A Winter Wonderland Wedding at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club

Real Weddings

The couple: Elizabeth Morgan O’Brien & Kevin Ginn

Wedding date: December 29, 2018

Number of attendees: 86

Favor: Ginger snap cookies — the groom’s idea!

// Red's Hot Romance

On Independence Day weekend, Elizabeth O’Brien and her best friend Eli went out to a San Diego bar called Red’s, where they ran into some Naval Academy grads that Eli knew. Elizabeth started talking with a “handsome, sweet, and very polite” guy, but their conversation was cut short after only ten minutes; the Uber had arrived. The entire ride home, Elizabeth peppered her friend with questions. Who was that guy? Through some savvy networking, she procured Kevin’s number and sent the first text. “It sounds crazy, but I just wanted to thank him for being so kind,” she says. Two days later, they went on their first date.

// She Said Yes A Thousand Times

Elizabeth was preparing for a 5-month deployment aboard the USS Coronado, when she learned she would be able to meet up with Kevin halfway through in Hawaii, where her ship was scheduled for a month of maintenance. To make their limited time special, they booked a stay at the Turtle Bay Resort. “As the sun set over the northern part of the island, I told Kevin I couldn’t have asked for a better end to our vacation,” Elizabeth says. “He got off the bench, turned to me, and said, ‘I know one thing that could make it better. Will you marry me?’ I must have said yes a thousand times!”

// SOS!

Elizabeth started planning her wedding while deployed on the USS Coronado, but she called in a professional planner, her friend Elaina Anthony, when she realized she couldn’t balance work and romance.

// Take Me To Church

Elizabeth decided she wanted to get married at St. Mary’s Church when she was just 7 years old — after she watched her older sister Chrissie say “I do” there. One of the added benefits of having the ceremony at the Catholic church during the Christmas season? “We didn’t have to decorate,” Elizabeth says. “St. Mary’s adorns the altar every year with poinsettias.”

// Venue Shopping

Because she was planning a wedding from afar, Elizabeth tasked her mom Michelle with touring venues. “Chesapeake Bay Beach Club was the first one we talked about… and truly the one,” Elizabeth says. When she moved to the East Coast and saw the Stevensville spot for herself, Elizabeth fell in love with the Tavern Room. “The open floor plan, the suite above the ballroom to relax, and the inn were all so elegant,” she adds. “You didn’t need much to make the venue romantic.”

// Maryland Munchies

For their cocktail hour, Elizabeth and Kevin dreamed up a classic Maryland beer and food pairing: Natty Boh with Mini Crab Cakes and Chesapeake Chicken Wings. Alongside their cake, they indulged guests in cinnamon sugar ‘Sand Dune’ and pumpkin spice donuts from Sandy Pony. But our favorite food move was their late night snack: Boardwalk-style French fries, topped with Old Bay, to keep the party going long after they left.

//cSatin Send-Off

In lieu of sparklers, guests waved the happy couple off with wedding wands affixed with bells and satin streamers. 

// The Details

Bride’s gown: Essense of Australia (designer), Wren Bridal (shop) / Bride’s hair: Ashley Leader / Bride’s makeup: Makeup by Farren / Cake: Main & Market / Ceremony venue: St. Mary’s Annapolis / Donuts: Sandy Pony Donuts / DJ: Mixing Maryland / Florist: Ann’s Garden / Photographer: Christa Rae Photography /  Planner: E. Anthony Weddings & Events / Reception venue: Chesapeake Bay Beach Club / Reception venue coordinator: Samantha Rutherford / Transportation: Chesapeake Charter /