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Tell Us Your Story
Q: How did you meet?
Sam and I grew up five minutes down the road from one another but didn’t meet until after he moved back home from college in 2015. I was invited by a mutual friend to a party Sam was hosting, and following a few more strategic invites, we were successfully set up on our first of many dates.
Q: Tell us about your engagement.
In the summer of 2023, Sam and I were throwing a party for my birthday and unbeknownst to me, also for our engagement! At the height of the evening the cake was brought over and when I blew out the candles, the lights came back on, and Sam was down on one knee. We’ve built a beautiful life together this past decade and are so excited to see what the future holds!
Theme
Q: What inspired you to pick your theme?
Our wedding theme was inspired by Sam’s and my love of autumn in Maryland. We envisioned a ceremony with beautiful views of the fall leaves across the water and a reception full of treats such as apple cider donuts, kettle corn, and hot cider. There is something so cozy and magical about fall, and we wanted to capture a bit of that charm.
Q: What were your colors?
Our colors were earthy shades of Green, Terracotta, Amber, and Cream. Our Bridesmaids wore Eucalyptus and Groomsmen were in Chocolate Brown; Sam’s suit was a soft Olive. We incorporated metallic accents of gold/copper through small brass animals and framed signage.
The Dress
Q: Describe the dress you chose and the moment you knew it was the one.
I saw my gown (Essence of Australia d3787) on the mannequin as I walked into my first appointment at Serendipity Bridal in La Plata and it checked off all my boxes. It was romantic, whimsical, and most importantly for me – it had sleeves! I knew it was the one while trying it on, because the song I planned to use to walk down the aisle began playing over the speakers. Instant tears! It felt like a sign.
Favorite Details
Q: What was your favorite detail?
Sam and I wrote our own ceremony script and included a “moment of appreciation” where we looked out at the faces of our guests before then turning back to each other and taking a few seconds to think about the feelings we had in that moment. I still remember the emotion on our friends’ and family’s faces as well as the happiness in Sam’s eyes – it’s a memory I hope I can hold on to forever.
The First Dance
Q: Describe the first dance.
Sam and I are both performers but neither of us are dancers; so luckily for us, Sam’s mom gifted us a couple months of dance lessons. We went into them with the goal of having a prepared dance that came across effortless and romantic but not too overtly choreographed. The lessons were a welcome weekly date night, and we really enjoyed getting to show off the fruits of our labor in front of our friends and family! Our first dance song was “A Thousand Times” by Evan Honer – a small artist that Sam and I both enjoy.
Vendors
Q: What local vendors did you use?
Venue: Jubilee Farm & Vineyard
Photography: Rob Jinks Photography
Videography: Winson Media
Caterer: Mike’s BBQ & Catering LLC
Desserts: Flour Donuts and Bakery
DJ: Invincible Entertainment
Rentals: Something Special by Tracy
Hair & Makeup: S&S Beauty
Dress & Suits: Serendipity Bridal
Favors: Calvert Kettle Corn
Advice for Other Brides
Q: Any advice for other brides?
Try not to burden yourself with choices. For every decision you make, give yourself a few options and when you’ve settled – don’t dwell on it! In the same vein, don’t worry about straying from “tradition.” I walked myself down the aisle and parent-danced with my mom, we did an unannounced cake cutting and skipped the bouquet toss. This is your day and what matters most is you and your partner!
