Caroline Rector and Robert Taylor Lawson met on Halloween during their senior year of college at Virginia Tech. Caroline hadn’t planned to go out that night, but when a friend showed up at her door with a costume and an insistent attitude, Caroline—as fate would have it—couldn’t say no. “I dressed as Cher from Clueless, and Taylor went as Matthew McConaughey from Dazed and Confused. Taylor and I were complete opposites in every sense of the word—from our costumes that evening to our personalities and interests,” she explains. “In the middle of a conversation with one of my friends, this guy walked up to me with his hand out and said, ‘Hi, I’m Taylor Lawson. You should come out with me tonight.’”
After a few moments of earnest convincing, Caroline eventually agreed and the pair spent the evening on the town. From that night on, the two were inseparable, and three years later, Taylor proposed at home in Virginia. Once she said yes, the couple hopped into a vintage BMW and headed to Taylor’s family boat. The two spent the weekend cruising around the Eastern shore celebrating and dancing.
“Our love for the water ultimately led us to host the wedding weekend in Virginia Beach and Newport News,” the bride says. “Although we chose an at-home wedding, it was important to Taylor and me for our guests to feel like each aspect of the wedding night was in a new location.” Taylor’s childhood home accommodated that vision perfectly.
An elegant black-tie garden party along the coast detailed the weekend vision. The home’s architecture and historic charm set the scene, event designer, Amaryllis, transformed every space while Floral and Bloom Designs combined the colors of the coast with the greenery of the backyard to bring life to it all. Kari Rider Events planned the weekend festivities, while Jen Fariello and Caroline Lima captured each special moment.
Caroline stumbled upon Lewes Lettering Co. and knew artist Katy could set the tone for the weekend with her dream stationery suite. “I wanted the invitations to feel formal, while still giving guests a sneak peek of the wedding design,” Caroline notes. “Katy designed a watercolor hydrangea jacket and trifold wedding weekend note, which laid out the scene for each event.”
“I knew I wanted to curate looks that were from a mixture of designers, silhouettes, and themes that went along with each wedding festivity,” Caroline says of her wedding wardrobe. “Before even trying on wedding gowns, I saw a strapless blue and white hydrangea print dress from Emilia Wickstead that perfectly encapsulated the design I wanted for my wedding.”
For the rehearsal dinner at the Cavalier Hotel, the bride donned the floral style alongside satin white Manolo Blahnik heels and a white Anya Hindmarch clutch. For beauty, she requested an old Hollywood blowout and fresh, pink makeup. Laly Brink and Carly Kidd applied and styled accordingly.
On Friday afternoon Caroline and her bridesmaids boarded the Lawson boat, Beach Girl, and spent the day indulging in Aperol under the sun. To this, the bride wore a floral Dolce & Gabbana matching set.
As for her wedding look, Caroline knew she wanted a dress that felt timeless, something she could pass on to her daughter. Her mother joined her in New York City for back-to-back bridal appointments. After trying on dozens of dresses, Caroline went back to the first one she ever tried on—a silk ball gown embroidered with floral appliqués by Oscar de la Renta.
“Growing up, I always had a close relationship with my paternal grandmother and knew that I wanted a piece of her with me on my wedding day,” Caroline shares. “I always admired her gentle Southern spirit and impeccable fashion sense, so when it came time to choose a ‘something old,’ I knew her diamond stud earrings would be the perfect fit!” Alongside the jewels, Amie Decker made the bride feel like an elevated version of herself with voluminous curls and soft glam.
“Quickly after getting engaged, I realized I wanted to hire a stylist for my remaining outfits and fell in love with Anny Choi at Over The Moon. I had previously seen her work, and there was not a bride she styled whose outfit I did not love,” Caroline says of curating the rest of her wedding wardrobe. Over The Moon Styling selected a lineup of looks for her church ceremony, welcome party, reception, and after-party.
Because the church ceremony was a morning affair, followed by brunch, Caroline wanted the dress to be refined while still flirty and slightly out of the ordinary. “When Anny sent me to Markarian, I immediately fell in love with the Celestia dress. The corset bodice, shoulder bow details, and sweeping train were exactly what I had envisioned.”
To accessorize, Anny and Caroline chose a floral clutch by Olympia Le-Tan, something blue, and an ivory wildflower embroidered Ofrenda veil—a nod to Caroline’s “farm girl childhood,” she shares.
“With a dress code of resort chic, I knew I wanted my gown to have a bold floral element but still look like I could slip off my high heels and take a walk along the beach,” the bride says of her look for Palm Springs Meets East Coast welcome party. “Once Anny showed me the lace gown with sequin floral applique from Elie Saab, there was no turning back. It not only perfectly matched the party theme but also was the most unique gown I had ever seen.”
Oscar de la Renta earrings, an Aerin x Pamela Munson bag, and a Slim Aarons-inspired hairstyle completed the look. Taylor donned a linen Brunello Cucinelli suit and Stubbs & Wootton loafers.
Following the ceremony, Caroline headed to the reception in a feathered Ines Di Santo dress, and for the after-party, she featured a sparkling Lee Petra Grebenau look.
On May 20, 2023, the bride and her wedding party readied in Sleeper pajama sets, glasses of Champagne in hand. Caroline gifted her sisters Nicola Bathie drop earrings before slipping into her dress and sharing a first look with her dad.
Then, with the tulle draped and a bouquet in hand, Caroline walked down the aisle with her dad as a string quartet played “Unchained Melody.” Taylor stood before an arch of hydrangeas, as guests faced the James River. “All I remember was feeling a squeeze from my dad’s hand and him whispering, ‘We got this,’” Caroline says. “Although I don’t quite remember how I got to the altar, I do remember never letting go of Taylor’s hand once I got there and having the biggest smile on my face the entire ceremony.”
“Seeing the sliding door open and my wife walk down the aisle was something out of a movie,” Taylor says. “It took everything in me to hold back my tears, and I was ultimately unsuccessful. I have never been filled with more joy in my entire life.” Once announced as officially married, the newlyweds left the ceremony as Natalie Cole’s “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” rang and tossed flower petals surrounded them.
Spirited Virginia Tech celebrations had the crowd beaming before the newlyweds made a grand entrance into the reception. Dinner tablescapes featured menus inside white pockets embossed with the same floral embroidery featured on Caroline’s reception dress. A watercolor creation of the home’s on-the-water overlook colored the cocktail napkins.
The two shared a first dance to The Eleven’s sax rendition of “You Are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne. Speeches had the guests in stitches during dinner and Caroline and her dad danced to Alan Jackson’s “Drive.” Afterward, the newlyweds cut into their Rachel Bakes cake.
Then, everyone met on the dance floor and spent the night celebrating the couple. “Taylor and I made our way to the microphone more than a few times and loved every minute of it,” Caroline admits. After over two hours of dancing, the band closed out the reception with an all-time favorite, “Sweet Caroline.”
Fireworks above the water sealed the reception, and a Loosie’s-inspired after-party ensued. DJ Alchemist had everyone on their feet, and wagyu burgers and truffle fries made their way through guests dressed in disco accessories. The celebrations went on until 2:00 a.m., and the next day, Caroline and Taylor escaped to Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc for their honeymoon, still reliving it all.
