A Small Hotel Wedding at Craddock Terry Hotel in Virginia

Who says you have to choose between having a traditional wedding with your favorite people and an intimate adventure that’s just for the two of you?

Tricia and Matthew’s small hotel wedding in Lynchburg, Virginia, was such a beautiful example of how you can have BOTH! They celebrated with their closest family and friends at the Craddock Terry Hotel, complete with a traditional ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing. But they also made time to sneak away together for private vows and a riverside picnic, and even stopped by a place that held a special piece of their relationship’s history.

Their wedding day had so many personal touches, and I love how they found ways to incorporate everything that mattered to them without feeling like they had to follow a particular wedding formula.

If you’re considering an elopement or micro wedding in Virginia but still want to include some of your favorite wedding traditions, Tricia and Matthew’s celebration has plenty of inspiration!

Planning Their Small Hotel Wedding in Virginia

When Tricia and Matthew started planning their wedding, they knew they wanted to do things a little differently. As Tricia put it, they’re the kind of couple who’s known for stepping outside the norm, even if their family sometimes thinks they’re making things more complicated!

They weren’t interested in having a huge wedding with hundreds of guests. They wanted a celebration where they could feel comfortable, enjoy themselves, and spend quality time with the people closest to them. Also, they also wanted to be thoughtful about their budget. Rather than spending money on a larger wedding simply because that’s what’s expected, they preferred putting it toward the things that mattered most to them, like beautiful photography, good food, and fun experiences together.

And when it came to choosing a location, Lynchburg, Virginia, was really the only place that made sense. It was the first city where they had lived together, and they didn’t feel like getting married somewhere else would hold the same meaning. Instead of choosing a destination simply because it was popular or picturesque, they wanted to celebrate somewhere that was already part of their relationship.

They eventually decided on a small hotel wedding at Craddock Terry Hotel in downtown Lynchburg, where they could celebrate with their closest family and friends while still having the freedom to spend some private time together. Their wedding vision actually evolved quite a bit between when they first booked me and the wedding day, too!

And that’s completely okay!

You don’t have to have your entire wedding figured out when you first reach out to me. Sometimes you start planning with one idea and realize that something else feels like a better fit as you work through the details. Part of my job is helping you navigate those decisions, talk through what matters most, and put together a wedding experience that you’re genuinely excited about.

For Tricia and Matthew, that meant keeping some of their favorite wedding traditions, having an intimate celebration with their loved ones, and making time for their own little adventure along the James River. And I love how their day came together!

Getting Ready With Their Daughter (and Their Dog!)

We started the wedding day at the hotel, photographing all the little details while everyone was getting ready. Tricia and Matthew had custom wedding invitations, along with personalized vow books and other details that were so much fun to photograph. I always recommend setting aside anything you’d like photographed before I arrive so we can document those pieces of your wedding day before everything gets busy!

Their daughter was there getting ready with Tricia, and of course, their dog was part of the morning too! I love that these everyday parts of their life were included in their wedding. Their daughter getting dressed, their dog hanging out nearby, and everyone preparing for the celebration together made the morning feel so personal. You don’t have to plan elaborate activities to make your wedding meaningful. Sometimes it’s those familiar little moments that you end up loving in your photos years later.

Tricia and Matthew also decided not to have a first look. They wanted the first time they saw each other in their wedding attire to be during the ceremony, so we planned their morning around keeping that surprise! And that’s another thing I love about intimate weddings. Just because you’re having a smaller celebration doesn’t mean you have to skip the traditions that are important to you.

An Outdoor Wedding Ceremony at Craddock Terry Hotel

Tricia and Matthew held their wedding ceremony in the outdoor courtyard at the Craddock Terry Hotel, and it was such a beautiful setting for their intimate celebration! The hotel’s historic brick exterior created a warm backdrop for the ceremony, with white chairs arranged on either side of the aisle. Greenery and white florals decorated the entrance and ceremony space, while string lights hung overhead between the buildings. The whole setup complemented the hotel’s architecture so well!

With their closest family and friends gathered in the courtyard, Tricia and Matthew got to have the traditional ceremony they wanted, including that first moment of seeing each other as Tricia walked down the aisle. They were married surrounded by their loved ones, and after the ceremony, we stayed around the hotel to take family and group photos. But their wedding adventure wasn’t finished yet!

Instead of spending the entire afternoon at the venue, Tricia and Matthew had planned some time away from their guests so they could enjoy a part of their wedding day together in private.

Why Craddock Terry Is a Great Option for a Small Hotel Wedding in Virginia

One thing I love about hotel weddings is how convenient they can be, especially when you’re inviting family and friends to celebrate with you! At Craddock Terry Hotel, Tricia and Matthew were able to get ready, have their ceremony, and celebrate their reception all at the same location. They didn’t have to worry about coordinating several different venues for their guests, but they still had the flexibility to leave for their own little adventure between the ceremony and reception.

The hotel itself has so much character, too! Located in downtown Lynchburg, Craddock Terry has historic brick walls, beautiful architectural details, and several event spaces that can accommodate different wedding sizes. The hotel also offers on-site catering and accommodations, which can make planning a celebration with out-of-town guests a little easier. And you don’t necessarily have to spend your entire wedding day at the hotel just because that’s where you’re hosting your ceremony and reception!

Tricia and Matthew are a perfect example. They enjoyed the convenience of having their wedding celebration in one location while still making time to explore the James River and visit a place that was meaningful to their relationship. If you love the idea of having a traditional wedding experience on a smaller scale, choosing a boutique hotel with different ceremony and reception spaces can be a wonderful option!

Making Time for Just the Two of You During Your Micro Wedding

One of the things I recommend to couples planning a micro wedding is setting aside some time to be alone together, even if you’re spending most of your wedding day with family and friends. And that’s exactly what we planned for Tricia and Matthew! After their ceremony and family photos at Craddock Terry Hotel, we headed out to explore around the James River while their guests enjoyed cocktail hour back at the hotel.

This is something I love about planning a micro wedding. You can have the convenience of hosting your ceremony and reception in one location while still building a little adventure into your timeline!

It does take some planning, though. We want to make sure there’s enough time for traveling between locations, exploring, and actually enjoying the experience without worrying about getting back to your guests. For Tricia and Matthew, having this time intentionally built into their schedule meant they could enjoy their private vows and riverside picnic before returning to celebrate with everyone.

If you’re wondering how to balance private time with celebrating alongside your favorite people, check out my guide to including family in your elopement!

Private Vows and a Picnic Along the James River

After leaving the hotel, we headed toward the James River to explore and take some wedding portraits. We spent some time walking along the bridges and exploring the area before finding a quiet spot near the water where Tricia and Matthew could slow down for a while.

They chose to exchange private wedding vows during this part of the day, even though they’d already had their official ceremony surrounded by family. I love this idea for couples who want to share personal vows without an audience! You can still have a traditional wedding ceremony and save your more intimate words for a moment when it’s just the two of you.

And then it was time for their riverside picnic! They brought along their wedding cake, spread out a blanket beside the water, and enjoyed a little celebration together, complete with drinks and cake! It was such a fun way to spend part of their wedding afternoon. No complicated setup or elaborate decorations needed!

If you’re thinking about incorporating a picnic into your own wedding day, it can be as simple as bringing your favorite snacks, a small cake, or something meaningful that you love sharing together. Find a spot you enjoy, give yourselves enough time to relax, and make it your own!

A Wedding Photo Stop at Their First Home Together

Before heading back to their guests, Tricia and Matthew made one more stop that I absolutely love. We visited their old apartment building! Lynchburg was the first place they had lived together, and they wanted to revisit that part of their relationship on their wedding day. I think this is such a cool idea because wedding photos don’t always have to be taken somewhere traditionally beautiful or famous.

Of course, I love finding amazing scenery for my couples! But sometimes a location is worth including simply because of what it means to you. Maybe it’s the coffee shop where you had your first date, the neighborhood where you used to walk your dog, or the apartment where you started building your life together. Those places might not mean much to anyone else, but that’s exactly what makes them so personal.

For Tricia and Matthew, taking a few photos outside their old apartment was a way to include another piece of their relationship’s history in their Virginia wedding day. And I love that we made time for it!

A Cozy Hotel Wedding Reception With Family and Friends

After our little adventure around Lynchburg, we headed back to the Craddock Terry Hotel, where everyone was getting ready to celebrate! While Tricia and Matthew were away, their guests enjoyed cocktail hour with drinks and appetizers. They also had a photo booth, which is always a fun activity for guests during a wedding reception!

Their reception space was decorated with white table linens, greenery, and lots of candlelight. The exposed brick walls and warm lighting gave the room such a cozy atmosphere, and I loved how the tall glass candleholders looked against the historic interior. Even with a smaller guest count, Tricia and Matthew included plenty of the wedding reception traditions they wanted. Everyone gathered inside before the newlyweds made their official entrance as husband and wife, and then they went straight into their first dance.

And toward the end of the dance, their little girl joined them! 🥹 It was SUCH a sweet moment and one of those little things that made their celebration feel so personal to their family. Afterward, everyone enjoyed dinner catered by the hotel, followed by speeches from their wedding party and family, dessert, and eventually plenty of dancing!

A Small Hotel Wedding Can Still Include All Your Favorite Traditions!

One of the things Tricia and Matthew’s wedding shows so well is how flexible a smaller wedding celebration can be. They had a beautiful ceremony in the hotel’s courtyard, followed by an intimate reception with dinner, speeches, and dancing. And in between those traditional wedding moments, they had time to head down to the James River for their own little adventure. You don’t necessarily need to plan an entirely unconventional wedding to make it feel personal. Sometimes it’s about keeping the traditions you genuinely enjoy and making a few changes to how your day unfolds.

For couples who want a smaller guest list but still love the idea of a dedicated ceremony space, a seated dinner, and a fun reception, a hotel wedding can be a wonderful option. You can celebrate with your guests in one location, especially if the hotel offers both ceremony and reception spaces, while still making time for activities outside the venue.

And if you’re not sure what that combination should look like for your own wedding, that’s something we can figure out together!

What Tricia Said About Working Together

One of my favorite things about working with couples is getting to help them through the planning process, especially when their ideas evolve along the way.

Tricia shared this sweet review after their wedding:

“We couldn’t be happier with our experience with Juliana! From the very beginning, she was amazing with helping plan and made sure to accommodate all of our requests. She was so flexible and patient with all of my (many!) indecisive changes leading up to the big day.

On the wedding day itself, she was organized, helpful, and calm — exactly what we needed. She captured everything beautifully while keeping the whole process stress-free. We received our sneak peeks quickly and on time, and they are absolutely stunning. We’re so grateful and can’t recommend her enough!”

— Tricia & Matthew

Planning Your Own Small Hotel Wedding in Virginia?

If you love the idea of having your ceremony and reception in one beautiful location while still making time for your own little adventures, a small hotel wedding could be a great fit!

Tricia and Matthew’s day is such a fun example of how you can have a traditional wedding celebration with your favorite people while also incorporating more personal experiences throughout the day. And remember, you don’t have to have everything figured out before reaching out!

As a Virginia elopement and micro wedding photographer, I help my couples talk through their ideas, find meaningful locations, and create wedding timelines that give them time to actually enjoy their celebration. Maybe you’re envisioning a small hotel wedding in Virginia, a private ceremony in the mountains, or something completely different. I’d love to hear what you’re thinking and help you turn those ideas into a wedding day that feels like YOU!

Every Elopement and Micro Wedding Package with Juliana Wall Photography Includes:

• Photo coverage options that range from 4 hours to multiple days with me, Juliana
• In-depth questionnaires, so I can truly get to know you and help create a day that feels right.
• Sneak peeks within 3 business days, so you have gorgeous photos to share ASAP.
• Personalized planning assistance – helping you with locations, permits, vendors, and timelines.
• A private online gallery – to easily download, share, and order prints of your photos.
• Photographer’s travel costs included 
• A new adventure buddy!

Ready to start planning your Virginia micro wedding? Reach out and let’s chat about your ideas!