November 9, 2013 // Brittland Estates, Chestertown // Erin Wheeler Photography
By Tina Byland
The Couple. Maureen and Tim were both Political Science majors at Washington College in Chestertown, and became friends while taking the same classes during junior year. They fell in love while writing their senior theses in the college’s li ary. On December 24, 2012, Tim proposed to Maureen on campus. After a short stroll in freezing rain, they walked up to the li ary, where a campus security officer was waiting to let them in. Once inside, Tim dropped down to one knee with his grandmother’s Tiffany & Co. snowflake diamond ring in hand. Right when Maureen said yes, it started to snow outside.
The Venue. Having fallen in love with and in Chestertown, it was important to the couple to share the town with their friends and family on their wedding day. They were married at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in town and then cele ated at Brittland Manor. Maureen says that choosing Brittland was the best decision they made when planning their wedding day. She says that having the entire grounds, including the River Lodge cabin, to host friends and family made the entire weekend relaxing and fun for both them and their guests.
The Dress. Maureen was going for a 1920s vintage feel and found exactly what she was looking for in a lace Maggie Sottero gown with three quarter sleeves and a satin jeweled sash. She loved the sash, which gave more definition to her waist, and also found that it was the perfect amount of detail to complete her look. Because of this, she skipped a veil and went instead with a hairpiece to complement the details of her gown.
Before the Ceremony. The idal party, consisting of their siblings and four very good friends, stayed with them on Brittland’s property the day of the wedding. The groom and groomsmen were getting ready at the River Lodge on the Brittland shoreline, while the ide and idesmaids were getting ready at the manor house the morning of the wedding. Maureen and Tim wrote one another notes while they were getting ready, and had the idal party deliver them to each other.
The Ceremony. While simple and traditional for the most part, Maureen and Tim added their own touch to the ceremony by having a string quartet play more contemporary songs. Maureen walked down the aisle to Elvis Presley’s “I Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Their recessional was “God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys.
The Details. The couple wanted to welcome their guests to a cozy, casual cocktail hour. On the steps into the house, they served two signature cocktails, Washington’s Whiskey (an Old-Fashioned, Maureen’s father’s favorite drink) and Martha’s Medley, a rustic mix of blackberry and spirits. Guests then enjoyed touring the house, grounds, and the tented patio. Inside of a clear-top tent, guests enjoyed passed hors d’oeuvres while wrapped up in jewel-toned fleece blankets displayed in crab bushel baskets. During dinner, the band played classic rock and jazz favorites. For decorations, they used hundreds of succulents, rustic flowers, silver pumpkins, and metal candle-lit lanterns, all of which played second fiddle to the natural beauty of the sun setting on the Chester River. Having a clear top tent provided a perfect view of the moonlit starry night.
The Food. They featured an entirely gluten-free menu since the ide and many in the wedding party have dietary restrictions. They served cornmeal crusted rockfish, a Maryland favorite, for dinner. For dessert, they had a three-tiered spice cake with buttercream icing. Maureen loves all things pie, so they also served an assortment of gluten-free fall pies. Guests ate multiple slices at a time!
The Happily Ever After. Married life is more joyous than they could have ever imagined. They currently live in a charming stone cottage steeped in Maureen’s family’s history in Elkton. In Fe uary 2015, they welcomed a son, the love of their lives, Peter Francis.
Florist:
Elkton Florist , Elkton, MD
DJ/Band:
Adrian Duke Project , Charlottesville, VA
Caterer:
Garden and Garnish , Trappe, MD
Dress:
Brides and Grooms , Newark, DE
Shoes:
Caparros by Macy's
Bridesmaid Dresses:
J.Crew
Men's Attire:
Pronto Uomo by Men's Wearhouse
Bride's Jewelry:
Silpada
Photographer:
Erin Wheeler Photography
Stationer:
Just Ink On Paper , Baltimore, MD
Favors:
DIY, fleece blankets
Hair/Makeup:
Heather Kane, Colour Roxx Salon , Newark, DE
Cake:
Gluten Free Bakery Girl , Easton, MD
Rentals:
Eastern Shore Tents and Events
