St Mary’s Annapolis Waterfront Hotel Wedding

Family legacy and attention to detail were the themes of this fabulous Annapolis wedding. Jane and Riley met in the beginning of our freshman year at Notre Dame and the rest is history!

Here is their story in their own words:

We were actually very close friends for three years before we started dating in the fall of our senior year of college. We went to dinner at a pretty popular ‘South Bend college kid’ date spot. Our first official “date” was, honestly, a little awkward. We were definitely still figuring out the transition from ‘best friends’ to ‘dating’, but I think we eventually fell back into our usual rhythm and conversation.

What was your vision for the day (aesthetic, color scheme, decor musts)?

I (Jane) wanted our wedding to be utterly “Annapolis”/Chesapeake Bay and to reflect the waterfront charm and history of the town. But we also wanted to incorporate other places that have been integral to both of our lives, apart and together: Michigan (where Riley grew up), Notre Dame, and Denver. My favorite color is blue, and Riley’s is purple, so the color scheme (shades of blue and purple) was also an easy decision.

How did you find your dress and what drew you to it?

My dress was the first one I tried on, at the only store we shopped! I was drawn towards the beautiful marriage (no pun intended!) of floral and classic. I was obsessed with the sleeves and the back, and the moment I put it on, I knew – and everyone with me at the boutique knew – that it was the one!

What was your favorite detail (or three!) from your wedding?

· The Kim Hovel oyster-pattern linens

· The oyster shell escort board that incorporated designs/motifs from our invitation, including the toile pattern with designs of our most beloved places (Chesapeake Bay, Walloon Lake, Notre Dame Golden Dome, Rocky Mountains)

· The mix of florals, greenery, and candles on the tables

Did your significant other take the lead on any of the planning? What decisions, big or small, mattered most to him/her?

Jane: Riley planned the honeymoon.

Riley: I just wanted my wife to be happy. J But it was very important to me that we have a live band!

What was your biggest splurge? Why did it matter to you?

The venue (Annapolis Waterfront Hotel)! We wanted very dearly to be on the water and/or in Downtown Annapolis, and we were incredibly fortunate to be able to do both! People could walk from the ceremony at St. Mary’s, and enjoy cocktail hour outside on the balcony overlooking the Bay. It was absolutely perfect for where we wanted to be and how many guests we had, and we are so grateful.

What was the biggest challenge of your planning process and how did you resolve it?

Sustainability/environmental stewardship is of the utmost importance to us, so Riley and I tried very hard to make our wedding as sustainable as possible! We knew it would be impossible to make it completely so, but we did what we could. For example, we sent the majority of our Save the Dates through Paperless Post, and didn’t serve any beef at the reception.

Was there one especially standout vendor? Which vendor was the hardest to find?

Our vendors were incredible. We could not have had such a beautiful, perfect weekend without Mollie (our planner) or Kate (our photographer). The hardest vendor to find was Wren & Olivia (bouquet preservation) because I started that process way too late, but it worked out wonderfully!

What was the most meaningful part of your ceremony?

The most meaningful part of our ceremony (besides the moment we became husband and wife!) was having our loved ones involved in the ceremony as ushers, readers, altar server, and Eucharistic ministers.

Do you have a favorite moment or memory from your wedding?

Jane: It’s really hard to choose just one. The whole weekend was perfect, and celebrating with all our favorite people in my favorite place was a dream come true. But if I had to pick, it would be dancing with my new husband and our wonderful family and friends. When the dancefloor opened, I knew that all the planned and scheduled and detailed parts of the weekend were done; all the hard work had come to fruition; and everyone was having as much fun as I was!

Riley: I would say our first dance! The band did an amazing rendition of “La Vie en rose” (the Louis Armstrong version) complete with horns, and it was absolutely incredible to be there dancing with my new wife, surrounded by the people most important to us in the world. I would also add that all the toasts at the reception and rehearsal dinner were terrific!

Two ‘family traditions’, of sorts, were incorporated into our day – one planned, and one a surprise.

The planned tradition was one passed down from Riley’s parents and their own wedding. Instead of clinking glasses to get the bride and groom to kiss, our guests were asked to get together with their tables to serenade us with part of a song that had the word ‘love’ in it. All of our guests completely committed and had a blast with it, and we will never forget the utterly joyful and hilarious moments when groups of our loved ones shouted/sang songs to us.

The other tradition comes from my (Jane) grandparents, who always tailgate before and after Notre Dame football games. If Notre Dame wins, they pass around a fifth of Gentleman Jack at the post-tailgate, and everyone is invited to partake (as long as they say “To the Irish!” before they drink). Riley and I were completely surprised by two of our guests making sure this tradition took place at our wedding: my (Jane) uncle and our close friend from college. And we will never forget my (Jane) grandparents passing around a fifth of Gentleman Jack on the dance floor, celebrating with and surrounded by all of our college friends, my (Jane) parents’ (who met at Notre Dame as well) college friends, and our family members who have been doing this with them for years.