Remember this adorable engagement session I featured a few months back? Well, that super cute couple got married and I’m sharing their pretty wedding today. :) Maria + James held their reception at St. Johns College in Annapolis, a small school where Maria and James met. A peak into the planning from Maria, “James and I were engaged for over two years. In that time, we became teachers, grad students, and coaches. We decided that since our schedules kept us away from home often, we would take planning slowly and do it together. We kept waiting for the moment when the process would get stressful or frustrating, but it never came (thank goodness!). We both thought the planning was tons of fun!” James even added, “The fact that we were allowed to get really creative with it and put our own aesthetics into action made it engaging and enjoyable.” Thanks so much to Gabe Aceves for the gorgeous photos!
I just LOVE Maria’s gorgeous Saja’s dress!
Our favorite part of the day was absolutely the reception. We immediately felt at home and comforted in the middle of what James and I had put so much planning and thought into. It was perfect.
From Maria: “For me, the wedding morning was full of anxiously excited butterflies! I loved the long process of getting ready, it felt ritualistic and soothing. Right before we went downstairs to get into the car, I felt my stomach sink like a rock and my hands started shaking. Luckily the hotel room service sent up the world’s fastest glass of Chardonnay, and my nerves settled a bit. Once I saw James and the ceremony started, everything was a breeze! I seriously had a ball at my own wedding. Yep, we both ate the food – from appetizers to dessert. We danced until we dropped, and had so much fun visiting with all of our friends.”
From James: “The wedding day was epic. I barely got any sleep the night before and then got so nervous in the morning that before I even got to the church, I felt totally drained. It was funny, but I sort of got all my nervousness out of me before anything really happened, and was thankful for that. The ceremony would have felt totally surreal to me had Maria not been with me the entire time. My favorite part was seeing her walk down the isle. She was gorgeous. Also, a funny side note. The priest, my best man and I were chatting it up for about 20 minutes before the ceremony about foreign films and film houses. Right before we walked out we somehow got to The Importance of Being Earnest with Rupert Everett and Colin Firth, when mid-conversation the priest looks outside and sends us out to the altar.”
Congrats you guys + thanks so much for letting me share your day!
vendors:
photography: Gabe Aceves // venue name: St. Johns College // wedding dress: Saja // bride's shoes: (ceremony) Pour La Victoire (reception) TOMS // bridesmaid dresses: Anthropologie // hair stylist: Varuna SalonSpa // makeup artist: Varuna SalonSpa // groom attire: Alfani Red Label (at Macy's) // catering: Ken's Creative Kitchen // music: DJ Rusty (via DJ D-Mac // earrings: Swarovski, a gift from my dad to my mom that she lent me // necklace: Swarovski, a gift from my dad to my mom that she lent me // headpiece: Anthropologie // guys socks: Paul Smith // floral design: Flowers by Judy
I have been waiting with bated breath for this wedding feature! Maria and James are a super rad couple who I feel privileged to know, and I just love everything about their wedding. Their wedding photographer ain’t so bad either :)
Love it, love it, and love it. So sweet and elegant. Everything has a distinct sense of lightness to it. Maria looks like a million bucks! I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Maria in person and she really is as lovely as these pictures lead one to believe. Congrats Maria + James!
I love this! Especially the bridesmaid dresses, I would wear that all the time! Congrats to the couple!
Hooray! I’m so glad to see Maria and James featured over here. Maria has become a real life friend through our blogs and I just love her and know her and James were made to be together. Thanks for featuring them – what a gorgeous bride and wedding!
These are gorgeous! I really love how artfully the yellow and blue color scheme was done. I particularly love the black and whites. They almost have a dreamy, fairy-tale quality.
Very nice. Love the colors. Their invite envelopes looked a lot like ours!
Love her dress, too!
I’ve been swooning over everything yellow lately so I definitely love her yellow accents. and the windmills are such a cute idea!
i agree, her dress is gorgeous. and it’s nice to see a fancier wedding on here. i love me some backyard weddings (that’s what i’m planning on having myself), but it’s nice to see something a little different in the sea of laid back outdoor venues
love her saja gown!
Thanks so much Jen for sharing Maria and James wedding- their story is beautiful and it was such an honor photographing the day for them!
Love this wedding! The couple looks so in love and these photos are gorgeous.
Just the sweetest wedding. So many great details. I love the pinwheels and the hints of yellow. Her flowers and hair hair are just sooo perfect. Love all of this.
I am a long time reader of Infinite Whimsy, so it is exciting to finally see pictures of James + Maria’s big day! And it is nothing like what I imagined reading her planning posts … this is one of the most romantic & creative, yet classic weddings I’ve ever seen, and that reception? Jaw-dropping. LOVE.
Jackie – The wedding was held at a Catholic Church (the b&w photos). Most of the photos were taken outside where the reception was held (the beautifully lit night photo of the red-brick building).
Tarah – The bridesmaid’s dresses are definitely some of the best dresses. Maria has amazing taste, and I have gotten to wear it multiple times since.
Gabe – Again, great photos! You were really able to capture the night!
I super love this wedding! so sweet!!!! :)
I love every detail! :)
Sigh. My baby brother. I’m so very proud of the man he is and is becoming. His choice in mate is a testament to the good and solid character he has developed.
I have been honored by friends as a bridesmaid in the past – but being a part of this wedding – and standing up with them, getting ready with Maria was such a unique, and “light” experience. You’re right, Tara B. This day was distinct and light. Even though I sobbed on countless occasions throughout it… there was sheer joy and effortlessness to this day.
Thank you, greenshoes! One of my FAVORITE blogs (along with apracticalwedding and stylemepretty) for recognizing and sharing what a wedding can be. The joining of families and friends in a commitment of support of a couple young in their days but wise and courageous in their chosen path. I love Maria and James and look forward to growing old and stylish together.
P.S. that good lookin guy with the bow tie is my fella. We hope to be married in one of those backyard soirees recession in-loves have grown to dream of. If we can bring any ounce of the cheerfulness to our guests as brought by these two, my cup runneth over.
awe what a cute wedding! so lovely!
Such a creative and stylish wedding. Love! Question-where are the groomsmen suits from? We are looking for grey suits too!
Love it!
Thank you SO much for featuring our special day! Gabe did such a wonderful job with the photos, we adore them. We’re so grateful to our family and friends who made this perfect day possible.
And Juliana- the groomsmen suits are from Macy’s!
what a beautiful wedding! I adore Gabe’s work and I think this is one of his best. Jen – you always do such an amazing job showcasing the personality of every wedding you feature.
Such a gorgeous wedding! The wedding industry is a lot smaller here in New Zealand so it’s so lovely seeing such different and unique events! Anyone know where Maria’s head and is from? Gorgeous!
Gabe is such a talented photographer. I love all of the details in this. Such beautiful colors!
Love your work!