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Chris and Erin “met” in a graduate level Virginia Tech Zoom class in January of 2021 during covid. “He was maybe the only person who kept on his camera the entire time, and hey, I thought he was cute.” He responded affirmative to her suggestion they study together at the library, which eventually launched their dating life.
Chris hails from Boston and is a structural engineer finishing up his PhD at Virginia Tech. Erin is a North Carolina native with a PhD in chemistry from Virginia Tech, working as a research and development scientist with an innovation company.
Virginia Tech is so intertwined with their lives and how and where they met that it was fitting he proposed at the duck ponds during an evening walk. “I was completely surprised. It was very sweet and thoughtful, and it felt like the perfect place,” she recalls. The couple especially loves dinner out at Our Daily Bread. “It’s romantic with good food and vibes, and a lot of people don’t seem to know they serve dinner.”
Erin and Chris planned most of the wedding themselves, which was fun and interesting. “We chose the things that were most important and meaningful,” says Chris, “and enjoyed the details from deciding which venues to the cake testing and everything else.” The wedding ceremony took place at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Blacksburg with the reception at Mountain Lake Lodge, “an absolute dream for us”.
Though they were enthusiastic as the day approached, the Jacksons encourage couples to reach out for help from family, friends, the bridal party and groomsmen. The events and all the details can get hectic for just two people who happen to be the stars of the show.
One of the stars in their life now is Pepper, a Yorkie puppy which they love taking on long walks. From a Zoom “meeting” through four and a half years of grad school, trips to their respective home states and families, planning and pulling off their wonderful wedding day, the Jacksons have grown close and share in the excitement of married life. Wishing you all the best, Chris and Erin!
Photographer ~ Emily Heskett [Emilyheskett.com]
Wedding dress ~ Ivory on Campbell, Roanoke
Makeup/Hair ~ TheHotSeat / BeautybyJustine
Ceremony ~ St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Blacksburg
Reception ~ Mountain Lake Lodge, Pembroke
Wedding cake ~ Our Daily Bread, Blacksburg
Florist ~ The Twisted Tulip, Roanoke
Décor ~ FireFly Event Services, Blue Ridge
Text by Joanne M. Anderson
Photos by Emily Heskett
