A Two Rivers Love Story: Michael & Jillian McGraw

Jillian Perlow and Michael McGraw never had an official "first date." The first time they hung out, just the two of them, Jillian invited Michael over to her apartment for a fun-filled day of bocce and other lawn games. While the game did not go according to Jillian's plan (Michael ended up winning), they shared a lovely day outside getting to know each other for hours and hours!

A little over four years after they began dating, Michael and Jillian headed to the beach, a special place to both of them, with family. On the last day of their trip in the Outer Banks, Michael snuck out to pick up coffee and one of their favorite foods in Corolla, french toast bagel sandwiches from Lighthouse Bagels. When he got back to the house, he woke Jillian up for a breakfast picnic on the beach. "After enjoying some coffee and my bagel, I looked over, and there was Michael asking me to marry him," said Jillian. "I was stunned!" She said yes and soon, they picked a date, June 13, 2015 and began planning their special day.

While they both currently live in Charlottesville, Jillian, originally of Bridgewater, NJ and Michael, originally of Alexandria, VA, chose the beautiful venue of Two Rivers Country Club in Williamsburg, VA. Jillian wanted a white, classic and elegant look for their wedding to complement the scenery.

"Arlene and Cindy were wonderful in capturing the look," said Jillian. "They pulled together beautiful arrangements of white and champagne to create that elegant look I was seeking." Together, we brainstormed some special touches: a light pink to complement the bridesmaid’s light gray dresses, pearls in the bridal bouquet and rose petals on the aisle for a romantic feel.

Jillian said, "The guests couldn’t stop talking about the flowers, and one of our vendors said that it was the most beautiful bridal bouquet he had ever seen."

The little touches made their wedding even more special. Michael and Jillian went through old photos to find family wedding pictures and pictures of themselves when they were younger to display.

Jillian's mom had the great idea of getting cocktail napkins to represent each of their colleges - blue and gray (for Georgetown, where Jillian received her Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Education) and orange and blue (for UVA, where Michael received his Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Teaching).

Despite thunder and lightning around Williamsburg (and even at the hotel where guests were staying) that day, they stayed dry and were blessed with a lovely outdoor reception and unforgettable day. 

Congratulations to Michael and Jillian! Thank you for having us be a part of your love story. Photos by Heather Hughes Photography.