Beating your future husband in monopoly, that’s not usually how love stories begin. For Shai and Carolyn, what started as a rough introduction of Shai besting Carolyn in a board game later became a thriving friendship and a recipe for love.

It was the Shenandoah where they had one of their first dates and it was the Shenandoah where Shai asked for Carolyn’s hand in marriage. Naturally, this was a place they wanted to share with their friends and family when it came time for their wedding day. Skyland Resort’s outdoor amphitheater and rustic reception hall were perfect to highlight their day.

I loved Shai and Carolyn’s ceremony, which was full of beautiful Jewish wedding traditions. It was a wedding full of meaning and full of touching moments. The Rabbi’s retelling of each of their answers to “what do you love about the other” had everyone laughing and crying.

Two of my favorite parts of the day were being able to spend time with the bridal party, who were an extremely fun group of people, as well as the time we had for portraits at a nearby overlook. The mountains are always an incredible backdrop!

Enjoy the highlights from their day below!