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The Couple. Ashley, an HR Specialist, and Kyle, president of CareFlex, met through mutual friends years before they ever began dating. The two mutually determined they’d found “the one,” when they realized that they could talk for hours about anything, and that they shared the same love for life and family. “We are the same person in so many ways,” Ashley says. “One date and we have been inseparable ever since.” The two decided to get married on August 16th—also the date of the 45th wedding anniversary of Ashley’s parents.
The Venue. The Tidewater Inn in Easton was exactly what they’d been looking for, affording them the option to hold all of the day’s events in one central location—with different spaces for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. “The Tidewater spoke to us at first sight, it was such a cool intimate location,” Ashley says. “And we loved that our guests could make a weekend out of it!” Looking back, they agree it was the best decision for the day. “It made everything so enjoyable not to have to rush around,” Ashley says. “It gave everyone time to enjoy the moment and not have to think too much about timelines. The staff took care of everything. It was just the way we pictured—perfect!”r
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The Fashion. The idesmaids each donned Amsale blush floor length chiffon gowns, while the groom and his men sported black Vera Wang tuxedos with bowties. The ide chose Pronovias’ Duende gown: a lace and tulle fit-and-flare silhouette with a sweetheart neckline and feather details. “After much deliberation, I knew it was the one,” Ashley says. “It had everything I was looking for—the perfect mix of tradition, couture, and fun!”
The Ceremony. After skipping a first look with Kyle, but opting for one with her father—utilizing a beautiful spiral stairway at the Inn—Ashley married Kyle in front of 185 guests in the ballroom. “Our ceremony was so beautiful,” Ashley recalls. The windows along one side of the room allowed natural light to pour in from the courtyard. “It gave us the feel of the outside, indoors.” In the ballroom, fresh flowers and candlelight were everywhere, and the glass chandeliers offered an elegant look. The ide walked down the aisle to an acoustic guitar playing Train’s “Marry Me.”
The Decor. Ashley and Kyle chose blush and gold for the color scheme—and implemented it, “everywhere.” In addition to the soft palate, the floral arrangements—which included five-foot pedestals, candela as, and compotes—also incorporated ight, fresh greenery. Along each table was a champagne sequin runner, and both the cake table and the couple’s sweetheart table were draped with full length champagne sequin linens. Each place setting included a cold charger, and mercury votives filled the tables with candlelight. The affair also include personalized napkins and koozies, moss letter initials, and a personalized wedding sign for the ceremony.r
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The Cocktail Hour. Following the ceremony in The Crystal Ballroom, guests moved into the Gold Room Garden, a covered outdoor ick pavilion, for cocktail hour. Signature cocktails included strawberry mojitos, and a Maker’s Mark cocktail aptly named “Make Her Happy.” While an acoustic guitarist played in the background, guests snacked on garden vegetables, gourmet cheeses and rustic eads, edamame pot stickers with Asian Plum dipping sauce, blackened tenderloin on goat cheese crostinis with smoked tomato aioli, and tempura crab claws with Sriracha mayonnaise. Passed hors d’oeuvres included shrimp cocktail with house-made cocktail sauce, and macaroni and cheese with crab, ham, bacon, and tomatoes.
The Dessert. In addition to a three-tiered cake of vanilla and chocolate cake with ganache filling, and vanilla lemon cake with raspberry filling, Ashley and Kyle also served glazed and coconut covered donuts made by Carlson’s Donuts in Annapolis.
The Happily Ever After. Following the wedding, Ashley and Kyle went on a 12-night European cruise of the Mediterranean that included stops in Barcelona, Spain; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Florence, Venice, Rome, and Capri, Italy; Santorini and Athens, Greece; Kusadasi, Turkey; and Kotor, Montenegro. Since returning home to Edgewater, Maryland, the two say they are just taking it all in, enjoying each other, and being newlyweds.
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First Dance:
“Crazy Love,” Michael Buble
Father/daughter Dance:
“Because You Loved Me,” Celine Dion
Florist:
Monteray Farms, Amy Wilkins, Trappe
DJ/Band:
Crow Entertainment, CJ Curtis, North Beach
Caterer:
The Tidewater Inn, Easton
Cake/desserts:
Cakes by Melinda, Easton
Dress:
Pronovias, Betsy Robinson's Bridal, Pikesville
Bride's shoes:
Betsy Johnson
Bridesmaid dresses:
Amsale, Betsy Robinson's Bridal, Pikesville
Men's attire:
Vera Wang, Men's Wearhouse
Bride's jewelry:
Nadri, Nordstrom
Engagement ring:
Quest Jewelers, Fairfax
Wedding bands:
His/Smyth Jewelers of Annapolis,
hers/Little Treasury Jewelers in Gam ills
Stationer:
Minted
Calligrapher:
Allison Hennen ( ide's sister)
Favors:
A donation in the memory of loved ones.
Videographer:
Mesmeric Films, Huntingtown
Photographer:
Justin & Mary Marantz,
New Haven, Connecticut
Rentals:
Mrs. Freund & Co. and Rentals to Remember, Annapolis
Hair/makeup:
Behind The Veil, Severna Park
Acoustic Guitarist & Singer:
Taylor Carson
