Dear Michael and Carina, thank you for sharing this anchor of lovely. It’s the type of wedding day where every element of nautical charm sends us into an ocean of bliss with each sea-inspired detail and cool blue hue. From the post ceremony sail, to the tented reception sprinkled with gilded details, we’re going to be harbor every moment forever in THE VAULT!
From Michael and Carina Photography…Kelly and Gary married on a beautiful summer day at the lovely Maritime Museum by the Chesapeake Bay. The nautical feel of their wedding fit the location perfectly; the light blue details and golden oyster shells completed the elegant setting. Neutral floral arrangements and the groomsmen’s navy suits were selected thoughtfully to match the location and feel of the wedding. The bridal party even took a sailboat out to sea!
Kelly and Gary’s ceremony took place by a lavishly decorated floral arbor, a few feet from the Chesapeake Bay. Everyone celebrated under a sailcloth tent by the water. We couldn’t imagine a more elegant and fun maritime wedding inspiration for brides-to-be.
From the Bride…Gary and I have always felt so lucky to have found each other and to have such wonderful friends and family who support and love us unconditionally. We wanted our wedding to be uniquely our own and for each moment to feel purposeful and meaningful. Above all, we wanted it to be a true celebration of our love for one another. We continued to remind ourselves of this, throughout the planning process, which helped us keep perspective on what really mattered.
When we found the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, in St. Michaels, Maryland, we knew it was the perfect place to say ‘I do’. St. Michaels is a charming coastal town along the Eastern Shore, ideal for many of our out-of-town guests to enjoy a weekend getaway. The museum was effortlessly beautiful and gave us the creative liberty to really be ourselves. Even though having an outdoor wedding was a big risk, we made sure to surround ourselves with a team of wonderful vendors who we trusted to make it amazing. We immediately knew that we wanted to work with film photographers, Michael and Carina, as they always capture flawless photos that tell a beautiful story. Having Sara Reynolds, to coordinate the month-of, lifted so much weight off of our shoulders and really let us enjoy every moment of getting married. She was a huge part of bringing our vision to life.
With the Chesapeake Bay as our backdrop we were inspired to keep our details natural and elegant. Our bridesmaids wore shades of blue to complement the nautical setting. Each girl picked a different dress from two designers. The groomsmen looked handsome in matching French Navy suits topped with light blue linen bowties. We arrived to the ceremony on the HM Krentz, a vintage skipjack docked at the museum. As guests arrived they were greeted with a refreshment served in a keepsake oyster cup from Gary’s grandfathers oyster house. The signature drink was made with local micro, craft rum from Lyon Distilling Co. A strings duo played a handpicked selection of songs before we walked down the aisle to exchange vows we had written to one another. Making our ceremony personal meant so much to us. We knew we would look back on those words, and our commitment to each other, for the rest of our lives.
Our escort cards were DIY, hand-painted oyster shells, and the seating chart was crafted from a nautical map of the Chesapeake Bay. We also filled a dinghy boat full of local brews from Buffalo, New York as homage to my hometown. Locally grown greenery, delicate garlands, and full white blooms beautifully juxtaposed the rustic museum. Dinner was inspired by local produce and included a farmers market ceviche, with a lump crab cake, followed by an entrée of choice.
Organic linen tablecloths, seersucker napkins and draped café lighting gave us a soft and romantic feel. We also setup a small breakout space with tall multi-candle lanterns and Adirondack chairs for guests to relax and enjoy the bay breeze when they wanted a moment away from the dance floor. Our photo booth, complete with custom props, was a total hit! Guests shared their photos in our handmade guestbook (we loved having this to look at the next day, too). As the night came to an end we had one last local surprise – The Scottish Highland Creamery set up their cart near the exit with six delicious flavors of artisan gelato for guests to enjoy. It was the sweetest way we knew how to say ‘thank you’ for sharing the weekend with us.
Gary and I danced the night away surrounded by everyone we love. It was the best day of our lives and a perfect way to begin our happily ever after!
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Photography: Michael And Carina Photography | Cinematography: Wood Room Cinema | Event Planning: Sara Reynolds Events | Floral Design: Seaberry Farm | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Cake: Graul’s Market | Invitations: Just Ink On Paper | Bride's Shoes: BHLDN | Jewelry: Heirloom | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Adrianna Papell | Catering: PeachBlossoms Events | Makeup: The Makeup Chic | Hair: Jewel Hair Design | DJ: DJ Wax | Groomsmen Attire: J.Crew | Bridal Boutique: Garnish Boutique | Event Venue: Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab | Ice Cream Stand: The Scottish Highland Creamery | Music: Chesapeake Strings | Paper Goods: Just Ink On Paper | Photo Booth: Smith Landing Photobooth