How To Pull Off An Elegant 450-Person Wedding on the Eastern Shore

Allye and Connor Toomey's huge Choptank River wedding was full of exquisite details, from a hand-hewn driftwood arch to succulent centerpieces and a confetti cannon.

// How They Met

You know when you're a kid and you meet another kid at a big holiday gathering? You're instant buddies, minimal questions asked, and you run around capturing lightning bugs and sneaking globs of frosting off cake and you might not ever see each other again but the moment is magic all the same? That's a little bit like the story of Allye Brown and Connor Toomey's romance. Connor's mom worked at Allye's mom's real estate office. "When we were little, we would see each other at my grandfather's Fourth of July parties," Allye explains, "but we never really knew each other until we began dating." After a few encounters the summer of 2015, the pair, then in their twenties, connected on Facebook. A few months later, Connor sent a fateful message inviting Allye out for dinner and drinks. 

// The Proposal

Right away, Connor knew he had found his wife, and he wasted no time in telling his best friend so. Allye didn't make any bold declarations that night, but she did immediately recognize that Connor was a catch: “He had everything I said I wanted in a partner and it was all so easy and natural,” she says. They got engaged in Key West, after a casual brunch with family. "We visit multiple times a year," Allye says, "so it was so cool that Connor proposed in such a special place."

// The Dress

Allye found her gown during a Hayley Paige trunk show at Jennifer's Bridal in Hockessin, Delaware. "The dress I ended up with was definitely not what I envisioned for myself, but I knew right away it was the one!" Allye says. "I loved the sparkles and how it wasn't a bright white color.”

// The Venue

The Toomeys tied the knot at Allye's family residence on the Choptank River, where her parents wed 31 years earlier. For the aesthetic, Allye drew inspiration from a picture of a blue-and-pink oyster shell. "We used natural elements like brass, copper, and the wood in the sailcloth tents to create a coastal vibe," Allye says.

// The Guest List

The couple considered planning a tiny destination wedding, but, ultimately, they were determined not to leave anyone out. "We love having a good time with all our friends, so we decided the more the merrier!" Allye says, of their 450-person guest list. Organizing such an outsize party did present a few challenges, however. To service the private residence, the Toomeys rented three tents and two bathroom trailers. Additionally, their caterer had to do a lot of work offsite and specialty items were difficult to come by. "I actually ended up buying all of the gold flatware because it was so much cheaper than renting it [in bulk]," Allye explains. Still, the celebration went off without a hitch, and Allye credits her design team, Jim Gray from City Florist (now Styled by City Florist) and Zach from Coastal Tented Events, for playing pivotal roles in the day's success.

// The Menu

As it goes, Allye hardly had a chance to sample most of their food, although she says she's still obsessing over the Chick-fil-A nuggets that were served as appetizers.

// Their Favorite Details

Connor and Allye's dad built an arch for the ceremony made from driftwood collected over the past year. Allye's favorite reception detail was the farmhouse tables, decorated with candlesticks, flowers, and succulents by J. Starr's Flower Barn. For a fun surprise, Allye's parents blasted the couple with a confetti cannon for their big entrance.

// Credits

BRIDE'S GOWN: Blush by Hayley Paige // HAIR: Wild Hearted Beauty // MAKEUP: Rebecca Ritchie // JEWELRY: Haute Bride // SHOES: Lauren Lorraine // BRIDESMAID DRESSES: Amsale (designer) Bella Bridesmaids (store) // CATERING: Just Mollye and Me // DAY OF COORDINATOR: Courtney Flaherty // DESSERTS: Mill Stream Farm // FAVORS: Old Line Custom // FLORALS: J Starr's Flower Barn // FURNITURE: Sunnyside & Co. // INVITATIONS: Wide Eyes Paper Co. // LIGHTING & DRAPES: City Florist by Styled // MEN'S ATTIRE: Berrier Limited // MUSIC: Just Kidding Around Entertainment // PHOTOGRAPHY: Cassidy MR. Photography // PHOTOBOOTH: Shore Photobooth Co. // RINGS: Lynn Stavdal // TENT & RENTALS: Coastal Tented Events // VENUE: Private residence // VIDEOGRAPHY: Perfect F.O.R.M.