The Proposal. Hall, 29, and Chelsea, 24, both graduates of Key School who first met at a Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County Next Generation holiday party, shared a quintessential Annapolitan engagement at Quiet Waters Park on an exceptionally warm Friday afternoon in March. “We took our dog Diego to the park for our usual walk,” Cheslea says.
But their day would be anything but ordinary. By the water’s edge, Hall got down on one knee and popped the question. “To be honest, I forget what he said because I was in complete shock and was so excited,” Chelsea says. Afterward, Hall surprised his new wife-to-be with dinner at Severn Inn—her favorite restaurant—with their families. “I could not have asked for a better proposal,” Chelsea says.
The Dress. Chelsea went shopping with her sisters, her mom, and her aunt, and spent two hours trying on dresses to no avail. “One of my sisters-in-law grabbed a dress and told me to try it on, that I had nothing to lose,” Chelsea says. The dress was a backless, sleeveless, formfitting lace Monique Lhuiller that, while stunning, wasn’t the style Chelsea had set out for. But as we commonly read, the gown ides fall in love with is often not the one they expect. “Once I put it on I was in tears and all my family members were in tears. I knew it was the one.”
The Wedding Weekend. “The engagement was a whirlwind of parties and wedding planning,” Chelsea says. And on the wedding weekend, the cele ations continued. “Having the wedding at the Oaks Waterfront Inn allowed the wedding party and parents to stay on location,” she says, “so from Friday to Sunday, it was an ongoing party. It made for the perfect wedding weekend.”
The Big Day. At an outdoor ceremony on the water in front of 200 guests—flanked by eight idesmaids and eight groomsmen, two flower girls, and a junior idesmaid—Hall and Chelsea said “I do.” From there, they joined guests at a cocktail hour featuring a raw bar, passed hors d’oeuvres, and cocktails. The reception also featured a cigar bar—a favorite for Hall—and at the end of the night, the two were whisked away on a Chaney Concrete Truck. “Just how low-key the whole wedding was reflects our personalities,” Chelsea says. “We just like to have a good time, drink great drinks, and eat yummy food.”
A Favorite Moment. As all newlyweds come to find out, it’s rare to eat the dinner they’ve carefully selected for guests. The day goes by in a flash and other than the cake cutting, you’re likely to not get a bite between mingling and dancing. So Chelsea and Hall were especially delighted when they checked into their idal suite to a surprise: “The people at the Oaks saved us some hors d’oeuvres, part of our dinner, and samples from our dessert table, and they had it waiting for us in our suite with a bottle of champagne,” Chelsea says. “Since the whole day was a whirlwind we didn’t get to enjoy our food…It was nice to sit back with my husband and enjoy the end of our wedding day.”
The Honeymoon. Following their nuptials, Chelsea and Hall spent two weeks in Belize, first at the Portofino Resort on Ambergris Caye, and then in one of 12 private cabanas on Coco Plum Island. “We went reef fishing, scuba diving, and visited the city of San Pedro…snorkeling, cave tubing, and visiting Mayan Ruins,” Cheslsea says. “We enjoyed eating, drinking, and relaxing.” Since then, it’s been a busy year for the newlyweds, who welcomed their first child, William “Liam” Hall Chaney, in July.
Venue:
The Oaks Waterfront Inn, Royal Oak
Florist:
Monteray Farms, Trappe
Cake/Dessert:
Julie Hanes of Julie Bakes, Easton
Caterer:
The Oaks Waterfront Inn, Royal Oak
Dress:
Monique Lhuillier/Betsy Robinson
Bridal Collection, Baltimore
Bridesmaid dresses:
Amsale
Men's attire:
J. Crew
Stationer:
Little Bit Heart
Videographer:
Blue Sky Films, Silver Spring
Photographer:
Wendy Hickok Photography, Annapolis
Hair Stylist:
Michele S./About Faces, Annapolis
MakeUp Artist:
Maria/About Faces, Annapolis
Ceremony and Cocktail Music:
Bay Strings, Silver Spring
Reception Music:
CJ Curtis/Crow Entertainment, North Beach
Rentals:
Ebb Tide Tent & Party Rentals, Queenstown
Officiant:
Reverend Bill Ticknor/ St. James Church
First Dance:
“Green Eyes” by Coldplay
Father/Daughter Dance:
“Someone Like You” by Van Morrison
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