After heading to Austin, Texas for Anne and Matt’s engagement photos and spending a few hours wandering around Austin, we knew their wedding was going to be a good time. Anne and Matt are two of the kindest, most relaxed people we’ve ever worked with and their wedding felt like one big celebration of their love. Anne tells their story so much better than we ever could, but we have to add that their dance party at the Annapolis Maritime Museum was one of the BEST we’ve ever seen! We love these two and we loved being a part of their wedding day!

From Anne:
Matt and I met after we both moved to Annapolis after college. Matt lived in a house in Eastport with three other guys and I was good friends with some of them through the sailing world. We called the house the “Eastport Tavern” and even made a large, wood sign. This house was within walking distance of downtown Annapolis and so it became a gathering place for a large group of friends. We would eat oysters in the driveway in the winter and we loved to play ping pong in their basement late into the night. Matt and I crossed paths at “The Tavern” long before we started dating.

Eventually we became pretty good friends and realized we shared a love for old school country music. He worked at Merriweather Post Pavilion during that time, so I loved that I could go find him for free margaritas and hot dogs whenever I went to a concert up there!  At one point he actually convinced me to be his date for his 10 year high school reunion (free food + drinks!),  but apparently when other people at the reunion asked if I was his girlfriend, his answer to them was “she’s gonna be.” Soon after that, he actually DID ask me out and we did start dating!

Three months later, I decided to move to Texas for grad school at the University of Texas at Austin. Matt helped me drive down and move in (we stopped at the Gulf along the way and went to a Kenny Chesney concert at the Flora-Bama… and then just went back there on our honeymoon!! Two weeks after I moved to Texas, we were texting and he just decided to move too! 

Matt proposed on a Monday during spring break. We had tickets to go to Houston that night to see my cousins and go to the rodeo because Kenny Chesney was playing that night. Also, South by Southwest was in town which means Austin is crazy and you don’t want to drive around and try to find parking. For some reason, Matt was really adamant anyway that he wanted to go walk around S Congress and get brunch. I very begrudgingly finally agreed and while we were there, Matt said, “Let’s get a picture at the “I love you so much” wall,” – which is like a tourist attraction where lots of people take pictures. Again I resisted but then when we were in the middle of a picture, he got down on one knee and pulled out a ring and I was like OH. MY. GOSH!! So that was a big surprise and then we were hugging and crying etc and then got to go to the rodeo!

When it came time to choose a location for our wedding, we decided to get married on the water in Eastport. From the beginning I wanted an easy, relaxed feeling for the wedding, and the Annapolis Maritime Museum was the perfect fit. I have always loved the water and we knew that we wanted a wedding that was “inspired by” the water but not “nautical”.

One of my favorite moments of the night was right when the band came on to play their last set. Our guests where wearing neon trucker hats reading “Crabcakes”, “Maryland” and “Football” and waving glow sticks as they danced. The band started playing “How Forever Feels” which is a Kenny song that they had learned for us and people were doing the limbo and everybody just came to the dance floor all of a sudden. We had cut the cake, said our remarks, etc., and that was the moment when I was like “ok the rest of the night is allllll just fun.”

Wedding Vendors

Hair & Makeup :: Jeanne Cusick (Cville Makeup)
Jewelry :: MEG Wedding Jewelry (earrings), Blossom (belt and veil)
Florist :: Kate & Lily Floral Design
Wedding Planner :: Crafted Events 
Engagement Ring :: Helzberg Diamonds
Bride’s Wedding band :: Family Heirloom 
Groom’s Wedding Band :: Revolution BA (etsy.com)
DJ/Band :: The Royal Suits (Asheville, NC)
Caterer :: Ken’s Creative Kitchen
Gown designer/retailer :: Paloma Blanca (Mia Bridal Couture – Houston, TX)
Bridesmaids Dresses :: Alfred Angelo
Invitations and programs :: Party Plus (Midlothian, VA)
Calligrapher :: Ginny Rogan
Rehearsal dinner :: London Town Gardens
Videographer :: Ian’s Creations (Charlottesville, VA)
Transportation :: Blanchard Limousines / Watermark Taxis
Wedding Cake :: The Honey Hive – Cakes by Rachel