Clifton boasts a remarkable historical legacy that begins with a direct link to Thomas Jefferson and includes a connection with one of the most colorful characters of the Civil War.

The original property was part of a 3,000 acre land grant belonging to Peter Jefferson.  Through the Jefferson family, approximately 350 acres of the land was passed on to Thomas Jefferson’s daughter and her then-new husband Thomas Mann Randolph.  It was on the central parcel of this land that Randolph built their home “Edgehill.”

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The stone foundations of the present main house were likely part of a warehouse that Randolph built to service his trading business.  Randolph spent a great amount of time at Clifton while his wife Martha worked as hostess at Monticello.

Randolph’s Jefferson family ties were frayed and in fact broken in 1826 in a dispute over Thomas Jefferson’s will.  When Randolph learned that he had been bypassed as executor of the will by his own son, Thomas Jefferson Randolph, the elder Randolph was furious and humiliated.  So much so, in fact, that in 1826 he renounced his family, leaving Edgehill and moving ½ mile away to what is now Clifton.  It was there that he lived in complete seclusion, spending his days and nights drinking and brooding while his health failed him.  In March of 1828 he moved again, this time to the North Wing at Monticello, where he died alone only a few months later.

Clifton once again had a date with history during the Civil War, when it is said to have been the home of the “Grey Ghost of the Confederacy,” Colonel John Singleton Mosby.  Mosby and his family were driven from their home in Middleburg and apparently sought refuge at Clifton.  As the story goes, the colorful Colonel often sent them food and supplies and was careful to re-route his packages upon reports of Union soldiers in the area.

Following the Civil War, Clifton remained a private residence for more than a century until it was lovingly restored by its current owners into a five-room country inn.  Three historic dependencies on the estate were restored to create nine additional guest accommodations in the original home and its outlying buildings, including the “Honeymoon Cottage” and “Livery Suites.”

I asked Clifton Coordinator some questions about the inn:

How many guests can Clifton accommodate for a wedding?

300 is our maximum.  

What makes Clifton special/different compared to other places? 

Clifton is a unique blend of southern charm & hospitality and luxury accommodations & service all set on a beautiful property which only feels like you are out in the country (since we are so close to Charlottesville). The modern clean lines with the eclectic decorations lends itself to most any wedding decor ensuring that the property becomes your own private estate for the weekend equipped with a full restaurant and staff! Guests are often surprised by how friendly (and international!) our staff is and we pride ourselves in making sure every detail of every event is accounted for. That is one of the reasons we have an event coordinator onsite who is familiar with the event and the property.

 Is there anything else about Clifton that you would like to share? 

I can honestly say that every member of our staff loves being here and doing what they are doing. Behind the scenes we are always working out details on events beyond what most clients would believe even if I told them. Our goal is to have the wedding couple be able to check in that weekend and know that everything will be taken care of from then on.

and one just for Robin who is a very talented fellow photographer, videographer and fellow Polaroid lover!

venue: Clifton Inn
caterer: Clifton Inn
officiant: Claire Goodman
florist: Pat’s Floral Design
ceremony music: Piedmont Chamber Players
reception music: DJ Tobler
donuts: Carpe Donuts
dress: Monique Lhuiller
shoes: Alexander McQueen

How did you meet?

Kate: We met through our mutual friends, Jeremy and Melissa Berry.  Every year, the Berry’s host a holiday party, which Tony and I both attend and met at in 2009.  I met Tony when I was actually taking a break from the party and had stepped out onto the balcony for a bit of fresh air (in case you’re wondering…it was not warm).  Tony came out about 2 minutes later because Melissa had asked him to grab more ice (a likely story) and we struck-up a conversation.  The conversation lasted about 5 minutes before we both decided we were freezing and returned inside, at which point I decided it was time to leave the party and head for the homestead.  I left thinking/feeling like I had really met someone special: a one in a million kind of guy, and I was immediately sad that I would probably never talk to him again (not an unlikely scenario in DC).  And then, a wonderful thing happened…he Facebooked me…
The rest is, as they say, history…

What was your favorite detail about the wedding?

Kate: I think that my favorite detail was at the end of the ceremony when everyone was still dry.

I also loved the fact that so many of our friends and family had a “stake” in our wedding.  From my dear friend Mia helping us finalize the menu to my sister helping us sew hearts to hang from the trees to our wonderful friend Steph rustling-up card stock paper for our welcome bags at the last minute, this wedding was about love on a very broad scale.

What was your favorite moment from the wedding?

Both of us: Our first dance was hands-down the best moment.  It was just a couple of minutes where we were able to slow down and really FEEL married.  So much of the wedding went by quickly, but in the two-and-a-half minutes of our first dance we were just in our own, personal world and it felt very peaceful.

What was your favorite detail about the wedding?

Tony: The FacePlace booth was awesome!!  We spent a lot of hours making the backdrop decorations and all the props, and everyone really had fun with it – the pictures are really priceless!

What’s next for you as a couple?

Both of us: So much…isn’t that exciting!?!

and view their complete slideshow here

Click on this link to access their entire pass word protected gallery for viewing and ordering.

venue: Clifton Inn
caterer: Clifton Inn
florist: Pat’s Floral Design
ceremony music: Plum Blossom
reception band: No BS Brass Band
lighting designer: Skyline Tent Company
dress: Priscilla of Boston

How did you meet?

One of my best friends from growing up started dental school at MCV just about the same time I accepted a position in the Richmond area and relocated from Charlottesville. She and I went out to dinner one night in October of 2007 and afterwards she suggest we meet up with some of her classmates who were at a dental school social. That night changed our lives forever! Bo had just moved from Roanoke to start his first year of dental school. Our timing was perfect. We soon discovered we both were going through a rough time, each having lost a parent within months of meeting one another, and we immediately found comfort and compassion within one another. We knew pretty quickly that the love we shared was incredibly special, and that we were meant to be together.

stunning florals as always from Pat’s Floral Design!

What detail did you like best about your wedding day?

All day, I kept saying that at the Clifton, we had found a little piece of Heaven. It was just so picturesque and wonderful in every way. But, if I had to pick just one thing aside from the location, I’d have to say that the flowers were breathtakingly beautiful and truly set the scene that we had envisioned!

The butterfly that hung around after the release to hear their vows.  Do you believe?

What was your favorite moment during your wedding day?

I think we both finally relaxed after saying “I Do” so being presented as a couple for the first time and walking back towards the Inn, arm in arm. You captured on film my “we did it” gesture and after that, we both had huge smiles on our faces that seemed to last all night!

Yeah, I still bust out the old film cameras every once in a while!  Holgas rule!

What’s next on your calender as a couple?

The last several months have been such a whirlwind…Bo graduated from dental school and started a new job just a few weeks before we got married, so with that, board exams, the wedding, our honeymoon, his sisters wedding right when we got home…I think we are just really looking forward to having a normal schedule and  being home for the summer! We do have two weddings to look forward to at the end of the summer and I think we’re both excited to just be guests!!

View lots more images on their slideshow!

and click on this link to access their full online gallery!

Plus see many more and tag friends on the facebook album!

and you may enjoy viewing the images from Amy’s bridal portrait session on this slideshow!

and may I just point out that Kate wandered all over the gorgeous grounds of the Clifton Inn in these AMAZING Alexander McQueen shoes?

more to come – and check out our new FacePlace images on FACEBOOK!

The guys got ready at the Carriage House at Clifton Inn.

The gals got ready at the main house with the help of the ladies from Face Value Studio. Leah took a little private time to write a special note to Seth.  Dress by Vera Wang.

Loving my infrared camera!  Still miss the old discontinued Kodak film.  Leah’s dad walks his daughter to the croquet pitch.

It’s such a quaint garden location!

The rest of the place is just as beautiful!  I loved these quiet moments afterwards with the couple.

Then, the sunset cocktails on the pool terrace!

mmmm refreshing champagne!  I love the condensation on the glasses of chilled Louis de Sacy Grand Cru Champagne.  Can’t you just TASTE it?

Then it was on to the tent in the wooded clearing.

HelenOlivia created the stunning floral displays again this evening!

The Skyline Tent Company always done such a nice job!

One of my favorite moments at a wedding is during the first dance.  The pressure is off (well mostly!) and the couple can just enjoy themselves like Leah and Seth did here!

theeventco did a great job with subtle but effective lights.  I loved the way the band’s lights added just a small disco element at the front.

Speaking of the band, if you’re still looking for one, BS&M is one that I can recommend!  When they were playing, NO ONE was sitting down!

All good things must come to an end at some point and Leah and Seth were sent off on their way with a sparkler exit!

Thanks again to Crystal Whitaker at Clifton Inn, without whom, this would not have been as spectacularly run as it was!

Gorgeous place at Ashlawn

Yummy food from Clifton Inn

Fabulous flowers from Helenolivia

what more could you ask for?

a nice little quiet moment captured… at the end of the toasts…

Congratulations you two!