Maryland Weddings

Although I may be a teensy bit biased, I can’t help but believe SMP brides are the absolute best. There’s an intuitive sense of style our brides seem to effortlessly infuse into their weddings that simply can’t compare. And when that bride just happens to be the owner of her own Baltimore bridal boutique, and brought on The Floral Studio and Elizabeth Bailey to help craft her dream day, you know this wedding will deliver. Get ready to gush over all the beautiful imagery by A Bryan Photo waiting for you in the full gallery right here.

From the The Floral Studio… When Mia first approached me about doing her wedding flowers, I couldn’t have been more flattered. After all, Mia is the owner of Garnish Boutique, one of Baltimore’s most exclusive bridal boutiques and she happens to have an exquisite sense of style. There is no greater compliment within the industry than when colleagues choose to work with you on their own wedding day. 

Mia and Christian wanted to create an event that blended Mia’s southern roots with Christian’s maritime passion and the day was full of special touches that included a southern Baptist choir in their colorful choir robes that escorted the guests from the ceremony to the reception and the charming goldfish that were in all of the floral centerpieces—and subsequently released to a friend’s pond! 

The Belmont Conference Center, a beautiful estate in Maryland, was the venue for both the tented ceremony and the reception and also hosted the entire bridal party and both families for the entire wedding weekend. Chelle papery created the dragonfly-themed invitations (reminiscent of the dragonflies that were drawn to the marina where they first met) and paper goods, including the adorable parasols that the flower girls carried. Mia’s color palette of cream and a shade of orange-peach was as refreshing on a warm summer day as a dish of cold sherbert, and the perfect color choice for chasing away the morning rain that gave way to a beautiful sunny wedding day!

Wedding Photography: A Bryan Photo / Ceremony + Reception Venue: The Belmont Inn in Elkridge, Maryland / Floral + Wedding Design: The Floral Studio / Wedding Planning: Elizabeth Bailey Weddings & Events /  Wedding Stationery: Chelle Paperie / Band: Eturnity Band / Wedding Dress: Oscar De La Renta via Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier /  Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Anna Elyse via Garnish Boutique

You remember these absolutely stunning save the dates? For the Storybook Vow Renewal? From the lovely Allison Barnhill Designs? I fell hard for those amazing paper products, so when Liz and Ryan decided to share the 10 year vow renewal of Allison and her husband, I couldn’t thank them enough for the early Christmas present. The soiree lives up to the save the dates – and then some, if you can believe it. You won’t want to miss this gallery!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

Ten years is a long time, especially when you fill that with a new home, a puppy, twins and two successful businesses. So, my husband and I wanted to celebrate our decade of love with a vow renewal surrounded by our closest family and friends.

For our renewal, we wanted to ensure that the day represented us – our loves – books, puzzles and our children. We both love books and to read (an obsession of mine, really) and felt like there was such a tale to tell from our ten years together. So, we incorporated lots of ways to tell our story into the renewal. From our invitations made out of real books, to our timeline wall that told “our sweet little story” in pictures, and even our guests were involved by providing stories with their response cards that we included in a book — everything about the day told a story of time together. We even set up a real “library” next to the dance floor, where guests could relax and read through a book with all of these stories. It was a popular spot for guests to relax, chat and watch the excitement unfold!

Puzzles were everywhere too! We used large puzzle pieces for our guest book. Each guest wrote their message on a piece and we can put them together to build an amazing large puzzle to frame and enjoy for years. For the place cards, puzzle piece pins played a dual role in our wedding, of course, my hubby loves to do puzzles, but it also represents something near and dear to our hearts, autism awareness. Finally, we had white chocolate imprinted with a custom scrabble board design. This was a surprise for my hubby on the renewal day and he was so excited by this special touch!

The most special part of this day was including our children. Avery and Logan, our 8 year old twins, were our maid of honor and best man. It was amazing to share this experience with them. Our first time around, we didn’t have this luxury. But, my daughter will remember my dress perfectly. My son will have memories of walking down the aisle with his father. You can’t put a value on those moments and I know that is really what I’ll take away from this day, years from now. We even included them into a key element of our ceremony – the wine box. In a box, carved with our original wedding date, we included a bottle of wine and love letters to each other and our children. The box has two locks on it and during the ceremony, Avery and Logan took the keys from my bouquet and each locked the box. Now, they are responsible for keeping the keys “safe”. In 15 years, luckily, when the children are old enough to drink, we will open the box and enjoy those letters and wine with Avery and Logan.

Because paper is my thing, I had so much fun designing special paper elements. My favorite was the book page paper lanterns. My daughter, Avery, punched out hundreds of circles and I hot glued them to regular white paper lanterns. The effect was a pretty and amazing look for our “library” at the renewal. I also made hundreds of book page flowers that were incorporated into real live florals. And, I loved the spiral paper flowers that were used to create festive round topiaries. We even commissioned a local artist to carve our initials out of the book! LOVE!

Of course, I had loads of fun with the save the dates and invitations too. The save the dates were handmade accordian books with photos from our love the dress session, where I wore my wedding dress from 10 years ago. We mailed them in boxes filled with shredded book pages. The invitations were definitely another labor of love. My husband and I collected over 35 special books and carved “windows” in the pages to reveal our names on the actual invitation that was glued down to page 21 in the book, since we were married on the 21st of September!

Two amazing design elements that really stick with me from the day are the pink ombre aisle art — a blanket of rose petals in pink hues lead me to my hubby! And, the amazing ribbon wall behind where we took our vows a second time. Both of these elements were both striking and amazing!

Planning a wedding, ten years later, was a lot easier…mostly because being in the wedding industry gave me the wonderful opportunity to work with my favorite vendors and friends (aka, the dream team). And, my control freak nature, relaxed a bit, because I knew my vendors would do exactly what I wanted and more…which was so true!!

Photography: Liz and Ryan / Stationery, Paper Flowers, Lanterns: Allison Barnhill Designs / Flowers, Lighting and Decor: Intrigue Design & Decor / Venue: Governor Calvert House / Hair and Make Up: Up Do’s for I Do’s / Cake and Cupcakes: Fiona’s Cakes / Cake Stand: Sarah’s Stands / Music: MyDeejay / Transportation: Limousines, Inc. / Furniture: 2hands Studios / Dresses and Attire: Annapolis Formal / Officiant: Rev. Laura Cannon / Ceremony Music: Chesapeake Strings / Scrabble Boards: Oh My Chocolate / Scrabble Board Design: Stephanie Bausman, stephanie@tandemmarketinganddesign.com / Chairs, Linens and Glassware: Party Plus Baltimore / Day of Planning: Historic Events / Carved Book Art: Caitlin Engels

If there is one thing about this wedding that rivals the gorgeous couple in beauty, it is the light. The light as she walked down the aisle to marry her love. Don’t get me wrong, the flowers are phenom, the fashion is beyond, the whole soiree, planned & perfected by Roberts & Co. Events, is amazing, but the love these two share – and that gorgeous light, captured by Sam Hurd Photography – is extraordinary. Click here for more!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

We met the old-fashioned DC way – at work. Bryan asked Linette out to lunch and she turned him down because she was in a relationship. More than a year later, we became reacquainted while working on a committee together. Valentine’s Day 2006 came and went, and Bryan cleverly sent an email asking Linette if she “got all the flowers and candy her heart desired.” Linette, recognizing that what he really wanted to know is whether she was still in a relationship, answered, “It was uneventful.” Translation: I’m single.

We knew before our first date that this relationship would be special. Many emails and office conversations after Valentine’s Day, we finally broke the “no dating at work” rules and went on our first date in April 2006. We had such a good time talking that before we realized it, Bryan had walked Linette all the way home. On 1/11/2011, Bryan reenacted that first date and ended it with a proposal in front of the apartment where their first date had ended years earlier. Bryan had set up their camera to record the proposal and tricked Linette into thinking she was taking a picture. As the camera rolled and the snow began to fall, she said yes. We were married 6 years after our first date.

For Bryan, Newton White Mansion was love at first sight. For me, not so much. I thought it was beautiful and picturesque but I took issue with the fact that it is a very popular venue in our area and we really planned for a city wedding. This venue is about 40 minutes outside of DC. Still, we had searched high and low for a venue and I had to accept that this was the best we saw and other than being outside of the city, it was perfect for all of our need and gorgeous! It’s popular for a reason. We moved forward with Newton White and chose hotels in DC for our majority out of town guest list. This combined the best of both worlds for us. A fun weekend in the city for our guests with a suburban wedding getaway to start it off. As the planning continued, the venue’s historic mansion exterior and loft space atrium played a large part in inspiring our wedding style.

We wanted a simple, elegant style that was well thought out but not overdone. We didn’t want an over the top or grand feel. We didn’t want our wedding to feel like a show. We wanted our relationship and the emotions of the day to be the focus. We both love blue, and purple and grey seemed to be the perfect complements because the palette didn’t feel too feminine. The venue played a large role in how everything came together. Our ceremony was outdoors on the patio with the historic mansion as our backdrop. So we went for a vintage, romantic feel for the ceremony. I chose baby’s breath altar arrangements and a dress with lace applique and a cathedral length lace veil. For the reception, we went for a modern, city feel to match the lofty, atrium space. We added white lounge furniture, soft purple lighting, and baby’s breath centerpieces with tall silver vases. I changed my hair into a bun, switched my veil for a hair flower and added a fun necklace for the reception. Bryan chose a suit he loved and all of his accessories. We let everyone in the bridal party choose their own clothes from the bridesmaids to the parents. We wanted the wedding to be beautiful but comfortable. In the end, everything felt cohesive but effortlessly elegant which was exactly what we wanted.

We really wanted our wedding day to be about us and those that were most influential in our lives. We chose to marry on the birthday of Bryan’s late brother, Gene. Bryan walked down the aisle with his mother and I with my parents. Our bridal party was tiny including only my sister, Bryan’s daughter and his best friend. Our guest list was kept to our most cherished loved ones. Our ceremony was intimate and personal. We wanted to make our guests part of our day so we had a ring warming ceremony in which we passed our rings around in a bowl so that the guests could share their wishes and prayers for our marriage. After we shared our first kiss as a married couple, we chose to jump the broom, an African American tradition, to symbolize our new union.

At the reception, I danced with my father to a fast-paced salsa song as a nod to my Hispanic heritage. We had an anniversary dance with all of the married guests in attendance to honor their marriages. Our last song was my late grandmother’s favorite, Bob Marley’s “One Love.” Our guests surrounded us in a circle as we danced to end a perfect beautiful day.

Photography: Sam Hurd Photography / Second Shooter: Ryan Brenizer Photography / Cinematography: Robert Jeremy Mitchell / Flowers: Petal’s Edge / Hair Stylist: Merylin Mitchell / Make-up artist: Jennifer Lee / Event Design: Bride / Coordinator: Tabitha Roberts, Roberts & Co. Events / Venue: Newton White Mansion / Invitations: By Invitation Only / Shoes: Randall by Badgely Mischka / Dress Designer: Lazaro 3762, Church Street Bridal / Bridesmaid Dress Designer: B2 and Bari Jay / Groom’s Fashion: Hugo Boss, Indochino, Magnanni Shoes / Necklace: Semra Ascioglu / Photobooth: Poshbooth / Caterer: Putting on the Ritz / Cake: Fluffy Thoughts Cake / DJ: Devin Alexander for My DeeJay / Officiant: Bill Cochran / Lighting/Lounge Furniture: Da Vinci Floral

It’s time to kick off another Wedding Wednesday which means we have seven of the loveliest affairs coming your way all live long day. Think everything from a beautiful outdoor shindig to a lovely ballroom soiree. Up first is a Maryland affair that’s putting the “P” in pretty in a major way.  I’m talking a drop-dead gorgeous bride and groom, a breathtaking Brittland Manor backdrop and a Sottero and Midgley gown that is the literal definition of layered lovely.  Kristen Marie Photography snapped up every moment and it’s a DIY masterpiece that you can’t afford to miss.  See it all here.

From the Bride… Right from the start we knew we wanted an intimate wedding. We couldn’t wait to get married and were excited to get everyone we loved in one place at one time to celebrate with us. I liked the idea of something outdoors, so I searched for a venue that had beautiful grounds, where we could have all the events in one place. I wanted our guests to just come and relax and get lost in the day. Brittland Manor was the first place we looked at…and the last. The grounds were perfect and the house was situated right along the Chester River. Our family stayed all together in the two houses on the property for the whole weekend.

The most exciting part of planning the wedding was deciding on the décor and style. I came up with a combination of vintage and whimsy. I wanted it to be unique (nothing cookie cutter) and I like to think I put a lot of love into the details. I gave new meaning to DIY — from the flag bunting and the flower arrangements, the menus and the table numbers, the hanging mason jars and the escort cards. I made more trips to the craft store than I’d like to admit, but looking back, I had a lot of fun doing it. Kevin let me monopolize our one-bedroom apartment with my DIYing, bless his heart. Although he did start grumbling when I took over the entire living room floor with flag cutouts. For the record: I left a walking path!

Family and friends helped so much on the days leading up to the wedding – checking in on us, helping to transport everything to the venue and pitching in on those last-minute finishing touches. Our wedding was everything we wanted it to be. I really tried to take it all in – the beautiful surroundings, the people I loved, the tastes, the feelings, the sounds, the moments with Kevin. I loved every minute!

Wedding Photography: Kristen Marie Photography / Venue: Brittland Manor in Chestertown, Maryland / Floral Design: Fifty Flowers (Flowers) + The Bride (Design) / Officiant: Jennifer Dustin / Catering + Wedding Cake: Eat & Smile Catering / Ceremony + Cocktail Hour Guitarist: Kevin Shannon / Music: DJ Bounce of Scratch Weddings / Tent Rental + Perimeter Lighting: Dover Rent-All / Candles: Candle 4 Less / Wedding Dress: Sottero and Midgley / Bride’s Veil + Blusher: Pure English Bridal Salon / Bridesmaids’ + Groomsmen’ Attire: J.Crew + Indochino /  Bride’s Jewelry: Grandmother’s ring / Hair: Salon in Chestertown, Maryland / Makeup: DIY by the Bride / Groom’s Attire: Indochino

I’ll admit it.  I am a wedding crier.  Yep, it’s true… drop-dead gorgeous florals, beautiful locations, sweet, sweet love stories – give me a wedding to swoon over and I’ll cry every.single.time.  So, when I first laid my eyes on this stunning Maryland soiree, I was MORE than prepared to shed a few tears.  But, when I landed on the breathtaking First Look, well.  I cried like never before.  Because this is a moment that is so completely full of emotion, it’s impossible NOT to fall head over heels.  And the rest of this glorious day captured ever-so perfectly by Sarah Culver Photography?  Simply amazing. See it all here.

From the Bride… When I approached the planning of our wedding, I knew I didn’t want to have “colors” or a strict theme to adhere to, but I wanted to tie in elements that were summery, warm and a mixture of all of my favorite things. At the time, if you had looked at my closet, you would have found a plethora of creamy pink and warm white items, and with my love of all things rustic and unfinished, I had a direction for our day. We found our venue the day before we got engaged when we were invited to model for a styled shoot for a local wedding blog. I instantly fell in love with the high ceilings and stone walls, and I knew the rolling hills would be a beautiful backdrop for a wedding.

So much of this wedding was a labor of love! All of the details were either made by me or my sister (and Aaron too!), while all of the vases were collected months prior to the wedding by various family members. The most time consuming part was that Aaron and I designed all of the paper goods for the day (including the invitations, programs, menus, name cards and guest book). We got inspired in our design from shops on Etsy and invitations on Pinterest. Although it was stressful to design, cut and paste all of our invitations, it was worth it when we saw the result. The way I kept positive throughout the process was reminding myself that these were my WEDDING invitations. It was so amazing to me that I was doing this so I could get MARRIED. That alone was the most encouraging part of our wedding planning for me. Another important aspect for us was good food. We got married on a working farm and got to custom-design our menu with the chef. My favorite part was the macaroni and cheese bar with three different types offered. Also, some of the produce for the meal was picked from the farm that day! I made sure to take time to eat the food, and I absolutely loved it. I wasn’t anticipating to have much of an appetite, but it turned out that it was Aaron who didn’t feel hungry. I practically cleared my plate it was so good!

My absolute favorite part of the day was walking down the aisle. The emotions I felt in that moment will probably never be replicated as I held my dad’s arm and walked into the arms of my groom. Aaron looked like he was going to burst out of his skin as I approached. We had already seen each other during a first look and pre-ceremony portraits, but it didn’t lessen that moment at all. That will always be such a sweet memory for me.

Wedding Photography: Sarah Culver Photography /  Wedding Venue: Richardson Farms in White Marsh, Maryland / Floral Design: Linda Monatori of Fine Floral Designs / Decorations: DIY + Thrift Stores / Wedding Cakes: Yia Yia’s Bakery / DJ: Scott West of Soundwaves DJs / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal (Altered Sleeves + Sash) / Hair: Regis Salon / Makeup: Nicole Palermo / Men’s Suits: Indochino

Trust me when I say you are going to want to sit with this wedding for awhile. Just to take every pretty piece of it in, to really get to know each gorgeous image by Gabe Aceves Photography. It’s the type of wedding that really speaks to me, and I’m pretty sure it will speak to all of you too. The Bride alone is pretty enough for the big screen – so when she is surrounded around all the chic DIY details of her day and love you can feel through the computer screen, it just begs for some serious QT in the full gallery, so indulge yourself by letting all the prettiness speak to you right here…

From the Bride… We really did a lot of it ourselves with the help of friends, family and neighbors. From setting up and breaking down chairs at the ceremony to hanging lights and setting up tables at the reception, the wedding day was a full community effort. My good family friend opened up her house to me and all the girls to get ready there because she lived right across the street from the ceremony spot. A lot of our neighbors opened their homes to out-of-town guests or lent various items or help the day of.  It was so special to get married in the community where I grew up, but it was all the more touching that so many people volunteered to help us.

I collaborated with one of my bridesmaids to design our invitations and all of the paper elements at the reception (welcome notes, table numbers, drink recipe cards, signs). She also created a wedding logo for us, which we used throughout a lot of the wedding. My mom created and made everything for our signature drinks. She infused her own cucumber vodka and made the lime simple syrup for the cucumber vodka mojitos and the ginger simple syrup for the bourbon ginger cocktails. My sisters, some bridesmaids and I made the cake balls in our signature drink flavors — we even used the infused vodka and ginger simple syrup for them. I painted the bride and groom signs, which were pieces of driftwood we found on the beach in our neighborhood. It really was so gratifying to see everything come together, especially since we had our hands in pretty much everything.

Wedding Photography: Gabe Aceves Photography / Ceremony: Bay Ridge Community Bluff in Bay Ridge, Maryland / Reception: Bay Ridge Marina Clubhouse in Bay Ridge, Maryland / Floral Design: Cache Fleur / Catering + Wedding Cake: Main Ingredient / Cocktails: The Bride’s Mother / Wedding Stationery + Logo: DIY by the Bride + A Friend / Music: Doug Segree Band +  Mike McFadden, The Bride’s Cousin / Most Glassware: From the Bride’s Grandfather + Great-Grandfather / Polka Dot Table Runners: DIY by the Bride’s Aunt / Tent: Ebb Tide Tent & Party Rentals / Other Rentals: Rentals to Remember / Wedding Dress: Ivy & Aster / Bride’s Veil: Twigs & Honey / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Bride’s Belt: DIY by Her Aunt / Hair + Makeup: Amie Decker Beauty / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Their Choice / Groom’s Attire: J.Crew / Groomsmen’s Pants: Vineyard Vines / Groomsmen’s Tie: J.Crew

As we’ve mentioned before, a Groom in uniform is our piping hot cup of tea. And the only thing that could possibly make that equation even better is a match-up of crispy blues and a gorgeous glowing Bride. OK, and maybe some pink peonies folded into the mix. Now THAT is our idea of classic perfection. And this Annapolis affair captured by Petruzzo Photography has all of the above and so much more. See that so much more right here in the full gallery.

From the Bride… Seth had already booked the Naval Academy Chapel before he proposed. There were only a few dates available that would fit with his military schedule, so he took a leap of faith. Luckily for him, I said yes, and in doing so, not only got my prince charming, but also (unbeknownst to him) my dream venue. In short six months, all of the details were finalized, or so I thought. The night before our wedding day, my aunt surprised me by bringing my mother and grandmother’s wedding dress for me to try on. Much to my surprise, my grandmother’s dress (which I had admired my whole life) fit me like a glove!  I carried a piece of both of their wedding dresses with me down the aisle on my bouquet and then actually changed into my grandmother’s dress for the final hour of the reception. It was one of the most magical moments of my life so far.

Wedding Photography: Petruzzo Photography / Ceremony: United States Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, Maryland / Reception: United States Naval Academy Alumni House in Annapolis, Maryland / Flowers: Potomac Floral + DIY Arranging / Military Wedding Consultant: Going to the Chapel / Wedding Cake: Fiona’s Cakes / Macarons: Sweet Hearts Patisserie / Favors: DIY / Wedding Dress: White by Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik via eBay / Hair: Beyond Brides / Makeup: Stephanie Johnson of Blushing Beauty (The Bride’s Sister) / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Ann Taylor + Assorted Other Stores / Bridesmaids’ Earrings: NansGlam / Engagement Ring + Wedding Bands: Little Treasury Jewelers

Are you a bloom lover through and through? Well saddle up ladies because this post is right up your alley. It is bursting with the aforementioned at ever single turn; blossoming trees, big, bright bouquets, tables full of flower boxes. We’re talking 100% bloomage mixed with pretty, pretty images courtesy of EyeWonder Photography. All in all, it’s one crazy good-looking combo and you can see so much more right here.

From the Bride… From the beginning, Greg and I knew we wanted our wedding to be simple, charming and personal. That, and we wanted the ceremony outdoors. We imagined a small, intimate wedding in a field of wild flowers or under a grove of trees that would let nature dictate our decor. Bolger Center turned out to be a nice fit: rolling green lawns peppered with willows and cherry blossoms; a round arbor of evergreen trees, steps away from a little white pergola; an on-site hotel for our many out-of-town guests. So we booked and prayed for a sunny April morning.   

Greg and I also really appreciate the detail, craftsmanship, and one-of-a-kind feel of something handmade, so we tried our best to incorporate those elements into our wedding. We opted to do without a wedding planner/event coordinator and sent our invitations in hand-folded envelopes. We used Etsy to find handmade convertible dresses for the bridesmaids and bought Greg’s wedding band there too. Maybe our favorite Etsy buy though was a set of six little ceramic bells. We hung them from low branches surrounding the ceremony site and strung strips of ribbon and burlap for a wind catch. Every breeze sent a peel of faint chiming into the air all around us: the effect was lovely and calming. Another personal touch came from an idea my mom had about making sure I was hidden away from view before the ceremony. Greg and the groomsmen hung lace panel curtains from each side of the pergola and let them billow in the wind — a nice play on the fluttery straps on my dress. In the end, the hint of my silhouette through the lace made for a bit of mystery as guests passed by to get seated.    

In hindsight, one of the perks of a wedding with some more DIY elements is time with friends and family. The bouquets, centerpieces and boutonnieres were made with a ton of help from my family and bridesmaids. With the florals, we aimed for simple, rustic and whimsical by setting ranunculus, anemones and mums into little wooden crates and mason jars. My mom spent weeks piecing together and sewing my veil, and I was lucky enough to be able to wear the Chinese Qipao dress that my mother-in-law wore for her wedding! The Totoro card box (made by one of my bridesmaids), dessert bar (with tons of cakes, cookies, Chinese desserts and, of course, cotton candy!) and a giant tumbling towers set kept the rest of the reception playful and light. The whole day was full of happy memories and a surprising lack of stressing about loose ends, and we’re hugely grateful to everyone who helped to make it that way.  

Wedding Photography: EyeWonder Photography / Wedding Venue: Bolger Center in Potomac, Maryland / Flowers: Blooms by the Box, Whole Blossoms + Arranged by the Bride, Her Family + Bridesmaids / Desserts: Stella’s Bakery, Praline Bakery, Georgetown Cupcakes + Grand Manna Bakery / Invitation Printing: Smartpress / Ceramic Chiming Bells: Judy B. Freeman Pottery / Centerpiece Crates  Bottle Sets: Save On Crafts / Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston (Now Closed) / Chinese Qipao Dress: From the Groom’s Mother / Bride’s Shoes: Anthropologie / Bride’s Wedding Band: The Clay Pot / Groom’s Wedding Band: Hartley Studio / Bridesmaids Dresses: Straathof Design

Weddings that really take full advantage of nature are often the most amazing soirees. Mother Nature knows how to dress a party, so when the bride and groom take hints from the bountiful greens and stunning flowers in the wild, the result is magical. Mary Kate McKenna Photography has captured such a wedding and filled a gallery with pretty, pretty images – and we just can’t get enough!

Our wedding was a true “labor of love” that incorporated the talents from the people who mean the most to us. My maid of honor designed our beautiful save the dates, invitations and guestbook. My high school friend and bridesmaid sang a beautiful song at the ceremony. Another friend designed our menus. Abe’s aunt owns a frame shop and she framed the guestbook as well as beautiful gift from his mom and stepdad.

Abe’s mom is also famous for her green thumb, and she grew Lilly of the Valley (one of my favorite flowers) to include in our arrangements. The day before the wedding, she led a group of friends and relatives in arranging the reception centerpieces into vintage vases we collected together over the last year.

The tree theme that was woven through our wedding was rooted (pun intended) in our shared love of Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree. The book’s simple, but powerful, message about unconditional love is important to us and seemed to be a great sentiment for a wedding.

Speaking of books, we also chose to integrate our favorite children’s books into the reception table names and decor. Instead of favors, we chose to make a donation to First Book, a childhood literacy organization, in our guests’ honor.

I can’t forget about the place settings. My parents scoured flea markets and thrift stores in my hometown to collect vintage place settings for the reception. There were many dish washing and packing parties right up until the big day, but the unique look it gave our reception was awesome!

Photography: Mary Kate McKenna Photography / Flowers: Local Color Flowers / Ceremony Location: Our Lady of Perpetual Hope / Reception Location: London Town House and Gardens / Catering: Ken’s Creative Kitchen / Cake: Olivia Doherty, ojdoherty@gmail.com / Hair: Hair by Rochelle / Invitations, Save the Date and Guestbook: Emilie Udell / Transportation: Annapolis Trolley

Engagement sessions are all about the love and sometimes the addition of a killer sense of style. Which, when coupled with beautiful images like those of Dominique Fierro, makes for a wildly romantic photo shoot. A few key ingredients that raised the bar even farther? Yellow fields, flowing maxi dresses and a couple that travelled all the way from Greece to make their e-session debut with Dominique. See even more in the full gallery!

From Dominique Fierro… I just photographed this amazingly cute couple for their engagement session at my friend’s farm in Maryland. They own a B&B in Mykonos, Greece, and come back and forth for work. I styled them to be super romantic with a sexy stable boy twist. 

Photography, Styling + Creative Direction: Dominique Fierro / Location: A Private Farm in Maryland

If you’re craving a summer vaca on the water with a gorgeous view, this Chesapeake Bay Beach Club soiree could not have come at a better time. It’s the perfect midweek refresher to keep you going until your weekend, and we haven’t even discussed the best part yet. The wedding at center. Captured by Kimberly Brooke Photography, it is stunning and refreshing, with love, laughter, and joy radiating from every smile. And, if you can believe it, there is even more here!

Ryan and I were introduced to each other by a mutual friend in the Spring of 2006 while visiting the Delaware Beaches.  At the time, Ryan was living in Delaware and I was living in Chicago but job opportunities fatefully allowed us to both move to central Maryland later that summer and we quickly reconnected. We fell in love and it’s been happy days ever since.

Ryan proposed on Valentines Day in 2010. We immediately began planning for what would eventually be the most perfect, magical, fun, exciting and beautiful day of our lives.

We saw many beautiful places when trying to choose our venue, but the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club was our favorite.  It is located right on the Chesapeake Bay and has beautiful views of the water and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.  Ryan and I both love the beach and being outdoors, and at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club we could be married in a location that was reminiscent of the beach where we first met.  Recently renovated, the rooftop deck of their Sunset Ballroom allowed us to say “I do” outside under large, modern royal blue umbrellas with blue skies in the background.  It was simple and perfect.

At the reception, wall to wall bay windows allowed our guests to not only see the gorgeous sunset on the water, but to experience it as the atmosphere changed from a semi formal meal to dancing as night fell.

Our day was perfect because we were surrounded by all the love and excitement from our friends and family, it was a beautiful day at the perfect venue, and I got to marry my best friend. Ryan and I wouldn’t change a thing!

Photography: Kimberly Brooke Photography / Ceremony + Reception Location: Chesapeake Bay Beach Club / Shoes: Touch Ups / Boys’ Seer Sucker Suits: Crazy 8’s / Dress: Allure / Bridesmaid Dresses: Watters, at Betsy Robinson / Tuxedo: Calvin Klein, at Hyatt and Company / Florist: Carolyn Bruckner / Cake: For Goodness Cakes / DJ: Evan Reitmeyer, My Deejay / Guitarist: Rich Barry / Stickers put on the bags for the candy bar favors: Etsy, Amy Olsaver Designs / Just Married Sign: Funki Folk Art / Ring Pillow: Michelle Edgemont / Hair: Baltimore Bridal / Make up: Christina Spath

From the beautiful blooms, to the gorgeous in love couple, to the tented reception on the stunning lawn, this wedding is capital FABULOUS. We filled a gallery with amazing images of this soiree from Merkle Photography because it was near impossible to see all the lovely in just this post. Soak it up, LBBers, because this wedding is the perfect compliment to your Friday morning.

Click here to see the full image gallery!

James and I met in New York City….and the beginning was a bit scandalous! I was dating one of his friends when we first met at a happy hour outing. We remained friends for a few months before realizing that we were actually meant to be together – it thankfully all went well though, and thanks to his friend being incredibly nice and understanding, we are all still great friends.

We had been dating for three years, and decided to plan a little weekend getaway to California. We charted out a trip to Napa Valley, and then had plans to camp in Big Sur for a few days following our wine tours. I had packed one nice dress and lots (lots!) of yoga pants and camping clothes, and thought that if there was any chance he was going to propose, surely it would be during the ‘swanky’ portion of our trip. When dinnertime rolled around in Napa, I pulled out my new dress and caught him eyeing it. I asked if he thought that it would look nice (fully expecting him to grin and say yes!) and he said “Eh….I don’t know how fancy this place is. I think you can actually get away with jeans tonight.” At that moment I thought for sure that we weren’t getting engaged – but we still went on to have a fabulous night, and I was excited to go camping with him.

The next day we were making the drive South down the windy Pacific Coast Highway, and the weather was atrocious – we are talking zero visibility on hairpin turns and white knuckles the whole way. I was dreading setting up a tent in the rain – nevermind sleeping in it, cooking in it, and enjoying ourselves one bit in it. We passed a few bedraggled looking motels, and I tried to cheerfully suggest that if the weather was too bad, maybe one of those would do for a night or two? Before we left, his Mom had even sent me a book called “Backcountry Betty: Roughing It In Style” – I was totally prepared to spend three days in the woods – but at this point, not looking forward to it one bit.

We pulled into the “camping depot,” and the fog was too thick for me to see any signs or buildings. As soon as I went to open my door, I knew something was up: there stood a man in a nice suit holding a silver tray with a glass of champagne. James flashed a wide grin at me, and I still had no idea what was happening — what kind of camping depot serves champagne on arrival? I stepped out of the car and we were immediately directed into a waiting SUV. At that point I noticed the seal on the car’s floor mats, and I realized that we were at the amazing Post Ranch Inn – an incredibly unique boutique hotel, that has rooms perched in the cliffs high above the waters of the Pacific Ocean below. As soon as we arrived at our beautiful bungalow, he pulled me out onto the balcony, and proposed to me right there, in the fog, sixteen-hundred feet above the crashing waves below. It was perfect.

Oh, and I got to wear the dress that very night – the sneaky little bugger knew I had only packed one, and wanted to make sure I had one to wear the night of the engagement. I’ve never been happier to not be camping in my whole life!

We had gone back and forth over venues for a couple of months; we are both from different states (he, from Baltimore, Maryland, and I, from Cape Cod, Massachusetts), and with both of us having gone to college in far off locations (he, Colorado, and I, Florida) and then having lived in New York City for years, we were all over the map with friends and family. On the recommendation of his Mother and Father, we traveled out for the first time to see the house they recently bought on the Eastern Shore, and something just clicked – it was a gorgeous setting, right up on the Choptank River, and the rolling green lawns and cool breeze set the stage for a perfect Fall wedding. It felt very right, and we loved the personal touch it had, rather than simply settling on a venue that didn’t have any meaning to us.

I wanted to let the beauty of the setting speak for itself, and thus I kept my color palette simple, with my bridesmaids wearing long charcoal gray Amsale dresses, and the boys in simple black suits. I had a black belt made for my dress, (which I thought tied the black and gray together well), and with the green lawn and dusky blue river I had hoped to play to a bit of a ‘rustically elegant’ color scheme. The flowers were in shades of apricot, pale pink, and ivory, with lots of greenery, and we under-lit the tent in a pale peach color to create a feeling of warmth.

We wanted our ceremony to be very meaningful, but also on the short and sweet side. We had wanted to feel comfortable and natural on the big day, and I wanted everyone who was a part of it to have a special meaning to us. We asked one of James’ families close friends – one of the doctors who helped his Dad beat oral cancer – to be our officiant, and we decided to write our own vows. We did not read them to each other at all beforehand (we simply agreed ‘roughly’ on length), so it was a complete surprise to both of us to hear what the other one had written. The reception was just as rowdy as we expected! Not a soul wasn’t on the dance floor, and at one point James best friends decided to take us totally by surprise by thrusting chairs under us and heaving us into the air! I was totally terrified – and am still in disbelief that I did not go flying off into the air (it was very close!).

It sounds trite, but my most vivid memory is the look on James’ face when he saw me for the very first time that day. We had a private moment just before the ceremony under a shaded tree on the far side of the property, and the look of genuine happiness in his eyes as the tears welled in their corners is a moment I will cherish forever.

Photography: Merkle Photography / Flowers: Petals Florist / Event Design: Eastern Shore Tenting & Events / Event Planning: Gourmet on the Bay / Ceremony and Reception Location: Private Residence, Trappe, MD / Shoes: Michael Kors / Tuxedo: Hugo Boss / Invitations: Minted / Dress Designer: Rivini / Bridesmaid Dress Designer: Amsale / Earrings & Bracelet: J. Brown Jewelers

Wedding Wednesday.  A day filled to the brim with gorgeous inspiration, pretty, pretty details and bundles upon bundles of touching moments that will literally make your heart sing.  Yep… if this isn’t the best way to spend your Wednesday, than I don’t know what is.  So, sit back, relax and prepare for all of the lovely.  It’s going to be amazing.

You know those weddings that just grab you from the get-go?  All it takes is one single image, one pretty petal, one over-the-moon bride and groom and you are completely, 100% done for?  Well, this wedding – this glorious rustic gem of absolute perfection – is most definitely one of THOSE weddings. It’s a breathtaking waterside soiree meets picture perfect details meets an entire gallery of gorgeous captured by Shelby Leigh Photography.  Join me there for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Planning my wedding was so much fun — it allowed me to be creative in a variety of ways! Our wedding was held on my father’s 180 acre “farm,” known as Hunting Creek Farm, in Easton, Maryland, off of the Miles River. I spent much of my childhood there, and long before I met my husband, Dan, I knew that no other place would top this location for a wedding site. Our theme was simple: a rustic, backyard wedding. Flowers, details and day-of planning were provided by Joe Ennd and his team at Joe Ennd Designs. My dress was the Arabelle gown from J.Crew, lightweight and perfect. My shoes were vintage gold Tory Burch Reva flats — comfortable and easy to wear in the grass. Jewelry was Kate Spade. My Bridesmaids wore a simple, strapless, cotton Cady dress with pockets from J.Crew. Their necklaces were a gift from me and were from J.Crew as well. Our day, down to the smallest detail, was captured by the incredible Shelby Leigh Photography.

Wedding Photography: Shelby Leigh Photography / Wedding Venue: Hunting Creek Farm (The Bride’s Father’s Home) in Easton, Maryland / Floral Design + Wedding Day Coordination: Joe Ennd Designs / Catering: The Palate Pleasers / Tent + Lighting: Loane Brothers, Inc. / Music: Ridiculous Entertainment / Late Night Snack: The Kooper’s Chowhound Burger Wagon / Wedding Dress: J.Crew “Arabelle” / Bride’s Shoes: Vintage Tory Burch / Bride’s Jewelry: Kate Spade / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew “Cady” / Bridesmaids’ Necklaces: J.Crew

One thing that never, ever goes out of style is elegance. Pure and Simple. And Ritzy Bee Events knows how to craft that understated beauty and make it shine throughout an affair. It’s the type of wedding that would get the Jackie O style stamp of approval with layers of florals by Holly Heider Chapple Flowers so gorgeous they belong in a royal wedding and a real life, way too pretty to eat Maggie Austin Cake. Now add friends and family that know how to enjoy the heck out of a cocktail hour and this elegant Baltimore wedding has been skyrocketed to a whole new level of cool. Kate Headley Photography snapped everything from those beautiful lace runners right on through to the clinking of glasses. It’s a cheersy bunch and we whole heartedly adore it. See it all here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… We met in Washington, DC through mutual friends. We started dating in January 2007 and got engaged in July 2009 after Rob’s first year of law school, but we wanted to wait until he graduated for the wedding. The long engagement worked out well because our life was pretty hectic. I moved out to Iowa with Rob for his second and third years of law school. After his graduation, during the four-month period before our wedding, we moved back to DC, Rob studied for and took the Virginia Bar Exam, we both applied for and were thankfully offered jobs and finalized the details of the wedding. But we survived! A big thanks goes to our wedding planners, Maria and Kelly of Ritzy Bee Events for keeping a handle on everything!

Since we were living in the Midwest during our wedding planning time, we would take periodic trips back to the east coast for marathon wedding planning appointments. I got my gown about a year prior to our wedding date during one of those wild trips. I have to preface this by saying that I absolutely loved my gown and the shop where I got it (Hitched in DC) was wonderful. But to me, the dress was just something I was going to wear; it was just an article of clothing. I felt weird that I wasn’t one of those girls who cry or have this huge moment, but I really just cared about marrying my best friend. To me, that was the most important thing. The only jewelry I wore (besides my engagement ring) were my earrings, which were my “something borrowed” from my mom. When my mom and dad got married, they didn’t have much money and my mom couldn’t afford to purchase a wedding gown, so she borrowed one. She did however buy her veil, and she kept it preserved for thirty years. That veil had one of those early ’80s-inspired hats, so I removed that, had it fastened to a comb and wore it on my wedding day as my “something old.” My veil was my favorite part of my ensemble. Also, in lieu of doing a bouquet toss, I surprised my mom by giving her my bouquet in honor of my parents’ wedding anniversary (which was the day after ours).

Our venue really fits our taste — classic, elegant, and simple. Our wedding programs were calligraphed with each guest’s name and doubled as an escort card. (A little card with the table assignment was inside a small envelope on the inside of the program.) We hoped these could be saved as a little keepsake. Rob enjoys cigars occasionally, so cigars were passed out during cocktail hour. In terms of décor, we tried to stay with things that were classic and avoid anything that was too trendy.

Wedding Photography: Kate Headley Photography / Wedding Venue: Evergreen Museum & Library in Baltimore, Maryland / Event Design + Planning: Ritzy Bee Events / Floral Design: Holly Heider Chapple Flowers / Wedding Super8 Cinematography: Kate Headley Photography / Paper Goods: SIMPLESONG Design / Calligraphy: Meant to Be Calligraphy / Catering: Chef’s Expression / Wedding Cake: Maggie Austin Cake / Entertainment: Nation / Lighting: Frost DC / Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau via Hitched Salon / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jenny Yoo via Hitched Maids / Makeup: Amie Decker Beauty

Judging by the pretty levels (off the chart) of this wedding, we were not surprised to hear this bride spent much of her engaged days on SMP, scouring for inspiration – but we were tickled pink! Her wedding was stylish and chic, personal and fun – the perfect SMP soiree, captured fabulously by some of our faves – Lindsay & Jacqueline of Readyluck. I’m heading straight into the gallery for a really gorgeous finish to my week – meet you there?

I lived and breathed Style Me Pretty and magazines for inspiration while planning. I really wanted a simple/elegant feel for the wedding.  I did almost everything myself, but didn’t want it to look that way…”DIY incognito.”

Photography, food, and location were our top three priorities, and overall we wanted everyone to have fun.  I really worked hard to have a beautiful event, but at the end of the night we just wanted people to look back and say “that wedding was a blast!”  No one talks months later about the wedding they went to with the best cake or the cutest bridesmaid shoes.

We are both big fans of country music and open space, so when we came across The Comus Inn we knew it was perfect.  Outdoors, relaxed, and simple – we loved it.  The fact that there were rolled hay bales down the street the day of the wedding was, as you know, one of my favorite miscellaneous surprises of the day.

I took my cue from our location with a slightly rustic/country chic feel, but I really didn’t want anything too “themey” or overdone and I felt those sources had the most perfectly put-together weddings.  The kind of events that no matter what motif or color scheme, look perfectly classic and timeless.

My dress was Alvina Valenta purchased from Marry Me Bridal in Orange, CA.  The crystal embellishment in the v-neck was actually a hairpiece from Edward Berger.  I chose the Jim Hjelm color “acorn” and told my bridesmaids to pick any silk dupioni dress in that color.  The result was fantastic and each girl was both comfortable and able to show their personality through their dress. 

The table arrangements were candelabras with white hydrangea, hanging amaranthus, and green apples to coordinate with the green apple placecards.  I hand-wrapped votives with twine and filled the remaining space with hydrangeas in mason jars from fiftyflowers.com.  The last table detail was gold chargers, which I purchased on sale from Bed, Bath, and Beyond for cheaper than I could have rented them.  On a side note, I loved loved loved the way the long tables turned out, and they saved me $1000 in flowers over doing round tables – win win!

We had an absolute blast when we got to do our post-ceremony pictures with just Lindsay and Jacqueline.  We were able to be ourselves and let the wedding settle in and have fun with each other.  It was so important to us that we didn’t go from our relaxed/personal ceremony to stuffy/posed portrait pictures.  I’m notoriously the one with the camera anywhere we go because I have to document everything.  I was thrilled to be able to relax and enjoy the night knowing the memories were being captured with good hands!  Note to brides: DO NOT skimp on photography.  We had hired a photographer prior to Readyluck and ended up switching because we were not over-the-moon about our engagement photos.  They were pretty, but nothing spectacular.  I was 100% confident in Lindsay and Jacqueline and I truly believe I was able to enjoy the night so much more because I wasn’t worried about how the photos were going to turn out.  Obviously after seeing our photos we knew they were worth every penny, but the night of the event that was such a priceless feeling of confidence!

I was able to incorporate our loved ones who had passed in various subtle ways throughout the wedding, which meant a lot to us.  I made a small button picture of Chris’ grandfather which was incorporated into his boutonniere, and also made cufflinks for his dad with the same picture.  My dad’s cufflinks were photos of his parents, and I made a pearl bracelet with photos of my mom’s brother, sister, and father.  I put a great deal of time into our invitations and paper products, and was thrilled with how they turned out.  I created burlap pocketfolds with wood-grain textured interior.  Each piece of paper had a line art image I made from photographs of different views of our location.

My biggest advice to future brides would be to think outside the box and find ways to make your wedding about you and your husband.  I loved that my dress was completely customized – and with something as simple as a hair clip!  I found our flower girl’s dress in Target for $17 – it was actually a child’s shirt that I shrunk to toddler size because it spoke to me so much more than the vintage dresses I found for hundreds of dollars.  Likewise, our ring bearer’s outfit was $30 and was so adorably fitting for the event.  Our guest list wasn’t really tailored to several round tables.  I loved the look of events with long tables and found that it was substantially cheaper when it came to centerpieces – so I won in both aspects and the guests loved it.  We made the burlap drapes for our sweetheart table with spray glue and a shower rod – they added a great touch to the event and are now hanging in my home office!  The burlap pillow was also handmade – I ironed our monogram onto the fabric and Chris’ grandmother made it into a pillow for us, which is now a great keepsake.  By incorporating things as simple as his football cufflinks, cowboy boots, and hat, the wedding was so much more personal and Chris felt like it was just as much about him.

Photography: Lindsay and Jacqueline for Readyluck / Cinematography: Shawn Girvan Films / Flowers: DaVinci Florist (bouquets & tall arrangements) and FiftyFlowers.com (small mason jar arrangements) / Event Planning & Design: Bride / Location: The Comus Inn / Cake: Simply Desserts / Stylist: Hope Stanley – Bridal Stylist / Ceremony string trio: Palladio Strings / DJ: DJ Kevin O’Donahue / Invitations: DIY by Bride / Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Dress: Alvina Valenta purchased at Mary Me Bridal, alterations at Love Couture Bridal / Hairpiece: Hair Comes The Bride / Hair & makeup: Clarissa at Creative Images Hair & Makeup / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: JLM Couture / Flower Girl’s Dress: Target

As a huge fan of the best wedding movie ever (Father of the Bride, as if you even need to ask) I always love a hometown wedding. When two people come home to shower their childhood haunts with hugs, kisses, bridesmaids, bouquets, and centerpieces, the butterflies are always soaring. Especially when those bouquets and centerpieces are from a team so lovely, like Romance of Flowers. David Mielcarek understands the undeniable draw of the hometown wedding, which is why he’s gone and captured ALL the details so wonderfully!

Will and I, both born and raised less than a one mile apart in Baltimore, didn’t actually meet until high school. At first we were just friends, but the summer after my freshman year at Stanford (and before his first year at Yale), we embarked on a summer romance that turned into two and a half years years of really long distance (California to Connecticut), one year of semi-long distance (New York to Connecticut) and finally three wonderful years a mere 10 city blocks apart in Manhattan.

You might be wondering, and trust me, many people asked, how did you do it?! My answer to this question was always that while dating long distance was incredibly hard, life without Will in it at all would be much much worse. After three and a half years of long distance, we were ecstatic to be both be living in Manhattan. On New Years Eve 2009, upon returning home from a friend’s party, Will made it official as he got down on one knee while our song played in the background (David Lee Murphy’s “Inspiration”). We danced our first dance together as husband and wife to that very same song almost 11 months later.

Having our wedding in our home town of Baltimore was a no brainer. Our parents live less than a mile apart from one another and we both had fond childhood memories growing up in the lovely neighborhood of Roland Park. Although I grew up playing sports and was a Division I athlete in college, I have always been a girly girly. As a child, every Halloween I had to be a princess and in kindergarden I was convinced that if I didn’t wear dresses everyday that the boys wouldn’t play with me. Therefore, it is no surprise that I wanted my wedding to be a fairytale, albeit a grown up and chic rendition of one. And what better place in Baltimore for a dream wedding than the Baltimore Country Club? The Club is elegant in an old world kind of way and many of my fondest childhood memories took place within its walls.

Of all of my wedding decisions, picking the florist was the easiest decision of them all (well after the groom I suppose). My mother has worked with Victoria Clausen of Romance of Flowers for years, so I was already very familiar with her unbelievable creativity and uncanny ability to cater her designs to the unique styles of her brides. Victoria understands the ambiance you want to create, and then takes it to a whole new level. Since I have attended countless events and dinners at BCC, I wanted to enhance the timeless beauty of the club, but at the same time transform it into something very different. In essence, I wanted to combine the best parts of my childhood home with some newer elements of my life with Will in Manhattan. For the color palette I wanted to stick mostly to white, with pops of pink and green to tie in the girl’s bridesmaids dresses and bouquets. Even though I had high expectations, the end result was beyond my wildest dreams. Victoria transformed the club into an absolute wonderland.

I would be absolutely remiss if I didn’t also thank my mom! Without her, the day would not have been as exquisite and personal as it was. Many of my favorite touches were the details she stayed up nights laboring over; the emblem on the invitation that she designed and effortlessly wove throughout the entire weekend, the scalloped bottom layer of our wedding cake, the magenta felt panels hung in the porch to echo the Tord Boontje paper used to cover the lamp shades, and the K&W logo shining down on the foyer – setting the stage for a wedding that was so obviously planned and designed with love. These little details are what made the wedding and I have her to thank for those.

David Melcarek did an absolutely amazing job with the photography; capturing both the sweet and tender moments as well as the hilarious and ridiculous ones. Debbie Federico and Dean Krapf worked wonders on my make up and hair, and Mia at Garnish boutique was a delight to work with in picking out and ordering the bridesmaids dresses.

As I wrote on the chalkboard in my parent’s kitchen that night, as we quickly changed from our wedding attire before taking off for Vietnam, it truly was “the best day ever.”

Photographer: David Mielcarek / Florals and event design: VIctoria Clausen of Romance of Flowers / Linens: Table Toppers / Venue and caterer: Baltimore Country Club / Band: Marquise from Andy Kushner / Lighting: Mike Blondell / Save the Date artwork: Designs by Robyn Love / Wedding Dress: Rivini from Betsy Robinson’s / Ceremony: St. David’s Episcopal Church / Invitation: Design by bride’s mother, engraving by First Impressions / Calligraphy: Claudia Engle / Program: Design by bride’s mother / Bridesmaid Dresses: Garnish Boutique / Makeup: Debbie Federico / Hair: Dean Krapf

As we inch closer and closer to spring, I can almost hear the buzz. The buzz that is wedding season. It’s coming LBBers, and I could not be more excited. We’ve already had two months of amazing, gorgeous weddings this year, and I have a feeling that this year is going to be absolutely swoon-worthy around every corner. Like the corner that leads you right to this beachy keen engagement session from Merkle Photography. I think I might just hear the undeniable sounds of swooning behind a few of your computer screens! Enjoy this warm & happy sesh and then enjoy your weekend. Then make sure to check in nice and early Monday because we’ve got another week of fabulous! xoxo

Photography courtesy of Merkle Photography.

Our pretty, pretty soirees all in one pretty, pretty spot:

a highlight film straight from England with the most amazing sentiments
a dance + music inspired engagement session we LOVE in California
a perfect fall Maryland soiree with the most amazing pumpkin details
a classically chic, chic, chic Zurich affair that has made us flip
a beautiful bride, handsome groom, and s’mores muffins (!) in this California fête
a sunny and beautiful smiles-inducing Oregon wedding
a adorable deserving couple in this fresh New York affair
a beautiful display of love in this classic Southern California soiree
a romantic Colorado wedding that is top of the favorites list on all counts
a merging of two fabulous cultrual designs in this San Francisco fête
a sweet Arkansas soiree with an overload of pretty

A couple of fantastic links we absolutely love:

a perfectly sweet tutorial for your own Baby’s Breath monogram via Ruffled
a DIY we’ve all been waiting for with these flowers we SO love via Design*Sponge
a glam wedding that proves DIY can be every bit fab via Grey Likes Weddings

Get your Pinning fingers ready, LBBers, because this wedding is filled with SO many fantastic fall wedding details. Lindsay Hite of Readyluck captured them all – from the pumpkin vases, to the autumnal fashion this beautiful couple is rocking. It will definitely make you crave a rainy day to fill with pumpkin pie, apple cider, and fabulous, fall weddings. Click here for more in the full image gallery!

John and I had been friends for a few years before realizing we had a thing for each other one night while sharing a glass of bourbon. We actually spent our first date (which lasted three days) snowed in at his place thanks to Snowmageddon 2010. By the time we shoveled out we knew we were in love.

For the proposal; he had a few failed attempts before it all came together… a romantic trip to Charlottesville, a beach weekend, and an overnight trip to DC. The ring had been delayed several times and he kept having to put off the proposal. Hands down, he’s one of the most romantic guys ever and I would’ve been thrilled to have him propose during any of those trips but ultimately a random Wednesday at home was how it happened and it was perfect! He sent me for a manicure with my sister, Megan. She was in on the surprise. While away he got the house ready…..our favorite bottle of wine, the fire pit in the backyard and Van Morrison in the stereo. When I got home we hung out by the fire and chatted like nothing was up. I had no clue. Then Into the Mystic (all time FAVORITE song) came on and the next thing I knew, John was on one knee saying a whole lot of stuff I couldn’t hear because I was crying. Apparently he had to ask me twice because I didn’t respond the first time.

We set out in making our day reflective of who we are. We’re not the “wedding factory” type and decided against a lot of expected wedding details. I had more than a few odd looks when describing our pie bar. Also, we wanted to bring our friends and family together for a night they’d never forget…. it probably won’t ever happen again – having all of those people gathered in one place to celebrate and have fun. We wanted to make it count.

As a designer I think a lot of the ideas were there already… but I definitely relied on blogs for ideas and concepts too. I also got ideas from music (a key component to the day) and paintings (Dutch still life painting lead to the floral concept)  I knew from the get-go what I wanted the general vibe to be… autumn, rustic, vintage with a dose of quirky; blogs helped me flesh all of those ideas out. I also used them as a resource for suggestions on what to avoid – knowing what not to do can be equally important.

We’re music junkies and that played a huge role in the day…..the table numbers, the music trivia on the backs of the menus and our save the dates where we recreated Bob Dylan’s (John’s favorite!) famous cover of Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan were all meant to reinforce the importance that music plays in our lives and a big part of what originally brought us together.

The venue was so pretty that I didn’t have to add much but I love Dutch still Life paintings from the 1600’s and wanted that vibe for my flowers. I also wanted them to be seasonal and local. Enter Ellen Frost. I showed her a few pics I found on a blog… to my luck it was from a florist she knew. We recreated those centerpieces using dahlias, coxcomb, gourds, succulents and other seasonal items.

There were so many amazing moments! Seeing John for the first time and having a few moments to ourselves before the ceremony. Walking into the ceremony on my Father’s arm and seeing all of those faces there smiling and happy to celebrate the day with us. Also, the speeches! Each one was funny, heart-warming and incredibly special to us. Oh, and I suppose seeing my Aunt do her Tina Turner impression on the dance floor during Proud Mary. Loved that!

Photography: Lindsay Hite of Readyluck / Flowers: Ellen Frost of Local Color Flowers / Day of Coordination: Rachel Shaw of Plan it Perfect Weddings / Venue: Historic London Town and Gardens / DJ: Neal Becton / Caterer: Jamie Kupstas of Ken’s Creative Kitchen / Dress: Watters and Watters, from Betsy Robinson’s

When this couple couldn’t decide whether to go for the grandeur of Washington D.C. or the serenity of Maryland for their nuptials, they did what any normal bride and groom would do – and went for both. They were married at a romantic Maryland park, but not before a few phenom photo ops at the U.S. Capitol. To execute this beyond amazing wedding, the smart twosome hired some of the best in the business – from Pineapple Productions and Rodney Bailey to Holly Heider Chapple and Catering by Windows among other A-listers. Click here for the gallery!

When Ben and I first started considering wedding venues, we couldn’t decide whether we wanted to have our wedding in a downtown D.C. location where we could enjoy views of the city and its monuments, or whether we preferred a more quiet, rural setting with space to enjoy the outdoors. Although we did ultimately choose a venue on a forty-acre nature preserve in the Maryland suburbs, we were able to sneak in a little time at an unmistakably “D.C.” spot.

We were fortunate to have the opportunity to stop by the U.S. Capitol (where my dad has worked for over 30 years) for a few pictures before heading to our venue. We almost decided to forgo the photo op during the planning stages because access to the Capitol is extremely limited for professional photographers, not to mention that the building is open to the public on Saturdays so we knew we’d have crowds to contend with. We are SO glad we made the trip! As it turned out, the tourists were really receptive to us – we were even greeted by applause when we walked into the jam-packed Rotunda! The building itself is magnificent and made for such spectacular pictures both inside and out! Also, we loved the contrast of starting the day at such an iconic D.C. location, since the rest of our day was spent at our far more rural venue.

Ben and I didn’t want to tie our wedding to one specific theme, but we were determined to make it feel personal and unique to us. He proposed on our six-year anniversary with my grandmother’s diamond ring, and from that moment I knew I wanted our wedding to feel intimate and family-oriented. From having my 101-year-old grandfather (a World War II veteran) walk me down the aisle with my dad, to asking our dear friend to officiate a ceremony filled with jokes and personal stories, to a reception complete with lawn games including a cornhole set handmade by Ben and his father and hand painted by me, we made sure to sprinkle the whole day with personal touches. The more details I selected and created myself, the more special the entire process felt to me. I scoured Etsy for unique items like the handcrafted bird cage for cards, the cake toppers shaped like birds as a tribute to our venue at the Audubon Naturalist Society, and the tiny logs and stationery that I combined to mimic a mini escort card forest. I picked up the miniature bird houses and wooden numbers at a craft store, and stained and painted them to turn them into table numbers. Although my grandmother passed away years ago, I pinned the heart necklace my grandfather had given her to my bouquet as my “something borrowed.”

We wanted the day to feel relaxed, so we extended the cocktail hour to an hour and a half and created an outdoor seating area so our guests could enjoy the beautiful setting. We wanted the vibe to be upbeat and energetic, so we chose “All You Need Is Love” by the Beatles as our recessional and “If It’s Love” by Train as our first dance song. And we wanted to make sure our guests were taken care of from beginning to end, with everything from flip flops to avoid achy feet to buses to and from the hotels provided by Ben’s childhood camp. Our wedding turned out better than I could have ever imagined. But it wasn’t just the wedding day that stands out to me, as special as it truly was. We spent so many hours with our friends and families as we worked to put the various pieces together, bonding over wood glue and laughing during dance lessons. Now, as I think about our wedding, the journey to get there was an inseparable part of what made the whole thing so perfect.

Venue: U.S. Capitol + Woodend Sanctuary / Event Planner: Arney Walker, Pineapple Productions / Caterer: Catering By Windows / Photographer: Photos by RodneyBailey.com / Floral Design: Holly Heider Chapple Flowers / Outdoor Furniture: Capital Decor / Invitations: Jessica Stalnaker / Reception Entertainment: DJ Dan Goldman / Ceremony Music: Cherry Blossom String Quartet / Photobooth: Dan Goldman, Bialek’s

Rise and shine, lovelies!  It’s another wonderful Wedding Wednesday here on SMP and we are about to rock.your.world with a bundle of gorgeous inspiration and EIGHT amazing weddings simply guaranteed to make your heart sing.  Yep, from darling DIY affairs to lovely backyard soirees, we’ve got you totally covered today.  So, sit back and prepare yourselves for a morning, noon and night of pretty… and don’t forget to spend some time perusing those galleries, where even more fabulous awaits!

Another day at SMP means another stunning wedding for me to LOVE… and this darling Maryland soiree is filling me up, head to toe, with happy.  All aglow in DIY sweetness, charming rustic details and a dreamy combination of vibrant purple, orange and gray hues, this beautiful farm fête is giving a whole new meaning to the word “perfect.”  Lucky for us, Hannah Colclazier Photography was on hand to capture every flawless moment and the gallery is simply brimming with image after image of lovely. Join me there for more!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Jaryd and I met at a café in Washington D.C., where we quickly identified our mutual love of coffee and jazz music. We began dating shortly thereafter, and when it came time to plan our wedding last year, we knew coffee and jazz would play a prominent role in our wedding. We also knew we wanted to keep the atmosphere casual for our guests. Other influences that inspired our wedding were my love for the ocean (I grew up in New England) and Jaryd’s love for the beautiful countryside (he grew up in the Mountain West).

In keeping with Woodlawn’s country estate feel, Jaryd and I opted for a wedding theme that invoked a feeling of rustic elegance. I am an inveterate DIYer, and I’ve even gotten Jaryd in on the fun. (Last year, we built our own reclaimed wood table.) With a set budget and over a year to plan our wedding, I resolved to make most of the décor myself. I wanted every part of our wedding to have that personal touch that only handmade décor can bring. To give our wedding a down-to-earth atmosphere, we elected to use burlap, a rustic, natural-fiber fabric, for several aspects of our wedding. We used burlap to cover the hay bales used for seating during the cocktail hour, we wrapped it around the potted succulents used as table décor, and we used burlap bags to contain one of the wedding favors. We also made burlap table runners for each of the guest tables.

For wedding favors, we filled burlap bags with a special coffee blend we make at home, which we call the “Bernello Blend.” (“Bernello” is a hybrid of our last names.) Jaryd and I also loved the idea of using succulents at our wedding: for him, they’re reminiscent of the West, and for me, they are beautiful and wouldn’t go to waste (succulents will grow new roots if repotted). So, as a second wedding favor (which also doubled as table décor), we placed individual potted succulents at each place setting. The succulents were wrapped in burlap and tied with moss-covered wire and a tag that read “Let Love Grow.” We found a local Mennonite family to grow the succulents for us, and used the plants for both wedding favors and for the bouquets and boutonnieres! A friend and I made the table numbers using silver German glass glitter. The “Just Married” sign hanging on the front of our sweetheart table was made the same way. The table numbers made their home in the centerpieces — turquoise pots from Anthropologie filled with bright orange marigolds. Also on the tables were white candles, which sat on a bed of moss inside a clear hurricane glass. Moss was also used to cover the ring bearer’s pillow, as well as the card box at the gift table.

Wedding Photography: Hannah Colclazier Photography / Wedding Venue: Woodlawn Farm in Ridge, Maryland / Wedding Flowers: Weaver’s Flowers / Event Design: The Bride / Day-Of Coordination: Laura Underwood / Band: Felicia Carter Quintet / Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero / Bridesmaids’ + Flower Girl’s Dresses: J.Crew / Groomsmen’s Suits: Kenneth Cole / Antique Wooden Trays: Chartreuse & Co. / Fingerprint Tree: bleu de toi / Reclaimed Wood Frame for Fingerprint Tree: Frame USA / German Glass Glitter: tortoiseo / Hurricane Glasses, Chalkboard Arrow Signs; Moss Wire + Burlap Bags: Save On Crafts / Dried Moss: Dried Flowers “R” Us / Table Number Zinc Plant Labels: Superior Growers Supply, Inc. / Turquoise Centerpiece Pots, White Bunny Candles, Cake Table Letters, Sand Ceremony Jars, Save-the-Date Postcards, Cardboard Tree Stumps: Anthropologie / Signature Drink Glass Mugs: Dollar Tree / Wedding Invitations + Table Numbers: Paper Source