Bright Smiles by the Shore | Melissa Hoko

Melissa Hoko captured this lovely wedding by the bay. We can hardly get over the adorable progression of first look images. Pure gold, pure joy.  With smiles as big as the sun, this couple tied the knot along the banks of the Chesapeake! We even have a recap from the lovely photographing duo,

“Chris and Jessica wanted their guests to experience a mini destination wedding on the Eastern Shore, so they opted for a ceremony and reception at Cambridge’s local Hyatt Regency. With a ceremony overlooking the Choptank River, they made it official in front of family, friends, and the setting sun.  Jessica’s vintage inspired dress was lovely and offered the perfect romantic touch. They chose to do first glance, which was captured in the resort’s “Raven’s View,” a private balcony that overlooks the 400 acre landscape. These images are nothing short of divine. Their ballroom reception offered nautical details, a live photo booth with tons of fun props, and a killer band that had everyone up and moving.”

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Wedding Vendors
Photographer: MoniLissa Photography
Venue: Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort & Spa
Cake Baker: Bay Country Bakery
Flowers & Decor: Monteray Farms
Hair & Make Up: Hyatt Spa
Bride’s Jewelry: Jenny Packham
Groomsmen Attire: Jos. A. Banks

DIY Wedding | Eddie + Taryn

“Facebook, when you really think about it, is fascinating for so many reasons, and I marvel at it sometimes. It has also brought millions of people together, has reunited love and has sealed-the-deal on love for many. In Taryn + Eddie’s story, Enterprise Car Rental brought them together {as friends}, and Facebook ‘sealed-the-deal’ for their love. I’ve got to mention that Taryn found ME on Facebook too…

DIY Wedding | Eddie + Taryn

..In ’08, Taryn + Eddie met at Enterprise Rental Car but were just ‘friends’. When she left, she never expected to see Eddie again. But a year-and-a-half later, when Eddie poked her {a Facebook, “wink” of a sort, or maybe just a “hi”} to get her attention, it must have worked. Wonderfully! Taryn and Eddie shared a long-distance friendship for 5 months until they mutually expressed that they both wanted something more. You can tell that they were placed on this earth to be each other’s soul mates. Five years later they ‘sealed-the-deal’ forever, at the gorgeous and historic Darlington House in La Jolla, California, adored by 100+ friends and family.” – Petula Pea Photography

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“My first favorite wedding day memory was seeing Eddie be so emotional and for me to be the calm and soothing one. We had our first look before the ceremony and while I was expecting him to be a little emotional I wasn’t expecting tears. Usually he is very calm and collected and I need him to calm me down. During the whole ceremony he had tears running down his face and I kept wiping them away and telling him to breathe. It made me focus on him and not my own nerves. It is really a sweet memory…

DIY Wedding | Eddie + Taryn

..Yes! A lot of our details were DIY! My cousin Marget is a freelance graphic designer and she designed our Save the Dates, Invites, Rehearsal Dinner card, Response Cards, Table numbers and seating chart flags. We had them printed at a local print shop which was very inexpensive and then we used a Martha Stewart Punch on everything! My hand was sore for days from all the punching but they turned out so beautiful! Everyone asked where we got them.

I bought picture frames from the dollar store and painted them gold for the table numbers.

I also made the succulent centerpieces for the tables. I found plant sales around Encinitas, where I live, and got succulent cuttings from friends and bought jam jars at Smart and Final. I planted them months before the wedding so they would have time to grow and fill in their jars. A few days before the wedding we added moss to the top to give them a more romantic look. I also made candle holders with the same type of jam jars and moss.

When I was doing these projects it felt like a lot of work but in the end I’m glad I did it because I felt more attached and proud of the end product because I had worked so hard…

DIY Wedding | Eddie + Taryn

..My old was my mom’s veil from her wedding. My new was my coral shoes and hair comb. My borrowed was my mom’s pearl ring and earrings, and my blue was my tiffany blue garter that my mom had made for me!

DIY Wedding | Eddie + Taryn

..The best advice I got was from my co-worker Angela, so I’ll pass her advice along. “Make sure that after you finish dinner you go to all the tables and say hello and thank you to everyone. Once that’s done you really don’t have anything else to worry about.” It was so true! Not only did I feel like I didn’t need to search everyone out to say hello but it really added a personal touch to our guests. They came to see us (a lot of them came from very far away) and it was nice that we took time to have a personal moment with all of them.” – Taryn, the bride

DIY Wedding | Eddie + Taryn

photography: Petula Pea Photography // second shooter: Katie Beverley // event planner/coordinator: WED: San Diego by Liz Cutrano // venue: Darlington House // officiant: Dr. Gail Smith // flowers: Moments in Bloom // dress: Blue by Enzoani, purchased at 2000 Dreams Bridal // shoes: Seychelles //  hair: Karla Vazquez of Illusions the Studio // makeup: Dana Gray of Girl on the Go // bridesmaid dresses: Bebe // grooms attire: John Varvatos from Nordstrom // groomsmen attire: Perry Ellis from Macys // cake + sweets: Elizabethan Desserts // rentals + catering: Peartrees Catering // DJ: Vynce ‘DJ Phreek’ Pham // invitations: DIY and design by Marget Nagy // ceremony chairs, centerpieces, seating chart flags and table numbers: DIY-ed by the bride

Holiday Wedding | Liz & Ryan

We can’t even describe the amount of holiday cheer that spread through us when we received this Christmas wedding from Liz and Ryan ! With trees alit and wreaths hung, the Naval Academy Chapel has never looked so beautiful! And when paired with black satin, deep red and white bouquets, and a couple so in love, Saint Nick himself would be pleased with the joy bundled up in one lovely wedding day!

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Wedding Vendors
Photographer: Liz & Ryan
Photo Booth: Liz & Ryan
Invitations & Stationery: Allison Barnhill Designs
Spa: Bodywellness Salon and Spa
Flowers & Decor: Intrigue Designs
Ceremony Venue: United States Naval Academy
Reception Venue: Annapolis Marriott Waterfront Hotel
Cake Baker: Fiona’s Cakes
Transportation: Towne Transport
Bride’s Dress: Mary's Bridal
Bridesmaid Dresses: David's Bridal
Groom’s Attire: Men's Warehouse
Rings: Zachary's Jewelers