August 12, 2016 // Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa // Marlayna Photography
The Proposal
Ethan decided he wanted to propose to Amy nearly two full years before he popped the question. Amy’s older sister had recently been proposed to and he did not want to step on their toes. Like a true gentleman, Ethan waited until their wedding was over to propose. This left a lot of time for Ethan to plan the perfect proposal. He popped the question while on a gondola ride in Venice, Italy during sunset. And if that wasn’t romantic enough, he included a photo montage of all of the important places and furry friends in their lives.
The DIY Extravaganza
Two weeks before the wedding, Amy spent an entire weekend with her mom crafting items for the wedding. They made the wedding program fans, personalized signs, and centerpieces all at once. “It was just so exciting to see everything I had been planning and ‘pinteresting’ for almost a year come together,” shares Amy. “I was finally able to picture the wedding and could see that it was exactly what I was dreaming of.”
The Venue
“Ethan and I were dreaming of a destination wedding in Turks and Caicos,” shares the ide. “Once that plan was disclosed to our family, we realized that our dream wedding didn’t work for some of the people that we really wanted to have there. We found Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa was a great way to incorporate the beachy, tropical feel we were wanting for our wedding, yet we would still be able to have all of our family there.” They were able to get married barefoot in the sand with palm trees surrounding them and still have the convenience of staying at a resort with all of their friends and family. “We loved that there was a hotel on sight so anyone who wanted to stay out at the beach bar all night with us could!”
The Rehearsal Dinner
The couple was able to take the head boat at Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa, The Miss Lizzy, out on the bay to Skipper’s Pier for their rehearsal dinner. “We were able to show our guests a different perspective of the bay and had a nice sunset cruise back to the resort. It was a great way to get everyone feeling the beachy, salty vibes for the wedding the next day.”
The Wedding Gift
Instead of exchanging gifts, the couple went in on a Go Pro for scuba diving during their honeymoon.
The Speeches
Looking back, Amy and Ethan’s favorite moment of the day was when their siblings gave speeches. Amy’s sister gave her maid of honor speech followed by Ethan’s three others (all of whom were best men). “It was so fun to hear what they had to say and just hear them say how excited they were that we were all officially family now.”
The Advice
“Pick a venue that has natural beauty because there is so much of it in the Chesapeake Bay region,” shares Amy. “This cuts down on the amount of decorating you have to do and the money you have to spend to make a space beautiful.”
The Details:
Florist: Karen's of Calvert | DJ: CJ of Crow Entertainment | Caterer: Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa | Cake: Once Upon a Crumb | Bridal gown store: The Bridal Boutique | Gown designer: Essense of Australia | Bride’s makeup: Miranda Paige Beauty | Bride’s hair: Rachael Winafeld | Engagement ring store: Blue Nile | Wedding bands store: Reeds Jewelers and Columbia Jewelers | Bride’s shoes: Kate Spade | Bridesmaid dresses store: Posh by Couture | Bridesmaid dress designer: Sorella Vita | Men’s attire store: Men's Wearhouse | Videographer: Danglinn Productions | Wedding hashtag: #McGinnIt2WinIt | Registry: Macys and Bed Bath & Beyond
