Carly Fuller Photography
SO THIS IS BILL ECKARD...
In the summer of 2016, Lauren Poston was living in D.C. when her best friend’s younger brother, Jason, started goading her about a certain someone. Jason had met Bill Eckard at a tradeshow in Baltimore several years prior and was convinced he was the guy for Lauren, who had grown up three doors down from him and was like a sister. Only Lauren wasn’t having it. But one night, after a nonstop series of hammer texts and phone calls, Lauren finally acquiesced, agreeing to meet Jason and his work colleagues that same evening at a trendy D.C. restaurant. Her only caveat was she was not dressing up or putting on makeup. “So this is Bill Eckard,” Lauren remembers thinking, upon showing up. “He was handsome, sweet, funny,” she says. They went to Stone Tower Winery, in Leesburg, Virginia, for their first date.
A MAGICAL DESTINATION
Lauren always wanted to get married on the Eastern Shore. Her parents own a condo in Cambridge, and her family has vacationed there for years. “There is something about it that’s just magical,” she says. “I wanted our guests to fall in love with it like I did.” She selected the Tidewater Inn for its charm and warmth. “Not only is it historic and beautiful,” she explains, “but the staff there is incredibly kind and accommodating and the food is outstanding.”
A MIDSUMMER’S NIGHT INTRIGUE
Sarah Campbell of Intrigue Designs transformed the Tidewater Inn’s Gold Ballroom into a page out of A Midsummer’s Night Dream. “Walking into the room, I was awestruck,” Lauren says, “speechless at the beauty of it all and the love, care, and attention that went into every detail by Sarah: from the flowers, to the linens, to the twig silverware at the head table that was so whimsical it looked like it could come alive at any moment and start dancing.”
EARL GREY ALL DAY
Lauren and Bill’s macaroon-adorned cake had two flavors: lavender with lemon filling and pink champagne with raspberry filling, both covered in an Earl Grey buttercream frosting. They also served bride and groom cake pops in salted caramel and lemon.
POLISH-PALOOZA
To honor her family’s Polish heritage, Lauren asked the Doug Segree Band to play a few polkas. She also included a pierogi bar as part of her cocktail hour. The next day, the party continued at St. Michaels Crab and Steak House, where Lauren and Bill hosted a crab feast on the water. In the Polish tradition, this is called the poprawiny, or follow-up reception.
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DETAILS
Bride's attire: Blush by Hayley Paige (designer), Badgley Mischka (shoes), Ti Adoro (earrings), Thomas Knoell (halo hair piece) / Bride's hair: Hair By Seven / Bride's makeup: Glenda VanLandingham / Bridesmaid dresses: Jenny Yoo (designer), Love Couture Bridal (store) / Ceremony venue: Trinity Cathedral / Desserts: Honey Hive Bakery / Florals and styling: Intrigue Designs / Menswear: Calvin Klein (designer), Men's Wearhouse (store) / Music: Bay Strings and Doug Segree Band / Photography: Carly Fuller Photography / Rentals: White Glove Rentals / Rings: Liori Diamonds (bride), John Christian (groom) / Transportation: An Extraordinary Limousine
