My feature weddings are meant to highlight REAL weddings I have been connected with. My goal is that you walk away feeling as if you could have been there too, as well as give you TONS of gorgeous pictures to gush over.

To understand the beauty of this couple, I need you to do me a favor. I need you to think of the nicest person you have ever known. The one that is so beautifully genuine and kind that you and everyone else loves him/her. Now imagine if that person had an equally kindhearted soul mate and the two of them got married.

That is Krystle and Blake.

I was lucky enough to meet Krystle in college and was thrilled when the big day arrived. I knew it would be gorgeous, but even I couldn’t have prepared myself for the pure elegance and intimacy of their day (and, based on my teary reaction to the photo file Krystle sent me to write this feature, I still cannot handle it).

 

A Little Introduction to the Mr. and Mrs.

The lovely couple met during graduate school at a mutual friend’s party. According to Krystle, there was a slight lull in communication except for a passionate game “of WordFeud (the Android version of Words with Friends)”. Eventually, messages ensued over the app (THANK GOODNESS FOR MODERN TECHNOLOGY) because, “500 messages later, …[they] had reached the limit for messages, thus prompting Blake to ask for …[her] number.”

A few years and a long distance relationship later due to a graduate fellowship in Arizona for Krystle and Air Force training in Florida for Blake, there was finally a surprise proposal in Washington, D.C. Krystle had “returned to the city on a business trip,” which apparently meant Blake was getting the help of Krystle’s sister to “surreptitiously plant …[her] in a tiny restaurant in Chinatown,” where Blake and Krystle had had their first ‘unofficial’ date.

When asked about the proposal, Krystle explained, “I will never forget how excited and nervous he looked that evening.  After wandering around the city for a few minutes, we wound up at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.  As we walked up, Etta James was playing on someone’s radio and we passed by an older couple slow dancing to the music–almost too sweet to believe it wasn’t planned.  At the top of the steps, Blake knelt down on one knee and proposed in front of a crowd of people.” Yes, the proposal was as sweet at the couple. #shipfeels

The Big Day

The ceremony was held on a warm Sunday in April at the Antrim 1844 in Maryland. As I drove up to the old mansion, I caught a glimpse of the bride and groom doing a 1st look on the porch overlooking the green landscaping. Krystle was the epitome of a blushing bride and Blake looked to be in complete bliss as his glowing wife approached.

It was an intimate invitation list, which is just what the couple wanted. In fact, the couple claims the most commented upon aspect of the entire event was “how intimate the reception was.” One such guest told me that “the bride and groom did a wonderful job in inviting guests that were truly there to celebrate their love. When you have a function where everyone is genuinely happy for the celebrants, warmth and intimacy organically flows through.” Frankly, I couldn’t agree more.

The ceremony was held outdoors in the garden while the reception was held on grounds in an intimate ballroom. The weather was perfect for the occasion, allowing for a beautiful outdoor wedding nestled in the gardens followed by a cocktail hour on the pool lawn. During both the ceremony and cocktail hour, the couple opted for a harpist rather than a quartet. According to the couple, when making the decision for live music, they claim “we could not have been more pleased with our decision.” They do admit that it wasn’t cheaper than a DJ, but it was cheaper than a full quartet.

The reception, however, did include a DJ as well as beautiful toasts, full dinner, and an open bar. When asked what her favorite part of Krystle and Blake’s day was, guest R.P. stated, “If I have to choose one particular instance, it would have to be the wedding toasts. Each person that spoke showed genuine love and care for the beautiful couple. I was very moved during this part of their wedding day.” But it wasn’t just the guests that got emotional during the toasts; the bride claims it was her favorite part of the day as well: “hearing my father’s toast… I couldn’t have asked for a more loving speech for Blake and me.”

The rest of the night? A sparkler send off and an after party at the mansion bar, complete with outfit change into a beautiful red dress! In fact, the after party was Blake’s favorite part of the day because he “got to enjoy the whiskey bar and catch up with old friends and family” in a more casual atmosphere.

What About Your Guests?

Of course I had to ask (it is the focus on this blog after all): what did the guests think and what did Krystle & Blake plan with guests specifically in mind? And, of course, a genuine couple such as Krystle and Blake had quite a bit to say, as did their friends.

The couple made sure to have a top shelf open bar with delicious signature drinks for their guests to enjoy. In fact, they had drinks available pre-ceremony, during cocktail hour, during the reception, and even at the after party. Luckily, most guests had the ability to stay overnight on the grounds, so people could safely sleep and WALK back to their beds rather than put anyone at risk. Truthfully, that was also something the couple considered: making sure that the venue they picked was not just accommodating, but the staff working the venue were as well.

The couple also had amazing food, which they claim is the primary reason they picked their venue. Guests still rave about it! And, speaking of food (which if you follow the blog on Instagram you know I LOVE wedding food), the cake was also delicious. The couple stated they wanted “a cake worthy of requesting seconds.” A doubly sweet cake for a doubly sweet couple? Sounds perfect to me!

Advice for Current Brides and Grooms

When asked if there was one thing they wished they could change about their day, the couple stated that they didn’t get a chance to eat their meals. They “didn’t want to be eating while receiving toasts… therefore, if …[they] could change something, they would have…had dinners saved to be eaten after the wedding.” Krystle pointed out that she didn’t think she “was actually very hungry during the wedding, so I wasn’t disappointed with the flow… but boy was I hungry around 1am.”

Further sweet and realistic advice the young couple had was to “remember to really love each other throughout the many forms of stress you encounter during wedding planning—you want to look back upon your wedding and NOT regret how you treated one another. The wedding is a celebration of your marriage.”

And although the couple couldn’t come up with anything unique about their wedding themselves (these two are way too humble), I am eager to remind them of not only the harpist and unique venue, but the family style long table seating, the beautiful decorations, and the classy yet modern bridesmaid dresses that made watching the procession feel like a fashion show! Either way, the couple states whether it was unique or not, they “loved it” and really, folks, that is all that matters.

Related Information:

Venue: Antrim 1844

Caterer: Antrim 1844

Wedding Planner: Sarah Park Events;

Photographer: Julie Lim

Videographer: N/A

Officiant: Pastor Tony Mershon

DJ: DJ Orlando Entertainment

Florist: Katie Burley Millinery

Harpist during ceremony and cocktail hour: Laura Stokes