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The Proposal. After five years together, Cory, a 28-year-old waterman and owner of Legg’s Landscaping, and Amanda, a 28-year-old teacher, bought a house and moved in together. About a month later, Amanda was putting groceries away, when Cory got down on one knee and pulled out a ring. Shocked, Amanda called her parents to tell them the good news, but was surprised to find out they already knew—Cory had called both her father and her mother to ask permission.
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The Venue. Cory and Amanda were married outside at the Prospect Bay Country Club, with the reception inside. Amanda says Prospect Bay was the ideal spot because it was big enough to hold all of their friends and family, and had an event planner that took care of everything. Amanda had envisioned a garden wedding, Prospect Bay’s beautifully manicured gardens fit the bill. Plus, the couple was excited to take advantage of the marina on site with sunset photos.
The Dress. Amanda, wanting a dress that reminded her of the lace dress her mother wore, chose a strapless fitted lace dress by Theia, with a sparkly embellished belt in the company of her mother, stepmother, twin sister, and grandmother in tow. The fourth one she tried on was comfortable and gave Amanda the simple and elegant feel she was looking for. To complement the dress, Amanda wore a pearl diamond necklace and the veil her stepmother wore when she married Amanda’s dad.r
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Before the Ceremony. The morning of the wedding, the ide and groom made eakfast together, and watched a movie before Amanda headed to the salon. “It was nice to relax, and just be “us” before all the hustle and bustle of the wedding stuff started,” Amanda says. Before the ceremony, the two opted for a first look, on a little idge over a pond. “It was really special to have a quiet and private moment alone before the ceremony,” Amanda says. “The photographers were able to capture our special moment beautifully, but they were far enough away that the moment felt very intimate.”
The Ceremony. Amanda and Cory were married on a picture perfect, 75-degree day surrounded by 165 guests in a short but sweet, 15-minute ceremony conducted by a long-time family friend and reverend. The best part, the couple says, is having all of their family and friends there as they said “I do.” Especially meaningful, was the small easel in the front row that held a photo of Cory’s mom, who’d passed away suddenly a few years earlier.
The Details. The ide and groom opted for a simple, classic, romantic feel for the wedding, not wanting to waste much time of things that would only be used for a few hours. “We’re an easy going couple and we really just wanted to have a huge party with all of our friends and family,” Amanda says. More than half a dozen talented friends and family contributed. Amanda’s aunt made the cake and all of the desserts; her oldest sister made the cake toppers; her twin sister made the card box; her mother designed and printed all of the stationary as well as the advice book; her stepmother made the wedding quilt that everyone signed; and a family friend did all of the flowers. Instead of the traditional father/daughter, mother/son dances, the couple instead chose to invite everyone from both families to the dance floor for Sister Sledge’s song “We Are Family.”r
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Their Favorite Moments. Hers: the first dance. “It was a shock to me because my husband has always said he doesn’t dance. The music started playing and it was like being in a Disney movie. He twirled me around and around and sang to me as if no one else was around. His: the first look. “It was special to see the woman I love as the ide that I would marry and spend the rest of my life with.”
The Advice: Stay off Pinterest. “It’s overwhelming to try to live up to everything on there,” Amanda says. “Those details don’t even matter!”
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First Dance:
“Who I am with You,” Chris Young.
Florist:
Maggie Lewis, Stevensville
DJ/Band:
Chris Hart
Caterer:
Prospect Bay
Cake/desserts:
Megan Matthews, Mt. Airy
Dress:
Theia, Lovely Bride, Washington, D.C.
Bride's Accessories:
Lovely Bride, Washington, D.C.
Bride's Shoes:
Badgley Mishka
Bridesmaid dresses:
J. Crew Georgetown
Men's attire:
Men's Wearhouse, Annapolis
Jewelry:
TNT, Chester
Photographer:
Kyle Bergner
Hair/makeup:
Swan Cove, Stevensville
Coordinator:
Monica Beasley
