April 8, 2017 // Chesapeake Bay Beach Club // Kira Nicole Photography
The Beginning
Ali was bound to meet Jon. Her father met him years prior to their introduction when playing in a basketball league together in Annapolis. Later, Jon went to college and played basketball with her other. They met when she visited college to see her other play games. It wasn’t until years later, after she was finished college and moved back to Annapolis, that they began dating.
The Venue
Having grown up in the area, the couple knew they wanted to do something local and on the water. Within five minutes of being inside Chesapeake Bay Beach Club, they knew it was the right venue. “Having been to weddings there, we knew that the food was amazing, but what really sold us on the venue were the gorgeous views and the incredibly professional staff there,” the couple shares.
The Rehearsal
The couple hosted their rehearsal dinner at Knoxies, the restaurant inside The Inn at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club. It was the perfect, intimate setting for their wedding party to be held.
The Dress
Ali had a private appointment at Wren Bridal where she walked around the store with her mom and sister-in-law as they picked out dresses with the shop’s owner. She tried on a little bit of everything and began to figure out what “theme” she wanted for a dress. She landed on a “romantic and whimsical” dress that couldn’t have captured her vision better.
The Vibe
Ali describes the theme of their wedding as “a whimsical garden on the bay.” They had the Sunset Ballroom at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club transformed into a beautiful garden overlooking the water.
The Ceremony
Their favorite moment of the day was standing at the altar surrounded by our friends and family, listening to the message given by their pastor. “We spent a lot of time with him and his wife during our engagement,” Ali shares. “We loved hearing the message he had to share with us on that day. The whole day, from the time I woke up to the sparkler exit, seemed like a whirlwind. Time seemed to slow down and I remember vividly the feeling as I stood beside Jon at the altar as we made our commitments to one another. It was an amazing moment.”
The Honeymoon
Two days after their wedding, Ali and Jon flew to Maui. They recommend taking your honeymoon soon after your wedding. “Give yourself some time to recover and relax after your wedding!”
Their Best Advice
Ali recommends figuring out what is most important to you as a couple for your wedding day. “Whether it is having a band, or getting married outside, or having a videographer. Decide what is most important to you and focus on those things. It is very easy to get overwhelmed by the pressures that planning a wedding can put on you as a couple, especially given the Pinterest, Etsy, and social media world we live in. Remember that it is about you as a couple, and not about anyone else. As long as you keep that in mind, planning will be a lot of fun and seeing your plans come to life on the day of wedding will literally be a dream come true!”
The Details:
Florist: Blom | Floral Band: Chesapeake Strings (ceremony) | DJ: Jamology (DJ Bill Izer) | Caterer: Chesapeake Bay Beach Club | Bridal gown store: Wren Bridal Gown designer: Essense of Australia | Bride’s hair and makeup: Vintage Veils | Engagement rings store: Cezanne Jewelers | Bride’s other jewelry store: Crystal Avenue | Bride’s shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaid dresses stores and designers: various | Men’s attire store: Combatant Gentleman | Stationer: Minted Favors/ Gifts: Babas personalized cookies, personalized golf tees, coozies (Coed Culture), chapsticks (the Knot) | Videographer: Just Hitched Wedding Films Photobooth: Pixilated, LLC | Wedding hashtag: #aliOopToGarritt | Registry: Macy’s & Pottery Barn | Transportation: Shore Motorcoach | Table Rental: Something Vintage
