Weekend on the Water at Brittland Estates

Real Weddings

Tyler & Natalie

Brittland Estates | Jenny Wagner Photography

Wedding Date: October 19, 2024 | Number of Guests: 140 | Standout Detail: Hand-painted florals on the cake

The wedding arbor is now a part of their garden, serving as a constant reminder of their wedding day and their love.

A Little Miscommunication

Thanks to mutual friends, Tyler and Natalie met through their respective roommates. Her first impression of him? Tall, good-looking, and had a great laugh. “[It] left me wondering how we hadn’t crossed paths before.” Natalie tried to catch his attention, but Tyler didn’t seem to pick up on the hints. Tyler’s first impression was that Natalie was out of his league but still worked up the courage to make a move at the Renaissance Festival a few weeks after meeting. Natalie—unknowingly—shut him down. Luckily, later, Natalie made a move on a group camping trip and they shared a kiss in his tent.

Wedding Weekend on the Coast

Celebrating the spirit of the Eastern Shore with a waterfront location was a top priority. They splurged on the venue in order to create a wedding weekend experience. With most of their wedding party coming from out of town, having a place where they, along with Natalie and Tyler’s families, could stay gave everyone one less thing to worry about. Staying together on the scenic estate was a highlight of the weekend.

Handmade From the Heart

Diving into a few months of DIY was well worth it to add a handmade touch to the wedding day. The couple created a welcome sign from a mirror, along with other signage, a custom seating chart, and cornhole boards. Though they put love and intention into every detail, there were two major labors of love. They spent months cleaning oyster shells, painting the rims gold, and dipping them in resin to create ornaments for each guest. The second was the wedding arbor Tyler made from scratch. “Walking up to it and see it decorated with the most colorful, beautiful flowers, and Tyler standing underneath, is a moment I’ll never forget.”

Five Minutes Away

Natalie had shopped around for a wedding dress but ended up finding the one just five minutes from where she grew up. “The experience felt completely different from the others—we had the whole place to ourselves [and] champagne in hand.” What felt like a private try-on party led to them finding the perfect dress that featured off-the-shoulder tulle with romantic floral detailing and stitched sequin accents. “My mom was the first to say my smile looked different in this dress—that I looked like a bride.”

Vetting Vendors

Tyler got hands-on with wedding planning by making a shortlist of recommended vendors by searching through Maryland wedding forums and Facebook groups. Luckily, the hard work paid off with people who made the day amazing. The caterer prepared an amazing selection of food, including a braised pork belly appetizer, stuffed chicken, and an Orange Crush, which Tyler notes were his favorite bites of the night. Natalie loved the from-scratch margaritas, her signature drink.

Men of Honor

Natalie’s brothers were heavily involved in making the day personal. Aris was her Man of Honor, taking all duties seriously, including coming on the bachelorette trip. Berj officiated the wedding. “He worked so hard perfecting his script, writing, rewriting, and rehearsing multiple times.” Berj added poems and meaningful reflections that made the ceremony feel unique to the couple. “Having him be one to lead us through our vows, sign our marriage license, and officially join us as husband and wife is something I’ll never forget.” The two brothers gave a joint toast that had every guest laughing and tearing up.

“One of our favorite moments… was watching our friends and family embrace the Armenian dance block during the reception. The energy on the dance floor was wild… and many guests said it was the most fun they’d had at a wedding. ”

Details

Venue: Brittland Estates Wedding Planner: BK Coordinate Caterer: Chesapeake Chefs Rentals: Eastern Shore Tents and Events (tent, tables, linens, and chairs) Florist: Wildly Native Photographer: Jenny Wagner Photography Videographer: Studio Duplo DJ: Hercules Entertainment (reception) Singer: The Sirens/Kate Fisher (guest arrival, cocktail hour, and first dance) Hair and Makeup: Sofia Serrano Beauty Shuttle: Blanchard Limousine Services Cake: Cakes by Abby Printed Goods: Annie Fox Design (logo and brochures) Stationary: Minted Menswear: Generation Tux Wedding Shop: I Do I Do (closed) Rehearsal Dinner Catering: Bark BBQ Floral Preservation: Elle Belle Events