowly, breathe deeply, then — it’s time.
Ceremony. Cocktail hour. Dinner. Dancing. Late-night food. Afterparty.
And when the last song plays, you don’t start packing. You start soaking, literally, in a hot bath with your new spouse, surrounded by peace, not cleanup.
The Day After
You wake gently. There’s a light breakfast in the gazebo, time for a sauna or a swim, and space to relax into the final event: a farewell brunch by the pool. Change into resort wear and perhaps take one last soak. The wedding team has already packed your belongings.
All without ever leaving the property.
A Weekend That Feels Like You
A multi-day wedding weekend transforms an event from a one-day whirlwind into a fully immersive experience.
It gives you time to laugh, pause, rest, dance, and connect.
It gives the guests space to settle in and celebrate without feeling rushed.
And it gives your story the setting it deserves.
Because the best moments aren’t always the ones on the timeline.
Sometimes, they’re found in the in-between.
As co-owner of The Estate at River Run and a seasoned wedding planner of more than two decades at Kim Moody Design, Kim Moody has shaped countless love stories into extraordinary events. Her vision, expertise, and dedication have made her both a trusted industry leader and the creative force behind one of Virginia’s premier wedding destinations.
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