Hearts at Home

On a sunny day in October 2008, bride Jennifer Casteel approached the shores of Smith Mountain Lake in a golf cart at The Water’s Edge Country Club community.

The ruffles on her Jackie Kennedy-inspired dress fluttered as the little chapel came into view. She stepped out of the cart in gold high heels and slipped her hand under the arm of her awaiting father. At last, the event she and bridegroom Briggs Casteel had spent the past year carefully planning was here.

"When I arrived to the chapel, people were spilling out of the church onto the golf course," recalled Jennifer. "They were being entertained by The Hall Trio from Roanoke. My dad was waiting for me and immediately the ceremony started. The flower girl, my niece, the ring bearers, my nephews, made their way down the aisle. My maid of honor was next, and then it was my turn. The tiny little doors swung open and I was on my way."

A quaint wedding ensued, the first to be held in the 19th century chapel, newly restored by The Willard Companies, developer of The Water’s Edge.

"We were having a very difficult time trying to pin down our wedding location, and it seemed like we were on the verge of an elopement," said Jennifer. "Briggs’ mother lives in The Water’s Edge and took us by the chapel one day saying that it had just been renovated. We instantly fell in love."

A charming chapel in a fall Smith Mountain Lake setting was an idyllic fit for both bride and bridegroom, a sentimental reflection of their long friendship and 10-year romance.

"I grew up on Smith Mountain Lake and Briggs’ family moved here in 1994," said Jennifer. "Briggs and I met in the sixth grade at Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Rocky Mount.

"We were on the lookout for each other that first week because our siblings were friends, and both of us had heard a lot about the other. We were friends all through school, but it wasn’t until the summer before our freshmen year in college we began dating. We maintained a long-distance relationship in college and continued to date afterwards. Total dating time [was] 10 years before we finally tied the knot."

Much of the courtship was anchored at SML.

"We spent our summers during college dating at the lake. Briggs used to pick me up on his dad’s boat, and we’d go out to dinner or meet friends for the evening," said Jennifer.

Having discovered the ideal location for the ceremony, wedding plans began to unfold. Jennifer said the event’s informal feel was inspired by the country chapel.

"We felt like the chapel lent itself to a casual and relaxed afternoon ceremony, so we went from there," she said. "We hired vendors in the area with good reputations, shared our ideas and kept our fingers crossed. I was very relaxed about the day coming together. I felt like nothing could spoil the uniqueness of the church. We were elated to be getting married in the little chapel nestled on the shore of our beloved lake."

Because of extremely limited space inside the chapel (it seats about 40), only a small number of guests attended the ceremony. Afterward, the intimate group joined more guests at The Water’s Edge Country Club to celebrate.

"Our reception was a lot of fun. Guests enjoyed the patio at The Water’s Edge, and the sunset over Smith Mountain Lake was beautiful that evening," Jennifer said. "We danced the night away and then left on our little red golf cart, took a quick boat ride to Bernard’s Landing and spent our first night as Mr. and Mrs. Casteel in a condo overlooking Smith Mountain."

The fairytale setting made an impression on the Casteels’ wedding guests.

"For many of our friends, it was their first visit to SML. While Briggs and I were getting ready on Saturday, our guests enjoyed the lake. Some rented boats at Bernard’s and others sat by the pool," Jennifer said. "Everyone loved the chapel and couldn’t believe we were blessed enough to grow up in such a beautiful part of Virginia."

Blessed is also how Jennifer and Briggs continue to feel about their big day at SML.

"Looking back, we are both so happy with our decision to get married in the chapel," said Jennifer. "Smith Mountain Lake is our home. It was so fitting and special to us both."

The Casteels now live and work in Richmond. Jennifer is a reading intervention specialist at Goochland Elementary School and Briggs is Vice President of LimbGear, a company that manufactures and distributes accessory apparel. Jennifer said they visit SML on holidays and frequently during the summer months.

Click here to see the 2010 SML Wedding Guide.