Prepare yourself for pretty as far as the eye can see. Michael Burton, RB for the Washington Redskins, and his childhood sweetheart Kristen had an al fresco Maryland wedding that will have your heart singing. Kirsten worked closely with East Made Co to design a wedding as beautiful as their life-long love story, with family-style tables swathed in linen and silk all set against a backdrop of rolling hills. Michael And Carina Photography lovingly snapped all the swoon-worthy pics, see all the beautiful details in the full gallery.
From Michael And Carina Photography…In a love story seemingly out of a fairytale, in a world where only 2% of new marriages in the US are between couples who started dating in high school, Michael and Kirsten began dating in eighth grade and haven’t looked back since. They first met in sixth grade, as students attending the same middle school in Long Valley, New Jersey. Once they began dating “officially” two years later, their lives and families became forever intertwined. Spending their free time in high school with friends, at Michael’s football games, and on dates to the local candy shop, the couple continued their relationship when they both attended college together at Rutgers.
After college, Kirsten became a teacher through Teach for America and Michael was drafted into the NFL as a fullback for the Detroit Lions. Following two seasons with the Lions and two seasons with the Chicago Bears, Michael now plays for the Washington Redskins, and Kirsten has supported his career the entire way. The pair are no strangers to long distance love, keeping a home base in Maryland, where Kirsten’s family now resides. Spending so much of the past four years apart made their wedding weekend at Foxfire, a private horse farm estate in Monkton, Maryland, that much more special for all involved.
Always having envisioned an al fresco, family style, dinner under twinkle lights, Kirsten worked closely with Maryland wedding planner East Made Co to design a warm, intimate-feeling wedding, inspired by subtle textured fabrics like linen and silk, and a color palette of complex neutrals. Although the wedding was designed to evoke an outdoor California wine country feel, Maryland’s unpredictable summer weather kept everyone on their toes leading into the evening, with thunderstorms popping up all around the area. Luckily, not a drop of rain fell on Kirstenand Michael’s celebration; instead, guests enjoyed an impressive rainbow seen beyond the rolling hills of Monkton. What better symbol of good luck and happiness to commemorate this absolutely meaningful day?
Photography: Michael And Carina Photography | Cinematography: Cord 3 Films | Floral Design: Steel Cut Floral Co | Catering: Copper Kitchen | Hair and Makeup: Caitlyn Meyer | Lighting: Loane Brothers | Band: East Coast Entertainment | Wedding Venue: Foxfire | Dress Salon: L'Fay Bridal | Film Lab: Richard Photo Lab | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Planning, Design, Styling: East Made Co | Rentals: White Glove Rentals | Stationary and Calligraphy: Shotgunning for Love | Wedding Dress Designer: Calla Blanche