Sage and Grey Loveliness At the Oaks Waterfront Inn

by

The couple: Sarah Holland & Andrew Chilcoat

Wedding date: June 1, 2019

Number of guests: 175

Favors: Custom playing cards

// How They Met

When Andrew Chilcoat first spotted Sarah Holland at an Ocean City watering hole, he knew exactly what he needed to do. Nursing an Orange Crush, Andrew rolled up to Sarah’s crew and delivered the most effective pick-up line he knew: “What are you doing?” Her puzzled look was irrelevant: an excuse to speak again. “What’s your name?” Andrew asked. “Do you want to dance?" After a few twirls, he proposed they find a quiet place to chat; in the most romantic of developments, they caught a bus to Sarah’s parents’ house, where a swinging chair beckoned. They talked for hours, until a harsh whisper incited panic. Sarah’s mother was on the move. Andrew started to flee, but fortunately Sarah stopped him. “Don’t you want my number?” she asked. Second date secured.

// How He Asked

Sarah and Andrew’s relationship was going five years strong when they set out for a two-week vacation in South Africa. At the end of the trip, as the couple scrambled to the top of Cape Town’s Table Mountain, Andrew kept asking a tired Sarah “What do you think?” and she wasn’t having it. “Stop asking me that!” she cried out in frustration, which prompted Andrew to grab her hand. “Can I ask you something else?” he retorted. A second later, Andrew was on one knee, asking a very good question (finally!)

// Ring Mishaps

Because they were traveling in a foreign country, Andrew needed a secure place to keep the ring, which led to a few near-mishaps. For most of the trip, his fail-safe spot was his sunglasses case. One day, while relaxing at the beach, Sarah moved the case to a second bag without telling her beau, who nearly had a heart attack when he thought it was missing. Another close call happened at the airport, when Andrew was stopped by TSA. He frantically directed Sarah to go on without him, certain the agent was about to mention the ring. Turns out the TSA agent just needed Andrew to dump out the water in his Nalgene!

// Choosing The Venue

Sarah knew she wanted her wedding to take place near the water and she liked the idea of getting married just a few miles from where she was born in Easton. The Oaks Waterfront Inn became the couple’s top pick after they visited the venue and discovered its beautiful views - the reception space has floor-to-ceiling windows - and amazing food. 

// The Aesthetic

Sarah’s favorite detail was her ceremony aisle, which was adorned with white rose petals, ferns and a hand-painted mirror that said “No sides, just good vibes.” “I wanted to keep the look very natural and romantic,” she says. In the reception room, she added greenery wreaths to the chandeliers to draw attention to the ceiling.

// Dress Shopping

Sarah picked out purple rose bouquets for her bridesmaids, who wore grey and sage. “I gave my bridesmaids a lot of freedom for their dresses,” she says, “and they did not disappoint!” She found her own dress at Garnish Boutique in Towson. “I hadn’t actually heard of Hayley Paige before finding my dress, but since then I have fallen in love with all her gowns,” she says. “It was the perfect silhouette, so comfortable, and I loved the little detail of the butterfly on the back.”

// The Temporary Tattoo

On the hunt for unique details, Sarah spent a lot of time browsing Etsy, which is where she found a shop that converts photos into temporary tattoos. She stashed a bunch in the bathroom baskets and before she knew it, her guests were walking around with her and Andrew’s faces tattooed to them. “They were a great way for everyone to see our hashtag, #netflixandchilcoat,” she says. “I only wish I had bought more!”

// The Details

Bride’s gown: Hayley Paige (designer), Garnish Boutique (shop)

Bride’s hair & makeup: Vintage Veils

Bride’s jewelry: Olive + Piper

Bride’s shoes: Kelly & Katie

Engagement Ring: Tacori

Florals: Seasonal Flowers

Men’s attire: Jos A. Banks and Knotty Tie Co.

Invitations: mlc Designs

Music: Forest Hill Band (East Coast Entertainment)

Officiant: Bonnie Scott (Beginnings & Ends)

Photographer: Andreea Russo Photography

Planner: RCC Weddings & Events

Rings: W.R. Chance Jewelers

Signs: @lynny_c

Tattoos: StylinTats via Etsy

Venue: The Oaks Waterfront Inn

Videographer: KJR Studio