You may want to close your office door for a moment. If you’re anything like me, in about 2 minutes, you’re going to be scrolling through a gallery to the sweetest wedding we’ve seen with a huge, goofy in love grin on your face. Sweetwater Portraits sent in this charming soiree, and since it hit my inbox, I’ve been developing my crush on these two sweethearts, their stunning handmade fête, and the gorgeous images. Click here to commence the crush!
The best and most unique part of our wedding is how much of it was customized and hand-made to fit our style and personalities. We are generally, non-traditional people who like to stand apart from the rest. Pete’s Mom made the hand-made fabric bunting/flags. My parents created wooden signs for the wedding and our chairs. My sister made the table numbers and every place card. My best friend sang at the wedding. Our next-door neighbor (who’s house is literally connected to ours) married us. Pete’s friend supplied our Mason Jars for Sangria (my personal favorite recipe that was used). We wanted everything to stand out, and not look so expected or typical, hence the bridesmaids in off-white/Ivory. We had our friends and family read letters/cards/poems during our ceremony that we had written to each other over the 7 years that we had been together. All of our friends and family came together to help make everything so hand-on, creative, and special.
Pete and I met while I was forced to take an EMT class (thank God), by my 3rd year of PA school (undergrad). My instructor and classmate were from Pete’s hometown and knew him through the Volunteer Fire Co, where Pete volunteered as an EMT/Firefighter back then. I used to coach field hockey camp down at the DE beaches, and so it was set up for us to meet; a blind date, if you will, to “study” for the EMT boards. I knew right away when I met Pete, there was something special about this guy! The following week when I came back for my second week of hockey camp, we met up every night, often staying up until 3, 4, 5 am (camp began at 8 am)…and as they say, the rest is history.
Pete’s proposal was about a 6 month long torturous process! From about February 2010 until August 2010 (when he finally propsed), Pete would ask me “proposal-like” questions on at least a weekly basis for everyday life questions. “Alaina, I have something very important to ask you, will you……grab the laundry?” Finally, August 15, 2010, we were on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, heading from a friend’s beach house in NJ, to go visit Pete’s parents in DE to celebrate their anniversary with an annual Crab Feast. Pete proposed on the deck of the Ferry, asking me to “pick a hand”, implying the “ring” might be in one of his hands (a trick/joke he had been using for months….never a ring present). I picked a hand…empty. Some greater power that be came over me, and I said “Can I try again?” Low and behold…there was the ring…in the other hand.
We currently live in Wilmington, DE where we bought a house in 2008. We have a ridiculously awesome Siberian Husky named Kai. I am a Physician Assistant and Pete is an Occupational Therapist, degrees that we both received from Philadelphia University, but completely separate from each other, and often that is how people think we met. We honeymooned in Australia, which was an incredibly unique experience, and in fact, we ate Kangaroo!
Photography: Sweetwater Portraits / Ceremony Venue: North Lawn at Rockwood Park / Reception Venue: The Carriage House at Rockwood Park / Caterer: The Greenery Caterers / Flowers: Bloomsbury Flowers / Invitations: Letter C Design / Music: D&J DJ Services / Hair: Fabrizio Salon & Spa, Carmen / Makeup: Fabrizio Salon & Spa, Kim / Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Dress: J.Crew / Rings: Tiffany & Co. /Bride’s earrings: Kate Spade / Bride’s bracelet: Banana Republic / Bridesmaid bracelets: Kate Spade