You'll Fall in Love With This Old-World Wedding on the Maryland Coast

“We were young enough to not take life too seriously,” says Loring of first meeting Austin as interns in Dallas in 2010. “We lived every moment of that summer to the fullest, and found something special and unique in one another.” The pair dated long-distance while they finished up school, racked up speeding tickets driving back and forth across Texas, and finally made it official when Austin moved to Dallas to join Loring. Almost four years later, she planned a Valentine’s Day trip to Los Cabos with a group of friends — but Austin had something else up his sleeve. “He’d asked my family for my hand over Christmas, then found a beautiful cove on the beach in Mexico and asked me to spend my life with him,” says the bride.

The couple knew they wanted an intimate, homey feel for their wedding, and achieved that cozy feeling (even with 240 guests!) by hosting their wedding at the bride’s family’s home on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. “The property has been a farm since the 1600s, but ours was the first wedding to be held there, which made it feel like the day was ours and ours alone,” says Loring. They hired Pineapple Productions to help them create an Old World-vibe with the graceful simplicity of home. The week of their wedding, the duo found themselves bracing for incoming Hurricane Joaquin but with a little extra planning (and the expertise of their planners!), this bride and groom hosted a fabulous party on October 10, 2015. We dare you not to fall in love with this simple, stunning celebration, photographed by Patricia Lyons!

There’s nothing quite as gorgeous as classic coastal home (with some serious history!) to serve as a backdrop for a fall wedding.

Guests were invited to the wedding with a white and gray suite, finished with flowing calligraphy and soft gray ribbon. Upon arrival, they were greeted with welcome bags containing some of the bride and groom’s favorite things from their Texas, Delaware, and Maryland roots: Shiner Bock beer, Texas Longhorns chocolate, Stubb’s BBQ rub, and Old Bay seasoning &mdahs; plus a mini bottle of wine!

Though Loring fell for the very first dress she tried on, a silk shantung A-line with a beaded bodice by Ines Di Santo, she tried on almost 40 more. “None felt as right as that first one, so we went back and it was perfect,” she says. She made the shopping trip a family affair, bringing along her mom and grandmother, as well as Austin’s mom and his two grandmothers.

The bride’s soft bouquet combined garden roses, white veronica, begonias, ranunculus, euphorbia, dusty miller, and white passion flower vine, along with scented geranium, lemon verbena, and basil.

A shimmering pair of Jimmy Choo peep-toes were the perfect shoes to get Loring down the aisle in style.

We’re totally swooning over the bride’s asscher-cut engagement ring, tucked into a velvet Mrs. Box.

Loring knew she wanted her bridesmaids in a creamy neutral hue, and finally found the perfect option: French vanilla chiffon dresses by Watters. Her maid of honor finished the gown with a sparkling belt that matched the beading on the bride’s gown.

Austin wore a custom suit by Suit Supply, with burgundy suede under the lapels and a burgundy silk lining. His groomsmen wore black suits from Jos. A Banks, and all finished their looks with gray silk ties. Their boutonnieres combined rosebuds, begonia, and olive leaves.

With a gorgeous waterfront location, the ceremony didn’t need much dressing up. Austin and Loring exchanged vows beneath an arch of fruiting olive, hydrangeas, and green privet. “All of our family had a role. Our cousins were ushers, our grandparents did the Blessing of the Hands, and my bridesmaid sang ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow,'” says the bride.

The spot where the arch was placed was extra special: Loring’s mom had buried a bottle of bourbon there a month before the wedding for good luck (and to fend off the rain!), then Austin and his groomsmen dug it up and toasted the weather gods, who kept Hurricane Joaquin at bay and graced the couple with spectacular fall weather!

The reception took place in a sailcloth tent on the lawn, with linen curtains draping the entryway. Guests’ escort cards were displayed on tables just inside the door, with garlands and floral chandeliers draped from the ceiling in the background.

Centerpieces combined garden roses, dahlias, persimmons, viburnum, and flowing greenery in French iron urns, terra cotta, and hand-blown glass containers.

“We used a variety of china patterns, including Italian ceramic Venetian lace china and French ceramic with scrollwork finishes,” says Loring. The mixed china and pewter flatware created a soft, homespun vibe. At the head table, linen napkins were embroidered with the couple’s new monogram. “The napkins were a lovely keepsake, and we use them every time we entertain at home!”

A mix of long, square, and round tables were draped with open-weave linens and set with cross-back and upholstered chairs.

The menu consisted of dishes that showed off the couple’s roots in Delaware, Texas, and Maryland. “We served Delaware wild mushroom bisque, a fall vegetable medley, jumbo lump Maryland crab cakes, Texas braised short rib, and a Bananas Foster bar — my family’s favorite!” Loring says. Guests sipped margaritas made using the brides’ father’s secret recipe, Moscow mules, and wines from a vineyard serendipitously named Loring Wine Company.

The five-tiered cake, decorated with soft pink garden roses, contained layers of lemon genoise cake with lemon filling and fresh raspberries.

After an amazing performance by Rhythm Collective, the couple made their exit through an archway of sparklers.

Loring’s advice is to get to know your vendors. “We spent 18 months with them as they worked to execute the most memorable day of our lives, and we felt a special connection with each and every one of them. The greatest testimony of the impact this relationship can have is that our friends have asked for their contact information, and my mom is relieved that she already has a wedding planner and vendors lined up for when my sister gets married one day!”

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Private Residence || Wedding Planner: Pineapple Productions || Bride’s Wedding Dress: Ines Di Santo, purchased at Stanley Korshak || Shoes: Jimmy Choo || Jewelry: Stuart Kingston || Hair: Teresa Alfieri of Shift || Makeup: Tonia Marisa Patterson of Ooh La La! The Makeup Studio || Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Watters || Groom’s Attire: Suit Supply || Groomsmen’s Attire: Jos. A. Bank || Wedding Bands: Stuart Kingston || Floral Design & Décor: Beehive Events || Invitations & Paper Goods: Simple Song Design || Calligraphy: Tara Jones || Music: Elan Artists || Catering & Cake: Design Cuisine || Rentals: Skyline Tent Company || Videographer: Toy Box Productions || Photographer: Patricia Lyons Photography

Looking for more weddings just like this? Then check out another couple’s Maryland wedding in the video below.