Atalie Day Photography
Severna Park United Methodist Church and The Westin Annapolis | Atalie Day Photography
Wedding Date: December 31, 2024
Number of Guests: 140
Best Bite: Crab-Stuffed Shrimp
From Bridal Party to Bride and Groom
A classic meeting of bridesmaid meets groomsman is the story of how Grayson and Caroline met. At a mutual friend’s wedding in Tennessee, Grayson was a groomsman and Caroline was a bridesmaid. “Our eyes met across the dance floor, and we ended up dancing the night away at the reception. We fell head over heels for each other from the minute we met.” About four weeks later, Caroline returned to Tennessee for her first in-person date with Grayson. He gave her a personal tour of Music City, where they stopped at multiple restaurants and music venues to truly get a feel for his city. “Grayson is a Southern gentleman and treated me with all the kindness and chivalry in the world.”
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“I really loved our first dance together. We took weekly ballroom dancing classes at Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Arnold.” They treated their dance lessons like a date night each week. “Getting the chance to dance together for our friends and family after all the practice was a dream.”
Sunset Strolls
Caroline spent many of her childhood vacations “down the ocean,” so of course, she had to show Grayson. Soon, it became one of their favorite spots. Grayson had moved to Maryland, and the two began having beach weekends. On one of those weekends, they took a sunset stroll on the beach. Grayson surprised her by dropping down to one knee and proposing.
A Holiday Miracle
Mid-September was when Grayson and Caroline decided to have a winter wedding. “I thought it would be fun to have a wedding on New Year’s Eve.” But the quick three-month turnaround proved to be a challenge. Finding vendors in that short of time is usually difficult, let alone for a holiday. “When I started talking to vendors, I learned that they were fully booked for 2025 and 2026. We didn’t want to wait that long to get married.” Casually, Caroline reached out to the Westin Annapolis about their schedule for New Year’s Eve and was surprised to find out they had availability.
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“My mom was my rock and was instrumental in the planning of the wedding. Every day, we would call each other, sometimes multiple times per day, with new ideas for the wedding. We had so much fun planning together.”
Rocking in a Winter Wonderland
Caroline and Grayson embraced a winter wonderland theme for their New Year’s Eve wedding. A simple color palette of snowy whites accented evergreen garlands and wood details created a wintery aesthetic. “I loved all the greenery with twinkle lights that we used to decorate the church and the Christmas trees [decorating] the reception space.” The vibrant music from the DJ had guests dancing into the New Year.
A Dress That Gives Back
It only took one trip to a bridal boutique for Caroline to find her dress. Though there were hundreds to choose from, she found “the one” pretty quickly. The A-line dress with a lace overlay, sweetheart neckline, and sheer, lacy straps was an absolute stunner. But it was the boutique itself that Caroline really appreciated. “I loved the commitment of Cherie Sustainable Bridal. [They] give back to the community by giving people professional attire and interview skills.” After saying yes to her dress, she canceled her other bridal appointments. Caroline brought a wintery detail to her bridal attire with the addition of fur shawls for her and her bridesmaids, which they wore to and from the church.
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Something to Look Back On
Documenting their wedding day was one of the best decisions for Caroline and Grayson. They had a videographer capture everything from getting ready in the morning to the exit at the end of the night and all the behind-the-scenes moments in between. “The footage is irreplaceable. As the bride, there are so many things that you don’t notice throughout the day because so much is happening at once.” From guest interactions to small, precious moments, the full-documentary style was definitely worth it.
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Love That Keeps Us Warm
Caroline grew up attending Severna Park United Methodist Church, and getting married there was one of the most meaningful parts of the day. She also loved how their families were involved during the ceremony and walking down the aisle with her father. But the most special part of the ceremony was the ring warming. “Our rings were passed around the church for all our guests to pray over. I love looking at our wedding bands, knowing so many people have blessed and prayed over our marriage.”
Details
Planner: Ludic Events Venue: Ceremony - Severna Park United Methodist Church; Reception - The Westin Annapolis Photographer: Atalie Day Photography Videographer: Tim Perry Productions Caterer: The Westin Annapolis Desserts: Blue Crab Cupcakes DJ/Band: C & J Entertainment Florist: Scentsational Florals, garland for the church provided by - A. A. Co. Farm, Lawn and Garden Center Hair: Melanie’s Cellar Styles - Melanie Holt van Dommelen Makeup Artist: N/A Officiant: Rev. Ron Foster Rentals: Event Dynamics Stationery: Ludic Events Bride’s Attire: Cherie Sustainable Bridal Bridesmaid’s Attire: Macy’s Groom’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse Dance Lessons: Arthur Murray Dance Studio - Arnold Transportation: Bayside Limousine
