Kate Fine Art Photography
Hayley Dunn + William Simpson
The Chesapeake Bay Beach Club | Kate Fine Art Photography
WEDDING DATE: August 6, 2022
NUMBER OF GUESTS: 90
FAVE FOOD: The tater tot station
SOMETHING BORROWED: Her mom’s wedding shoes
MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER
From the moment Hayley met Will, on a blind double-date with their friend Kasey and her husband, she knew she wasn’t going to stop laughing. “He just has an aura that makes you burst into a smile,” she says. Will felt the connection, too, and remembers being struck by Hayley’s kind spirit and intelligence. “She has the innate ability of bringing the best out of every person she is around,” he says.
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Will and Hayley wrote their own vows and had loved ones read a poem by Emily Brontë and a passage from Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics on love and friendship.
SEASIDE ELEGANCE
The couple toured several venues, but the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club outshone them all. “The combination of seaside elegance, expansive spaces, and expert staff was just what we were looking for,” Hayley says. The Beach Club’s in-house catering and indoor options were selling points, too. Although the Simpsons planned to have an outdoor ceremony, they sought a venue that could easily pivot in case of rain.
Kate Fine Art Photography
Kate Fine Art Photography
THE LETTER FROM HER DAD
Hayley’s dad passed away from a terminal illness almost 10 years to the day of her wedding. Prior to his death, he wrote a letter for Hayley to read on her wedding day. “I was overwhelmed with many emotions, but the two that stuck out were grief and gratitude,” Hayley reflects. “Grief that my dad couldn’t physically be there and that I couldn’t hug him, but immense gratitude that my dad had taken some of the brief time that he had left to write me that letter. I will cherish it for the rest of my life.”
ON THE FAST TRACK
Hayley was adamant that she was not going to try on and buy her wedding dress in one day. “I am the type of person that likes to mull over a big decision for a few days to weigh the pros and cons,” she says. But when she spotted her gown at Bridals by Elena, she threw all logic out the door. “The train is what swept me away; I knew then and there that there would be no waiting a few days…I had found the one!”
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The week of their wedding, Hayley and Will’s officiant got COVID. They were devastated that their family friend couldn’t be a part of their day, but were grateful that a previously licensed groomsmen was able to step in and perform the ceremony.
A SWEET RIDE
The Simpsons hired a vintage car to shuttle them from their first look at a private home in Annapolis to their ceremony in Stevensville. “Both of our parents had beautiful photos taken from [their drive to their reception,] so we wanted to recreate that [moment] to the extent possible,” Hayley explains. “An incredible benefit of the car ride was that we finally got a moment alone together before the ceremony,” Hayley adds.
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NOT BY THE BOOK
When they met, one of the first things Hayley and Will bonded over was their love of reading — which served as the inspiration behind the stunning book arch the pair created for their nuptials. Shelves on each side of the arch displayed photographs of family members who had passed away, including Will’s brother and Hayley’s dad. “Having a few pictures of him by my side was particularly meaningful,” Hayley says of her dad. “When we buy our first home, we plan to put our book arbor (we weather-proofed it!) into a garden, so that we can always have a piece of our special day with us.”
THE DETAILS
Bride’s gown: Allure (designer) + Bridals by Elena (shop) Beauty: Behind the Veil Beauty (hair) + Makeup by Jacs (makeup) Cake: Sweethearts Patisserie Entertainment: Bachelor Boys Band Florist: Willow Oak Flower & Herb Farm Groom’s attire: Capital Custom Clothiers Lanterns: 27 Studios Photography: Kate Fine Art Photography Planning: 2 Hands Studios Rentals: Pretty Little Wedding Co. Rings: Annapolis Jewelers Transportation: Thoroughbred Limousine Venue: Chesapeake Bay Beach Club Videography: Michael Lentz Vintage Car: Vintage Limos
