This Classy Brittland Manor Wedding Features the Prettiest DIY Florals We've Ever Seen

Ferns, BYOMI (bring-your-own-musical-instruments!), and serious JFK vibes have us swooning over this Brittland Manor fête. Is it just coincidence that the groom’s name is Jack?

// How They Met

It was love at first sight, only Mara Bensing didn’t know it. Her sophomore year at Ole Miss, she signed up for an Italian language course where she didn’t exactly meet Jack Kearney; his one attempt at sparking conversation, he says, fell a little flat. Still, Jack developed a crush on his classmate from afar and jokingly declared to a friend that he would one day marry “Reno” — which is Mara’s hometown, and the only detail he could remember about this attractive girl from their first day of class. Shortly thereafter, Jack dropped the course, and it seemed like the couple’s future was finito, until a few months later, when Jack spotted Mara at a fraternity party. An act of God — or maybe it was liquid courage — enabled him to seize his chance, and he asked her to a Valentine’s Day date function, to which she, fortunately, said yes.

// The Ring

Jack was crafty when it came to picking out an engagement ring Mara would love. “He sneakily kept an eye on styles I had ‘liked’ on my social media, with the occasional subtle question about what my ideal ring would look like,” Mara says. With the help of his aunt, who’s a jeweler, Jack designed a gorgeous oval solitaire mounted on a rose gold band.

// Her Gown

Mara went on a marathon dress-shopping excursion with her mom and sister over Christmas, hitting three bridal shops in one day, from Annapolis to Georgetown. "I didn't have a specific vision in mind, but I knew I didn't want a dress that everyone else was wearing," she says. She found her answer at Wren Bridal. "It was the perfect combination of fitted and flowy," Mara adds. For a special touch, she had a piece of her mom's dress made into an ivory belt, which pulled the whole look together. "I still joke that I need an excuse to wear it again!" she says.

// The Bridesmaid Dresses

"I knew I wanted my bridesmaids in a shade of blue," Mara says, "but not too colorful or trendy. I finally found the perfect shade of slate in an amazing style, and once I saw it against the green florals, it was just breathtaking."

// The Proposal

For Labor Day, Jack and Mara planned a visit to Jack’s family’s vacation home in Bethany Beach. After returning from dinner the first evening, Mara suggested they grab a bottle of wine and head to the beach to stargaze. “I made it so easy for him!” she says. Jack started talking about their future together, which Mara thought was super sweet — until he stood up on one knee. Suddenly, she realized the discussion wasn’t just theoretical! As the couple made their way back to the house to celebrate, Mara heard a familiar voice. “When I saw my mom and dad ready with champagne, I just lost it,” she says. “It was so special to have them there to celebrate.”

// The Venue

As soon as Mara and Jack visited Brittland Manor, they knew they’d found their venue. “The property is absolutely stunning!” Mara says. “The historic brick mansion sits on acres of open green fields filled with big trees right on the Chester River, along with a waterfront cabin with a dock.” That last detail was a big selling point for the couple, who were thrilled to have their families and bridal party stay onsite.

// The Ceremony

Mara and Jack asked Jack's uncle to officiate their ceremony, while their three adult siblings served as the ring bearers and flower girl. "It was a fun and adorable way to include them in our ceremony," Mara says. 

// The Menu

Ken’s Creative Kitchen prepared a mouthwatering menu featuring Southern classics like pulled pork sliders and sweet pea ravioli. The couple also served up signature drinks inspired by their alma mater. Jack’s drink was the “Faulkner’s Mint Julep,” in homage to author William Faulkner, who lived in Oxford and is a classic symbol of the south (along with the mint julep, of course). Mara’s drink was the fan-favorite grapefruit crush, or the “Rebel Crush,” named after Colonel Reb, the Ole Miss mascot.

// The Flowers

Mara’s vision for her day was a classy, clean aesthetic with hints of silver, gold, and glass. Her mom, who has a degree in design but no formal floral experience, did all the flower arrangements. “She’s a creative genius,” Mara says. “From the big, full ferns accented with limelight hydrangea and the white roses centering the ceremony, to the single stem set-up for the wedding party tables, she totally killed it!”

// The Tambourine

Family friends from Mara’s childhood let loose on the dance floor with their own stash of musical instruments — everything from maracas to cowbells and a special tambourine, which they even signed for the newlyweds. “It was a big surprise,” Mara says. But it’s also tradition: whenever that crew gets together, she says, musical instruments are sure to make an appearance.

// The Details

GOWN: Wren Bridal // HAIR: Brushed Beauty // MAKEUP: Relevé Beauty // CATERING: Ken's Creative Kitchen // DESSERTS: Little Village Bakery // FLOWERS: Bride's mom // MUSIC: Mixing Maryland // RENTALS: Eastern Shore Tents & Events // VENUE: Brittland Manor