Elegant Maryland Gold & Country Club Wedding

Q: Let’s talk wedding decor

“To play off our color platte, we used black linens on the guest tables that were decorated with silver votives and small floral arrangements.  Steve and I had a sweetheart table that was covered in a silver sequin linen, which really looked great in the dining space.

“To decorate the remaining space, we included a light up LOVE sign on the bar, silver picture frames with family wedding photos on the gift table, and a box for marriage advice.

“By far our most creative and DIY (with help from our venue) decor was the seating card table.  We had a large wooden box built then added a large piece of sod/grass.  Our seating cards were placed in golf tees then stuck in the grass.  It really surprised everyone and was something unique, plus my husband is a golfer and it went with our venue.”

Q: What were the florals like in your wedding?

“Once I laid my eyes on a white anemone with a black center, that is all I wanted.  I had to have this flower!  It did not matter what else was in the florals as long as anemones were in there.

“These were included in the bridal bouquet along with cream peonies, lisianthus, white ranunculus, and accenting dusty miller.  The bridesmaids had a smaller bouquet with garden roses and white gerbera daisies with black centers accented again with dusty miller.

“The ceremony site, outside patio, was decorated with two white columns holding a large bridal arrangment of cream and white flowers and an white lattice arch decorated with a garland and accented with bridal flowers.

“Guest tables at the reception site had elegant centerpieces with similar white and cream flowers in the bridal bouquets. We added a modern element by having rose bowls of black river rock with water and a floating white gerbera daisy on the cocktail tables.

Q: Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment etc.)?

“We had a lot of personalization, whether our guests knew it or not.  The more obvious items included ‘Amanda & Steve’ with our wedding date on some of the votives used to decorate guest tables and our names in the ice sculpture during cocktail hour.  It was really fun to have these large cut photos of us as kids to enter in the reception and our guests could use in the Photo Booth.

“Less obvious items included having a grilled cheese and shot glass of tomato soup as one of our appetizers, which is Steve’s favorite food.

“We also love bloody marys so our guest favors were bloody mary kits that had cups with our names, Mr. & Mrs. T bloody mary mix (my new last name starts with a T ), and Titos vodka.

“The most meaningful element we incorporated was three tiny picture frames with  my grandmother, my grandfather, and Steve’s dad, all who are no longer with us, on the bridal bouquet.  I also ironed on a little note to Steve on the back of his tie and also another note on the back of my dad’s tie.  Don’t want to forget the bourbon and cigar bar either!  That was a hit!”

Q: Let’s talk fashion

“I wanted to wear something that I would like ten years from now so I stayed away (but had fun trying on) some more trendy dresses.  I tried on a different dress but incorporated this crystal detailed belt and became obsessed with the belt.  I don’t even wear belts!  Once I had my heart set on the belt, I finally found a beautiful Maggie Sottero lace dress with had cap sleeves and a key hole back…which went together perfectly with my belt and made me feel like a bride. It gave me the classic look I wanted, but was shape flattering and surprisingly comfortable.

“Steve chose his wedding day look as I’m sure most grooms do…with heavy recommendations from the bride!  He wanted to be different than the groomsmen so after a lot of trying on suits, 3 purchased vests, and 2 ties, we settled on a black suit, grey vest, black tie, white dress shirt, and of course statement socks. He looked good!”

Q: How did you meet?

“We met working for the same accounting firm.  Steve was friends with one of our groomsmen who was assigned to showing me around when I was new.  We all would go to lunch and hang out so Steve and I became friends first and after two years (and some pushing from two of the groomsmen) we started dating.After a romantic dinner on the beach in Aruba, Steve handed me his cell phone to show me a picture as we walked back to our hotel on the beach.  The picture was a selfie with him holding the ring.  Once I looked up, shocked, he was down on one knee.  It was such a special moment!

Q: What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?

“The first look was the most anticipated moment of the wedding.  It was a strange feeling to not be together in the morning during such a eventful day.  Finally when we saw each other, I instantly felt a rush of emotions.  I was happy, relieved, and felt comforted knowing that my partner in crime was here with me and everything would work out.

“I was most nervous about our first dance since we took 5 weeks of dance lessons.  It ended up turning out great…I think mostly because everyone was shocked at Steve’s moves so they weren’t watching me.”

Q: Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you’d like to share with other couples planning their day?

“Stay organized. Have fun and enjoy it!  This is the only time you will ever get to do this so try on the dress you know you’d never wear, eat all cake flavors, and remember why you are doing it all in the first place.  Everyone says the day goes by so fast and it really does.

“If something doesn’t go the way you planned, don’t stress.  Your guests don’t know what you had planned so they don’t know what they are missing. In fifteen years no one will remember the small stuff-just how they felt that day.”