 When Morgan and Chris are together you instantly feel this outpouring and evident true love. This feeling oozed out of every part of their wedding day and it warms my heart just thinking about what a fabulous day it was. Morgan was a Phi Mu at Towson and although we didn’t go to school together and had never met before, we instantly felt a connection to each other that is hard to explain. Chris and Morgan are both from Kent Island and they celebrated their wedding day in their hometown. They were married at Safe Harbor Presbyterian Church and held their reception at Maria’s Love Point Bed and Breakfast. The reception was held outside in a tent facing the waterfront views. Light and airy blush tones and succulent plants filled the space. Morgan and her dad opened the dance floor with a hilarious choreographed father daughter dance and the wedding party group made quite an entrance. It was clear early on that this was going to be a fun, dance-filled evening. Morgan has Polish heritage so she did an “apron dance” where family and friends paid to dance to polka music with the bride and groom. The line was long and people were having a spectacular time – plus the newlyweds got to walk away with a little cash!! Instead of a large traditional cake, Morgan and Chris opted for a smaller cake and a huge donut display from their favorite local donut shop. One of my favorite moments of the day was feeding Morgan a donut behind the scenes while she was waiting for the bridal party entrance, so that she did not get anything on herself! The night culminated with a sparkler send off on the water! Chris is a Natural Resources Police Officer and spends a lot of his time on the water – so it was totally fitting that their sendoff was on a police boat!! Thank you to the wonderful vendor team that helped make it all happen! I wish a life of love and happiness to Morgan and Chris and I cannot wait for all the fun things our future will hold together! Ceremony Venue | Safe Harbor Presbyterian Church Reception Venue | Maria’s Love Point Bed and Breakfast Photographer | Erin Meadows Photography Videographer | Wedding Bug DJ | Matt Spence at Steve Moody Entertainment Caterer | Window’s Waterfront Catering Florist | The Country Pettaler Donuts | Sandy Pony Donuts Hair and Makeup | Jackie’s Design Featured on: The Mid-Atlantic Bride and The Annapolis Wedding Blog Here is what Morgan and Chris had to say about their experience with Social Graces: “Social Graces Events provided services beyond my expectations. The master mind behind it all, Katie, is everything I would hope for in a coordinator. She was extremely on top of every little detail while being so friendly and poise through every step. Katie was able to take my vision and create something so beautiful I wasn’t sure it was real life! Katie has an obvious passion and heart for what she does and it is apparent in her hard work and dedication. I am so thankful I was able to work with her for my wedding and HIGHLY recommend her services!”
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 Courtney and Jesse were not only one of the sweetest couples I ever worked with but one of the most hilarious, you do not want to miss this fun reception! Their wedding was at the Annapolis Maritime Museum, which was an old oyster shucking factory and the nautical feel of this venue was perfect for them. The ceremony was held outside on a waterfront tented deck, totally picturesque! Oyster shell details (including placecards created and handlettered by Social Graces) and nautical themed pink and navy colors pulled the whole wedding theme together. The night quickly turned into a spectacular dance party and the guests had an amazing time. Jesse is a Calvert Hall alumni, so all of his high school buddies took a photo with the Cardinal football helmet and built a large human pyramid. One of my favorite moments of the night was watching Jesse and Courtney dance and sing along to Grease with each other, it was like they were in their own little world truly enjoying their day. The night culminated with a sparkler send off! Thank you to the vendor team that helped make it happen! I wish a life of love and happiness to Courtney and Jesse!! Venue | Annapolis Maritime Museum Photographer | Christa Rae Photography DJ | Scott Cash Mitchell Rentals | Absolute Party Rentals Caterer | Adam’s Ribs Florist | Fleur De Lis Florist Here is what Courtney and Jesse had to say about their experience with Social Graces: “Katie is hands down, the sweetest, most thoughtful and genuine person I have ever met. She took so much time to get to know my hubby and I, and really learn and see the vision for our big day and bring it all to life. She took care of every last detail, even things I hadn't thought of. She even surprised us with hand lettered oyster shells for our guests (our venue was an old Oyster Shucking Factory)! She is a true gem and an absolute joy to work with. I honestly didn't think I needed a planner at first, but once she stepped in, I knew I'd made the best decision to work with her! If you're looking for a wedding planner, look no further. Katie will go above and beyond to make your day absolutely perfect!” As we head into the new year, I wanted to start a new monthly tradition! I am creating a wedding venue bucket list. This means that I am listing out dream wedding venues that I would love to plan at, if you get married at any of these wedding venues I will give you a FREE Month of Planning package. If you haven't selected a wedding venue yet.. maybe check out the ones below! I will add a new venue each month, so keep your eyes out for updates! 1. Biltmore Estate - Asheville, North Carolina One of my favorite places that I have ever visited and literally a bridal dream world! Who wants to get married on this front lawn? Answer: Everyone. This mansion, owned by the Vanderbilt family, is a pristine example of the Gilded Age and they have the wedding accommodations to match. Check it out here!  2. The Greenbrier - White Sulphur Springs, WV The epitome of Southern excellence - a white house, with exquisite gardens and over the top Southern Belle designs. Signature columns, patterned curtains, checked flooring and vibrant decor all surrounded by majestic mountain views. Think Kate Spade and Lilly Pultizer mixed with all things Southern. "America's Resort" since 1778 this is a must see venue for your wedding day and dare I even say a must book! Check it out here!  3. The White Sparrow – Quinlan, Texas The first time I saw this all white barn venue I thought I was dreaming. It is literally the perfect blank slate for your wedding ceremony and reception. I have never seen anything like it! The white surroundings are ideal for light and airy wedding photography and the outdoor space is stunning. It is a perfect balance of rustic, southern charm with classic elegance! Check it out here!  The Fine Print: The free wedding planning package will be a Month of Wedding planning package, an upgrade to partial or full planning will require additional payment. Client is responsible for paying for travel and lodging for Katie for one consultation/walk through meeting and Katie and one assistant for the wedding weekend (travel costs not to exceed the value of a Month of Wedding planning package).
We wanted to give you a full recap of our honeymoon trip to Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Hold tight everyone - this is a LONG one, but we wanted to make sure that you got the full break down and photos from our whole trip. We hope you enjoy it and if this area of the world is not on your bucketlist, get out your pen because it will need to be added! Day One – July 13th Travel Day As we began our trip we flew from BWI to Toronto on Air Canada then from Toronto to Copenhagen. The plane we flew overseas was huge with three groups of seating with two aisles! We flew over night! Day Two – July 14th Copenhagen, Demark – Tivoli Hotel We arrived in Denmark around 8:30 am. Our hotel was not ready for us to check-in so we dropped our bags and went on a self-guided tour of the city. We started at the train station to convert money and then proceeded to walk endlessly around the city. We stopped in a small local pizza place for lunch (Hikos). Back at the hotel we met our tour guide, Peter, from Collette for the first time. We checked in to our room and got ready for our welcome dinner. At dinner (Zeleste) we met our 40 other companions for the first time, we were the youngest couple by about 40 years but the crowd was thrilled when our guide announced that I won the trip on Wheel of Fortune. We sat with Max and Mergie, who quickly became some of our favorite people on the trip. After dinner we stayed out in Nyhavn (our favorite area in the city) for some drinks. It stays light out for very long hours in the summer, so although it was after 10:00 pm it still felt like day time. Day Three – July 15th Copenhagen, Denmark – Tivoli Hotel We woke up and had a lovely breakfast in the hotel. Then we headed out on our bus for a motor coach tour of the city, seeing many of the big attractions for the city – The Little Mermaid statue, churches, fountains, the royal palace and quarters, and parliament. The history and beauty of this city was just crazy. The architecture and the colors – we kept calling it the Charleston of Denmark. We then went out of Copenhagen for an excursion to the Castle of Fredericksborg. On the way we stopped for lunch in a coastal village. We were able to taste a lot of the local far including herring (it was a pickled white fish) and Ryan hated it. We sat with our new Texan friends Martin and Linda. We continued up the coast to the castle. This castle was absolutely breathtaking from the outside. Perfectly manicured gardens and just stunning. It previously was a private residence but now serves as a museum of Denmark’s history. Favorite part: the topiary gardens were shaped in the crest/monogram of the current queen from an aerial view (serious life goals). On the way home from the castle we were dropped back off in the city center area for the evening. We went to the Tivoli Beergarten and drank Cooper and Radler beers, which was funny because that is the names of the beer that we drink at OMB in Charlotte. We took a canal tour to see the city by boat. It was an amazing weather day and a Saturday so the city was popping. After the canal tour we ate dinner at The Standard where we ate way too much bread and were served very small portions of food. We were warned that service and dinner was slow in Scandinavia, and they were right. Our dinner took hours but it was very enjoyable. We finished the night off with ice cream on the water. Day Four – July 16th Vaxjo, Sweden – PM &Vanner We woke up early to travel to Sweden by bus. We made a stop at a café/gas station where they had Doritos (I actually gasped). Also the Swedish people have a major sweet tooth and there was candy everywhere and I was in heaven. We saw an IKEA on the drive, which I loved! We made a stop in Kosta to see a glass blowing factory. This place was amazing – everything was handmade – stemware, bowls, everything. Nothing was produced by a machine. We watched a demonstration from a master glass blower. There must not be any safety regulations in Sweden because the master was wearing shorts, no gloves, no eye protection etc. and he used his bare hands and a wet piece of newspaper to shape the molten hot glass. We ate lunch at the café at the glass blowing factory and then back on the road to Vaxjo. Vaxjo is a very quiet local city but we enjoyed it greatly. The hotel was stunning and we had some of the best food so far (Kafe DeLuxe), we wanted to find a place to explore and grab a drink, but everything was closed on Sunday. We luckily found a grocery store and bought some Rose to enjoy – but we got back to our room and realized it was non-alcoholic! **PM+Vanner gave us some homemade cholates to celebrate our honeymoon Day Five – July 17th Travel Day We woke up extra early and had breakfast at the hotel. P+M had the most amazing breakfast prepared including fresh pressed orange and apple juice. We traveled on the bus for 5-6 hours to Stockholm. We stopped at a small roadside café. We people watched a lot of small children and one even exclaimed “HEY” at us which we later learned was “hej” (Swedish for hello). Arriving in Stockholm we traveled to tour the City Hall, which was stunning and featured a full room of mosaic walls – 19 million mosaic pieces and 8 kilos of 24k gold. The City Hall is where the Nobel Peace prize and other Nobel prizes are presented – we became very humbled realizing the spectacular company of people that had once stood in this room. We then took a mini bus tour of the city and landed in Gamlastan (the old town) for a surprise Fika (coffee and dessert). After the Fika we checked-in to our hotel (The Grand Central Scandic) and then headed to dinner (FemSmaHus – which means Five Small Houses). This restaurant was originally owned by the first ever female restaurant owner in Stockholm. We had reindeer, salmon and veal for dinner along with some tasty champagne with blue berry liquor. We sat with Max and Mergie and Bob and Mary Ellen. After dinner we chose to walk home through old town on the pedestrian path. We stopped at the Hobo Hotel for a cocktail and then proceeded to an Irish pub (Lemrick). Day Six – July 18th Stockholm, Sweden – The Grand Central Scandic First we went on a mini city tour and ended at the Vasa museum. The Vasa ship was built by the king and sunk 800 meters from its original location on its first voyage. It was meant to travel to Poland to show the King’s strength and power. It was found and raised from the sea around 1950. Because it was in brackish water instead of salt water, 95% of the boat was raised in its original condition. It was crazy that they could pick up the ship from the bottom of the sea mostly intact. The level of detail and the size of the ship was spectacular. Next we headed by bus and ferry on an archipelago tour. We arrived on the island Vaxholm. This island town is basically a vacation home area, think the Hamptons/Nantucket etc. We went on a quick walking garden tour and then had some free time to explore the island. We had the best Swedish meatballs and relaxed in town. We then took a boat cruise tour back to Stockholm. After arriving back in Stockholm we walked the city on our own and ended up in the SoFo neighborhood for an amazing overlook and ice cream. Once we realized how far we had walked from our hotel we figured out how to operate the Metro to get back to our side of the city. We relaxed for some time at the hotel and then went to a local dive bar and had some drinks and American food (which was necessary). It was a great day - very packed! Day Seven – July 19th Oslo, Norway – Hotel Bristol We woke up in Stockholm and headed to the train station. It was about two blocks away from the hotel, but we had to take the motor coach because of the age and walkability of our tour friends. We were very excited to head to Norway because our guide said this was the best part of the trip. We were on the train for six hours through the small towns of Sweden. We caught up on some sleep (Ryan took pictures of me sleeping as usual). We arrived at Hotel Bristol and changed for dinner at Loise on the waterfront at Oslo (Aker Brygge). After dinner we walked around and explored the waterfront. We stopped at a bar right on the water (Lekter’n) and split a bottle of wine. It remained light even later than usual. Day Eight – July 20th Oslo, Norway – Hotel Bristol We had breakfast at the hotel. We did a mini city tour of Oslo. During the tour we visited a Viking ship museum and Vigeland Park, which was a sculpture garden. The park was filled with statues (over 200) all by the same artist. All the people were depicted in the nude so that they were timeless and the most pure in form. The park was immaculately manicured with stunning lawns and roses. It took 13.5 years to complete the park. We arrived back at the hotel and then headed out to the town. We did some shopping first and then grabbed some lunch. In typical fashion, I started with an order of ice cream, Coke, and salt and vinegar chips while Ryan had a beer. We walked around the historic fortress with stunning views of the city and then toured the Resistance museum. Then we walked to the Royal Palace. It was the crown prince’s birthday so the castle had his crest flag hanging. In the evening we went on a three hour fjord cruise that included a prawn buffet. We met a fun couple from Sweden and a group of older women from Australia. It was our last night in Oslo and we loved this city. Day Nine – July 21st Flam, Norway – Fretheim Hotel We had breakfast at the hotel then departed on the bus for Flam. We drove through the beautiful country side and began to understand why this was going to be the best part of the trip. During the ride we stopped off in some small towns/cafes. We had Chinese food, because we were craving it. We went through the longest road tunnel in the world (24.5 km). We stopped at a historic Stave church, an all wooden church dating back to the 1100’s when Christianity was forced on the Vikings. Almost all of the original wood was intact due to the fact that it was built on stone and covered in tar paint. We arrived in Flam and settled into the most beautiful hotel. We rode the Flamsbana train up and down the mountain. The views and water falls were absolutely incredible – pictures will never do it justice, we can only try to explain it. We had dinner at the hotel with the group and did some shopping. The hotel was directly on the fjord and just stunning; it previously was a private resort for aristocrats. Day Ten – July 22nd Loen, Norway – Alexandra Hotel We had breakfast at the hotel in Flam and then got on the bus to drive to Loen. We stopped at a café at the bottom of a glacier. This was our first look at a glacier and the clear blue water in the lake below. We were stunned. The glacier was on top of the mountain - not coming out of the water. We took a ferry across the water and then continued the drive through the stunning country of Norway onto our next glacier. The views were too stunning, something constantly to be looking at – mountains, waterfalls, fjords. We arrived at Briksdal glacier park. We rode “troll cars” (John Deere gators) to the top of the mountain and took a short walk to the most amazing sight. There were many waterfalls on the ride, one that soaked us a little. We saw a glacier calving (breaking and falling into the waterfall). The water was super cold. We then drove to our hotel (Alexandra) where we had an amazing buffet dinner and a night cap drink – an old fashioned and strawberry daiquiri. A great end to the most beautiful day yet. Day Eleven – July 23rd Loen, Norway – Alexandra Hotel We had breakfast at the hotel and then headed out on the bus to tour the awesome scenery. After an hour we arrived at the ferry in Hellesylt. It was a vehicle and passenger ferry where we rode on the top to look at the views. It was incredibly foggy and hard to see the mountain tops, but apparently this is how the weather typically is in Norway. We have been very lucky with our weather, however, it was very cool to see it this way. On the ferry, we were able to see mountains waterfalls etc. on all sides of us. We got off at Geiranger and took switchback roads up the mountain with amazing views of the town and fjord below. We got to a point where we were finally above the fog and the blue skies were beautiful. We saw a pond (at 3,000 feet above sea level) that was a result of melted snow and ice. We then continued to climb the mountain (Ryan was just a little terrified) and climb more, until we reached Dalsnibba (elevation 1,500 meters above sea level). This overlook was the best view we have ever seen in our lifetime, just absolutely breath taking. Ryan was terrified but finally mustered up the courage to walk to the edge of the glass for a photo. On the way back to the hotel we stopped in Styrn and had pizza for lunch and did a little clothes shopping (Moods of Norway). When we got back to Loen we walked to a little white church up on a hill (I am obsessed with little white churches if you didn’t know!) and passed orchards and strawberry fields. This church had a memorial for two tragic rock falls that had occurred in the town and killed a lot of the people with a giant wave. Hard to believe the same exact tragedy happened in the same town twice, maybe not a place to be looking into real estate. After the church visit, we attempted to rent a pedal boat to ride out on the fjord, but none were available so we ended up with a row boat that had broken oars and probably had not been used for years. The struggle was real. It was relaxing and hilarious but not at all what we originally had in mind. We had buffet dinner at the hotel and enjoyed a few drinks with Peter, our tour guide. Day Twelve – July 24th Bergen, Norway We traveled to Bergen for the majority of the day and arrived there in the evening and had some free time to explore. We walked around the markets in town, bought some reindeer and other novelty meats and then took the Floibanen train to the top of a mountain to see the whole city of Bergen. On the train ride up we met a Thai man with a ukulele who proceeded to sing us a “Happy Wedding to you” song that he wrote specifically for us, it was hilarious. At the top there was a small café where we got some drinks and enjoyed the view. Day Thirteen Bergen, Norway We had breakfast in the hotel and then had an extended walking tour of the city. After the walking tour we continued to explore the city on our own. There were many souvenir shops and Christmas shops that we explored. We also had a Skillingsbolle which is a traditional dessert similar to a cinnamon bun. We got a glass of wine at an old tavern that had completely slanted floors and walls. Many buildings in Bergen were slanted due to an explosion that occurred in the harbor in WWII. We had our farewell dinner with everyone we traveled with. It was sweet to talk about all of our favorite parts of the trip and exchange information to keep in touch in the future. We ended the night by getting dessert on the water and headed back to the hotel since we had a very early flight in the morning back to the US.  Julianne and I met at Towson University, we are both Phi Mus! When she reached out to me about being part of her big day I could not have been more excited! She and Cory knew from the very beginning they wanted an outside, waterfront wedding that was classic with nautical undertones and that is exactly what their day was. Osprey Point was the perfect backdrop for a waterfront ceremony and a large sail cloth tent. Julianne had the sweetest first looks with both her bridesmaids and her father. She also had a special private moment with Cory before their wedding were they read letter from one another without seeing each other. When your Maid of Honor is Lindsey Swink of BareInk Co. it is guaranteed that your details are going to be on point – every calligraphy detail was perfectly in place and stunning! Julianne’s navy blue color palette was stunningly beautiful on her bridesmaids with greenery and blush accents. There were so many thoughtful details included in this day, including: Fisher’s Popcorn for favors, tables named after important locations in their life and a delicious dessert buffet. The night quickly turned into a spectacular dance party and the guests had an amazing time, culminating with a sparkler send off! Thank you to the vendor team that helped make it happen! I wish a life of love and happiness to Cory and Julianne!! Venue | Osprey Point Photographer | Wes Bunton Photography DJ | Chris Hart Calligraphy | BareInk Co. Florist | Floral Studio Rentals | Eastern Shore Tents Hair and Makeup | Pins to Pearls Dessert | Steve Konopelski at Turnbridge Point Officiant | Rovan from Thoughtful Weddings Transportation | Chesapeake Charter  I am so excited to welcome Kerri and Matt to the Social Graces family! I am looking forward to their wedding in November!! Learn a little bit more about these two below How did the two of you meet? Matt and I met through mutual friends in college. Our best man and his wife had been dating for just a few months when they invited a few of us to an afternoon at the park. I sent my mom and sister several texts about how cute he was, and my sister actually dubbed him “FBIL” (future brother-in-law) before we’d even known each other for 24 hours! We continued to hang out in large group settings, even camping on Assateague with a group of friends, but it wasn’t until June that Matt started texting me, and our first date wasn’t until mid-July! Kerri, what do you love about Matt? Matt is the most thoughtful person I know. After our second date, Matt escorted me to the car where he presented me with my favorite cookies. He knew my birthday was a few days away and had figured out my favorite cookie with the help of some friends. He then baked dozens of cookies for me! He also loves his family as much as I love mine. He likes spending time with his sisters, parents, and grandma. He doesn’t visit out of obligation, but because he truly cares. Because Matt loves his family so much, he understands and loves mine too. This means that even though we have to go to three houses every Christmas to see all of our parents and siblings, and even though those houses are hours apart, he does it with a smile. Matt also makes me laugh every day, even when I’m mad at him. He has a great sense of humor, and can pull me out a funk like no one else. And as cliché as it sounds, he’s my best friend- the one person I can tell anything, who loves me even when I’m crazy, and who I can’t wait to see at the end of the day. Matt, what do you love about Kerri? Kerri is an extremely giving person. She always puts others before herself. I don’t think I’ve met anyone else who cares about others the way she does. I love that she laughs at my corny jokes, puts up with my eccentricities, and always is willing to listen. Kerri and I also share the same values when it comes to family. Family comes first for the both of us. Kerri is also a very driven person and has excelled in her career as well as in school. I couldn’t teach 28 kindergarten students with a smile on my face every day but she does it with a passion to see her kids succeed. To sum up how I feel about Kerri: I couldn’t be happier to be with her and I feel lucky to have someone so special in my life. What is something special about the two of you? Our first date was on Matt’s parents’ anniversary! What do you like to do as a couple in your free time? We love visiting so many of Maryland’s amazing wineries. We love to hang out with our big, crazy families. We also love to travel- we’ve been up and down the East and West coasts together and to Europe to visit Matt’s sister when she was studying abroad. We’re so excited for our big European honeymoon which will take us through three countries! What are a few of your favorite things? We love Mexican food, trying new beer and ciders, visiting vineyards, and traveling. We both come from families who love board games, so we have a ton. It’s always fun to have our friends and families over for a homemade dinner, beer, and games. What does your dream wedding look like? Our dream wedding is the one we’re planning! We’re having a small, intimate wedding with only our closest friends and family. We have friends and family coming in from as far away as California and Hawaii. We wanted to be sure we could spend as much time with them as possible. We know this will be one of the only opportunities for all of our friends and family to be in one place, and we couldn’t be more excited. Why did you chose to work with Social Graces? Katie and I went to Towson together, and were in the same programs. In fact, I had at least one class with Katie every semester for all 4 years. She was the only person I knew that was juggling as many things as I was and still pulling the grades. I knew that if I was going to hire a planner, it had to be someone who was as attentive to detail as me, someone I knew and trusted. Katie was a perfect fit!   I am so excited to officially welcome Celia and Jon to the Social Graces family! I am looking forward to their big day in Asheville, NC in just a couple weeks! Get to know a little bit more about these two below!! How did the two of you meet? Jon and I met at work. Celia, what do you love about Jon? What I love about Jon is his free spirit. His smile is contagious and he always knows how to lift my spirits when I am down. He makes me a better person. The fact that I still get butterflies in my stomach every day! Jon, what do you love about Celia? I love her selflessness and caring spirit. She wants the best for us and everyone around us and is my partner in crime. What is something special about the two of you? Something special about us is that we both bring out the better half of the other and our two lovable dogs. What do you like to do as a couple in your free time? In our free time we like to go camping, canoeing and hiking. What are a few of your favorite things? Our camper, canoe, dancing, craft beer (Jon), Mexican food, pizza. What does your dream wedding look like? Outdoors, surrounded by our family and friends. Why did you chose to work with Social Graces? We chose Social Graces because of the way Katie made us feel comfortable from the beginning. After meeting her she showed us a love for planning and we know that her attention to all the details will help our special day be perfect.   I am so excited to welcome Courtney and Jesse to the Social Graces family! I cannot wait for their wedding in August. Get to know a little bit more about these two below!! How did the two of you meet? Jesse and I met working at the Under Armor Factory Store in Pasadena, MD. I had applied for a retail associate position (turned out he had just put in his two weeks), had a quick interview and got asked back to a team meeting that evening to meet everyone that worked there prior to me starting. I walked into the meeting that evening nervous but then this cute guy (Jesse) walks in, a little dirty, backwards baseball cap, walks right up to me and introduces himself with a big ol' grin. I was completely smitten. I'm pretty sure we spent the whole meeting exchanging glances at each other. At the end of the meeting, the Manager asked me to stand up and say a little about myself. At the time, I was 17 and on my High School's Dance Team, so I told everyone and once the meeting was over, Jesse asked me if I country lined danced. I thought he was joking but he wasn't. We both kind of laughed and I went home that night and told my mom about him, but I wasn't sure he was interested. About two weeks later, he came to work mad that a friend of his had asked out a girl he was talking to. I remember acting like I felt bad for him, but in my mind I was so excited. I made a comment about wanting to go to an Orioles game later that week, but not having anyone to go with and without a second of hesitation, Jesse asked me if I wanted to go with him. I played a little hard to get and told him I'd think about it, but I always knew the answer was yes. So we ended up going to the game that Friday night and after about three months of dates to the ballpark, he asked me to be his girlfriend and under the Fireworks at Camden Yards on July 14th, 2006 I said Yes. So here we are, almost 11 years later, just a few months out from our wedding! Courtney, what do you love about Jesse? I love that Jesse is always so willing to give so much of his time and himself to others. He is incredibly caring and always makes sure that the needs of others are above his own. Jesse is also the most outgoing person I've met. He could make friends with anyone *(but surrounds himself with the best)* and could sit and talk to, or have a beer with, absolutely anyone. He is the most genuine and honest person I've ever met and he always makes me laugh, even when he makes me mad. He treats me like an absolute princess and always puts me first through everything. He is all I could ever want in a man and a husband. If you asked him, he'd tell you he's the lucky one, but that’s a total lie. I'm the lucky one, I have been since day one. Jesse, what do you love about Courtney? What do I love about Courtney? Since day one, the first thing that attracted me to her was her smile. She has the most beautiful smile and her whole attitude and appearance is polarizing. When I first met her, I could not stop thinking about how beautiful she was (not that she isn't now) and how quickly she consumed every last thought that I had. She is one of the most understanding, caring, funny, family oriented and most importantly, most patient people I know. Being patient with me is a make or break quality. She continually gives of herself and puts others before her own needs. She is a true gem of a human being and spending the rest of my life with her is truly a victory for me and my life, and one I will always treasure. She is truly mesmerizing and I could not imagine one day without her. She has nursed me back to health when I've been sick, stitched me up when I've bled, and brought me back to sunnier days when all I could see was dark and cloudy. She's my best friend and I wouldn't want anyone else. Ever. What is something special about the two of you? I think what is special about us is the way we balance each other. Jesse is such a guy’s guy and I am pretty girly, but we try to incorporate our likes and interest into things we can do and enjoy together. We started dating when I was 17 and I honestly think our relationship has only gotten stronger with time. People always tell us they want a story and a relationship like ours. We're a laid back, up-for-anything pair that have an amazing bond and relationship. What do you like to do as a couple in your free time? When we actually free time, we love hanging out with our pup Ben and taking him for nice long walks or trips to Lowes! (He is a little pom-chi mix). We love our Orioles and Ravens and always squeeze in a bunch of games throughout the year. We have an amazing group of friends and absolutely love spent time with all of them. We enjoy golfing, trying to do home improvement projects, playing on our co-ed football team, and having a couple cold ones on the back deck with the sunshine on our faces and our Bose playing 90's alternative in the background. What are a few of your favorite things? We absolute love Key Lime Pie and Black Bottoms. Our dog is the light of our lives. We both love Moscow Mules and pizza. We also love bottomless brunch, Baltimore Sports, game nights, and exploring new places/cities together. What does your dream wedding look like? Our dream wedding is basically the one we are already planning! A night with dinner and great music, surrounded by all of our family and friends belting out old school N'Sync to each other and dancing the night away. Jesse grew up on the water so the Maritime Museum was a no-brainer once we saw it. Why did you chose to work with Social Graces? I came to Social Graces based on a recommendation from a college friend. I was in the market for a month of coordinator and the second Katie emailed me back after my initial inquiry, I knew she was the right fit. She was so quick to respond, so polite and had the sweetest Southern Charm around. After checking out some of her work and her website, it totally sealed the deal. The second I signed that contract I felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders because I knew she is going to totally rock on our big day!   I am so excited to welcome Morgan and Chris to the Social Graces family! I cannot wait for their perfect day in August. Get to know a little bit more about these two love birds below!! How did the two of you meet? Chris and I met in middle school youth group. We had always been friends, attending all the same functions and bible studies but we moved our separate ways as we headed off to school. During school breaks we would run into each other in the gym or at Dunkin Donuts and talked for a minute or two catching up. As it turns out, we both always walked away smitten with the conversation we had between each other. This past summer I attended our youth director's daughter’s wedding. Lucky for me, Chris was there too! We were almost inseparable. Talking to him was more important to me than breaking it down on the dance floor - which means he was very important. After that night it was all she wrote. Morgan, what do you love about Chris? Chris is the most selfless person I know. Without hesitation he will drop what he is doing to support and serve anyone in any way possible. He knows how to go out of his way to make me feel cherished and unbelievably loved in the most gentle and kind way. Chris is also such a great communicator which is so important in relationships. He makes me want to be the best version of myself and I truly thinks he brings that out in me. He leads me in the way of the Lord day by day reminding me of the blessings we have in our life. All the while I'm thanking god for giving me Chris, the man of my dreams. Chris, what do you love about Morgan? Morgan is my entire world, and to accurately describe why I love her would take me years to write, so I'll just sum it up with this. I love everything about Morgan, she is the most caring and selfless person I have ever known. Morgan is constantly striving to make me happy (even though I always am happy simply just being with her). She treats me like a king 100% of the time, even though I rarely deserve it. Morgan has the most beautiful personality and hearing her voice, even if it's just over the phone immediately brightens my day. Morgan and I are also always on the same page. We think alike, and what differences we do have, compliments the others. I wish I could describe with words how this woman makes me feel every day, but even if I did, no one would believe there is a person out there as perfect in every way as her. I think it's really special when you meet someone who, when they smile, fills you with so much joy that you will do anything to see them smile again. Morgan is hands down the most beautiful woman on the inside and outside that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, and I am the luckiest man on earth to be marrying and spending the rest of my life with this amazing woman, and my very best friend whom I love more than anything. What is something special about the two of you? Chris's family owns a 700 acre farm on Kent Island. Chris has always dreamed of building a family home on a specific lot on the farm. He told me he knew I was the one he would be building the house with. When Chris proposed he strategically did it looking over the pond at the lot where our future home and lives would grow. We spend our free time day dreaming of a beautiful house on the farm, with a wraparound porch, and a lot of room for hosting guests. Chris has already started clearing trees and debris away from the lot so that when the day comes (after plenty of saving) we can build our love...from the ground up. Que Dan + Shay. Oh, also I love telling this story. For Christmas Chris got me tickets to see Thomas Rhett in Baltimore. Little did we know that one our favorite singers, Russell Dickerson, was going to be preforming! He sang the song "Yours" and we about died. That’s the song we had previously chosen for our first dance! Our night was made...until we freaking MET HIM! It was so fun, Russell lit up in excitement when we told him we were going to dance to his song "Yours" for our first dance. It was cool. What do you like to do as a couple in your free time? We are always looking for new adventures, new restaurants and fun things to do. Our first official date was a trip to Hershey Park just the two of us. We love going out on the boat and road trips to the beach. We always come up with spontaneous adventures which keeps our lives fun fresh and new! What are a few of your favorite things? Chris and I also LOVE doughnuts. I like to tease Chris because he's totally that cop that is always eating a doughnut. One of my favorite things to do is travel to a new city and find a cute little doughnut shop and indulge. We are having a small cake to cut at our reception but having Sandy Pony Donuts stationed for our guests to enjoy instead of traditional cake slices! What does your dream wedding look like? I'm in love with a rustic charm and blush tones. We are having a lot of white flowers and eucalyptus, with blush and oak decor. Most important is that our guests feel relaxed and are enjoying themselves on the dance floor! I love to dance and with a couple Jack and Cokes in him you'll see Chris on the dance floor too. Side note: Chris is a police officer which means a lot of our guests are officers too. These guys have a tough job so when they are able to let loose...they really do! Why did you chose to work with Social Graces? When I first got engaged and was starting my planning process I immediately thought of Social Graces. Social Graces has such a great social media presence and I knew if I ever needed a coordinator Katie would be the one to do the job. The statement "love in our bond" is so true. Both being Phi Mu's makes me so happy and even though we haven't met in person I feel like we know each other! Not only do I love supporting a small business but I also love supporting someone who I automatically feel that I can trust. I’m so excited to work with Katie.   Dani and I grew up together in the dance studio and being a part of her and Dillon’s big day was so special! Dani and Dillon have been together for what feels like forever so their wedding was attended by a group of very well-connected family and friends and the love was radiating throughout the venue. We had major rain storms on their wedding day so their ceremony was held inside instead of outside as we had originally planned. But with draping and florals and a little love we were able to convert a mantle in the banquet hall into a beautiful backdrop for their wedding ceremony. The officiant was a very close friend of the couples and it was one of my favorite ceremonies I have ever heard, I was in tears in the back of the room. We were lucky enough to find a break in the clouds to grab some bridal party, family and couple portraits outside and Sarah Schubel Photography was able to work her magic – you would never know that it had been raining all day in these bright and beautiful photos. Dani’s dusty blue color palette was stunningly beautiful on her bridesmaids and I have never seen more baby’s breath in my life. There were so many thoughtful details included in this day, including the stunning (and delicious) dessert table that was created by Dillon’s grandmother and the guestbook quilt made by Dani’s mom. One of my favorite details of the day was the small charm that hung off of Dani’s bouquet that said “Little Angel” this charm came from the first gift that Dillon ever gave Dani – IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, so truly special! They day turned out so perfectly beautiful that nobody remembers that it was raining, thank you to the spectacular vendors that helped make this day happen! I wish a life of happiness for Dani and Dillon! Venue | Cortland Mansion Photographer | Sarah Schubel Photography Catering | Hempen Hill DJ | Shewsical Entertainment |
