Mac & Tess: Bayside Backyard Bash

Mac & Tess

Wedding Date: September 14, 2024

Number of Guests: 125

A Favorite Detail: Personalized letters for each guest

Private Residence / Andreea Russo

Birthday Barbecue Started It All

College sweethearts Mac and Tess met at the University of Maryland, College Park. They had a class together, and just clicked. Over the next year, their friendship grew into more, culminating in an official date on Mac’s birthday. “We went to get barbecue to celebrate (terrible choice for a first date),” Tess remembers. “But it was his pick since it was his birthday.” Tess ended up paying because she felt bad about making Mac pay on his birthday.

Married at Home

Getting married at her family home had always been a dream for Tess. The waterfront property served as the perfect backdrop for their timeless modern day. “I’ve always envisioned this day in so many different [color] schemes over the years, but ultimately landed on a very neutral, simple, and timeless color palette.” The sun setting over the Chesapeake Bay was the perfect backdrop for the simple color scheme.

The Dress Was a Pleasant Surprise

Tess had gone into dress shopping thinking she wanted a simple design with no beading or lace but still had some wow factor. The one she ultimately ended up selecting came as a surprise to her. “I probably tried on 75 dresses,” Tess remembers. “And finally after exhausting every plain dress in a small bridal shop in Georgia, I tried on [one with] a beaded and lace bodice.” Stunned at how she felt in the dress, no other she tried on after compared.

Heart is Where the Home Is

The wedding’s Kent Island location inspired some of the day’s details. Cocktail napkins featured an outline of the island with a heart where their home is located and decoupage oyster shell ornaments featured the same design. The bridesmaids, who were all from Maryland, wore permanent bracelets with little gold crabs on them. Rather than traditional coolers, a beverage boat kept the canned drinks cold. And the most unique Maryland tie-in? A professional oyster shucker behind the raw bar.

Bringing the Party

Mac’s job was to bring the party to the reception and all would agree he succeeded. He hired a live band and had a checkerboard dance floor to get all the guests grooving. “The band/DJ, they were hybrid, and such a vibe. They had the dance floor going to 12 AM, even during their breakdown.” Mac also booked a light show, a disco ball, and a confetti cannon that shot out biodegradable confetti.

The Love That Built Ours

Being married 67 years, Tess’s grandparents had always been an inspiration in love. As a way to incorporate them into the ceremony, her grandparents passed down their wedding rings during the presentation of the rings. “[T]he entire event was sobbing,” Tess says, “I could barely breathe.” They also honored her grandparents’ love story with their cake topper, which Tess’s mom refurbished, and a photo of her grandparents cutting their cake by Tess and Mac’s wedding cake.

Details

Band/Entertainment: JD Cichocki Florist: Avery Newman Makeup: Kaytee Spanoghe Hair Stylist: Paige Clifton Cake: Abby Robson  Caterer: Chesapeake Chef Service Photographer: Andreea Russo  Videography: Jerry Adams Planning: Renee Wolf  Pro Shucker: Steve Curran Dress: Wedding Angels, shop