Wedding Story
Photographer’s Comments: “Everyone’s approach to planning their wedding is a little different based on so many factors. Your history and interests as a couple as well as input from family and friends can be such a strong influence in directing how you plan your day!
“Take all that and then imagine planning your wedding from many states away – this is what Raechal and Gordon maneuvered through in the early stages of their wedding planning.
“Despite those challenges, Rae and Gordon’s Pond View Farm Wedding was absolutely lovely. They fell in love with Pond View Farm’s willow trees by the water and beautiful barn reception space which fit their rustic and bohemian wedding theme with white floral accents (put together with love by Raechal’s mother). I especially loved how well the different bridesmaid dress styles worked together and popped against the beautiful green grass and willow tree branches!
“Looking back, one of the funniest moments happened right before Raechal and Gordon’s first look. We positioned Gordon beneath the willow tree while he waited to see Rae in her wedding gown for the first time. As she approached, another special guest decided to join in the moment – the farm’s cat! Rae laughed as she bent down to pet the kitten before proceeding with the first look. Not too long after that, Rae + Gordon’s pup also joined in for portraits and he was the cutest!
“Although it was chilly, the rain that had been forecasted was kind enough to delay its approach long enough for Rae + Gordon to make it official and get the party started! We even had a few moments to sneak out for some fun night portraits since the cloud cover didn’t give us a regular sunset to work with. It was truly a lovely day full of laughter, photobombing kittens, family, and friends!”
Bridal Q & A
Q1: Tell us about your wedding!
“Our favorite thing about the venue was the relaxed feel about having the ceremony outside under the willow trees by the water and the reception inside the warm, cozy barn. My husband and I are laid-back, easy-going people and we wanted our wedding to reflect that. We were drawn to a cool color scheme for the ceremony and then we filled the barn with fall colors that really popped for the reception.”
Q2: Let’s talk wedding decor
“The willow trees gave us everything we needed for the ceremony outside! They were absolutely gorgeous so we knew we didn’t have to add much. For the reception, we brought lots of pumpkins, leaves and florals and my fabulous Aunts turned the barn into a shabby-chic autumn dream. It was a group effort fueled by many creative minds and lots of love!”
Q3: What were the florals like in your wedding?
“My amazing mom did all of the florals! As soon as we booked our venue for October we knew we wanted big, colorful arrangements in bright orange pumpkins for centerpieces. My mom collected lots of cool vases so she had plenty arrangements to sprinkle around the barn. My bridesmaids carried pastel bouquets with long ribbons that matched the cool color scheme of the ceremony.”
Q4: Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment etc.)?
“Our wedding was only five days before Halloween, so we had a Trick-or-Treat table for our guests to take home a goodie bag full of candy. We also wanted to incorporate our love for Maryland’s Eastern Shore so we had oysters being shucked on the patio for cocktail hour, along with crab soup and oranges crushes at the bar.”
Q5: Let’s talk wedding fashion
“I tried on lots of different dresses to figure out what I liked. I knew I wanted something off-white with beading and straps so I would be comfortable while dancing. When I tried on my dress for the first time, I knew it was the one! The blush color and layers were whimsical and fun and I fell in love with it instantly. Gordon got the inspiration for his navy suit from a friend’s wedding and we knew it would compliment our colors nicely.”
Q6: How did you meet?
“We met in 2013 when we both moved to Ocean City, Maryland for the summer and ended up being next-door neighbors on 119th Street. In December of 2016, we were home in Maryland for Christmas and decided to drive to OC for lunch at one of our favorite restaurants, Crab Bag. Right before we got to Crab Bag, Gordon pulled onto 119th Street and said he wanted to see the renovations that were made to our old summer beach houses. He sneakily got me up onto the porch where we first met and proposed! It caught me completely by surprise and was a perfect execution on his part.”
Q7: What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?
“What mattered the most to us was that all of our favorite people were there to help us celebrate. While sitting at the sweetheart table for dinner, we were able to take a moment to look around and appreciate all of the wonderful people in our lives who were there to support us. The feeling was overwhelming and so special.”
Q8: Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you’d like to share with other couples planning their day?
“It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the fancy decor and details you see online and in wedding magazines. Guests hardly even notice all the little details that you might think are so essential. Don’t sweat the small stuff and just make sure you are enjoying every step of the planning process because it flies by. It’s going to be the best day of your life no matter what happens!”
Vendors in this Wedding
Dress Designer: Sottero and Midgley
DJ: Mike Ry Productions
Dress Store: Elegant Touch Bridal and Tuxedo
Cake Designer: Desserts By Rita
Reception Venue: Pond View Farm
Photographer: Katherine Elizabeth Photography
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