Real Frederick Weddings

Casual Outdoor Gambrill State Park Wedding :: Kirsten + Ron :: Real Frederick Wedding

“I cannot tell you the number of times I thought to myself, ‘I’m going to marry this girl.’” Ron shared in his interview. After working up the nerve to propose, Ron and Kirsten went for a hike to an overlook where he finally asked her to marry him. Gambrill Park was a natural choice for the couple’s October wedding. The bride is a native of Frederick and both are avid hikers.

“We were really looking for a spot that would bring nature to our ceremony and reception. After looking at a few traditional venues, we decided going with Gambrill State Park felt the most fitting.”

After a week of rain, the couple worried their outdoor wedding ceremony might have to be moved inside. “It poured during the rehearsal so we were walking up the overlook steps for the first time as a group at the ceremony,” Kirsten said.

The couple wrote their vows together in the months before the ceremony. “It felt so special standing in front of all of our friends and family to make those promises. I made a slip up when it came time to slip Ron’s wedding ring on. It was nice to laugh in the middle of the ceremony when we were so focused on saying everything correctly.”

Kirsten and Ron had four bridesmaids, five groomsmen and two flower girls. 55 guests were in attendance.

The couple described the theme and color palette of the wedding as “Outdoor Casual.” Kirsten said her favorite part of wedding planning was choosing the music. “We always remember our wedding day when any of the songs we chose come on because we spent so much time choosing songs that were meaningful to us.” Kirsten and Ron enjoyed a BBQ lunch at their wedding reception with their guests inside the Tea House.

Ron is a real estate agent and Kirsten is a mortgage loan originator. The couple honeymooned in Italy. They currently live in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.

First Dance: “Just the Way you Are” Billy Joel

Advice to other couples: “Make decisions that will make you both happy and don’t forget to plan for life after the wedding together as a married couple.”

Ceremony location: South Frederick Overlook, Gambrill State Park
Reception location: Tea Room, Gambrill State Park
Caterer/drinks: Frontier BBQ
Photographer: Alexa Bedwell, Charles Studio **
Coordinator/Planner: Kelly Kurtyka, Tres Chic Weddings
Wedding attire: (dress/suit/etc): Dress: Couture by Posh Bridal; Suits: Potomac Bridals
Rings/jewelry: R Bruce Carson Jewelers
Dessert: Main Street Sweets
Flowers/decor: Glade Link Farms
Hair/Makeup: Oasis Styling Salon
Officiant: Kate Machereth

**FrederickWeddings.com member

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Fall-Themed Morningside Inn Wedding :: Mary and Allen :: Real Frederick Wedding

Mary and Allen were married outside in late October at The Morningside Inn. Their color palette of oranges and browns mimicked the leaves on the trees behind their wedding venue. “The leaves were at their peak. It was perfect.”

100 guests, three bridesmaids and three groomsmen watched Mary and Allen exchange vows at their outdoor ceremony, officiated by Tom Larimore.

The groom is a mechanic and the bride is a sales administrator. Mary and Allen honeymooned in Cape Canaveral and currently live in Taneytown, Maryland.

First Dance: Home to You by John Michael Montgomery

How they met: at work in 2012

The engagement: Allen got up early on November 16, 2014 and made cinnamon pull apart bread for breakfast and hid the engagement ring under the bread. “We were eating breakfast and there it was, the most beautiful ring I had ever seen. And of course I said yes!”

The couple’s advice for planning a wedding: “The first decision you need to make is when and where, it really helps the rest of the details fall into place. I also found it really helpful to use a planning guide, it helped keep us on schedule.”

Venue: Morningside Inn **
Photographer: Daysy Film & Photo **
Wedding attire: Love it at Stella’s ; Jos.A.Bank ; bridesmaids dresses from The Bridal Boutique
Rings/jewelry: DK Jewelers
Dessert: Stone House Cakery and Café
Flowers/decor: Blossom and Basket Boutique **
Hair/Makeup: Meg Bell
Music/entertainment: DJ – Soundsations
Stationery/calligraphy: Invitations by Dawn
Officiant: Tom Larimore

** FrederickWeddings.com members

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Orange, Coral and Gray Musket Ridge Wedding :: Kimi + Brian :: Real Frederick Wedding

Kimi and Brian were married at Musket Ridge Golf Club on a sunny day in May of 2016.

The couple had outdoor ceremony at Musket Ridge, complete with mountain views. The bridal party of five bridesmaids and five groomsmen walked down the aisle to an instrumental version of Part of Your World, from the Little Mermaid (Kimi’s favorite Disney movie). 112 guests watched them exchange their vows.

The couple surprised their mothers by honoring them each with a rose, thanking them for their sacrifices and unconditional love throughout their lives. Kimi and Brian wrote our own vows, making jokes and laughing the entire way through. Kimi referenced their favorite video games and movies, promising to always share the cookie dough. Brian made reference to their first date, where they walked around the Columbia mall for hours, without ever walking into any stores.

The bride and groom’s mothers joined the couple for a sand ceremony. The officiant poured sand that was taken from the beaches of St. Maarten, where Brian proposed. Then each of the mothers poured a layer to symbolize the couple’s upbringing. Then Kimi & Brian each poured a layer separately, symbolizing individually who they are, and will be in the future. They then poured a layer together, blending the grains of sand to unite their individual experiences together as one.

After the ceremony the couple attended their cocktail hour, followed by their reception. “I absolutely loved the stairs leading down to the ceremony location – it made me feel so elegant with my dress and train. Some of my favorite pictures from the day are on those steps where my dress is flowing over the steps or where we have the amazing views from the mountains.”

When asked if anything funny happened at the reception, Kimi noted that Kristen, the maid of honor, “had an amazing speech that was done almost entirely in Disney quotes.” Brian also noted that while they were playing the lawn game corn hole outside, “Kimi had horrible aim and accidentally hit the photographer with her shot.”

The color palette for the wedding included the couples favorite color, orange, alongside coral pink and gray details. In lieu of wedding favors, Kimi and Brian made a donation to the American Diabetes Association on behalf of their guests.

The groom is a Aerospace Engineer with Northrup Grumman and the bride is a Career Advisor for St. Mary’s College of Maryland. They currently reside in California, Maryland.

First dance: “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith, then breaking out into a surprise dance to “Jump On It” from Sugarhill Gang

How they met: Kimi and Brian met at a winter break party during Kimi’s senior year of high school, Brian’s freshman year of college. The two were in a long distance relationship for almost 4 years while Brian was at Embry-Riddle in Daytona Beach, FL, and Kimi was at Hood College. They have been together for 7 and a half years.

The engagement: On Kimi’s college graduation trip to St. Maarten with her parents and Brian, Brian asked if Kimi wanted to go for a walk down by the water. He signaled to Kimi’s mother that it was time to grab her camera, and walked down to the water’s edge. Then he got down on one knee, pulled out the ring, and as he opened the box, sang the treasure chest theme from their favorite video game, the Legend of Zelda, and asked Kimi to marry him. When they walked back up to Kimi’s parents and chairs, there was champagne waiting to celebrate.

The couples’s advice for planning a wedding: “Planning our wedding was the first time that we really had to be a united team, especially with opinions coming from every direction. When planning your wedding, I really suggest sitting down together, just the two of you, and discuss what you both envision for the day. Your friends and family are going to be excited for you and going to want to be involved in planning. Let them be involved as much as you can, but also be a team and stand your ground together on the things that are important to you.”

Venue: Catoctin Hall at Musket Ridge Golf Club ** FrederickWeddings.com member
Photographer: Spence Photographics ** FrederickWeddings.com member
Coordinator/Planner: Susie Chalk (provided by Musket Ridge Golf Club)
Bridal Dress, Grooms, & Groomsmen’s Tuxedos: Columbia Bridal Boutique
Bridesmaids Dresses: David’s Bridal
Dessert: Main Street Sweets
Flowers: Blossom & Basket Boutique ** FrederickWeddings.com member
Hair/Makeup: Trinity Salon & Spa, Middletown, MD
Music/entertainment: Wizer Productions
Transportation: On the Town Limousine
Officiant: Sandy Queen from Weddings by Sandy

Real Frederick Weddings

McClintock Distilling Wedding :: Real Frederick, Maryland Wedding :: Emily and Kyle

Are you even ready for this insanely gorgeous Frederick, Maryland Wedding? We were oooh-ing and ahhh-ing when we got this one! On a perfect October day, Emily and Kyle tied the knot and then celebrated with guests at McClintock Distillery.

Enjoy this romantic Real Frederick Wedding….

Tell us the story of how you two met; how long have you been together?

We met through the wonders of modern technology and had our first date in Washington, DC where Emily works. The rest is history! We’ve been together for two and a half years.

Tell us about your proposal!

After going out to dinner, Kyle took Emily on a night hike to a spot on his property that overlooks Frederick. He knew that with Emily’s fear of the dark, she would be too worried about bears and coyotes to notice the ring he had stashed under a rock or the camera he’d setup to capture the moment.

What was your favorite element of your wedding planning?

For Emily, planning the details of the ceremony and reception decorations – many long but fun hours spent on Pinterest!

Real Frederick Weddings

Harwood Farm Wedding :: a Simple and Sweet Day | Real Frederick Wedding | Amanda & BJ

BJ and Amanda’s beautiful wedding was straight out of a rustic fairy-tale, with a sweet color palette filled with pinks and corals and lots of white. She arrived in a horse-drawn carriage and they were married in front of their family and friends. Even their ceremony exit was filled with dreamy bubbles! Amanda and BJ were looking for a simple and sweet day and they got it. Thanks to Lauren R. Swann Photography

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Real Frederick Weddings

Musket Ridge Romantic Wedding | Real Frederick Wedding | Amanda + Jared

Amanda and Jared first met on an important phone call. Amanda, who works in human relations, was offering Jared a job at their mutual workplace. Exactly one year after that first phone call, they went on their first date! A few years later, Jared had special plans to celebrate Amanda’s 30th birthday. He arranged for her beloved sisters to fly in from Texas and California, hired a limo to carry her and her friends to a special wine-tasting dinner, and then, just before leading the crowd in a rendition of the “Happy Birthday” song, Jared got down on one knee and asked Amanda to be his wife. She was stunned, but managed to say “yes.” Amanda and Jared said their vows in Middletown’s Zion Lutheran Church and celebrated with family and friends at Catoctin Hall at Musket Ridge in Myersville. All the lovely moments were captured by Spence Photographics.

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Real Frederick Weddings

Casual Gambrill State Park Wedding | Real Frederick Weddings | Mary + Geoff

Mary and Geoff were married at the beautiful Gambrill State Park, just outside Frederick. This wasn’t your typical traditional wedding. Mary wore a short green dress. Geoff changed into a Flying Dog T-shirt minutes after the ceremony. They cooked their own crabs. (Basically, it was super awesome.) Mary and Geoff live Downtown Frederick and wanted to incorporate their love of nature into their day. They invited only their closest friends and family to keep the day intimate. After a sweet ceremony officiated by their friend, they headed to Gambrill’s Tea Room for a crab feast and dancing on the outside deck. Our own editor, MK of Mary Kate McKenna Photography, captured this perfect summer wedding… enjoy!

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Real Frederick Weddings

Glen Ellen Farm Wedding :: Colleen + Tim :: Real Frederick Wedding

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Hoo Boy. Colleen + Tim’s story is a doozy! But it ends in the best way possible when Glen Ellen Farms steps in. A big thank you to Emily Gude for sharing this wonderful wedding and story with us.

I’ll let Colleen, the beautiful bride, share some info first…

“After spending years giggling with my girlfriends about my “dream wedding” I was finally getting the chance. 5 days before my wedding, everything was set. RSVPs were in, my timeline was finally on its final draft, I was getting ready to have all my family and friends in town. There was not a thing that could bring my amazing mood down….well except for a newspaper article. Saturday night before my Friday wedding, my then fiancee comes bursting through our door after work , “Go check out the Frederick News Post!! Has anyone from Shade Trees called you? I don’t think we can have our wedding there!”

Real Frederick Weddings

Caboose Farm Fall Wedding :: Keira and Ruth

K + R’s Caboose Farm Wedding is such a treat! Wait till you see all the fall-themed decor! A big thank you to FrederickWeddings.com members Spence Photographics for sharing this awesome wedding with us!

Keira and Ruth had mutual friends in college, but didn’t start dating each other until after graduation. After 10 years together, living in different states and countries, they became each other’s family. One fall day, Ruth set up a bicycle scavenger hunt around the memorials and monuments in Washington, D.C., for Keira. Her task was to find certain words important to their relationship in the quotes at every stop. Keira’s prize for completing the hunt was a camping trip to Assateague Island. Since their dating anniversary falls on Halloween, they love pumpkins and everything about fall. So, Ruth carved “Will You Marry Me?” into two pumpkins then lit them up on the beach at sunset. They made it official in November 2015 at Caboose Farm in Sabillasville, surrounded by family and friends.

Wedding Location :: Caboose Farm, http://caboosefarm.net/
Officiants :: Greg and Kyla Dixon, friends of the couple
Caterer :: Monica Kelso, http://www.monicakelso.com
DJ :: Bruce Pike Productions, http://www.brucepikeproductions.com *FrederickWeddings.com member
Florist :: Potomac Floral, http://www.flowerwholesale.com
Cake :: Cheese provided by Righteous Cheese, http://www.righteouscheese.com; “cake” created by Monica Kelso Catering
Photographer :: Spence Photographics, www.spencephoto.com *FrederickWeddings.com member
Photo booth :: Silly Station by Spence Photographics, www.sillystation.com *FrederickWeddings.com member

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Real Frederick Weddings

Yellow-Infused Morningside Inn Country Wedding | Real Frederick Wedding :: Haley + Jeremiah

When Robin Shotola send us this bright, beautiful summer wedding, we couldn’t stop dreaming of warm summer days in Frederick County. From the colorful flowers and Vera Wang dress, to the dramatic portraits and delicious cupcakes, Haley and Jeremiah planned a Real Frederick Wedding that we adore. Here’s more from Haley:

Jeremiah and I met when where 13 years old, in middle school. We were good friends throughout high school and began dating our senior year. Three years later, we went to New York City for my 20th birthday, where he proposed on a carriage ride through Central Park! It was like a fairytale. Jeremiah is my best friend. When it came to picking our venue, we remembered having a high school banquet at Morningside Inn and how beautiful it was. It was the first and only venue we checked out! Morningside Inn was the perfect location for a rustic feel, and had everything we wanted. We hardly had to lift a finger, which made the whole process a lot smoother… perfect for our day!

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Real Frederick Weddings

Classic Ceresville Mansion | Real Frederick Wedding | Magalys + Brian

Stephanie Kopf Photography shared Magalys and Brians Real Wedding story with us:

“I have some great news for youuuuu” the planner sang to Maggie as she popped her head into the bridal suite. We had all been listening to the wind and rain batter the fogged window panes for a while, and when the planner exclaimed that the forecast had shifted and the storm was on its way out for the rest of the day, we all exhaled a collective sigh of relief.

Maggie and Brian vowed to spend the rest of their lives together at Ceresville Mansion, just outside Frederick. The ivy-woven altar, the lush greenery and classic architecture of the mansion surrounding it, and even the clouds that danced above us after the storm… it was all enough to set a tone of excitement and romance as Maggie slipped into her fairytale gown. While Maggie enjoyed the company of her adoring bridesmaids and family, Brian and his groomsmen put the finishing touches on their swanky getups in the room across the hall. After the storm kindly made its way elsewhere, Maggie and Brian were ready for their intimate first look. Brian had a chance to marvel at his stunning bride, and they shared a few quiet moments alone before everything got started. From then on, the day was a whirlwind of happy tears, joyous embraces from loved ones, and a heck of a dance party.

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Real Frederick Weddings

Fountainhead Country Country Club Wedding :: Tyler and Jaaziel’s Sweet Pastel Wedding

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VENDORS
venue :: Fountain Head Country Club– FrederickWeddings.com member
ceremony :: St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church
photography :: Hypnotic Imagery LLC
DJ :: Shew-sical Entertainment– FrederickWeddings.com member
lighting :: Wow Event Lighting– FrederickWeddings.com member
cake :: Karen Rodkey Cakes
floral :: Forever Blossoms Floral Designs
dress :: Potomac Bridals
stationery :: Invitations From The Heart
chair sashes :: Maryland Event Rentals
hair :: Belleza Hair & Nail Studio
suits :: Men’s Warehouse
guestbook :: Peachwik
getting ready :: Homewood Suites
rehearsal dinner :: Cacique Restaurant

Real Frederick Weddings

Romantic Ceresville Mansion Wedding :: Xin + Xiaoyu’s Real Frederick Wedding

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Xin and Xiaoyu’s wedding was super romantic and dreamy! Both the bride and groom got ready at Ceresville Mansion. They decided to do a “first look” before the ceremony. (We love first looks!)

The ceremony was intimate and was held indoors with beautiful florals throughout. The bride was brought down the aisle by her father and given away to her groom. Once the officiant shared some beautiful insights on the importance of marriage the bride and groom then partook in a sand mixing ceremony to symbolically express their love and the act of two becoming one in marriage. Xin and Xiaoyu then shared heartfelt vows and exchanged rings.

After bridal portraits were taken everyone made their way into the reception space which was decorated with splashes of white and red and had uplighting all around. When Xin and Xiaoyu were announced into their reception they were toasted by their parents, family and friends. The couple then cut their wedding cake and shared dinner with their guests. Once the couple shared their first dance, the guests joined in to dance the evening away. To end the night, Xin and Xiaoyu exited Ceresville through a sea of bubbles and then they were off to their honeymoon!

from the bride:

We both think we can be our true selves when we are with each other, so getting married was a natural decision for us. Although the wedding planning process can be stressful at times, we enjoyed every bit of it as we got to spend many intimate times together, getting to know each other better and collaborating towards the biggest event of our lives so far. Time seemed to just fly by and before we knew it, our big day had finally come. From the early morning all the way to our walk down the aisle, the whole day seemed so magical that I wished that it would never end. Our favorite part of the day was definitely the first look. We’d like to thank our photographer who arranged the first look with my husband and with my dad at the best place in the venue. I can’t forget my husband’s look when he turned around to see me!
We visited 4 venues and all of them are in Frederick area. We love Frederick area as it mixes history and romance. We chose Ceresville mansion as we love their environment. More importantly, we love their services! To other couples: wedding planning could be a stressful thing, but as long as communicate well with your future husband/wife to be, the process could be a memorable time and help kick start your journey into life together!

Vendors:
Photographer :: Rodney from Aesthetic Life Studio (Frederick Weddings Member)

Venue :: Ceresville Mansion

DJ :: Shew-sical Entertainment Services (Frederick Weddings Member)

Up Lighting :: WOW Event Lighting (Frederick Weddings Member)

Hair & Make Up :: Poetically Brushed Hair & Makeup

Real Frederick Weddings

Rustic Coral and Mint Stone Manor Country Club Wedding :: Alissa and Kevin’s Real Frederick Wedding

Alissa and Kevin’s Stone Manor Country Club Wedding featured a coral, tan and mint color palette and perfectly coordinated rustic details.

Alicia and Frank of Happy Little Life photography describe the couple like this:

“As a couple, Alissa and Kevin are incredibly fun and genuine – it is hard to find a time when they aren’t laughing or smiling! Their wedding day was truly a reflection of who they are as a couple. From beginning to end, the day was filled with so much joy and happiness.”

And we agree! Every little detail is personalized and oh-so-sweet. We adore everything about this darling wedding, including the sweet father-daughter first sight!

In Alissa’s words:
As I woke up on my wedding day, after staying with my bridesmaids, we were all excited and ready to go! No sooner after I woke up we were at Stone Manor Country Club and starting to get ready! I felt like a little kid on Christmas as I walked around and saw Katie from Rose Gold Events & Styling setting up all of the decorations I had worked so hard to create (and find) over the last 8 months. There is nothing like FINALLY seeing your vision come together! My wedding day was picture-perfect, from the guidance and set up from Rose Gold Events & Styling; to hair and make-up from JKW Beauty; to guidance, timelines, support and beautiful pictures from Happy Little Life Photography; to an easy going fun ceremony from Joyce Hilbery; to lastly fun, entertaining, and memorable music from The Dynasty Dj’s Carroll and Zach Higgins! And how could I forget the beautiful venue of Stone Manor Country Club and the delicious food from the Carriage House Catering. Everything happened exactly as it was planned to happen with the help of the exceptional wedding team. It didn’t actually hit me that I was about to get married until we are all lined up at the door about to start walking out for the wedding and one of my bridesmaids said, “Alissa don’t cry or get mad, it might be raining just a little bit.” At the moment, I couldn’t feel mad or cry – I was too excited! Supposedly the ceremony was 25-30 minutes but I am not even sure because from the moment I walked down the aisle to the end of the night, time flew by as we had the perfect wedding celebration. My goal for the wedding was to have fun and have a wedding that would be talked about for a long time. Well almost 4 months later, we are still having friends and family come up to us and talk about how beautiful and fun our wedding was!

Planner :: Katie MacGregor of Rose Gold Styling & Events
Venue :: Stone Manor Country Club
Caterer :: Carriage House Inn
Entertainment :: Carroll Higgins of Dynasty DJ
Florist :: Lora Arrington
Photographer :: Alicia & Frank of Happy Little Life Photography
Transportation :: On the Town Limo
Hair & Makeup :: JKW Beauty
Dress :: TLC Boutique
Officiant :: Joyce Hilbery
Sweets :: Kat Cutta
Alcohol :: Gateway Liquors

Real Frederick Weddings Real Weddings

Brittany + Martin’s Spring Celebration | Real Frederick Wedding

Hey, Heart fans! This is Molly, and I am so excited to share my first blog post with you. Even though Punxsutawney Phil said we have at least six more weeks of winter to get through, my thoughts are drifting toward springtime. And that’s why I’ve chosen to share this lovely springtime Real Frederick Wedding with you today, from Spence Photographics, the studio I co-own with my husband, David.

Brittany and Martin met as high school students and started dating when she was 16 and he was 18! Years later, they welcomed daughter Olivia and became a family. But Martin wanted to make things official, so one Christmas Eve, he asked Brittany to sit down and watch a special DVD. Brittany smiled as she saw all the photos of their relationship flicker by on a slide show that Martin had made. The final picture was of Brittany, Martin, and Olivia all together, with the words “Let’s be a family forever” written at the bottom of the screen. When she turned around, Brittany saw Martin on one knee, holding her engagement ring! Their wedding and reception was held in the beautiful Middletown Valley at Stone Manor Country Club. Gray skies and sprinkles greeted them on the cool May morning, but the rain held off long enough to get some wonderful photos on the grounds. A great team of Frederick-based vendors helped the newlyweds celebrate in style….

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Photographer: David S. Spence, Spence Photographics

Photo booth: Silly Station by Spence Photographics

Venue: Stone Manor Country Club

Caterer: Canapés Catering

DJ: Shew-sical Entertainment Services

Videographer: Jon Key Photography

Hair/Make-up: Brenda Dalton, Rose Brooke Studio

Florist: To the 9s Floral and Event Design

Cake: Angelcakes

Real Frederick Weddings

Summer Wedding at VOLT | Real Frederick Wedding | Valthea + David

Some people say that Volt restaurant helped put Frederick on the map. Its executive chef, Bryan Voltaggio, lent his name and his culinary prowess to the iconic restaurant, and many flock to the North Market Street hotspot for a special dinner. The historic Downtown Frederick restaurant played the perfect host for the August wedding of Thea and David. From the bride and groom:

Volt’s food and service are without equal and their events coordinator, Julie Rudzin South, went above and beyond our expectations. Surrounded with joy and love by our friends and family, some of the most memorable moments of our lives were artfully captured by our photographer. We are eternally thankful and we could not have wished for a more beautiful day!

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Real Frederick Weddings

Morningside Inn Spring Wedding Celebration | Real Frederick Wedding |Allison + Dan

Allison and Dan fell in love during their college days at Virginia’s James Madison University. The spent many hours together, playing beautiful music as members of the Marching Royal Dukes. But then, they spent years apart until last Spring. They finally marched down the aisle together at St. John’s Catholic Church in Westminster, as husband and wife, and celebrated with family and friends at Morningside Inn in Frederick. Their lovely wedding was captured by Spence Photographics.

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Photography :: Spence Photographics
Ceremony venue :: St. John’s Catholic Church, Westminster
Reception venue :: Morningside Inn
DJ :: Soundsations
Hair stylist :: Kasey O’Hara, The Hair After 
Make-up artist :: Gypsy Sol makeup 
Flowers :: Blossom and Basket Boutique 
Cake/Cupcakes :: Starry Night Bakery 
Transportation :: Lasting Impressions

Real Frederick Weddings

Jennifer + Alex's Baker Park Celebration | Real Frederick Wedding

Jennifer and Alex said their vows under a weeping willow at Baker Park, took a pedicab ride down Market Street after, then ended the day with a backyard reception at their own home. It was a breezy, beautiful summer day, captured by Mary Kate McKenna Photography. Here’s how Jennifer describes the day and the events leading up to it…

‘Blue Moon no orange’ were the first words spoken. Alex may not remember, but that was also the first night he ‘unofficially’ told me… and the rest of the bar… he loved me.

I was general manager at a Downtown Frederick restaurant and Alex was in on a Friday night for happy hour. According to him it was my ‘sassy lime green skirt and red hair’ that caught his eye. As time and Blue Moons went by, Alex had drunk up enough courage to introduce himself. Cheesing like a cheshire cat he says to me in a nutshell, “I’m Alex, I’m Russian…date me.” How could I resist such a smooth talker? Our first date was at Café Nola. I will never forget where we sat, what we were drinking, and the black T-shirt and jeans he had on. Thinking back on it , we both laugh that we couldn’t hear a word the other was saying over the music… we just smiled and nodded at each other the whole time.

Alex and I eloped while on vacation in Miami. It was the perfect day…the weather was gorgeous, the scenery was mesmerizing. After snorkeling we drove to a nearby mom-and-pop shop, bought our $30 sterling silver wedding bands, and then tied the knot at a nearby courthouse, bathing suits, flip flops and all. I thought that was the best day of my life… until we did it again.

A year later, Alex and I decided to get married again and include our closest family and friends. We wanted the ceremony to be in Baker Park where Alex proposed, and the reception to be in our backyard. We wanted the wedding to have a rustic feel to it, and I wanted to make as much of the decorations as I could. I wanted to cater the wedding myself, too. We hired a friend of a friend to man the grill, and he served hotdogs, burgers and chicken skewers. There were a lot of long nights before the wedding, and I couldn’t have finished it without the help of my mom and my maid of honor. As another bride once said, ‘If you want it done right, do it yourself. But if you want it done at all, let people help.’

Since Alex is Russian, we incorporated some Russian wedding traditions. Right after the ceremony, we all walked to a nearby bridge and took a lock brought by Alex’s mom from Russia and locked it on the bridge. We then took the key and threw it in the water to show that our love is locked forever. Next was the throwing of rice and Russian coins at our feet as we walked up to our house. There we were greeted by Alex’s mom who had a loaf of bread and salt. Her offering showed the acceptance of welcoming me into the family. Alex and I took a bite at the same time, and whoever took the biggest bite was the ‘ head of the household.’

The reception was a casual backyard barbecue with our closest friends and family. I really wanted a dessert table, and champagne glasses filled with rock candy – Alex was all about the whiskey and cigar table for the men. All of the small details that were incorporated in the wedding were a representation of ourselves, and made for an amazing day that I wouldn’t trade for anything!

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Photography :: Mary Kate McKenna Photography

Ceremony :: Baker Park, Frederick

Reception :: Couple’s home

Dress :: Coralie Beatrix on Etsy

Hair :: Structures Salon

Cake :: Sweet & Savory

Music :: Erin Frisby from Miss Shevaughn and Yuma Wray

Pedicabs :: MacFawn’s Green Rides

Barrels :: McCutcheon’s Apple Products

Vintage sodas :: North Market Pop Shop

Made by Jenny :: invitations, cake topper, napkins, food, flower arrangements and bouquets

Real Frederick Weddings

Carol + Rich's Boots, Burlap and Moonshine Bash | Real Frederick Wedding

Carol and Rich’s love story started as so many great relationships do. First, they were best friends, for nearly 10 years. Then, their love for each other deepened. They celebrated their engagement with a Mount Airy-based engagement session with Spence Photographics and then married at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Libertytown, surrounded by family and friends. The real party began afterward at the Myersville Fire Hall, where sunflowers and burlap dressed up the hall and the bride and groom were toasted with moonshine.

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Real Frederick Weddings

Megan + Alex's lush August nuptials | Real Frederick Wedding

Megan and Alex had been together for 10 years before their wedding day last August. They chose Turf Valley for its central location and staff’s attention to detail. Not to mention the garden on the property! It’s in full bloom at that time of year, complimenting the wedding’s fresh colors of green, white, khaki and lilac. Megan and Alex’s gorgeous day was captured and submitted to us by Kirsten Smith Photography.

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Venue: Turf Valley

Photographer: Kirsten Smith Photography

Wedding planner: Stephanie Day Events

Flowers: Laura Gibson at Floral Legacies

Music: Crater Brothers DJ Service

Hair/Makeup: Lisa Hawks at The Chop Shop

Dress: Paloma Blanca, purchased from Elegant Touch Bridal and Tuxedo

Real Frederick Weddings

Amanda + Tony's Lavender-Filled Day | Real Frederick Wedding

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JacqieQ Photography shared this lovely summer wedding with us recently. Here’s what she told us about the day:

Tony and Amanda were wed mountainside at the beautiful Springfield Manor Winery & Distillery in Thurmont. The guys wore Converse sneakers with their tuxes and the bridesmaids wore pewter dresses. The electricity went out during the reception, but the guests barely noticed as Shew-sical Entertainment Services came prepared and the venue opened the doors to the patio, bringing the lovely mountain air indoors.

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Photographer: Jacqie Q Photography

Bride’s Gown: Allure, purchased at Posh Bridal

Bride’s Shoes: Nina Shoes, purchased on Zappos.com

Guys’ Suits: Men’s Warehouse

Flowers: Rebecca Abel Floral Designs

Garter: The Buckeye Lady from Etsy.com

Hair & Make-up: NUVO Salon & Spa

Location: Springfield Manor Winery & Distillery

Food: Carriage House Catering

Music: Shew-sical Entertainment Services

Real Frederick Weddings

Sweet Detail-Filled Walkersville Overlook Wedding

Hey There! MK here.

To kick off Heart of Frederick again, Molly and I will be sharing some of our favorite Frederick weddings this week.

From the bride groom, Alyssa + Mike:

Like most couples, we wanted to invest ourselves deeply into the planning to ensure that our love, creativity, and craft would shine in every detail. Planning our wedding was a great way for us to not only bring ourselves closer together but it gave us a chance to create an experience that could bring our two families together.

It started with the invitations. We wanted to create and set a handcrafted tone because we knew from the start we would be making most of the decorations and details ourselves. Alyssa spent a lot of time designing and laying out the text. She painted all of the details and embellishments that were incorporated in the design. Michael created a wood block carving that we would then ink and run through a hand roller press to decorate the outside of the invitation. Of course the carving included our two cats, Pickles and Stevie.

Our wedding favors were truly something special. Our hobby/small business endeavor Refill Glassworks came much into play here. We have been involved with reclaiming empty wine and liquor bottles from local bars and restaurants. We then take these bottles and repurpose them by cleaning them up, cutting and polishing them and turning them into unique and environmental friendly drink ware. These wine bottle tumblers are great gifts that we have been selling online and at local craft and wine festivals. In creating each favor by hand we found ourselves at a place where our devoted time and craft could become a tangible and personal thank you for each one of our guests.

As far as decor goes we tried to split our duties in half depending on our personal expertise. Michael cut and chopped wood to create handmade chalkboard frames to hand letter the signage for the wedding. Alyssa gathered all of the perfect colors and different flower combinations to create our centerpieces. She wrapped all the vases by hand with jute to add a rustic look to match the rest of the décor. We combined this with raw cut wooden discs that were supplied by a great friend who is an arborist.

One of our most treasured piece from the wedding is the guestbook. We knew from the start we wanted a guestbook, but not one that would get tucked in a closet and never seen. This was a piece that we really wanted to stand out, something that no one has ever seen before. That concept and a lyric “let love grow” would lead us to the idea of a large flower planter that we could have on our porch or deck for years to come. Michael’s best man is a woodworker and after explaining the idea to him he ran with it and built something that truly surpassed our expectations. He made it so the back panel of the planter box could be removed and signed by our guests. After the event we were able to put a clear coat over the signatures to preserve them. We now have exactly what we wanted, a beautiful and unique piece for our outdoor space that reminds us of our big day and the ones that were there celebrating by our side.

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Photographer Mary Kate McKenna Photography
Venue Walkers Overlook

Dress Claire Pettibone

Suit JCrew

Bridesmaids Hair Salon Allure

Florist A Bloom Florist

Caterer Renaissance Chef

DJ Bruce Pike Productions

Photo Booth Premier Photo Booths

Real Frederick Weddings

Amanda + BJ's Real Frederick Wedding

From the photographer:

BJ and Amanda’s beautiful wedding was straight out of a rustic fairy-tale. She arrived in a horse-drawn carriage for them to be married in front of their family and friends. Even their ceremony exit was filled with dreamy bubbles!

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Photographer: Lauren R. Swann Photography

Venue: Harwood Farm

Flowers: Blossom and Basket Boutique

DJ: Shew-sical Entertainment Services

Cake: Starry Night Bakery

Real Frederick Weddings

Magalys + Brian's Real Frederick Wedding

From the photographer:

“I have some great news for youuuuu” the planner sang to Maggie as she popped her head into the bridal suite. We had all been listening to the wind and rain batter the fogged window panes for a while, and when the planner exclaimed that the forecast had shifted and the storm was on its way out for the rest of the day, we all exhaled a collective sigh of relief.

These two vowed to spend the rest of their lives together at the Ceresville Mansion. The ivy-woven altar, the lush greenery and classic architecture of the mansion surrounding it, and even the clouds that danced above us after the storm…it was all enough to set a tone of excitement and romance as Maggie slipped into her fairy tale gown. While Maggie enjoyed the company of her adoring bridesmaids and family, Brian and his groomsmen put the finishing touches on their swanky getups in the room across the hall. After the storm kindly made its way elsewhere, Maggie and Brian were ready for their intimate first look. Brian had a chance to marvel at his STUNNING bride (no really…if you have read this far without peeking at her in her dress…you’re in for a treat) and they shared a few quiet moments alone before everything got started. From then on, the day was a whirlwind of happy tears, joyous embraces from loved ones, and a heck of a dance party.

Congratulations to Brian and Magalys!

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Photographer: Stephanie Kopf Photography

Venue: Ceresville Mansion

Cake: Fancy Cakes by Leslie

Dress: Serendipity Bridal and Events

Real Frederick Weddings

One Fine Day | Sara + Mayan's Real Frederick Wedding

From the photographer:

Sara and Mayan met through work and fell in love! Sara made the flower arrangements and the decorations for the wedding. Mayan’s mother and brother and sister in law flew over from Israel! Mayan’s mom, Eti, brought the fans for the guests. They were so beautiful! The day was absolutely perfect. They had a cocktail hour first, Sara wore a different dress, then the ceremony and reception. It was amazing!

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Photographer: Kirsten Smith Photography

Venue: Antrim 1844 Country House Hotel

Dresses: Love It! at Stella’s Bridal and Fashions

Groom: Dana’s Tuxedo

Cake: Bakery Express Ms. Desserts

Officiant: Ellen Schwab

DJ: Jordan and Lior from Event Pro Live

Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas

Real Frederick Weddings

Springtime at Stone Manor | Alyssa + Daniel's Real Frederick Wedding

Alyssa and Daniel were married on a beautiful springtime day at the Stone Manor Country Club. They picked a wonderful location to hold their outdoor ceremony and reception just outside Frederick, MD.

The manor is situated on 114 tree lined acres with a historic barn, fields, and a pond. Stone Manor Country Club is also a bed and breakfast with antique filled rooms.

Alyssa and Dan were so laid back and the entire day was a celebration of all their family and friends coming together as one big happy family. Looks like a blast!

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Photographer: Angel Kidwell Photography

Venue: Stone Manor Country Club

Caterer: The Carriage House Inn Catering

Dress: David’s Bridal

Hair: Trinity Salon and Say Spa

Real Frederick Weddings

The Barn at Serra Valley Farm | Jessica + Cody's Real Frederick Wedding

Jessica and Cody fell in love way back in high school. And it’s easy to see why–they round each other out perfectly. He is adventurous, caring, and handsome. She is funny, easy going, and the life of the party…and judging from the events that transpired during the wedding day…their life together will surely echo these qualities.

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Photographer: Tiltawhirl Imagery

Venue: The Barn at Serra Valley Farm

Caterer: Convenience Catering

Bakery: Kupcakes & Co.

Floral Designer: Rippel’s Florist

Makeup: Gypsy Sol

Real Frederick Weddings

A JMU-Themed DIY Wedding | Christina + Matt's Real Frederick Wedding

The day of Matt and Christina’s wedding at Walker’s Overlook the skies threatened rain, which would have ruined the outdoor ceremony they’d dreamed of for their JMU themed wedding (they met there!). These two scientists stayed cool, calm, and collected though and decided to go ahead with the outdoor ceremony they’d envisioned. The rain ended up holding off until the end of the night and the day went off without a hitch! We loved all of the thought and care these two put into their wedding day…from their handmade invitations, to all of the signage they made together, to the pies that Matt made to serve their guests for dessert! Another favorite thing of ours was Christina’s AMAZING bouquet! It had artichokes and peppers in it! Thank you to Katie Nesbitt Photography for sharing this beautiful day.

View More: http://katienesbitt.pass.us/mattandchristina

Photographer: Katie Nesbitt Photography

Venue: Walker’s Overlook

Cake: A Dessert for Me

Flowers: Candlelight Floral Designs

Caterer: Cinful Cuisine

Hair: Rosebrook Studio

DJ: TCB DJs

Real Frederick Weddings

Chinese-Jewish Wedding Celebration | Susana + Matt's Real Frederick Wedding

Susana & Matt live in New York City, but have family who lives close to Frederick, Maryland, so they decided to have their wedding here in Maryland at the Stone Manor Country Club. Matt’s family is Jewish, and Susana’s family is Chinese, so they combined the two traditions for a unique Chinese-Jewish wedding celebration, complete with Chinese wedding outfits (made in China on Beijing’s famous silk street) and Jewish traditions, such as the chuppa and the hora. Susana & Matt opted to do a first look in the Chinese wedding outfits, and then change and do another first look in the traditional American wedding outfits. Susana & Matt had a friend officiate the wedding and read personalized letters from each other as their wedding vows. They also came up with a clever, program filled with great humor detailing what the traditions were that they celebrated throughout the day. Thank you for sharing, Susie & Becky!

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Photographer: Inspired Photography by Susie & Becky

Venue: Stone Manor Country Club

Caterer: The Carriage House Inn Catering

Cake: Custom Cake Design

Makeup Artist: Le Mariee’

Carriage: Carriages of the Capital

Transportation: On the Town Limousines

DJ: Shew-sical Entertainment Services

Real Frederick Weddings

Elegant Hollow Creek Golf Club Wedding | Rebecca + Kevin's Real Frederick Wedding

Rebecca and Kevin met in high school and after years of togetherness, were married on a slightly rainy day in May. Luckily, the rain stopped long enough to provide us with an amazing double rainbow and time to take plenty of outdoor portraits! Rebecca and her mother, Joyce, planned a classically elegant affair, complete with stunning gowns (thanks to her mother’s premiere gown shop, Potomac Bridals), real bow ties for the guys, amazing place settings featuring Rebecca’s grandmother’s plate collection, and so many more lush details! Thank you to Spence Photographics for sharing this beautiful day!

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