Summer of Love
It was the quintessential beach romance: Micheline, who hails from Cape May County, New Jersey, was working at the Windrift Resort and Hotel in Avalon, New Jersey, as a waitress. Ryan, vacationing at his family’s nearby beach house, was a barback. “Our first date was dinner at a restaurant in Stone Harbor called Sole,” Micheline shares. “We ate and talked until we were the last ones in the restaurant.”
The Best Christmas Present Ever
This past December, Ryan and Micheline were decorating their Christmas tree when Micheline unwrapped an unusual ornament: “It had a picture of a man on one knee with a box and a woman surprised,” says Micheline. Also, the words, “Marry Me,” to which Micheline obviously said yes!
A Mini Destination Wedding
“We wanted to give our guests a taste of how beautiful the Eastern Shore is,” says Micheline. They knew St. Michaels would be the perfect setting and after touring The Oaks Waterfront Inn, they knew they had their perfect spot. “We loved that we could have the whole venue to ourselves for the weekend and that they provided all the food, beverage, setup, and coordination that we needed,” explains Micheline.
Their Ceremony Blessing
As part of their vows, Micheline and Ryan asked their officiant to read “The Blessing of the Hands.” “We loved this reading because it allowed us to look into each other’s eyes and remind ourselves of the commitment to be each other’s biggest supporters as we walk through life together,” Micheline says.
The DIY Decor
One of the couple’s favorite details of their day was their wine bottle table assignments display, which Micheline discovered on Pinterest. They also personalized their reception with cocktail napkins embossed with fun facts about their relationship. “It actually turned into a small scavenger hunt as our guests [raced] to get all four facts,” Micheline says.
That Village People Moment
“A family tradition of mine is to perform the YMCA,” Micheline says. “Me and my husband, my brother, our matron of honor, and best man all stood on chairs in the front of the room, put on Village People hats, and danced. It was such a fun part of our reception.”
Her Sparkly Dress Change
For their afterparty at a local bar, Micheline wanted to wear something fun and glitzy. “I found the perfect dress on Rent the Runway,” she says. “I changed right before our last dance and our photographer got the best shots of us dancing and making our sparkler exit!”
The details:
Florals: Sherwood Florist | Rentals: 2 Hands Studio | Music: DJ Jason Canaan and DJ Daryus Cash from Steve Moody’s Entertainment Connection
Caterer, cake, pastry bar: The Oaks | Calligrapher: @theletteredblonde | Bride’s attire: Jenny Yoo (gown), BHLDN (gown store), Jam Bridal Accessories via Etsy (jewelry), Jack Rogers (shoes) | Bride’s makeup: Laura Ruppel of PSS Medispa | Bride’s hair: Julianne Yapur & Jillian Becker of Parlour Beauty Boutique
Bridesmaid dresses: Calvin Klein | Menswear: The Black Tux | Rings: Janvier Jewelers
See our Ultimate Wedding Guide on page 80 for more vendor information.
