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The Couple. Lauren and Andrew, who live in Hatboro, Pennsylvania but spend most of their free time in Annapolis, Maryland, met freshman year at Randolph Macon College in orientation class. In October 2008, they’d started dating, and nearly four years later, Andrew popped the question. “Andrew proposed to me the same day he accepted a job offer a Penn Mutual,” Lauren recalls. “We decided to go for a walk to my neighborhood marina. I was crabbing on the docks and Andrew called me over, kneeled down on one knee, and proposed while everyone at our neighborhood pool watched.”
The Fashion. The ide and groom opted for classic black and white attire, starting with black tuxedos, black vests, and black ties for the seven groomsmen. For the groom, a black tux with an ivory tie and vest. The seven idesmaids donned short black lace dresses, with a notch detail and a sweetheart neckline. The ladies paired their dresses with nude pumps and pearl necklaces, finished with earrings that were gifted to each of them by the ide’s family.
The Bride's Ensemble. The ide’s dress—an ivory princess cut satin ball gown with a sweetheart neckline—came from Alfred Angelo’s Disney Fairy Tale collection. “I was very open to trying on different dresses,” Lauren says. “I finally decided on a ball gown because I knew I would never get another opportunity to wear one. I wanted something tasteful, but that also stood out.” The torso featured lace, crystal, beading, sequins, and pearl embellishments, with metallic accents. Lauren completed the look with a two-tiered mid-length veil with Swarovski crystals, a Swarovski crystal headband, a pearl necklace, and her mother’s diamond stud earrings. At the ceremony, she wore white satin pumps, and at the reception, silver monogrammed Jack Rogers sandals. For a splash of color, she carried illiant Sarah Bernhardt peonies, hand-tied with antique ivory ribbon.r
The Ceremony. Lauren and Andrew were married in front of 200 guests, but first, the Cantor performed a pre-wedding ketubah—a traditional Jewish contract signing ceremony that, Lauren says, reflects the ide and groom’s commitment to love, protect, honor, and support each other—in a private room at the Loews, with the ide and groom’s parents, and idesmaids. Both of Lauren parents walked her down the aisle, where they met Andrew and both of his parents. “All four of our parents were under the chuppah, a wedding canopy symbolizing the home we will build together and share as husband and wife,” Lauren says. “The four sides were open, just as our home with always be open to family and friends.” Per tradition, Lauren circled Andrew seven times, symbolizing the creation of an invisible wall around the groom, to protect him from evil spirits and from the temptations of the world. “It also has been seen as the symbolic transfer of the ide from her father’s house to her husband’s house,” Lauren explains.
The Reception. The cele ation began with a cocktail hour in the atrium that featured passed hors d’oeuvres and a signature drink, a raspberry mojito. The decor featured a monochromatic color scheme of black, white, and silver with a touch of pink. To enhance the space, the couple opted for blush uplighting, complemented perfectly by three different floral arrangements rotated around the space: a tall vase with white hydrangeas, roses, and snapdragons; a short cube of white hydrangeas and pink roses; and a trio of cylinders with pink tulips in water with floating candles on top.
The Decisions. “The best thing I did was hire Brian Morrison, the videographer. He was amazing. I didn’t think I needed a videographer, but Julie from Little House of Flowers showed us what he did for her daughter’s wedding, and I fell in love instantly. The eight-minute video captured the emotions and events of the day beautifully. Also, Eric and Tony from Tony J Photography outdid themselves by obtaining every possible shot. I hired the best vendors—absolutely no disappointments.”
The Ever After. Following the wedding, Lauren and Andrew jetted off to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, where they stayed at the Majestic Colonial for eight days filled with great meals, snorkeling, and dancing. Now, they are enjoying married life and traveling almost every week. Eventually, they hope to expand their family to include four children.r
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First Dance:
“God Gave Me You,” Blake Shelton
Florist:
Julie Upchurch from Little House of Flowers
DJ/Band:
Chris Temple, C&J Entertainment
Caterer:
Loews Annapolis Hotel
Cake/desserts:
Caroline's Cakes
Dress (designer and store):
Alfred Angelo
Bridesmaid dresses (designer and store):
J. Crew
Men's attire (designer and store):
Joseph A. Bank
Jewelry:
Smyth Jewelers, Annapolis
Stationer:
Wedding Divas
Calligrapher:
Anne Mackechnie
Favors:
Lilly Pulitzer purses ( idesmaids), flasks from Smyth Jewelers (groomsmen), cookies from Weinrich Gourmet Bakery (guests)
Videographer:
Brian Morrison of Wood Room Cinema
Photographer:
Tony J Photography
Photobooth:
Smith Landing Photo Booth
Rentals:
Perkins (chuppah and ballroom lighting)
Hair/makeup:
Sherry Hoover of Body Wellness Salon and Spa/hair; Amber Kwong of Makeup Memories/makeup
Transportation:
Annapolis Trolley
