Sarah Murray Photography
The couple had a custom metal brand depicting Wallace to stamp on tennis balls for favors. “Since Wally plays such a huge role in our lives, we wanted to give the other pet parents a wedding favor for their own dogs.”
Tommy & Jackie
Gibson Island Club | Sarah Murray Photography
Wedding Date: April 26, 2025; Number of Guests: 120; VIP Guest: Callan, the Ring Bearer
Sarah Murray Photography
Fated From Second Grade
It started on a basketball court back in elementary school. During a youth championship basketball game, Jackie sat in the stands cheering on her best friend Brian. Tommy was Brian’s scrappy teammate who fouled out of the game. “Classic foreshadowing of his overenthusiastic spirit.” Though the team won that day, it wasn’t until high school when mutual friends finally introduced Jackie and Tommy. “It was an instant spark, but also a full-circle moment,” Jackie says. “It took us years to realize we both knew Brian and that we both were at that basketball game.”
Their first date to see a movie, similarly, involved another friend, who invited himself along. Luckily, they were able to ditch him for a private ride home. “We listened to music, [and] got lost on the way home because we were distracted just chatting and making wrong turns,” Tommy says. As they pulled into Jackie’s parents’ driveway, the pair turned on Alan Jackson in an attempt to make a good impression of Jackie’s country music loving dad.
Sarah Murray Photography
Capturing the Coast
The pair often took their fishing boat up to Dobbin’s Island and finished the day cruising around Gibson Island. “How wonderful a wedding there must be,” they thought on these boating trips. Jackie’s mom had a friend who lived on the island and was able to sponsor them to have their wedding events at the Gibson Island Club.
“We wanted to lean into the vision that the venue naturally presents,” Jackie explains. With a color scheme of blues, greens, whites, and golds paired with natural fibers, nautical nods, and cozy lighting, they achieved their coastal wedding dreams. “We wanted our guests to feel like they stepped into a quintessential Annapolis painting complete with gorgeous waterfront views, sailboats, oysters, [and] warm sunshine.” Their golden retriever, Wallace, running across the lawn completed the reverie.
Sarah Murray Photography
Right From the Rack
Though Jackie visited quite a few bridal boutiques in Maryland and Washington, D.C., no dress she tried one was quite right. Each prompted discussions about ways to alter it to make it “feel right.” The last place she went to look was the same boutique her sister had found her dress three years earlier. “After trying on every ballgown in the store, my mom and sister veered over to the sample sale rack, bringing one last dress to try.” The dress zipped right up and needed no alterations besides a bustle and a hem. “It was everything I had been trying to create by piecing past dresses together.”
Culinary Creativity
As foodie, the meal and drinks were Jackie’s top priorities. The Gibson Island Club happily obliged her suggestions. “Basil oil to add a pop of color to the grilled vegetable Napoleon salad with fresh mozzarella? Sure. Plating the filet and sea bass sauces in a perfect yin-yang shape? Absolutely. I got to live out my inner Food Network chef dreams.” The elevated menu didn’t stop on the plate; the bar impressed too with a custom cocktail called The Dirty Dog, a nod to Wallace. “[It was] the crispiest extra dirty martini with the best hand-stuffed blue cheese olives you’ll ever have.”
Sarah Murray Photography
Jackie had heirloom jewelry reimagined to wear on her wedding day. Jackie wore a necklace with a marquis diamond from her mom’s original engagement ring.
Couldn’t Do It Without You
While Tommy emphasized that “anything that involved good taste and aesthetics” was all Jackie, they had plenty of help from friends and family. They made welcome signs, napkins, and favors together. Their friend Hannah hand-pressed all the custom koozies. Plus, Jackie’s mom threw an English garden tea party bridal shower complete with gloves, colorful hats, and floral teacups. And Tom’s mom threw a picture-perfect rehearsal dinner with embroidered napkins and personalized drink ornaments.
A Karaoke Star is Born
“One thing that defines our relationship is a love for karaoke.” Though they may not be musically inclined, Tommy and Jackie always have a duet prepared. The entire night was full of entertainment, starting with choreographed dances to ‘Boogie Shoes’ and ‘Do You Believe in Magic’ for the mother/son and father/daughter dance, respectively. Tommy and Jackie even got on stage during the party to sing ‘Mr. Brightside.’ “Pure, unfiltered joy doing one of our favorite things together and sharing it with the people we love most.”
Sarah Murray Photography
Details
Planner: Julie Park, Birch Management Venue: Gibson Island Club, Venue Coordinator, Hope Lake Photographer: Sarah Murray Videographer: Kirsten Beatley Caterer: Gibson Island Club Desserts: SugarBakers Cakes (wedding cake), El Mercat (gelato) DJ/Band: Blue Label Band Florist: Maher’s Florist Hair: Sydney Thomas, Vintage Veils Makeup Artist: Emily Seeley Officiant: Deacon Scott Lancaster Rentals: White Glove Rentals, Loane Brothers, Nuage Linens Stationery: Czar Press Bride’s Attire: Jane Hill (designer), Garnish Boutique (shop), Sheryl Kelm (seamstress) Toni Federici (veil designer), Amina Muaddi (shoes), Anthropologie (after party dress with customizations) Bridesmaid’s Attire: Jenny Yoo (shop) Groom’s Attire: Black Tux Groomsmen Attire: Black Tux Karaoke: Javier Rivera Transportation: Z Best Jewelry: Meritage Jeweler’s (rings and necklace)
