A Magnolia Mansion Wedding in Providence Forge, Virginia

Brides

Aug 6

A relaxed spring wedding full of charm, champagne, and the best celebration ever!

Kenzie and Jon got married on a warm April day at Magnolia Mansion in Providence Forge, Virginia, and it was the kind of wedding that felt good from the start. Not because everything was perfect (although the venue is stunning and the decor was everything), but because the energy was effortless and the focus was on simply having the best day ever. The way it should be!

They did everything on-site, from getting ready to the final splash into the pool at the end of the night. Magnolia Mansion ended up being the perfect home base for the kind of wedding day they wanted! Zero stress, just really amazing people, food and drinks, and a beautiful space to celebrate their marriage.

Kaylee with Blue Veil Wedding Co was easily one of the most efficient, hardworking, kind, genuine and just all around best planners to work with. She planned and coordinated this day with such ease and grace, and I can’t wait to photograph another wedding day with her!

Getting Ready at Magnolia Mansion

If you’ve toured Magnolia Mansion, you’ve probably seen the pink room upstairs! You can get ready in their huge suite with soft pink walls, high ceilings, natural light pouring in, a four poster bed, and a clawfoot tub (I knowww!)

It’s like it was designed for wedding mornings. The vibe with the girls was iconic - music playing, friends doing their makeup cross-legged on the floor, jumping on the bed in matching pajamas, helping each other with lashes and earrings. It felt like girlhood all grown up. Just so, so fun!

Kenzie stepped into her dress with her mom by her side. There were tears, hugs, deep breaths. She also wore blue, Betsey Johnson bedazzled sneakers all day, for ceremony, portraits, all of it! They were TOO cute, so comfy looking, and fit the fun vibe of their day perfectly.

While the girls were upstairs, the guys were hanging out down by the pool drinking beers, playing pool (actual pool) in the pool house, and slowly getting dressed in the downstairs suite. The mansion is laid out in a way that gives both groups their own space to enjoy the morning without feeling cramped at all. From a photographer’s perspective, that setup is so ideal. I could bounce between the two groups with zero stress and no need to coordinate additional travel or parking.

Kenzie also shared a first look with her dad before the ceremony, just the two of them in the front entryway of the house. She walked down the stairs for the reveal, and this moment between her and her dad was so sweet, and such a great moment to share right before walking down the aisle.

What It’s Actually Like to Get Married at Magnolia Mansion

Magnolia Mansion isn’t just a pretty house with pretty gardens (though it absolutely is that). It’s a venue that genuinely makes you and your guests feel at home. Everything about the layout, from the upstairs getting ready rooms, to the ceremony lawn out front, to the poolside reception area, makes the day feel easy. No awkward venue transitions, no stress about where to go next. You’re not herding guests into a shuttle or running behind because hair and makeup happened off-site. You get to just wake up and enjoy your wedding morning.

There’s also enough space that your wedding day feels like yours. You’re not sharing a huge venue with another couple or rushing through a space with back-to-back bookings. We had full access to the mansion throughout the day, which gave everyone space to settle in and enjoy it all. That might sound small, but it makes a huge difference when you're trying to stay present and soak in every moment of your day! It flies by! Choose a space that protects your joy and the full experience of your wedding day.

From a photography standpoint, the lighting is amazing. The pink room upstairs gets that soft natural light that makes skin tones glow. The front yard is great for family formals, the garden and pool areas have so much variety for portraits, and the fountain is beautiful for ceremonies. It’s also helpful that there are shaded areas in both front and back, that is so helpful for those full sun, midday ceremonies.

And shoutout to the team that works there! They’re warm, flexible, welcoming, and you can tell they care so much about the couples who get married in their space. This is a team that works together flawlessly and makes things easy.

Ceremony in the Garden

Kenzie & Jon’s wedding ceremony took place right in front of Magnolia Mansion’s fountain, a space that feels elegant and relaxed at the same time. Boonie’s Buds Floral Co. added greenery and vines to the fountain to give it that soft, romantic texture. It felt natural, and truly celebrated the effortless vibe of the day and the feel of the venue.

As guests arrived, they passed a framed photo collage reading,

“Love is the whole thing. We are only the pieces,”

surrounded by old family wedding photos. It set the tone before anything even began. This was going to be so full of heart.

Kenzie’s grandmother walked as the flower girl and owned it, and Jon’s face when he saw Kenzie was completely undone. You could tell how much the moment meant to him. A reminder to couples that if that aisle moment feels sacred to you, have it. No one should force you to have a first look if it doesn’t feel right to you.

Kenzie’s dad walked her down the aisle and then stayed up there to officiate the ceremony himself, which made it feel even more personal and sweet. He spoke as both a father and someone who knows them so well, and it added a warmth you just can’t get from a hired officiant.

Everything about the ceremony felt like it unfolded on its own time. No rushing. No over-choreographed moments. Just a gathering of people genuinely excited to watch two people they love get married.

Portraits at Magnolia Mansion

One of the best parts about having your whole day at Magnolia Mansion is how much time it gives you back. There’s no driving between locations, which means we could roll right into portraits without worrying about losing light or running late. Kenzie and Jon kept it simple, we started right in front of the house for those classic, clean portraits that look timeless against white columns.

We did a few of them up on the balcony, and then wandered into the woodsy area around sunset for a few more quiet shots. The wooded areas along the front driveway get this beautiful filtered light in the late afternoon that feels like something out of a movie.

Reception by the Pool

Their reception took place under the tent out back, right by the pool. Magnolia Mansion’s tent is one of the better ones I’ve seen at a venue, it’s open and airy but still feels like part of the property.

The color palette leaned into fresh spring vibes with a lot of blue and white, soft greens, and touches of wildflower inspired colors. Their seating chart was printed on blue-and-white floral drapery, hanging behind the cake (which was homemade by family, decorated with flowers, and so tasty). Right next to it was a champagne tower, already stacked and ready for the party to kick off.

Entrances kicked off so good! Their friend came in as the “beer guy” in jorts and a full beer holster, passing out cold drinks to laughing guests. It set the tone immediately, this night was going to be SO fun above all else.

Kenzie and Jon’s first dance was so them! They spun around, laughed, and were so clearly in their own little world. They weren’t performing for anyone. They were just in it. And if you know them, that tracks completely.

Jon and his mom shared a super sweet first dance, and Kenzie’s dad pulled out an electric guitar for a surprise performance. He jumped around with Kenzie, full head-banging, laughing, and absolutely going for it. It was easily one of my favorite father-daughter dances I’ve seen! Guys, do something FUN for your first dances with your parents! When else do you get to make core memories with your mom and dad like that?

Later on, Kenzie changed into a short sequin dress with her sneakers still on, and we took a few fun flash photos of just the two of them jumping on the bed and being adorable in the bridal suite. Kenzie had the idea to re-enter the dance floor to Pink Pony Club because why not, and their DJ Fordson Labs was so happy to make it happen for them! Everyone cheered like crazy, including me!

To wrap it all up, the night ended the only way it ever could have, with the entire wedding party (and then some) jumping into the pool. Full send, and as a group which was too cool. Kenzie and Jon truly planned a day that prioritized fun at absolutely every turn, and honestly what a way to celebrate a marriage and create a day that is unforgettable.

Photography Tips for Magnolia Mansion

If you’re getting married at Magnolia Mansion, here are a few things to keep in mind from a photography standpoint:

Planning your timeline around the light. The front of the mansion gets soft, even light most of the day, which is amazing for ceremonies and portraits. If you love a golden hour moment, the woods behind the house are beautiful, especially in early spring when the sun is lower. The sun sets just over the roof of the mansion if you’re standing in the front yard.
Keep your getting ready rooms tidy-ish. The pink room photographs best when bags and clutter are tucked out of sight so you can utilize every beautifully decorated corner. There isn’t an “ugly” corner of the room, it all is so gorgeous! I usually help with that as I shoot, but it’s worth having one person on “stuff duty” to keep most of the space free of clutter.
Use the balcony. Even if it’s just for a few portraits or a first look with your partner or parent, it’s a beautiful backdrop that’s unique to this venue, especially around sunset with the light fades just behind the mansion.
you have options for ceremony spaces. Have your ceremony on the fountain lawn, or tucked into the woods on the pavilion for a more rustic feel. Both are stunning, shaded options for guests depending on time of day.
take all of your portraits on-site. The property has everything you need: the classic mansion, front yard and garden, the woods, the pool, and so many other lovely little corners. It has enough variety that you’ll love how your gallery flows.
Build in margin. Magnolia Mansion makes it so easy to stay on schedule. Still, avoid cramming your timeline. Kenzie and Jon had enough breathing room to not rush through getting ready, be fully present and have fun during portraits, and get those fun unplanned shots (like dancing on the bed or re-entering to a favorite song). That extra space makes room for the best memories on your wedding day.

Their Take

Sometimes the best way to explain what it’s like to work with me is to let a client do it. Kenzie and Jon left me this review after their day:

“When there is a moment to be captured, Molly is there, waiting, with camera zoomed and focused. The way she guides people into positions and poses is so effortless, you’re hardly aware she’s directing them. The greatest day of my life now lives on forever due to Molly’s talent and effort. If anyone was born to do anything, Molly was born to be a photographer.”

That’s exactly what I aim for! To make the experience feel easy, make you feel supported, and protect your joy and presence on your wedding day. My job is to hold space for real moments, and to create work that couldn’t be for anyone besides you. Kenzie & Jon were such a dream couple to spend the day with, and I am so thankful to have witnessed and celebrated their marriage with them!

Why Couples Like You Make Me Love This Work

There’s a certain kind of person who makes wedding photos like this possible, the kind who doesn’t need perfection. The kind who wears sneakers under her dress and jumps in the pool at the end of the night. Kenzie and Jon are that couple, and if you’re reading this thinking that might be us, I hope you know how freeing it is to let go of the pressure and just enjoy your day.

Because my honest take is that the best photos don’t come from holding onto control. They come from joy. From laughter, from connection, from being unapologetically yourselves in a space that makes you feel comfy. Magnolia Mansion gave Kenzie and Jon the perfect setting, but it was their energy that made it so good. Forever thankful for you two, and cheering you guys on!