THE COUPLE: Patrick, 26, grew up in Ellicott City and is a sales representative for Lincoln Financial. Brooke, 26, who lived in Olney with her family while she attended the University of Maryland, is a marketing account executive for ICF International. They currently live in Sykesville, MD.
THE WEDDING: The wedding was held in a garden and the reception was held in a barn, both at The Union Mills Homestead in Westminster, Maryland, on August 23, 2014. While it poured on their wedding day, the rain stopped just long enough for them to have the ceremony as planned. “Our entire engagement we talked about what a bummer it would be for it to rain, but it ended up being a blessing in disguise,” Brooke says. “The rain made the entire day and evening so magical and mystical, it felt like a real-life fairytale.”
WHERE THEY MET: At a group outing to the movies in 2005, when they were 15 years old.
THE PROPOSAL: Patrick woke Brooke up at 7 a.m. on her 24th birthday, ready to go on a hike. During their hike at Patapsco State Park, they were crossing over a suspension bridge when Patrick told Brooke to look at their dog’s collar. When she did, there was a tag engraved with “Will You Marry Me?” Brooke turned around to see Patrick on one knee holding a vintage 1920s diamond.
WEDDING THEME: A neutral palette of blush and grey tones.
THE GUESTS: 125 people attended their wedding. “We had so many family members and friends who provided so much love and support to us over the years; they deserved a party,” Brooke says, “We wanted our big day to about our favorite people in the world, just as much as it was about us.”
WHAT MADE THE EVENT SO SPECIAL: The wedding was anything but traditional. Their dog, Brodie, was the ring bearer, Brooke’s mom was the one to walk her down the aisle, and the bridal party included Brooke’s best male friend, who was dubbed the “Brides-man.”
FAVORITE DETAILS: The couple served their favorite foods, barbeque for Patrick and Mac and Cheese for Brooke, on mismatched vintage china that Brooke had started collecting a few days after they got engaged.
FAVORITE MOMENT: Right after they had walked down the aisle at the end of the ceremony, as they were standing together waiting for their bridal party to exit and the pictures to begin. “We had a few seconds, maybe a minute, to enjoy the utter bliss of the day,” Brooke says.
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SOMETHING TO LAUGH ABOUT: While Patrick’s cousin and her husband were singing “Into the Mystic” by Van Morrison as a part of the ceremony, Brodie began to sing along, letting out strange noises and howls throughout the song.
COST-CUTTING TIPS: Brooke says to choose what is most important to you to splurge on, and make up for it in other areas. Photography was the first thing they booked, but since they didn’t care as much about the flowers, they ordered them in bulk from Sam’s Club and asked a friend to grow some wild flowers in her garden.
GOWN: Brooke wore an elegant ball gown from Allure Bridals featuring sheer-illusion straps, a lace V-shaped neckline, a ruched waistband and Swarovski crystals.
THE HONEYMOON: 6 nights at Sandals in Antigua.
THE DETAILS: Photos by James Garrett Photography; videography by With The Film; catering by Kountry Kafe & Katering; cake by Starry Night Bakery; hair and makeup by Vintage Veils; music by Beat 2 Beat DJ’s; and invitations by Splash of Silver.
