Brittney Raine Photography
Leah Sheppard + Kevin Stetson
Private Residence | Brittney Raine Photography
WEDDING DATE: June 10, 2023
NUMBER OF GUESTS: 190
FAVE DECOR ITEM: Their custom signage + disco balls
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF ATTRACTION
Leah and Kevin go way back — all the way to their high school psychology class. But they didn’t start dating then, nor in the four years when they both attended Penn State. They didn’t start dating until eight years after they met, when they ran into each other at a Washington, D.C., bar and latent sparks were flying.
A NORMAL SUMMER WEEKEND
Some of the couple’s best memories have been at Rock Hall, a town the groom’s family has loved for generations, so it was an easy decision to center their celebration there. “Our goal was to host a normal summer weekend with a couple more guests than usual,” Leah jokes. The vibe was casual, breezy, and colorful, with a color scheme modeled after the Rock Hall sunset.
Brittney Raine Photography
Leah and Kevin commissioned local artist Driftwood Salvage and Repurpose to create their chuppah with materials sourced from the property.
HERE COMES THE SUN
Leah wore a geo-floral lace gown with an open back and square neckline, which she found at Lovely Bride’s Philadelphia boutique. She accessorized her look with a sunshine pendant belonging to her grandmother.
GRANDMA’S FRUIT TART
Leah wanted their wedding to feel personable, even in the smallest details. To foster a sense of togetherness among unacquainted guests, dinner was served family-style. Penn State creamery ice cream was on deck, as well as fruit tarts, prepared according to Kevin’s grandmother’s famous recipe. Leah also thought about guests’ outdoor experience, with sunscreen, bug spray, fans, and heel protectors on hand to ensure guests stayed comfortable.
Brittney Raine Photography
Leah’s Aunt Susie officiated the ceremony using the same script that Leah’s parents got married to. “Susie’s humor left us feeling relaxed and [like we were] just enjoying another day with family and friends,” Kevin says.
EXTRA TIME WITH MOM
Three key vendors played standout roles in bringing Leah and Kevin’s vision to life: Rachel Kendall Events, Delmarva Craft, and Leah’s own mother. Even though wedding planning was demanding (“like a second full-time job at times”), Leah “really valued the extra time she got to spend with her mom,” she says. Rachel Cumberland was “spectacular” and had “incredible organization” and Delmarva Craft went above and beyond, providing transportation from more than 20 hotels and rental houses, as well as capturing drone footage of the event.
Brittney Raine Photography
THE LOGISTICAL MIRACLE
In hindsight, Leah and Kevin said they underestimated how much work it would take to “build” a backyard venue. “It took a ton of vision and expertise from our wedding planner,” Leah says. “Rachel had an incredible eye for design and made sure that the added decor complimented the property for everything from the florals to the forks.” One of the rentals that proved crucial was full flooring under the reception tent. “Although it was a splurge, it protected the lawn and made it much easier for people to move around and dance through the entire reception space,” Leah says.
Brittney Raine Photography
THE DETAILS
Bride’s gown: Lovers Society (designer) + Lovely Bride (shop) Bride’s hair + makeup: Behind the Veil Beauty Catering: Creative Cuisine Chuppah: Driftwood Salvage & Repurpose Dessert: Peony & Meringue Florist: Wildly Native Flower Farm Music: Glass Tops (Watershed Entertainment) Paper goods: Madeline LaRosa Designs Photography: Brittney Raine Photography Planning + design: Rachel Kendall Events Rentals: Honeywood Rentals + Eastern Shore Tents Transportation: Delmarva Craft
