On Love: Katie Boatright and Jeff Dawley

Katie Boatright
& Jeff Dawley

(Lisa Boggs) - Katie Boatright and Jeff Dawley at their wedding reception at the Hidden Creek Country Club in Reston on February 18.

Katie Boatright, 26, is a recruiting manager for an IT company. Jeff Dawley, also 26, is an account manager for a computer mapping company. They live in Reston.

Wedding date: Feb. 18

Location: Hidden Creek Country Club, Reston

Guests: 120

How they met: Boatright and Dawley were introduced by mutual friends at the beginning of their senior year at Virginia Tech in August 2006. The initial spark grew and they started dating. After graduation, both moved to Northern Virginia.

The proposal: On Dec. 11, 2010, the couple and their puppy were exploring Three Fox Vineyards in Delaplane, Va. The vineyard is a favorite of the two wine enthusiasts, and they had become part of its vintner’s circle, which allows members to sponsor their own row of grapes. When they reached “their” row, Dawley bent down on one knee and asked, “You know I love you, right?”

The wedding: For the reception, Boatright chose a wine red and pewter color scheme. Rose petals surrounded centerpieces of fresh cranberries and floating candles. Place cards were held by corks from Three Fox and wine bottles with specially made labels marked the table numbers. Boatright made a guest book out of their engagement pictures and decorated a reception table with silver-framed photographs from their parents’ and grandparents’ weddings.

The honeymoon: They spent a week in St. Lucia, exploring a drive-in volcano and waterfalls. They also took a day-long zip-lining tour and went hiking and snorkeling.

— Janet Bennett Kelly