Today we’re sharing Caitlin and Joe’s Dover Hall Richmond Castle Wedding day, just outside Short Pump in Virginia. And honestly, Dover Hall is one of those places where we could photograph a wedding every weekend and not get tired of it. It’s beautiful, there’s so much variety, the staff is incredibly on it, and somehow the food is also really, really good.

A Richmond Wedding Venue That Has It All

Dover Hall is basically a castle in the Richmond area, so obviously there’s no shortage of pretty places to photograph. But one of the things we really love about it is that you can get so much variety without having to go anywhere. The building itself is gorgeous! The grounds are beautiful, and you can move around throughout the day and have everything feel a little different.

And the staff at Dover Hall is just fantastic. They’re on it. Like, really on it. Everything ran so smoothly, and you could tell there were a ton of people working behind the scenes to make sure the day kept moving. And then there’s the food.

We always talk about food when we’re writing these, but Dover Hall deserves a shout-out. Their chef and catering team do such an outstanding job. As vendors, we eat downstairs in a separate space, and sometimes the appetizers that weren’t eaten earlier in the night get put out for us. We’re pretty sure we’ve never eaten so well just in appetizers!

A Princess Wedding in a Castle

One of the sweetest moments of the entire day happened during the toasts. Caitlin’s dad was talking about how Caitlin had been wearing princess dresses since she was very young. She loved princess dresses growing up, and now here she was, wearing a princess dress, in a castle, marrying her own Prince Charming.

I mean… She was literally a princess in a castle. Everybody cheered, and it was just really sweet. You couldn’t have planned a better setting for that story.

Making a Rainy Wedding Day Work

When we pulled up to Dover Hall, it was raining. And not just a little bit. It was raining hard enough that we weren’t exactly sure how much of the outdoor portion of the day we were going to be able to photograph. But Caitlin & Joe had the right attitude from the beginning. Basically, if we can do it outside, great. If we can’t, we’ll figure it out.

Her planner and the Dover Hall team worked together so well to make that happen. The rain eventually cleared enough for us to get some of the wedding party outside, and they were able to have their ceremony on the patio, which is where Caitlin and Joe wanted to get married in the first place.

The patio had been soaked, and Dover Hall came through and wiped down all of the chairs so everything was ready to go. That’s one of those behind-the-scenes things you don’t necessarily see in the final photos, but it makes such a huge difference on a wedding day.

Just Go With It – Dover Hall Richmond Castle Wedding

We always say that rain on your wedding day means you just have to deal with it. Not in a “well, I guess everything is ruined” kind of way. More like, okay, this is what we’re working with. Let’s figure it out. And Caitlin & Joe, and her whole wedding party and family really had that attitude. I also think people don’t always realize how much can be done to clean up wedding dresses. And Caitlin was willing to risk it, which meant she got the outdoor photos she wanted.

Families That Were So Fun to Photograph

Caitlin and Joe’s families were just the best. Both their dads even did a joint welcome during the reception, and you could tell that everyone was genuinely excited about the two families becoming one. They kept saying some version of, “Our families are blended now,” and it was just really cool to see.

Caitlin’s mom also had a special part during the ceremony that was kind of a combination of a reading and some advice. It was personal and sweet, and it gave her a chance to be part of the ceremony in a way that felt really meaningful.

Sunset Portraits Around Dover Hall

Once the weather cooperated, we were able to get outside for some portraits later in the day. And this is where Dover Hall really shines. The property is big enough that you can keep walking and find completely different views. We headed farther out on the grounds for sunset, and the light was so good.

Their videographer, Tilden from Lexa Visuals, was even able to get a drone shot of Caitlin and Joe walking all the way back toward the castle. We’re very excited to see that one. It was one of those moments where you’re like, yep, this is why we love having a venue with room to explore.

The Details Were So Them – Dover Hall Richmond Castle Wedding

There were also a lot of little details throughout Caitlin and Joe’s wedding that felt very personal to them. One of my favorites was their signature drinks. Caitlin had a lavender French 75, and Joe chose bourbon old fashioned. And I was like, okay, you guys are us. She even asked me if I would go get one!

But honestly, those little details are fun. They make the day feel like yours instead of just a wedding that could belong to anyone. Between the thoughtful appetizers, fans at the ceremony, signature drinks, and even an amuse bouche before dinner, the details on this day just brought it all together.

A Summer Wedding That Was Just a Blast

By the end of the night, our coverage time had technically ended, and we were both kind of looking at each other like… Should we just stay? We did have to stick around a little longer for some extra dancing and the late-night fun, including their ice cream bar, which was excellent.

But it really says something about a wedding when we’re basically done working and don’t really want to leave. We just had such a good time with Caitlin and Joe and their friends and family.

Caitlin & Joe’s Dover Hall Wedding

Caitlin and Joe are two of the most wonderful people. Every time we’ve talked with them throughout the planning process, their kindness just came through. And then you meet their friends and family, and it all makes sense. They surrounded themselves with really good people.

The entire day ran so smoothly, we had an awesome group of vendors, and Dover Hall did what Dover Hall does best: it gave us a beautiful Virginia castle, gorgeous grounds, incredible food, and a team that kept everything moving even when the weather tried to complicate things.

It was just a blast. For now, enjoy a few of our many favorites from Caitlin and Joe’s Dover Hall Richmond Castle Wedding, Virginia. Congratulations, you guys!

Looking for more from Caitlin & Joe? Here’s their engagement session.