Elizabeth & Ryan, Maritime Museum Museum, Saint Michaels

Last Saturday we were busy producing the wedding for Elizabeth and Ryan, both of whom live in New York City. Elizabeth spent many weekends at her families summer home on the Bay in Saint Michaels so a Nautical Theme was in the blood. Elizabeth allowed her Mother, Linda to choose pretty much everything in which Linda took great joy and showed such an enchanted attitude during the entire planning and design process. She was by far the easiest Client I've ever worked with, our minds were at the same level, we both knew from the initial meeting exactly how this day would look and she entrusted me with making it happen.

The girls were stunning and the coloration of the flowers served only as adornments, nothing more. The boys, defiantly nautical, the corral ties and leather boat shoes, very cool. And Elizabeth, no words, that dress... the personality... beautiful, quirky, sharp, stunning. I got to drive Elizabeth home to NYC after our second walk through from Saint Michaels. It was the first time meeting her. 4 hours of sharing the presence of one lovely and interesting young woman, every bit as lovely as her Mother.

The Ceremony was the hardest to construct. I made a 110' white washed boardwalk for the Bridal Party to walk down, every single plank I hand painted with a secret white washing formula. They entered the Ceremony through two large white washed columns that were adorned with an abundant array or dried Dune Grass and blue Thistle. There were 6 smaller columns along the walk to the Pergola where there was a long and low box that served as a focal and backdrop, not to tall, I did not want to obscure the magnificent view of the Bay.

For Cocktails, the guests were treated to plenty of fresh oysters and beer which happened to be the result of Ryan's wishes who happens to be a buff when it comes to Micro Beers and I will admit, he found Beers I've never heard of. There was originally to be one massive bar, 16' by 16'. But after the second on-site walk through we decided that it would be just to massive for the space. These things always happen after I make them, luckily Ryan's request for a beer bar came after I shorten the main bar to 13' by 9. There were just enough panels to construct a 13 foot Beer Bar, shew!

I designed four looks for 5 1/2 foot round tables that were dressed in a rich navy blue lined with a light blue twall I chose from Table Manners. I kew Linda would love the linen as we both oood over a deep twall patterned napkin I included in a texture box at our first meeting. It was a unique choice, certainly not nautical, but that was what was so great about it, it served as a soft buffer to the rich nautical decor, gave it an aged old country look.

This awesome tent was 65' wide by 120' long and as clean as clear as a pane of glass, provided by the vigilant Davis of Sugarplum Tents. He floored the entire tent and carpeted it with a cauky turf.

I have not received any photos of the tall wooden vases I made yet, the last photo in this group shows the base of one.

These amazing lanterns I purchased from Pottery Barn. They came in three sizes, this being the largest. I made wooden boxes painted heirloom white with a navy strip for the lantern to sit upon. The pair sat comfortably in a 22 inch foam wreath. In fact, this is the same style of arrangement that Linda first saw, she loved it so much that she signed on with us.

My photographer Sue Muldoon captured this shot and I'm glad she did. Earlier in the day two women approached me during installation and wanted to know everything. Always willing to share, I spent some time with them. Later in the day they came back and told me that they were Event Planners for several Foundations that hold annual events around the country and wanted to know if I travel... well yea! As I was lighting the last of the candles a yacht no more than twenty feet away stopped and this women started yelling "Dragonfly, I love you!" It was one of the planners, oh my. Good PR ey? Surreal.

The evening went off without a single hitch nor a single candle failed. At 9:55 the Father unstbeknown to Elizabeth, Ryan, and guests arranged for a firework display that rivaled any 4th of July celebration I've ever seen. Such a romantic moment, as soon as the last burst there were heard horn blasts from all the folks docked in their boats around the Bay.

After the Reception ended, the guest were then treated to a wooden boardwalk lit by 2 massive floating moon lights that led to the Boat House were there was an after party awaiting them. We supplied groupings of tweed sofas and Anderondick chairs with plenty of nautical themed pillows.

A very special evening, the best of early October weather, the best food, the best event decor!

Planners, Michele Hodges and her very capable assistant Diane Eddy

Caterer, Susan Gage

Decor, the Dragonfly team

Tent, Sugarplum

Photographer, Michael Krauss

Photo Credits, Sue Muldoon and K. Stopak