Lindley Battle Photography
Amanda Chong + PJ Artese
Whitehall | Lindley Battle Photography
WEDDING DATE: June 11, 2022
NUMBER OF GUESTS: 130
HER FAVE DETAIL: Her calla lily bouquet
AN OPEN-AND-SHUT CASE
Amanda and PJ met in law school at the University of Maryland in 2015. They were in the same section and had every class together. PJ says Amanda’s confidence and striking beauty is what drew him in. “She had an energy that made me want to get to know her,” he explains. During the spring of their 1L year, the pair went out for drinks at a bar in Federal Hill. “We were already good friends, so we could both tell that there was going to be something more,” Amanda says.
Lindley Battle Photography
Amanda’s only regret was not preserving her bouquet. “After the fact, I discovered that you can get the flowers dried and framed,” she says. “I wish I had thought of that beforehand!”
THE BLACK-TIE VENUE
Technically, Amanda picked her venue before she was engaged. In 2018, she saw photos from an acquaintance’s wedding at Whitehall and told herself that if she ever got married, it would be there. When PJ proposed years later, the waterfront mansion still intrigued her. The couple knew they wanted their wedding to be an ode to Maryland, where they fell in love, and Whitehall stood out for its elegant coastal charm. “A lot of these outdoor venues can look a little rustic, so I liked that it was an elevated, black-tie venue on the water,” Amanda says.
Lindley Battle Photography
Lindley Battle Photography
NO TRENDS, PLEASE
At Carine’s Bridal, it took Amanda a single try to find her dream dress. “My wedding dress was the first dress I tried on and I immediately knew it was the one!” she says. “I loved that it had a modern sweetheart neckline and a drop waist silhouette, which you don’t see very often (and no one does better than Monique Lhuillier!)”
VIEWS ON VIEWS
Amanda’s goal was to create a wedding that embodied her and PJ’s “classic with a twist” taste. The estate was an obvious focal point, and Amanda worked with her planner, Pam Aiello of Elizabeth Bailey Events, to create an event flow that maximized views — from guests’ entry through the mansion’s foyer to their golf cart caravan to the shoreline for a tented reception. Inside the tent, a bevy of smilax-adorned rattan chandeliers brought drama to the dance floor. “This was actually the first chandelier install Honeywood Tents ever did and they absolutely knocked it out of the park!” Amanda says. “
HER REALISTIC PLANNER
Amanda and PJ interviewed four wedding planners before they hired Pam, who came highly recommended from multiple friends. “She’s extremely sharp and extremely realistic,” Amanda says. The pair, who financed a significant portion of their wedding themselves, appreciated that Pam respected their budget and helped them find cost-savings on lower-priority line items like transportation and paper goods.
Lindley Battle Photography
Lindley Battle Photography
ODE TO REGGAE
During the pandemic, PJ’s passion project became laying tracks on GarageBand. One of his songs, “Ode to Reggae,” became popular among the couple’s friends — “mostly because of PJ’s insistence on making everyone listen to it,” Amanda says. As a fun surprise, she shared the composition with the couple’s band, who played it during the reception. “PJ jumped on stage and gave a performance that I don’t think any of our guests (including PJ) will ever forget!”
Lindley Battle Photography
Lindley Battle Photography
THE DETAILS
Bride’s gown: Monique Lhuillier (designer) + Carine’s Bridal (shop) Bride’s hair + makeup: Caitlyn Meyer Pro Bridesmaid dresses: Jenny Yoo Catering: Eleven Courses Catering & Events Design/Planning: Elizabeth Bailey Weddings Entertainment: The Antares Musicians (ceremony) + SoundNation (reception) Florist: Ann’s Garden Golf Carts: Charm City Carts Groom’s attire: Ted Baker Groomsmen attire: The Black Tux Paper: Robinson Creative House Photography: Lindley Battle Photography Rentals: Honeywood Event + Tent, Select Event Group Venue: Whitehall
