Maryland Weddings

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Olive Green & Earth Tones with Bright Bold Colorful Summer Flowers[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]Our wedding was in June, so we centered our design around a cohesive combination of Luxe Garden Summer Soiree that slowly turned into Old Hollywood Glam by the end of the night. Upon entry, guests were greeted in the Baltimore Country Club garden with cold drinks as they found their seats for the ceremony. The ceremony was atop a hill overlooking a park and framed with a bold & bright statement illusion-arch of florals and matching ombre hand fans in lieu of programs. We leaned into the luxe garden summer soiree design throughout cocktail hour and dinner with unique touches of passed cold lavender hand towels, raw bar atop ice, summer specialty cocktails, and botanical day-of stationary. During this time we carefully melded the two design themes by also incorporating Old Hollywood Glam touches throughout. Our escort display was three large statement gold-framed mirrors with individual custom matchboxes attached noting guests’ names and table numbers with the header “You Light Up Our World”. As cocktail hour ended, we had three percussionists lead guests from the cocktail hour to the dinner room via a Louisiana Second-Line, an ode to Thomas’ alma mater LSU. The dinner was complete with vintage botanical napkins from Stradley Davidson and matching olive green drinkware from Select Event Group. The chairs were a mix of cane-back rounded king-chairs and whimsical wooden natural chairs, both from White Glove Rentals. Thanks to our amazing florist, Sophie Felts, we had massive floral statement pieces on the entryway arches of each room. To top it off, our table numbers were custom made by E Alex Designs and matched our botanical-themed invitations and menus. As dinner ended and dancing begun, we transitioned the design to old Hollywood and really leaned into the original BCC wood-clad club room from 1898. We had a custom champagne tower, espresso martini specialty station, and custom 25’ bar along the arched window line. Our world-class photographer, Audra Wrisley, captured the design, aesthetic, and vibe perfectly. She portrayed the night through a unique combination of soft colorful photography, candid moments where you can feel the movement, and bold black and white raw film. To top it off, she worked seamlessly with our videographer, Lee Russell Films, to create the perfect memory bank of the night that we will have for years to come. After many hours of epic dancing thanks to our amazing band, Night Song, we had our official send off where our percussionist line led us to a speakeasy bowling alley after-party that was themed Studio54 complete with a live DJ, shot-girls carrying Liquid IV shots, custom late-night snacks, duck-pin bowling, and disco-balls everywhere. Thanks to our amazing wedding planner, Jillian Jenkins at Elle Ellinghaus Designs, it truly was a night to remember and one that we will never forget.[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]Our proposal story started in Easton, Maryland on the weekend of July 8th, 2022. Thomas works as a tenant rep at CBRE and often attends sales events with raffles and gifts. Earlier that summer he mentions to me that he won a night at Inn at Perry Cabin, a luxury resort in St. Michael’s Maryland. I was over the moon and ready for a weekend getaway out of the city. Thomas’ aunt lives on the water in Easton so we planned to make a weekend of it, visiting her and boating over to the hotel for a night away. We get on the boat and after about 5 minutes of smooth sailing our boat breaks down…thankfully there is a small sand beach close by that we are able to get to before calling the tow company…little did I know this was all a façade. We decided to kill time while we “waiting for the tow boat” and go for a walk on the beach and right then and there he dropped to a knee and asked me to marry him. He proposed with a beautiful elongated cushion cut ring with a hidden halo and pave diamond band, but the most unique part is the small blue sapphire located on the inside of the ring as “something blue”. The boat was never broken, there was never even a night at the Inn at Perry Cabin! We get back to our dock afterward and both my entire family and his entire family are there to celebrate us which was such an amazing surprise. It was truly one of the best weekends of my life.[/field]
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[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]I wore a custom gown by Eisen Stein that I got at Love Couture in Potomac Maryland after trying on many many many dresses. It was a stunning and unique strapless gown with beautiful boning that faded into soft ruffled tulle. It captured my theme and personality perfectly and even made Thomas tear up on the first look 😊. For the after party I changed into a vintage strapless satin minidress with a bow in the back that went down to the floor, I paired this with a three-layer pearl choker, pearl encrusted tulle opera gloves, and custom jewelled sneakers. [/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]For my bridesmaid dresses I had them wear the Mira Dress by Amsale in color Jade. They were these stunning olive green satin gowns that fit perfectly with our luxe garden theme. My mother, Suzy Riedel, wore a custom Kelly Chase Couture gown from a boutique in Naples, Florida.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Groomsman wore classic black tuxes complete with custom silver monogrammed cufflinks provided by the Groom on the day of. Thomas wore a custom black classic tuxedo with suede tuxedo slippers.[/field]
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[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]Baltimore Country Club is notoriously known for their crab cake and filet combo; however, we, like many of the other decisions we made for the wedding, wanted to be different than the classic country club wedding. You can’t have a Maryland wedding without crab, so instead of the classic crabcake, we had this amazing and unique starting course that was a crab and avocado personal tower with roasted summer corn, poblano peppers, and bacon tomato jam. We are both foodies and we wanted something unique and delicious to stand out. We then had a dual entrée course of filet mignon with herb encrusted sea bass with ginger carrot quinoa, purple whipped potatoes, and grilled asparagus. At the cocktail hour we had a custom raw bar as well as passed hors devours including tuna tartar wasabi crisps, mini pork carnitas tacos, cranberry brie mini pastries, jalapeno crab cornbread hush puppies, and more. We had specialty cocktails named after our dogs and brought to life with custom pet bar menu portraits by E Alex Designs. Mine was called The Arthur – a classic Baltimore Southside and Thomas’ was The Riley – a Tequila Soda with a Splash of Lemonade. Our after party late-night snacks were an ode to the McDonalds logo making the B in Brown (our new last name) a sideways “Golden Arches” with the caption “I’m Lovin It” wrapped around some delicious late night food options.[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Our florist, Sophie Felts, brought our décor vision to life. I wanted over-the-top floral statement pieces and she executed it beautifully. We were in awe when we saw it in person – the colors, attention to detail, and wow factor that came from the florals was truly a vision. The accompanying décor was also to die for – we had stunning lounge seating, custom stage surrounds, a custom 25’ bar, and champagne towers courtesy of White Glove Rentals, and Jillian Jenkins’ logistical miracle powers to bring everything together on the day of. [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]I am a huge dessert person so while we had a stunning three-tier botanical cake to cut, we actually had three cake flavors being offered alongside an espresso martini bar and custom dessert station. My favorite was the carrot cake with cream cheese icing. We also had a Ferrero Roche cake with coffee frosting and a classic summer strawberry shortcake. Naturally, we ate all three because the pastry chef at BCC is incredibly talented![/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]Our ceremony readings were done by my Aunt Nancy Moffat and Thomas’ Aunt Christine Brown. Deacon Andrew Lacovara at St. Ignatius in Baltimore married us. Our ceremony music was performed by Black White and Steel and they created the perfect ambiance playing the classical string quartet version of current popular songs throughout the ceremony and cocktail hour. Thomas, the groomsmen, and the bridesmaids walked down the aisle to the string quartet version of Coldplay’s A Sky Full of Stars. I walked down the aisle to the string quartet version of Christina Perri’s A Thousand Years. Fast forwarding to our first dance, Thomas and I chose Cowboy Take Me Away by the Dixie Chicks. My dad and I danced to Rascal Flats’ My Wish, and Thomas and his mom danced to Don’t Blink by Kenny Chesney. My father, George Riedel, kicked off the dinner with a heartfelt speech about my ambitious and aspiring spirit melding perfectly with Thomas’ outgoing and thoughtful personality. My two sisters, Madison Riedel and Megan Litz, were my Maid and Matron of Honor and they gave an incredible speech together that made the crowd both laugh and cry. This was then followed by a lively speech by Thomas’ co-best men, Gillin Smith and Kent Knaus, his two best friends from childhood and college. The rest of the night was filled with amazing live music courtesy of Nightsong, our 10-person incredible band that went all night. Then to top it off, we had DJ Kenny Der “The Buddha” play a late night set at the after party until the wee hours of the morning.

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[field title=”Special Detail #1″]One of the most unique details that we did at the wedding was handwrite a custom note to every guest using it as their name card at their place setting. Having a wedding of 240 people, we wanted to ensure that everyone felt loved, cared for, and knew how much we loved having them there to help celebrate us on our big day. The day goes by so fast and there are so many people to talk to so while we may have carpel tunnel after writing all those cards, it was 10000% worth every second to see our guests’ reactions.

We wanted to kick off our wedding with a bang, our save the dates were custom cookies made by the BCC Pastry Chef and packaged in a box titled as “Savor the Date” and a small card with details to get them excited for what is to come. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″] The cold lavender hand towels at the ceremony and cocktail hour were such a hit because it was a hot Baltimore day and keeping guests cool was a priority.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]We had an incredible live painter, J Lawrence Art Studio, that completed a 24×36” oil painting live throughout the entire reception. She caught the perfect moment of Thomas and I as we poured champagne into the coupe tower. She painted us so realistically I was completely blown away, and it was a huge hit among the crowd, not to mention the amazing custom oil painting we have now of hanging on our wall.

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Photography: Audra Wrisley Photography | Event Planning: Jillian with Elle Ellinghaus | Floral Design: Sophie Felts Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Eisen Stein Bridal | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Venue: Baltimore Country Club | Live Painter: J Lawrence Art Studio | Mother of the Bride's Dress: Kelly Chase Couture | Mother of the Groom's Dress: Alexander by Daymor | Rentals: Select Event Group | Rentals: White Glove Rentals | Stationery & Paper: EAlexDesigns (myself) | Video: Lee Russell Films

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Photography

Audra Wrisley Photography

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What were you doing at four years old? How about meeting your soul mate? That’s what these two cuties could cross off their play date to do list and if that’s not the makings of a fairytale romance, then their elegant winter wedding will seal the deal. Planned and styled by East Made Event Company and captured by L Hewitt Photography, this chic indoor celebration makes our hearts melt… and our Pinterest boards shine. See it all right this way!

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From East Made Event Company… On a 14 degree day during Baltimore’s early 2018 winter, 140 lucky guests cozied together in the warm and glowing Baltimore Museum of Art to celebrate the nuptials of Meredith and Michael. Walking up the front museum steps into Fox Court, guests were greeted by a string trio and candlelight, and were surrounded by grand, Ionic columns and some of the world’s most beautiful art.

Meredith and Michael first met when they were just four years old, at a friend’s birthday party in their hometown of Falls Church, Virginia. They knew each other throughout their youth, and started dating during their senior year in high school, when they were both point guards for their respective Varsity basketball teams. After college, both taught public school in New Orleans before moving back to the DC area to attend graduate school; Michael in business, and Meredith in museum studies. With Meredith’s interest in art and the beautiful museums who house it, choosing the Baltimore Museum of Art as their wedding venue made perfect sense.

Meredith was one of our most elegant and fashionable brides, donning her mother’s black velvet, vintage wedding dress, impeccably tailored, for her rehearsal dinner, and then surprising us on her wedding day with emerald green velvet Jimmy Choo heels. The V-shaped peekaboo under-arm cutouts in her Mikaella gown added a modern twist to her classic winter wedding style; the perfect modern compliment to Michael’s black tuxedo.

Our couple’s color palette was inspired by Meredith’s favorite scalloped print, seen most prominently on the envelope liner of the invitation suite by Stephanie B Design. The print colors of blush, grey, and dusty slate blue were woven throughout the wedding along with gold and greenery, and the scalloped arches in the print mimicked both the arched windows of the museum as well as the marble tile place cards at each place setting.

Meredith and Michael also worked with Rouge Catering to build four different menu entrées, unique to each city where they have lived or will honeymoon – Falls Church, New Orleans, Baltimore, and Rome. From crab cakes, to gnocchi, to beignets, guests were transported around the globe, from dinner through dessert. Blush velvet linens on the long tables and ivory shantung on the round tables also added to the luxurious winter feel. All of these personalized details perfectly suited the couple, their venue, and the winter season, making every aspect of this gorgeous wedding elegantly theirs.

Photography: L Hewitt Photography | Floral Design: Sophie Felts Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Mikaella Bridal | Cake: Sugar Bakers Cakes | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: Rouge Fine Catering | Hair + Makeup: Updos For I Dos | Lighting: Event Dynamics | Transportation: A Touch Of Class Limousines | Bridal Boutique: Ellie's Bridal Boutique | Calligraphy + Stationery: Stephanie B Design | Ceremony Musicians: Chesapeake Strings | Event Planning + Styling: East Made Event Company | Linens: Select Event Group | Lounge Furniture: White Glove Rentals | Menswear: The Black Tux | Rentals: Loane Brothers | Valet: Jay's Valet

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Baltimore knows how to put on a timeless and elegant wedding, and today’s black and white fête planned by Stephanie Bradshaw is the perfect example. In honor of her love of horses, this Bride chose an elegant gown with a dramatic horse hair skirt, which looked absolutely striking paired with her handsome Groom, dressed sharply in his uniform. Add in the beautiful, tented reception outfitted in impressive, white and periwinkle blooms by Flowers and Fancies and photography by Michael and Carina, and you’ve got one gorgeous celebration that will surely stand the test of time and trend.

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From Michael and Carina Photographers… Claire and Paul married in style. They are fans of black and white patterns and incorporated them so beautifully into their wedding. Claire wore a gown made of horse hair as a tribute to her love of horses. Stephanie Bradshaw and her team created an incredibly styled reception area with lots of greenery, a custom boxwood bar, and black and white sun umbrellas. A red vintage car made for the perfect accent!

Photography: Michael And Carina Photography | Event Planning + Design: Stephanie Bradshaw | Floral Design: Flowers And Fancies | Reception Venue: Evergreen Museum And Library | Hair + Makeup: Updos For I Dos | Band: Elan Artists | Catering + Cake: Linwoods | Cocktail Music: Jazz Trio | Film Lab: Richard Photo Lab | Rentals + Production: Revolution Event Design And Production | Tent + Rentals: Loane Brothers

Are you a person that surrounds yourself with plants and florals? Then this gem is right up your organic loving alley. With a brick infused industrial backdrop and pretty, pretty greenery from Sweet Root Village, it truly mixes old and gorgeous all crafted by Kruse & Vieira Events. Pore through all that pretty plus so much more in the vault shot by Krista A. Jones Photography.

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Working on Kerri & Steve’s Mt. Washington Mill-Dye House wedding was a dream! It’s not often a client’s taste and style matches yours exactly but that was the case with this couple! The Mill-Dye House is a new venue in Baltimore and was a blank canvas for creating the romantic, cozy and garden inspired wedding of Kerri’s dreams. “We knew we wanted a raw space that we could bring to life and put our stamp on. We fell in love with the Mt. Washington Mill Dye House and knew it was the one as soon as we saw it. “

With a neutral palate featuring wooden, linen and metallic accents the space came alive thanks to the amazing florals and several installations from Sweet Root Village. The ceiling was adorned with greenery chandeliers to cozy up the raw space. The wooden head table featured a horizontal greenery installation and gauzy linen runner. There ceremony and cocktail hour were held in the courtyard outside of the wedding on a balmy September evening — complete with a custom wooden bar, loose organic greenery and a beautiful draped ceremony installation. Guests danced all night under twinkle lights — grabbing drinks from a beautiful (huge!) vintage bar.

Photography: Krista A. Jones Photography | Videography: Wood Room Cinema | Floral Design: Sweet Root Village | Wedding Gown: Sarah Seven | Cake: Sugar Bakers Cakes | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Hayley Paige | Catering: Copper Kitchen | Makeup: Updos For I Dos | Hair: Rachel Lee (Bride's Sister-In-Law) | Calligraphy: Laura Hooper Calligraphy | Groom's Attire: Suitsupply | Officiant: Kiko Garcia | Brides Jewelry: BHLDN | Ceremony Musicans: Kiss Kiss Players | Draping: Event Dynamics | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Mill: Mt. Washington Mill Dye House | Planning and Design: Kruse & Vieira Events | Reception Band: Prime Time | Rentals: White Glove Rentals

Inspiration can come from a million different places but have you ever considered what you’re standing on right now? That’s where these two creative souls found their fit, with their favorite Turkish rug – and their two pups – and with that spark of style, they embarked on creating a wedding day perfectly suited to them. Michael and Carina captured it all, the rug, the pups and these two and the endless love between them – see it all in our Vault right this way!

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From Michael and Carina… We photographed Laken and Michael’s gorgeous ballroom wedding at the Mt. Washington Mill- Dye House in Baltimore, Maryland on September 24th, 2016.

Laken and Michael were inspired by their beloved pups and their favorite Turkish rug for their wedding. They had a custom crest designed featuring their two dogs, as well as the colors of their Turkish rug. The indoor ceremony was held in a cozy space filled with greenery and candles, and the couple married standing on their rug. The reception space was a luscious display of hanging greenery, candles and golden accents.

Laken and Michael shared their first dance on their Turkish rug, to tie everything together.

The green, gold and blush color palette went perfectly with the unique stone architecture of the venue. Jenna and her team from Pop the Cork Designs realized their vision of a romantic and elegant setting with a neutral color palette perfectly and created a green-blush-gold wedding extravaganza. Laken wore an Amsale silk organza gown with a hand-pleated floral design skirt to go with her half-up half-down hairdo.

Photography: Michael And Carina Photography | Floral Design: Crimson and Clover Floral Design, Inc. | Wedding Cake: La Cakerie | Bride's Shoes: J.Crew | Jewelry: Kendra Scott Jewelry | Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale | Catering : Linwoods | DJ: Evan Reitmeyer | Groom's Attire: The Black Tux | Bridal Hair : PSC Hair Artistry | Bridal Makeup: Izzy B Makeup | Event Venue: Mt. Washington Mill Dye House | Film Lab: Richard Photo Lab | Paper Goods: Jolly Edition | Planning + Styling: Pop The Cork Designs | Rentals: White Glove Rentals

The Super Bowl may have passed a few day ago but we’re still riding high on football season around these parts. So when this film came across our desks, well, let’s just say it was perfect timing. This bride-to-be decided to surprise her football lovin’ fiance and the results? Ah-mazing. Before we move on to other seasonal sports, let’s give football one more hug with this fabulous film by Pacific Pictures!

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From Pacific Pictures… Married sports fans know that marriage and sports have a lot in common. Success in both requires hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. For engaged football fans Komal and Shalin, the first step in joining their families would come when Komal would reconsider her lifelong dedication to the New York Jet’s in favor of reluctant allegiance to Shalin’s Baltimore Ravens. A big step for Komal, as in the words of Komal’s brother, “Everyone knows the Desai family is a Jet’s family!”

At their engagement extravaganza in Baltimore, Komal wanted to take it a step further; to show her undying love and support for Shalin in the biggest way possible. Always the one to pleasantly surprise his fiancé, Shalin would now become the unwitting subject of the surprise of a lifetime for any Ravens fan. Totally unbeknownst to Shalin, Komal had arranged to walk Shalin blindfolded onto the 50 yard line of M&T Bank Stadium, the home of the Baltimore Ravens. The big reveal would also include a full blown announcement of the starting lineup of the Parikh and Desai families in true primetime NFL fashion.

We were especially excited to take part in planning the big surprise, from convincing Shalin we just wanted to do a “casual video shoot” around town, to writing the script for the M&T Bank Stadium announcer!

Photography: Adagion | Cinematography: Pacific Pictures | Event Planning: A Votre Service Events | Engagement Party Venue: Vinoy Renaissance | Makeup Styling: Style by Susmita

When you have it all – gorgeous Bride, dapper Groom, topnotch venue and florals galore – you just know it’s gonna be good. And then you hear that Michael and Carina captured it all and what you thought couldn’t get any better, just did. Want in on all this goodness? Hop on over to our Vault that is brimming with all this Baltimore beauty!

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From Michael and Carina Photography… We photographed Rachel and Justin’s gorgeous ballroom wedding at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland on June 4, 2016.

This wedding is everything a glamorous wedding should be – from elegant ceremony drapery to lavish floral arrangements, a head-turning wedding gown and an exquisitely decorated ballroom. Rachel and Justin have an incredible sense of style and it shows! Stephanie Bradshaw realized their vision of a clean and elegant setting with a neutral color palette perfectly and created a cream-blush-gold wedding extravaganza.

The inner harbor of Baltimore as a backdrop for their portraits added to the urban feel of the day. A painter captured the beautiful scene throughout the day to compose a timeless image for the couple. The timelessness and romance of this wedding is sure to sweep Style Me Pretty readers off their feet!

Photography: Michael And Carina Photography | Cinematography: Zach Kane | Event Planning: Stephanie Bradshaw | Styling: Stephanie Bradshaw | Floral Design: Flowers And Fancies | Wedding Dress: Pnina Tornai | Cake: La Cakerie | Invitations: Stephanie Bradshaw | Bride's Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Jewelry: Greenan Jewelers | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Catering: Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara | Hair + Makeup: Amie Decker Beauty | Band: ANDY KUSHNER ENTERTAINMENT | Groom's Attire: Christopher Shafer Clothier | Venue: Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara | Bridal Boutique: Kleinfeld Bridal | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab | Live Artist: Patricia Bennett | Rentals: Revolution Event Design And Production | Welcome Bags: BK Designs

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Amie Decker Beauty

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The heart behind this wedding? A small, family-focused celebration held at a historic Cotton Mill turned venue space. “Industrial chic” is always a win in our book and Alyssa Maloof’s images are the proof. More in The Vault!

From The Bride…We were just about to sign the lease on a venue out of town when my aunt called to say she thought she had found somewhere perfect. She was a short five minute walk away in a building that was part of the original Cotton Mill our apartment building had been transformed from. The Elm, a carriage house nestled away on a side street hidden by a garden of trees and gorgeous flowers, was it. It had the history of our own home wrapped into it and gave us our quintessential Baltimore wedding.

My husband and I are both rooted in our families and wanted to keep our wedding small and centered around them and the things we love, good food, good music and good people. My aunt and my mom (along with the help of some very gracious friends) not only transformed the Elm into the most magical place for our wedding, but also catered all of the food. From the crab cakes made from my grandmother’s recipe, to the cakes my mom baked for dessert, our bellies and hearts were full.

We were married in the garden of the Elm after which our family and friends ventured up to the carriage house’s beautiful alley for cocktail hour where they sipped on John Daly’s and were entertained by a family friend shucking raw oysters and two of our favorite bartenders from a local Hampden restaurant. After dinner, we danced the night away to Jr. Cline and the Recliners, a local band no stranger to entertaining a crowd, even if it included learning few requested tunes on the spot.

Everything from the location of our wedding to the planning, decorating and cooking done by family and friends made our wedding intimate and personal in every way and created a night filled with so much love.

Photography: Alyssa Maloof Photography | Floral Design: Flowers by Alison | Wedding Dress: Justin Alexander | Invitations: Simply Noted | Ceremony Venue: The Elm | Band: Jr. Cline and the Recliners | Hotel: Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis | Matron of Honor’s Dress: Reformation

Take a breathtaking traditional setting like the Evergreen Museum And Library and add in a rich color palette of red and blues with just a touch of golden glitter and the results are insanely pretty.  Think lush blooms crafted by Scentsational Florals, the beauty stylings of JKW Beauty and a bride and groom who are the definition of sweet.  See it all captured by Natalie Franke in THE VAULT, lovelies.

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From Natalie Franke… These two are the epitome of soulmates and their relationship, spanning over a decade, is truly one of the most genuinely inspiring pairings you can imagine!

Greer wore a gorgeous wedding gown and carried her grandmother’s earrings on her bouquet. They walked arm in arm around the museum counting down the minutes until the reverend would declare them husband and wife. Everything about this wedding was incredible! The venue is a historic Museum just north of Baltimore that overlooks exquisite gardens and hidden brick archways.

Photography: Natalie Franke | Floral Design: Scentsational Florals | Wedding Dress: Love Couture Bridal | Cake: Kupcakes And Co | Catering: Zeffert And Gold | Makeup: JKW Beauty | DJ: Evan Reitmeyer | Venue: Evergreen Museum And Library | Photography - Assistance: Kate Ann Photo | Rentals: 2Hands Studios Events

I am truly, madly, deeply in love with this wedding. With the help of Stephanie Bradshaw, the Bride’s vision for a wedding with “a touch of equestrian and all-white” came together in the most stunning way. The private estate, a horse racing farm nestled in the hills of Baltimore County, was transformed into an all white, tented, black-tie affair that is take-your-breath-away beautiful. Fall in love thanks to gorgeous images from Shannon Michele Photography in The Vault!

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From Stephanie Bradshaw…“A touch of equestrian and all white,” were the words our bride, Molly, used to first describe her vision when planning for her big day. The venue, a horseracing farm nestled in the hills of northern Baltimore County. It was the perfect setting for Molly and William’s wedding. Our team transformed the private estate into an all white, tented, black-tie affair that truly was a magical experience for not only the bride and groom, but for their family and friends alike.

Molly did all of the calligraphy for the seating cards, bouquet tags and invitations herself. She has since opened her own business called Lovely Ink Calligraphy. Molly’s father passed away a few years ago, but his presence was still acknowledged through out the day, as he had wanted to give Molly the most beautiful wedding. Molly and William were also married at Tagart Chapel, on the McDonogh campus, where Molly went to school. Molly’s brother created the amazing monogrammed wood stack entrance way!

From The Bride…My sister-in-law used to say “There is a very nice boy whose family lives down the street- you two should meet!” We did indeed end of meeting up one day for a casual cocktail but timing wasn’t exactly right. Flash forward almost 2 years, we randomly bumped into each other at the super market & timing was perfect. William was (and still is!) quick to point out that I “ditched” him for those 2 years- to this day he does not let me forget it.

We were engaged in July of 2014 in Kiawah, South Carolina at The Sanctuary. He somehow pulled off a surprise- I knew it was coming up but had no idea it was going to happen during our getaway to Charleston/Kiawah.

I am very thankful to my family, his family, my wedding planning team & the wonderful vendors who helped make my day absolutely magical.

Photography: Shannon Michele Photography | Cinematography: Life In Rewind | Floral Design: Flowers And Fancies | Wedding Dress: Amsale | Cake: Sugar Bakers Cakes | Ceremony Venue: Tagart Memorial Chapel | Reception Venue: Sagamore Farm | Bride's Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: Classic Catering | Makeup: Adriana Misoul Makeup | Hair: Rae Tomlinson | Calligraphy: Lovely Ink Calligraphy | Band: Mood Swings | Groom's Attire: Christopher Shafer Clothier | Transportation: Z Best | Cocktail Music: Darin MacDonald | Event Planning + Coordination: Stephanie Bradshaw | Flower Girl Dress: BHLDN | Jr. Bridesmaid Dresses: Kate Spade | Linen Rentals: Table Toppers | Live Artist: Patricia Bennett | Production: Revolution Event Design And Production | Tent Rentals: Select Event Group

Lately we’ve seen an uptick in museum weddings and quite frankly we’re downright obsessed. Because what’s better than a building filled with ancient artifacts? How about a building filled with ancient artifacts and endless love? We’d say that just about puts it over the top and thanks to this lovely little gallery from Katie DeLorme Photography we’ve got all that and more. See it in The Vault!

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From the Bride… John and I had already been together for seven years when we got engaged. That meant we were close to each other’s big families, and we shared fantastic groups of friends, so John and I knew we weren’t going to have a small wedding. There wasn’t a lot of talk about themes or colors; we let a classic, timeless sense of style inspire us and it all started coming together. We just wanted to throw a huge party with everyone we loved and look really good doing it.

We both loved the idea of getting married in Baltimore, so we looked at a lot of venues in the city. John knew right away that the Evergreen Museum and Library was perfect for us. This place had everything — a stunningly elegant Italian-style gardens for our ceremony, a classic art deco patio for our cocktail hour, and a chic carriage house setting for the reception and dance floor. Tons of green space, brick, marble, and romantic dark wood meant that we didn’t have to do a lot of decorating.

I wish I could look like Audrey Hepburn every day of my life, so naturally I had my heart set on a tea length wedding gown. I fully committed to old Hollywood glamour with vintage-detailed wedges, a short blusher veil, and crystal stud earrings. And I’ll never get over John’s look. His perfectly tailored navy suit from Suit Supply is the best thing he’s ever worn. Luckily for him (and me) he can wear it over and over again. And check out those blue laces on his shoes!

The bridesmaids all wore slate gray Alfred Sung dresses in the style they liked best paired with coral shoes. The groomsmen wore matching gray suits with different black and white ties we selected just for them from The Tie Bar.

I could not have been more clueless about choosing bouquets and centerpieces, but I trusted our florist Wicked Willow immediately. They created the most unique and gorgeous arrangements, with only very vague direction from me. The flowers were the perfect pop of late-summer color in our mostly neutral palette.

Our ceremony was very personal, and we made an effort to select the readings and songs to represent the happiness and honesty we wanted our marriage to be built on. John’s cousin married us and my brothers each read something that spoke to not only John and my relationship, but to their own personalities, too.

John made the table numbers by cutting and staining wood blocks before nailing house numbers to them. I designed our programs and the thank-you cards we placed at each seat in the reception, along with the art on our pint glass favors. A local artist created a gigantic one-of-a-kind quill art piece that hung behind our sweetheart table during the reception. And my dad did all the calligraphy, including the invitations and the place cards.

Advice:
Communicate! We learned very quickly that communicating exactly what we wanted was crucial to the entire process and eliminated a lot of stress. We involved our parents and friends in the planning process, but our whole wedding day was very much a reflection of us as a couple. That was mostly because John and I stayed on the same page, made decisions together, and kept everyone constantly in the loop. I sent a LOT of emails and made a LOT of spreadsheets. I’d also say: choose vendors who have style and talent you trust, and treat yourself to a day-of coordinator!

Songs
Processional: “I’ve Just Seen a Face,” The Beatles
Recessional: “What is Life,” George Harrison
First Dance: “Everlasting Light,” The Black Keys
Father-Daughter Dance: “She’s a Rainbow,” The Rolling Stones
Mother-Son Dance: “What a Wonderful World,” Louis Armstrong

Photography: Katie DeLorme Photography | Floral Design: Wicked Willow | Wedding Dress: Justin Alexander | Cake: Baltimore Cakery | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Alfred Sung | Catering: Rouge Fine Catering | Hair + Makeup: Updos For I Dos | DJ: Tower Entertainment | Ties: The Tie Bar | Groom's Suit: Suitsupply | Suits: Men's Wearhouse | Venue: Evergreen Museum And Library | Bycicle Art: Charm City Quills | Earrings: Bauble Bar | Mother Of The Bride Dress: Rent The Runway

Kenny and Ashley’s flower market-inspired engagement session is perfect. No, really, it’s perfect. An amazing photographer? Check. Fashionable ensembles? Check. Flowers all around? Check. And a couple so in love it will make you smile? Check. Head to The Vault to see every pretty moment captured by Elizabeth Fogarty, and get ready to pin it all—you know you want to!

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From Elizabeth Fogarty…Kenny and Ashley wanted to do something special for their engagement session. This session was inspired by their love for the European fresh floral market. It just has all the elements for a very romantic and elegant engagement session. We loved the idea of using a unique and meaningful spot as the inspiration for this engagement session. A lot of the details used throughout this shoot were inspired by that floral market feel – the brown paper bouquet with freshly picked blooms, the floral market buckets with European chalkboard signs, and the brown paper calligraphy sign with the quote, “I choose you and I’ll keep choosing you forever.” Just as they chose fresh blooms together, they will keep choosing each other forever. Their session was absolutely picture perfect! Not to mention these two are total naturals in front of the camera.

Photography: Elizabeth Fogarty | Event Planning: So Lovely Weddings | Event Planning: Merren Events | Floral Design: Sophie Felts Floral Design | Makeup: Makeup By Kevan | Hair: Hair By Melissa | Calligraphy: Allison Dee Calligraphy | Venue: Cylburn Arboretum | Ribbon: Adorn

There’s a whole lot of pretty in this wedding from Lindsay Hite / READYLUCK, but let’s start with the ketubah, a work of art created by the beautiful Bride (the crazy-talented artist behind The Painted Ketubah). Then there’s the pretty pink petals everywhere, making for the most gorgeous portraits. And, trust me, there’s so much more pretty to love (like the Bride’s Rosa Clara gown from Lovely Bride)  in The Vault.

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From The Bride…We really wanted our wedding to be filled with dancing, laughter and creativity. We were both so floored by the beauty of the Peabody Library and grateful that we could be in Baltimore while all of the trees and flowers were in full spring bloom.

I’m a painter, and about two years ago I started my own ketubah studio, The Painted Ketubah, where I create hand painted wedding certificates and illuminated marriage contracts. Since I spend my days working with brides and grooms I felt like I had so much helpful experience to draw on as Colin and I planned our own wedding. Painting our ketubah in the weeks leading up to our wedding felt like a perfect way to meditate on the commitment that we were making to one another.

It was really so special to work with Colin to integrate our vows into a piece of artwork that will hang in our home forever. The ketubah signing ceremony was also one of the most emotional parts of our wedding day, we were surrounded by an intimate group of family and friends while my mother played us a song on her guitar that she wrote for my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary.

Some of the most meaningful parts of our wedding were in the personal details that celebrated our families’ roots and traditions. Colin built our chuppah with his dad using my grandfather’s prayer shawl. My mom, having been raised Kentucky, distilled two small batches of bourbon for us to serve at our reception. Colin’s mom and my great Aunt baked some of our favorite family recipes to give to our guests in their welcome bags and during our send-off brunch. I carried my great-grandmother’s pearl clutch and wore my grandmother’s gold bracelets while Colin wore his grandfather’s antique tie pin.

When Colin and I started our relationship we were running a startup art gallery in San Francisco that doubled as a live/work space. Some of our favorite memories together are the adventures that went into curating and assembling those art shows and community events so we wanted our wedding to be infused with a similar creative ethos. It was in that spirit that we decided to make the painted circular table runners with indigo dye and watercolor paints to add some handmade touches to each of the tables at our reception. I also painted the design for our invitations and rsvp cards while Colin geeked out on making our wedding website and working with our DJ’s, friends of his from college, to craft the perfect playlist.

Photography: Readyluck | Event Planning: Rosa Clara Soft Collection | Floral Design: Maryland Bay Blossoms | Wedding Dress: Lovely Bridal Shop | Invitations: Hadass Gerson (the Bride) | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Donna Morgan | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Rachel Pally | Bridesmaids' Dresses: ASOS | Catering: Chef's Expressions | Venue: The George Peabody Library | Bridal Boutique: Lovely Bridal Shop | Film Processing: Print Icon | Groom's + Groomsmen Attire: Suitsupply | Ketubah: The Painted Ketubah

One look at the Evergreen Museum And Library and it’s easy to see why this beautiful bride + groom had only one venue on their list – it’s breathtaking.  But add in some ah-mazing DIY details, vintage meets rustic stylings and gorgeous golden hues and it takes on an entirely new level of pretty.  See every fabulous moment captured beautifully by Edward Winter of READYLUCK right here in THE VAULT.

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From the Bride… In planning our wedding, Braden and I had always agreed that our biggest priorities were to ensure that our guests enjoyed themselves while celebrating our marriage alongside us, and that whatever the celebration materialized as, most important was that it reflected who we were as a couple and how grateful we were to have everyone we loved together in one place.

The week after we got engaged in October 2014, The Evergreen Museum & Library was the first and only venue that we visited in the hopes of finding an available date. And, much to our inconceivable luck, we were able to secure August 15, 2015 at both The Evergreen and at the Loyola University Alumni Chapel – two places so special to us that throughout the months of planning we would often pause and ask each other, “Can you believe we got this lucky?”

I envisioned a style that was ethereal, timeless, and elegant while at the same time laid-back and welcoming. We chose a color palette that celebrated natural beauty of the grounds including evergreen, pale peach and blush tones, ivory, and mixed metals of antique gold and silver, and infused it into everything that we created.

With a creative background and a passion for do-it-yourself projects, I immersed myself in as many of the projects and the creative details as I could (for better or for worse), working especially close with our vendors – all of whom were so accommodating and inspiring to work with that by the time our wedding approached, they felt like good friends who were there to celebrate with us. Our florist was sweet enough to let us be very much a part of the design process for all of our floral arrangements, an area that we agreed was one of the most integral design elements of the day. We chose leafy deep greens in tribute to The Evergreen, soft peach garden roses, and ivory spray roses as our main florals, opting for loose yet somewhat structured arrangements throughout. Amidst the table arrangements we interspersed mercury glass hurricane vases in varying heights along with Victorian rose-colored glass votives, which paired beautifully with our ivory gold-trimmed china. We incorporated a number of vintage pieces as well, including mahogany farm tables, a white washed barn door converted into a bar that we used as our DJ stand, and gorgeous wrought iron chandeliers that we adorned with greenery and clusters of flowers.

While I am so proud of the many things that we designed and created for our day, I think the most special detail was our escort cards. My grandmother who had passed less than a year earlier, only days after Braden had asked her and my parents for my hand in marriage, had always taught me the importance of picking up stray pennies, no matter where you found them as they were “pennies from heaven” and symbolized luck and that someone, somewhere was thinking of you. After her passing and throughout our engagement, Braden and I began finding pennies seemingly everywhere. Wanting to incorporate her presence in our day in a subtle but special way, we knew that pennies would be the way to do it, not only to honor her, but also to pass a little luck off to our guests as a thank you for joining us. We spent hours carefully hand stamping pennies issued in 2015 with each guests’ table number, and then affixed them to escort cards that I had designed individually to match all of our paper goods. At our cocktail hour, guests collected them from a vintage window display that Braden’s father had built for us, repurposed from their old beach house in Long Beach Island, NJ where we had spent so many summer weekends. In addition to their lucky penny seating card keepsake, donations were made in our guests’ honor to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in lieu of traditional favors.

If there is one piece of advice that I could give brides-to-be, it would be to continually remind yourself and each other that the true purpose of the day is to celebrate the love you have for one another, and to always keep that in mind throughout the planning process. It’s easy to get caught up in the details, and they can definitely play a role of importance, but the most rewarding parts of the day won’t be the things you can see or touch – it will be the way the moments you shared with each other and your guests made you feel and the memories of them that you will carry together for a lifetime.

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See more Vintage Inspired weddings in THE VAULT!

Photography: Readyluck | Coordination: Gingerwood Creative | Event Design: Penny Luck Creative | Floral Design: Crimson and Clover Floral Design, Inc. | Wedding Dress: L'Fay Bridal | Cake: Rouge Fine Catering | Ceremony Venue: Loyola University Chapel | Reception Venue: Evergreen Museum And Library | Hair and Makeup: Behind The Veil | Groom's Attire: Imparali | Groomsmen Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Transportation: Z Best | Cake Topper: Better Off Wed | Getting Ready Venue: The Aspen Institute At Wye River | Invitation Suite: Invitations By Salutations | Paper Goods: Penny Luck Creative | Photo Booth: Lady Liberty Photo Booth | Rentals: Vintage Affairs | Table Numbers: Z Create Design

Amanda and Mark met on their very first day of residency at Johns Hopkins, and the rest as they say is history. History in the form of a hometown wedding with Caroline Logan Photography behind the lens that’ll have you headed straight to THE VAULT for more. From the MLC Designs invitations, to the luxurious La Tavola, this is one gallery you’re going to want to see.

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From Eventi By Diana Venditto…Amanda and Mark met on their very first day of residency at Johns Hopkins at a welcome party for new housestaff. Amanda thought, “Sharp guy… I wonder if he knows he’s handsome…” They chatted only briefly that night, then dove into the busyness of first year – he in anesthesia, she in ophthalmology. Sharing not just a workplace but a neighborhood, church, gym, and (the all-important) Whole Foods, Amanda and Mark ran into each other often. Finally Mark called her to go out to dinner and the rest was history!

From The Bride…Mark & I got engaged during a year apart, while we were finishing the last stages of our medical training. His surprise Christmastime proposal was a testament to the unparalleled care (and craftiness!) of our friends and family, from my sister (and maid of honor) secretly helping him design my gorgeous ring to my roommate orchestrating his unexpected appearance in North Carolina, all the way from Massachusetts.

As we started planning our wedding in Baltimore – my hometown and the city where we’d met as medical residents – we knew we wanted the day to highlight our faith, our closeness to our extraordinary families and friends, and the effervescent joy we’d found in loving one another. We wanted to strike a balance of warmth and casual beauty, while paying homage to Baltimore’s history, character, and cuisine. The ceremony site was decided quickly: I was baptized and grew up in Timonium Presbyterian Church and the traditional simplicity of its red brick and white steeple made us feel right at home. A whirlwind tour of local reception venues ended with a sigh of relief in the beautifully restored dye house of the Mt. Washington Mill, one of a series of old mill complexes along Baltimore’s Jones Falls that have been resurrected into welcoming lofts, restaurants, and event spaces while maintaining a slightly raw, industrial feel. The soaring windows would bathe our guests in the golden light of a late summer sunset, then twinkle after dark, reflecting café lights strung from the rough-hewn rafters. With the help of my family and an incredible team led by Diana of Eventi by Diana Venditto we were able to bring our vision to life.

Our watercolor invitation suite, featuring sage and rose florals by mlc designs, set the casually elegant tone. With my mom’s help, I found an exquisite lace gown (Marisa Bridals, by Betsy Robinson Bridal Collection), lightweight and perfect for dancing. My sister, Andrea, and bridesmaids would wear floor-length mint chiffon gowns from J. Crew in styles of their choosing and carry lace-bound bouquets centered on peach ranunculus, while Mark, our fathers, his brother, John, his groomsmen and ushers wore beautifully tailored grey suits from Allton’s, perfectly accessorized and adorned with cleanly elegant boutonnieres.

We each began the day surrounded by our families and bridal parties, just blocks from one another in the Harbor East neighborhood that is now our home. Our inspiring photographer, Caroline Logan, and the amazingly talented team from ClickSpark Films flawlessly captured those moments, followed by our first-look, along the Baltimore Harbor waterfront where we’ve walked countless miles together. Then we were whisked away to the church where, before an audience of loved ones, long-time friends read scripture and performed a flawless vocal rendition of “In Christ Alone” before we exchanged our vows before the two pastors who have fostered our respective faiths across more than a decade.

As the sky started to turn golden, we made our way to the Mill, where cocktail hour featured the Apple Scruffs, a playful local jazz band known to double as a Beatles-tribute band, and a meticulously chosen array of Baltimore-brewed beers, wines, and craft liquors. Guests circulated past a sweet photo of Mark & I embracing in Paris, engraving their well-wishes into the pewter frame that served as our guest book, before making their way into the breathtaking reception hall, bathed in warm light and graciously set with gold-embossed china around loose, garden style floral centerpieces atop textured, ivory linens. The free-flowing space invited guests to move as they pleased from the dance floor, where Mark and I shared our first dance to the Beatles “In My Life,” to the Pixilated photobooth, to the serving stations where Copper Kitchen caterers served mouthwatering Maryland crab cakes, rockfish, succulent beef tenderloin and delicious house-made cavatelli & ricotta gnocchi. DJ Dan Goldman of Bialek’s Music kept the crowd on their feet most of the evening, spinning a combination of classic hits and modern favorites, and indietronica we couldn’t help but dance to. Despite truck trouble, local sensation Taharka Brothers ice cream came through with a sweet addition to our scrumptious cake by SugarBakers. And in a moment that came all too soon, Mark and I shared one last private dance, then glided through the balmy evening air, between jubilant, cheering columns of family and friends, and into our shared life.

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See even more hometown weddings THE VAULT! 

Photography: Caroline Logan Photography | Cinematography: Clickspark | Coordination: Eventi Floral & Events | Event Design: Eventi Floral & Events | Floral Design: Eventi Floral & Events | Wedding Dress: Marisa Bridals | Invitations: mlc designs, llc | Ceremony Venue: Timonium Presbyterian Church | Reception Venue: Mt. Washington Mill Dye House | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: Copper Kitchen | Hair & Makeup: Behind The Veil | DJ: Bialeks Music | Groom's Attire: Allton's | Groomsmen Attire: Allton's | Bridal Boutique: Robinson's Bridal | Linen Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Party Rental Ltd.

After finding the perfect man, finding the perfect venue is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your big day. And these Mid-Atlantic beauties? They’re as perfect as it gets. Rustic, glamorous, timeless and romantic, these gorgeous venues are some of the best the East Coast (and the rest of the country) has to offer.

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5 Picture-Perfect Mid-Atlantic Wedding Venues

Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards (shown above): Set amongst the Blue Ridge Mountains with sprawling lawns, rolling vineyard-covered hills and a rustic yet elegant event space, Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards, in Charlottesville, Virginia, is the perfect setting for your dream day. Plus, with the founder of Easton Events behind this gorgeous venue, you know any wedding here is bound to be stunning.  See it here.

Evergreen Museum + Library: Baltimore’s Gilded Age mansion and adjacent Italian gardens will transport you and your guests back to a more glamorous time. The exquisite estate is classic elegance at its very best, just like every wedding that takes place here. See it here.

DAR Constitution Hall: This National Historic Landmark Building offers couples a rich history, the excitement of Washington D.C., classic Beaux-Arts architecture and countless spaces for a glamorous affair. See it here.

Frick Art + Historical Center: Beautifully landscaped gardens surround this historic Pittsburg Gilded Age mansion. With a timeless elegance and sophisticated vibe, the Frick Art + Historical Center allows couples to create the stunning wedding of their dreams. See it here.

The Biltmore Estate: Asheville’s Biltmore Estate is as close to a fairytale wedding as you can get with expansive grounds and a European-style castle all nestled into the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. See it here.

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Photography: Josh Gruetzmacher

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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I’m declaring green and gold my favorite color combo and it’s all due to this wedding right here. Michael and Carina Photography captured one romantic image after another at this summer celebration, where the cute couple, who we met back at their adorable engagement shoot, only had eyes for each other. Thanks to these pretty pics I’m in a fantastic mood this Friday morning – see more right this way!

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From Michael and Carina Photography… This wedding is just so gorgeous, we had to share it with you! Unfettered greenery bouquets, glittery dresses, a beautifully decorated reception hall and gold accents everywhere. Lauren and Nate really poured themselves into their big day!

Lauren, the bride, is in love with Style Me Pretty; she shared her engagement session with SMP readers. She is so excited about photography and style, it was just a joy! 

Gold, navy and green are a match made in wedding-heaven! And this gorgeous bride and groom (as well as the bridal party) absolutely rocked these colors! This wedding was modern, but classic. Fun, but elegant.

Lauren and Nate married at the beautiful Evergreen Museum in Maryland in the garden behind the museum. The stunning museum was the perfect backdrop! They have been inseparable for years and finally said “I do” in front of all their friends and family in the summer heat. We photographed their portraits in an area that reminds of a classic Italian villa. Beautiful architecture and cyan greenery.

Everyone celebrated in a beautifully decorated tent, with white fabric hanging from the ceiling and candles spread out on the farm tables. The beginning of their marriage couldn’t have been any more perfect!

From the Bride… Our love story began in grad school, where we met, and then promptly engaged in a discussion about marriage equality, which came full circle when, two weeks after we got married, everyone in the US received the right to legally marry! That discussion was the springboard for three years of long distance dating and commutes across state lines to spend time with one another while we pursued our degrees and careers. Two years ago, we moved to Baltimore together, we moved into a perfect row-house in our favorite neighborhood. It’s where Nate proposed in a perfect, private moment with just our pup, Lady, looking on.

It turns out that Nate had been planning the engagement for almost a year. He designed my ring himself, working with my mom and a jeweler to bring a picture I had saved a long time ago to life. To add even more romance, the stone in my ring is the stone my dad gave my mom on their engagement. My engagement ring could not be more fraught with meaning, or more special to me.

We got married exactly one year later, and what we knew from the very beginning was that we wanted our wedding to be very personal. We had a lot of DIY elements, like the gold foil invitations, programs and signs that I designed, the hand-painted corn hole set my dad made for us, hand-stamped favors, and decorations we’d collected throughout the year. We also knew we wanted our family and friends to experience Baltimore the way we do. We held our rehearsal dinner at Heavy Seas Alehouse, one of our favorite places in Baltimore, made sure everyone got to taste local beers and Maryland crabs at our cocktail hour, and guests received Berger cookies stamped with a thank you message as a true Baltimore takeaway. Our ceremony was also deeply personal and intimate.

In addition to having our wedding day reflect the things we love, we knew we wanted to frame the personal touches in a natural, simple and romantic setting. For us, the Evergreen Museum and Library was the perfect venue for this. It is a beautifully landscaped and intimate location. To capture the natural and personal feeling in the carriage house where we ate dinner, we used the most beautiful handmade farm tables from the sweetest couple who started Barnes Handmade Tables in York, PA. Their tables are gorgeous, so we decided on classic and simple center pieces of lemon leaf garlands, seeded eucalyptus and a few calla lilies. One of the sweetest wedding gifts we received was from Nate’s stepmother and father, who bought us one of the farm tables as our dining room table.

One detail I knew from the beginning I wanted was for my bridesmaids to wear gold. I wanted them to feel lovely and special, and I wanted their dresses to add a little glitz and glamour to our otherwise neutral and simple palette. I asked them to pick out a gold or champagne dress that made them feel beautiful. They all chose different metallic gold dresses, and they looked absolutely stunning. The guys wore blue suits, with ivory ties, and orange socks – an homage to the Orioles. For my dress, I knew that I wanted something romantic and simple, and I found a beautiful lace Stella York dress which the very talented Luda at Dalinda’s customized with a beautiful sweetheart neckline. I added a champagne sash with crystal detail to add a little sparkle and I wore a pearl pendant that my grandmother wore on her wedding day, in my hair, and sewed a piece of my mom’s beautiful wedding dress into my own, over my heart. The glitzy and romantic attire was balanced by the lovely organic bouquets and boutonnieres which our florist Maryland Bay Blossoms arranged. They were beautifully made, and very simple and non-traditional – just whisps of rosemary, eucalyptus and lavender, and a few peonies for my bouquet.

My favorite part of our wedding day was the ceremony. Even though it was very very very hot, I couldn’t have had a better time. I felt so present, and I couldn’t take my eyes off Nate; I felt so connected.

I thought I would be so nervous walking down the aisle, but my dad made me laugh and smile the whole time. And then when he shook Nate’s hand, he said “Nate, do you see the smile on my daughter’s face? Please make sure she never stops smiling.” It was such a sweet moment.

The whole ceremony was very personal and special to us. We asked our mutual friend whom we both met in grad school, right before we started dating to officiate! Two of our good friends, recently married, read a few beautiful words about love and growing together. My godmother asked our guests to warm our rings, and it felt really special to have all of the people who have been a part of our individual stories, become a part of our story together.

Our recessional song was “Sexual Healing” performed by the Hot 8 Brass Band, which is a funky New Orlean’s parade-style version of the song. We love it, and as we walked down the aisle it made us laugh and smile, watching everyone sing along before they realized what they were singing!

Right after cocktail hour, we danced our first dance to “The Book of Love” by the Magnetic Zeroes. We had danced to this song one night on vacation several months earlier, when it was just the two of us on a covered porch listening to our iPod. We decided then that it was just the right balance of cheeky and romantic for us. After our first dance, our wedding party and parents joined us for a dance to “Luckiest” by Ben Folds. We didn’t have a traditional intro, and this ended up being the perfect way for us to have a special moment for our wedding party and parents with all of our guests looking on.

During dinner, my mom and dad welcomed everyone, and my brothers and Nate’s friends gave toasts. They were funny, and touching, and we laughed and cried and then we ate, and danced, and chatted with friends.

We didn’t want to go the traditional desert route, so we purchased three delicious almond amaretto cakes from a local bakery, and my dad, who is an amazing cook, made traditional Italian biscotti.

We danced and danced and danced after dessert, and I couldn’t have had a more fun evening. Everything about our wedding was so personal and thoughtful and perfect. I loved every minute of it.

Photography: Michael And Carina Photography | Floral Design: Maryland Bay Blossoms | Wedding Dress: Essense of Australia | Cake: Sugar Bakers Cakes | Catering: Zeffert And Gold | Makeup Artist: Jamaya Moore | Hair Stylist: Jewel Hair Design | DJ: Music Masters | Tuxes: Kenneth Cole Reaction | Officiant: Andrew Feldhouse | Hotel: The Hotel Monaco - Baltimore | Wedding Venue: Evergreen Museum And Library | Bridal Boutique: Amanda Ritchey Bridal & Beauty | Bridal Jewelry: Heirloom | Bridal Shoes: Paul Green | Event Planning & Styling: Lauren Niles Events | Farm Tables: Barnes Handcrafted Farmhouse Tables | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab | Paper Goods: DIY By Bride

As we enjoy these last few days of spring and get ready to dive into the vibrancy of summer, I’m personally soaking up as much pastel prettiness as I can. Case in point? This darling shoot from Stacy Bauer and Lauren Niles Events. For those of you newly engaged planning on a spring 2016 wedding, you’ll want to get your pinning fingers ready for this bit of spring gorgeousness!

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From Lauren Niles…Inspired by the gorgeous architecture of University Baptist Church, I chose soft pastels and lush texture to provide contrast to the soaring archways and creamy facade of the building. Since the style of the church reminded me of the beautiful churches I’ve visited in Rome, we styled with European gardens in mind, but were decidedly modern in our approach by mixing crystal pedestals and cymbidium orchids into an otherwise organic tablescape. A mix of white and ivory pillars in mass, lemon leaf garlands, vintage china, upholstered high back chairs and beautiful calligraphy completed this dreamy and incredibly romantic styled shoot.

Photography: Stacy Bauer Photography | Event Planning: Lauren Niles Events | Event Planning: Merren Events | Florals: My Flower Box Events | Wedding Dress: Garnish Boutique | Wedding Dress: Leanne Marshall | Cake: Baltimore Cakery | Church: University Baptist Church | Make Up: Heather Rae | Hair: Erica Groh | Calligraphy: Poppy And Scooter | Groom's Attire: Bine And Bas | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Vintage Rentals: XOXO Vintage

If you’ve seen “Sex and the City,” you have an idea of how romantic a public library wedding can be. With its stately architecture and Art Deco vibe, the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Central Branch was a dream backdrop for this stunning couple to exchanges their grandparents’ wedding rings and celebrate becoming husband and wife. Enjoy all the thoughtful touches (including the book cart escort card display!), courtesy of Audra Wrisley, in the gallery.

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From Audra Wrisley… Melissa and Jack’s elegant Pratt Library wedding was one held on one of the prettiest October days of the season. Their elegant color scheme of classic black and ivory with green accents was chic and perfect for their city wedding in the bride’s hometown of Baltimore. Full of beautiful Jewish traditions, the wedding ceremony was intimately designed under a beautiful floral huppah. The evening ensued with hors d’oeuvres on the library’s balcony, intertwined with the library’s Maurice Sendak exhibit, and later lots of dancing, toasting, and celebrating under the dreamy ceilings of the Pratt Library.

From the Bride… We wanted to have a wedding that was meaningful to us and a blast for our guests, so the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Central Branch in downtown Baltimore was a perfect location. I love all things literature and Jack wanted to create a special event — a one-stop-shop where we could get married and throw a great party. A functioning library during the week, it makes for a stunning event space, with marble columns, painted frescoes, and a three-story atrium. We held the traditional Ketubah signing in front of a small group of close family and friends in the stately Edgar Allan Poe room before the main ceremony in the atrium. A rabbi I’ve known since childhood married us using our grandparents’ wedding rings, and later we heard special blessings from some of our favorite family members. We love the outdoors, so we kept all of our details in a green, white, and gray palette. There was also a subtle nod to the library’s romantic Art Deco feel in many of our small details, such as the picture frames, invitations, my dress, place cards, and accessories. During the cocktail hour, guests looked out over the main hall from decorative iron windows, and during the reception, they received drinks from the book check-out desk.

One of my favorite memories was when we were taking pictures at the Washington Monument before the ceremony. Jack was waiting for me in a small courtyard, and although we’d decided to have a first look, we hadn’t thought much about it at all. We’d spent so many months agonizing over planning, but that simple moment was an exciting start to a truly beautiful day. Jack loved when we spontaneously got into a second-floor window and got a big cheer from our friends (and some shrieks from our parents). Sharing our celebration with the special people in our lives was extraordinary, and it’s so fun to remember that joy through Audra’s beautiful pictures.

Photography: Audra Wrisley Photography | Wedding Coordination: Elle Ellinghaus Designs | Floral Design: Bella Fiori Flowers | Catering: Zeffert And Gold | DJ: Matt Daughaday | Ceremony Music: Two Rivers Chamber Music | Venue: Enoch Pratt Free Library

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Audra Wrisley Photography

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Tradition dictates that a bride and groom should marry in the bride’s hometown, and though things have changed (hello, destination weddings!), if you’re lucky enough to come from a beautiful city like this gorgeous Bride, why mess with tradition? Maria Linz Photography captured all the charm that earned Baltimore its nickname—Charm City—and this wedding was full of it! From the Bride’s flawless hair and makeup courtesy of Amie Decker Beauty to the breathtaking setting of the George Peabody library, you’ll want to pin all the pretty.

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From the beautiful Bride… Although Mike and I grew up only 20 miles apart, we didn’t meet until we were both students at the University of Maryland. We met in the fall of 2005, and even though we were instantly attracted to one another, didn’t start dating until 2009 (some things take time!). Five years later on a gorgeous October day in Baltimore, we said, “I do!”

I was born and raised in Baltimore, and Mike moved to Baltimore as a baby, so it was important to us that we be married in Charm City. From day one, I knew our wedding reception had to be at the George Peabody Library, and luckily, Mike agreed! I studied ballet at the Peabody Preparatory, and I earned my Master’s degree in reading education from John’s Hopkins University, which owns the Peabody, so the library was important to me on multiple levels. We were married at Corpus Christi Church, an insanely gorgeous gorgeous church that happens to be one of Baltimore’s oldest. We had stumbled upon Corpus Christi a few years ago during a free organ concert at an arts festival, and instantly fell in love with the beauty and intimacy of the small-yet-grand church. It felt like fate when we learned the church was available for our wedding.

On the day of the wedding, we both got ready at our respective family homes, surrounded by friends and family. My matron of honor was my cousin (who also happens to be a best friend, sorority sister, and former roommate), and my four bridesmaids were women who are dear to me for innumerable reasons (best friends, travel buddies, sorority sisters, roommates – these gals wear many hats!). The ladies wore floor-length champagne-colored chiffon dresses, accented by jewelry I gifted them (gold monogram bracelets and gold-and-champagne drop earrings). My junior bridesmaids were my two youngest cousins. Fun fact: my matron-of-honor and I were the flower girls in their parents’ wedding! The little girls wore white dresses with blush accents and bracelets gifted by me (pearls with their initials). I wore Watters’ Ellery gown in ivory with an extended train and a cathedral-length lace-embellished veil. My something old was the diamond in my engagement ring, which used to belong to my grandmother; my something new was the wedding gown and veil; something borrowed were a pearl bracelet and drop earrings from my mother; and blue was the bottom of my shoes.

Mike and his groomsmen gathered at his parents’ home, where they cheered on the Terps football team before putting on their tuxes. Mike’s brother was his best man, and his groomsmen included his three best friends from childhood, and my younger brother. The guys wore black tuxes, and showed their state pride with grayscale suspenders sporting the Maryland state flag pattern.

In the early afternoon, the men piled into their limo and headed into the city for pictures in Mount Vernon place, a garden-filled area outside the George Peabody Library. Shortly after, the bridesmaids and I joined the men downtown for first-look photos and the bulk of the bridal party pictures. Originally, neither of us was thrilled about the idea of doing pictures in advance of the wedding, but the sun sets early in October, and we knew it would be dark by the time our 6pm ceremony was over.

Since we were both raised in the Roman Catholic faith, it was important to us that we celebrate our marriage in a full traditional Nuptial Mass. Our 130 guests filled the church with an abundance of love and support. After the ceremony, we made our way over to the library.

We included many special touches in our wedding reception, including displaying wedding photographs of three generations of family members. We also incorporated card catalog drawers into the floral arrangements, by using them to display escort cards for the guests. In lieu of favors, we decided to make donations to five charities close our hearts. We wanted to incorporate guests in this process, so we had a table set up with five containers and a framed description of each charity and it’s importance to us (a breast cancer foundation in honor of our friends and family, a Lyme disease research foundation in honor of my father, a Parkinson’s Disease foundation in memory of my grandfather, a local reading organization for my passion for literacy, a local soup kitchen that is dear to us). Each guest was given five tokens to deposit in the jars of their choice, and then we made contributions to the charities in proportion with the amount of tokens allotted to each one.

The cocktail hour space (an exhibit hall) and main library were decorated in pink and champagne, with gold accents. The dinner tables featured lanterns with halos of flowers and tall, lush rounds of baby’s breath. As the library is so magnificent to begin with, we were very careful to select florals and decorations that would enhance the library’s beauty without distracting from it.

When I reflect back on our wedding, I am so grateful for the love and joy that surrounded us, and for the closeness Mike and I experienced on that day. The week before the wedding, a friend offered us this advice: “Once you enter the reception, don’t leave each other’s side. Everyone will be so excited to talk to you, that once you separate, it will be nearly impossible to work your way back together.” We took this to heart, and are so glad that we did – it was a bonding experience like no other!

Photography: Maria Linz Photography | Floral Design: The Floral Studio | Wedding Dress: Watters | Invitations: Kindly RSVP | Ceremony Venue: Corpus Christi Church | Reception Venue: The George Peabody Library | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bill Levkoff | Hair And Makeup: Amie Decker Beauty | DJ: AJ Productions | Groom's Attire: Route One Apparel | Groom's Attire: Jos. A. Bank | Groomsmen's Attire: Route One Apparel | Caterering: Chef's Expressions | String Duo: Chesapeake Strings | Valet: Jay's Valet | Veil: Toni Federici

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