Virginia House

Ceremony

Common House

Reception

Our Wedding

According to Alex

Throughout engagement, I have been asked, “How did you meet your fiancé?” And honestly, I don’t remember the first time we met. Growing up, Max Dash was another kid in my neighborhood who attended the same elementary school as me, but I couldn’t even tell you if we had been in any of the same classes together. As we got older, in middle and high school, I knew he was nice and usually had a steady girlfriend, but that’s about the extent of it.&nbsp; In 2015, the summer after our first year of college, Max and I volunteered at a summer camp for a month. We spent a lot of our time chatting while we were on lifeguard duty and cleaned the beach each morning. I like to think this is when we became real friends for the first time. I found out we liked the same TV shows, we thought the same things were funny, and we both deeply cared about having a meaningful relationship with Jesus.&nbsp; Then, one day in February of 2017, Max reached out asking if I would go with him to a formal at the college he attended. At the time, I thought nothing of it. Max went to a small, all-boys college, and I really thought, “He needs a date and I am a familiar friend to bring along.” However, the night of the formal, he drove my car and dropped me off at a friend’s house to stay the night. The next morning, when I got in my car to leave, I noticed he had filled up my gas tank and cleaned out some trash I had left in my car. Taken aback, I immediately thought, “Does Max Dash like me?” And while I was genuinely perplexed, I can’t say I didn’t get excited at the thought. Despite my frequent denial to friends and family that Max and I were anything more than just friends, in April of 2017, we decided to start dating. For the next three and a half years, we dated long-distance. Max worked and lived in Atlanta and then Connecticut, while I completed grad school and began teaching in the Richmond area. These years were filled with hours in a car, on planes, and on trains, each goodbye getting harder than before.&nbsp; So, on September 7, 2020, Max asked me to marry him, and we decided to say yes to forever together.&nbsp;Needless to say, we are looking forward to no more long-distance! One of my favorite things about my relationship with Max is that it is founded on a meaningful friendship. And I truly cannot wait to spend the rest of my life growing old with my best friend.

According to Max

These usually start with the first time we met. I don’t remember the first time I met Alex because I was three. But I do remember when we first became friends because that didn’t happen until we were 19. It was the summer after our freshman year, and the two of us were spending the month of June working at a camp in the Adirondacks. One of the first mornings there, Alex and I were raking the sand on the beach and started talking to each other about Parks and Rec. We were fast friends, which is hilarious because it took us 16 years to have an actual conversation.&nbsp;&nbsp; Over the next year, we would see each other at camp reunions or whenever we were both in Richmond. We always gravitated towards each other in group settings but were very much just friends. We would joke about dating, but I think it was so easy for us to joke about it because we both had absolutely zero interest in actually dating each other. But over winter break junior year, I started to want to date Alex. I remember walking in the room on New Year’s Eve and making immediate eye contact with her. She patted the open seat next to her, so I sat down and we talked all night. We hung out the next day, and then a couple more times that week. I think I was making it pretty obvious that I was into her, but she couldn’t have been more oblivious. When we both went back to school, I started watching The Bachelor just so I had an excuse to text her on Monday nights. I eventually invited her to H-SC to be my date at a winter formal, and that’s when she started to catch on. Not because I invited her to be my date at a formal—she made sure to tell every person she met that weekend that we were just friends—but because I cleaned out her car and filled it up with gas right before she drove back to JMU. That gesture must have gone a long way because within a week she already made plans to drive back down to Farmville. I knew the ball was in my court at this point, but I didn’t shoot my shot for almost a month, until one night when she turned to me and said, “Hey, dude, what are we doing?” For the next three years, we would date long-distance, either going to different schools or living in different states. Then on September 7th—at the same spot Alex and I hung out over winter break junior year—I asked Alex if she wanted to stop having to drive 500 miles to see each other, and now I get to marry my best friend.

Our Story

Venues

4301 Sulgrave Road, Richmond, VA, 23221

Our ceremony will take place in the gardens of Virginia House. The house is located in the Windsor Farms neighborhood of Richmond. Guests may park for free in the neighborhood.

303 W Broad Street, Richmond, VA, 23220

Our reception will take place at Common House in the Jackson Ward district of downtown Richmond. Below are some parking options located near the venue:

20 W. Grace St: 0.2 miles, $5/daily max100 W. grace St: 0.2 miles, $7/daily max1 E. Grace St: 0.3 miles, $5/daily max106 E. Marshall St: 0.6 miles, $8/daily max

Last day to book this block: June 9thDistance to the ceremony: 3.7 miles (12 minute drive)Distance from the reception: 0.2 miles (5 minute walk)

Graduate Richmond

Use the link below to book directly into the Gerkin-Dash Wedding block. When calling, please reference the Gerkin-Dash Wedding block. If you are booking online via the Hilton website or app, please use the code GDWB. Please note that check in is at 4:00 pm and early check in is not guaranteed. Last day to book this block: June 9thDistance to the ceremony: 4.5 miles (12 minute drive)Distance from the reception: 0.6 miles (4 minute drive, 15 minute walk)

Hilton Richmond Downtown

Last day to book this block: June 9thDistance to the ceremony: 4.2 miles (15 minute drive)Distance from the reception: 0.5 miles (4 minute drive, 15 minute walk)

Richmond Marriott

This hotel is not a part of our wedding block but is a wonderful boutique hotel very close to our reception. The best way to book is to use their website below. Distance to the ceremony: 4.2 miles (12 minute drive)Distance from the reception: 500 feet (3 minute walk)

Quirk Hotel

Accommodations

Transportation

We will be providing a charter bus that will shuttle guests to and from the ceremony. The bus will take guests from the Downtown Richmond Hilton to the ceremony at 4:15 PM, and will take guests to the reception immediately following the ceremony. The shuttle will not be returning to Virginia House after the reception. Please let us know when you RSVP if you will be utilizing the shuttle service.

This is one of our favorite spots in Richmond! Belle Isle is located on the James River and offers lots of trails for walking and biking. From Belle Isle, you can see the old Tredegar Iron Works, the Richmond skyline, and Brown's Island (where we got engaged!). Learn more, <a href="http://www.rvariverfront.com/trails/belleisle.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.

Belle Isle

Carytown is a cute shopping area filled with locally-owned boutiques and restaurants. Some of our favorites: <a href="https://byrdtheatre.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Byrd Theater</a> - Historic movie theater<a href="https://www.greekoncaryrva.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Greek on Cary</a> - Greek restaurant<a href="https://www.sugartwine.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sugar &amp; Twine</a> - Coffee shop<a href="https://thedailykitchenandbar.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Daily</a> - Local ingredients; vegetarian &amp; vegan options

Carytown

Who could forget Becca and Jason's dreamy Richmond date on season 14 of The Bachelorette? Hop on a <a href="https://rvaonwheels.com/trolley/historic-trolley.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">trolley</a> and head to <a href="https://www.historicstjohnschurch.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">St. John's Church,</a> where Patrick Henry gave his famous "Give me liberty or give me death" speech. Then head to the original <a href="http://www.sugarshackdonuts.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sugar Shack Donuts</a> on N Lombardy St. for a tasty treat. Next, check out the <a href="https://www.poemuseum.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Edgar Allen Poe Museum</a> before ending the day with some drinks at <a href="https://www.theveilbrewing.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Veil Brewing Co. </a>

Recreate Becca and Jason's Bachelorette date

Scott's Addition is an area with tons of breweries and restaurants. Some of our favorites: <a href="https://ardentcraftales.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ardent Craft Ales</a> - Brewery<a href="https://www.bramblypark.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Brambly Park</a> - Urban winery &amp; restaurant<a href="https://www.ensuboca.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">En Su Boca</a> - Mexican restaurant<a href="https://www.thehofgarden.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HofGarden</a> - Beer garden &amp; rooftop bar<a href="https://starrhill.com/richmond" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Starr Hill</a> - Brewery<a href="https://www.tazzakitchen.com/location/scottsaddition/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tazza Kitchen</a> - One of our favorite date spots (get the honey pizza)

Scott's Addition

The VMFA is located in Richmond's Museum District. It offers both an array of artwork and grounds that are beautiful to walk through on a summer day! General admission is free for visitors. You can learn more <a href="https://www.vmfa.museum/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Things To Do

Wedding Party

Alex

Emily Gates&nbsp;- Maid of Honor Cate Jarrett&nbsp;- Maid of Honor Kelly Callahan&nbsp;- Bridesmaid Allison Dash&nbsp;- Bridesmaid Charlotte Dash&nbsp;- Bridesmaid Rachel Elliott&nbsp;- Bridesmaid Lauren Maddox&nbsp;- Bridesmaid Sammy Serio&nbsp;- Bridesmaid Darby Smith&nbsp;- Bridesmaid Ali Starr&nbsp;- Bridesmaid Alexa Vignone&nbsp;- Bridesmaid

Jack Click - Best Man Jake Burns - Groomsman Joe Gates - Groomsman Jake Gerkin - Groomsman Will Gerkin - Groomsman Austin Hardman - Groomsman Dallas Negaard - Groomsman Marshall Parks - Groomsman Jimmy Ryan - Groomsman Jacob Shaver - Groomsman Jack Willard - Groomsman

Alex & Max

Alex & Max

FAQs

When should I RSVP by?

What is the dress code?

What about Covid?

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Will transportation be provided?

Will the ceremony and reception be outside?