Patrick and Vanessa
Engagement Story
Patrick and I met at an Eagles Bar in Baltimore while I was on a travel nursing assignment and he was stationed nearby with the Navy. It is safe to say that we did not like each other during the initial meeting. However, Patrick was persistent. We ended up going on this impromptu date that started with dinner and ended with finding ourselves in some very unusual bar situations. After that, we sort of parted ways because of the demands of our jobs until I was headed to Houston, Texas. Patrick knew that my friend had bailed as my road trip buddy, and since he had family down there, he asked if he could ride along. Let me tell you, if you can spend three days in a car with a stranger and talk the entire time about everything under the sun (including heavy topics) and not feel embarrassed or judged, he’s the one. We were engaged a year and a half later at the same sushi restaurant we ate on our first date before the crazy bar escapade. Patrick planned to propose to me on a bridge as I was leaving work but I ended up taking a different walkway. When we finally found each other, I was exhausted from working long hours and I just wanted to eat and get home. I was so tired, in fact, that I was kind of mean to him during dinner and I was oblivious to his nervousness. It ended up being perfect. I had no idea, it was snowing, we were seated all alone right in the window, and our favorite waitress was in on it to help take pictures. We officially got married in Colorado at the Garden of the Gods, where you can solemnize your own marriage. It was the best thing we have ever done. So peaceful and meaningful. We had this celebration of marriage in the Outer Banks partially because my mom’s ashes were released there but also because the Outer Banks has always been a place of meaningful, relaxing family time for us. Although we were already legally married, we wanted to share our love story with our families and create a memorable gathering of both our families together as one. (p.s. I may have also always dreamt of wearing a wedding gown down the aisle and seeing the look on my groom’s face)
Why Did You Choose The Outer Banks and The Black Stallion?
Spending an entire week in a house at the beach with friends and family and ending it with a perfect wedding was a dream come true for both of us. Because we opted for a small DIY wedding, we felt everything was so intimate. We could focus on each other and our commitment.
Description of Wedding
The song we chose for our introduction was the Philadelphia Eagles fight song, which was so much fun! We loved that after dinner, everyone was out of their seats and we got to spend time with everyone.
The cake stand was an old chandelier I dismantled, painted and attached crystal plates to. The kissing bells on the tables were also thrift store finds. Souvenir bells from places we have either been to or places that our families traveled from. The oil lamps were a small fraction of my mom’s collection. The bars were decorated with some really GREAT decanters that I stumbled upon here and there. Some of the doilies and crocheted tablecloths were things my mom had made. I could go on and on about all the little vintage details we included. There is just something about vintage and antique items that makes life feel so much more romantic and simple.
Everything we used to decorate and the place settings came from countless thrift stores or were borrowed from friends and family. We snuck in a few personal touches between Patrick and me just to make it our own.
Some Stories from the wedding
The funniest part of our day was when I sent my brother to pick up the cake, and he insisted that it did not look like something I had ordered. I insisted he just bring it anyway and we would fix it somehow. When I saw the picture, I died laughing. It was a cake with hot pink and yellow birthday flowers. It looked like an 80’s theme birthday cake, and it was missing the cake topper and sugar lace I had supplied. Harris Teeter made a whole new cake for us in an hour and this time it was perfect.
Any Advice to Couples Currently Planning a Wedding?
Plan early, stay overly organized, focus on yourself and your lover, pick Revival as your photographer, and remember, on the day of your wedding, things will go wrong.
List of Vendors
Photographer: Revival Photography
Decor: Blooms by the Box
Catering: Red Sky Cafe
Dessert: Red Sky Cafe & Harris Teeter
Reception Music: Hey DJ
Reception Rentals: Ocean Atlantic Rentals
Hair & Makeup: Glimmer Hair and Makeup
