Elegant Dover Hall Wedding in March | Virginia Wedding Photographer | Dover Hall Wedding

gabriellerosefxbg
Apr 1, 2025
2 min read

Updated: Dec 5, 2025

When I asked Emily what her secret was for getting the perfect late-March weather, she laughed and said, “I prayed really hard.” And it clearly worked, Emily and Clay’s wedding day at Dover Hall unfolded with sunshine, warmth, and so much joy.

From the very beginning of the day, it was obvious how close these families were. Emily wanted her mother and mother-in-law to feel celebrated as they got ready, gifting them heartfelt, personalized presents before slipping into her wedding gown. In a beautiful and emotional moment, Clay’s mother surprised Emily with a family heirloom ring.

If you’ve ever stepped inside Dover Hall, you know it feels like wandering through a European estate. Every hallway, every room has its own story. Emily got ready in the bright, naturally lit bridal suite—one of the most photogenic spaces in the venue. Clay and his groomsmen spent their morning in the iconic Hunting Room before the couple met outside for their first look, surrounded by the estate’s rolling landscape.

They then moved into the Library for private vows, an emotional, intimate pause before the celebrations ahead.

For their formal portraits, we used the Parlor, and I’m still swooning over the soft blue tones of the room paired with the ornate fireplace. The space added such a refined, timeless look to their images, perfect for Dover Hall’s aesthetic.

One of my favorite parts of the day was stepping outside for sunset portraits. Back in 2015, long before she met Clay, Emily visited Dover Hall and took a photo out front. She told herself right then that she would get married there one day. Nearly a decade later, we recreated that exact photo, this time with her in her wedding dress, standing next to the man who would become her husband.

It was such a full-circle moment, and one of the many reasons this wedding will stay with me for a long time.

I won’t be over this gorgeous Dover Hall wedding anytime soon. From personal heirlooms to golden-hour portraits straight out of a fairytale, Emily and Clay’s day was everything early-spring weddings were made for.

Venue

Dover Hall

Instagram: @doverhall

Planner

Emily Burke of Water and Wine VA

Instagram: @waterandwineva

Photographer

Gabrielle Rose

Instagram: @gabriellerosephotography_

Videographer

Pretty Films

Instagram: @prettyweddingfilms