Check out these stunning photos by The Weibners, I think they speak for themselves.  (This photo on the dock might be one of my all-time favorites.)

Kristina and James got married at St Michael’s Mission Church, the adorable little Catholic Chapel in our area.

After the ceremony the guests headed back to The Oaks where they enjoyed scrumptious hors d’oeuvres and cocktails on the lawn by the water.

After cocktail hour the guests headed in to the reception where they had a cool jazz theme.

The bouquets, centerpieces and decorations were all done by the fabulous Shirley of Seasonal Flowers.

Their beautiful wedding cake was made by Cakes by Candy.

The grooms cake was a surprise and done by Charm City Cakes.  The lifelike record player and adorable monkeys perfectly went with the jazzy theme of the night!

Flip flop dancing shoes are always a big hit with the boogiers and as you can see they danced the night away in them!

Aren’t they adorable?  You can just tell they are meant to be!

What a beautiful wonderful fun wedding that was!  You can see more pictures on The Weibner’s blog!

As I said though, everything turned out absolutely stunning!  Check out these incredible photos that their photographer Megan Beth captured.  She really knew how to work it!

Can you believe this is the first time Megan Beth has shot a wedding here?  She really took advantage of all the great spots around the inn!  I guess it helps when you have models like Katie and Mike!  Aren’t they stunning?

The beautiful flowers were done by Sarah at Intrigue.  Their colors were navy and hot pink and they coordinated them throughout the entire event!

Jimmy of Steve Moody Entertainment kept the party groovin’ and the people movin’!

Finally, for their big getaway Katie and Mike had everyone go outside with sparklers and send them off in style on the beautiful boat you see in the picture!

While all their guests were outside getting ready for the send off Katie and Mike shared one private last dance to their favorite song. 

It was a wet, wonderful, beautiful wedding!  I wish them all the best!

(and just in case you thought I was exaggerating about the rain we had that day… check out this picture from St. Michaels!!!)

]]> http://www.the-oaks.com/love_stories/?feed=rss2&p=223 1 http://www.the-oaks.com/love_stories/?p=208 http://www.the-oaks.com/love_stories/?p=208#comments Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:03:19 +0000 nicole http://www.the-oaks.com/love_stories/?p=208 What a weekend!  You know a wedding is going to be a blast when you see the groom practicing a back flip for his grand entrance with his lovely bride.  Jackie and Tom did not let me down.  They knew how to show their guests a grand old time!  Plus Jackie may have had the [...]]]> What a weekend!  You know a wedding is going to be a blast when you see the groom practicing a back flip for his grand entrance with his lovely bride.  Jackie and Tom did not let me down.  They knew how to show their guests a grand old time!  Plus Jackie may have had the greatest bridesmaids of all time.  These girls were fantastic and helped tie ribbons on every chair for the reception which combined with Shirley of Seasonal Flowers magical touch made for a bright and fun room!

I am getting a little ahead of myself though!  First lets start with the ceremony.  Yvonne from Baileks Music played the keyboard and it was wonderful.  One of my favorite aspects was as they came back down the aisle at the end of the ceremony all their guests blew bubbles and it was so fun for photos.  D. Bryant captured it perfectly!  (Aren’t they a gorgeous couple?!)

Then the newlyweds and their photographer ran off to their getaway car (their guests all assumed they were off to take pictures) but about 15 minutes later a boat started coming straight for The Oaks and who was on it? None other than Jackie and Tom.  It was a unique and fun grand entrance for the new Mr. & Mrs. and made for some fantastic photos!

Inside Shirley of Seasonal Flowers had strung up Chinese Lanterns, and created the stunning centerpieces and beautiful bouquets!  Julie of Julie Bakes had made an absolutely scrumptious cake, there were flip flops for dancing (and believe me, they were well used as the happy people danced away the night with the newlyweds !) and Jason Canaan from Quality Entertainment not only provided great tunes, but also used uplighting around the room to really give it some vava voom! (Sorry for the grainy photo, there will be better ones to come!)

Finally, my favorite (and everyone else’s favorite) surprise was that Victor from Scottish Highland Creamery came with homemade ice cream for all!!!  It was the perfect treat to top off a perfect night!

I think pictures can describe this all better than I can.  So enjoy!  I hope to add more soon.

]]> http://www.the-oaks.com/love_stories/?feed=rss2&p=208 3 http://www.the-oaks.com/love_stories/?p=182 http://www.the-oaks.com/love_stories/?p=182#comments Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:31:37 +0000 nicole http://www.the-oaks.com/love_stories/?p=182 The joy that radiated from Katherine and Gene all weekend long was infectious.  These two were absolutely glowing!  They were married on a perfect summer day with a light breeze and no humidity, surrounded by friends and family who just wanted to celebrate with the happy couple. The weekend started with a Royal Oak Bull [...]]]> The joy that radiated from Katherine and Gene all weekend long was infectious.  These two were absolutely glowing!  They were married on a perfect summer day with a light breeze and no humidity, surrounded by friends and family who just wanted to celebrate with the happy couple.

The weekend started with a Royal Oak Bull Roast rehearsal dinner.  (It was the first time we had done the Bull Roast since I have been here and it was delicious!!!  It might be a new favorite of mine.)  Then the crew went out and enjoyed shuffle board, badminton, horseshoes and generally had an old fashioned good time!

The wedding itself was lovely.  The brides family was from the Eastern Shore of Virginia and used some vendors, who I had not met before but hope to work with again in the future!  Shirley of Baskets and Bows did a lovely job on the flowers.  Yvonne Landen made a variety of different flavored Smith Island Cakes that flew off the tables and Roger Hooper was their multi-talented pianist extraordinaire.  He played for the ceremony, cocktail hour and dinner and then had DJ Mike Bryant from Invincible Entertainment take over and keep that party going!

Their photographer Peter Bang and his assistant Julie Lim took all the awesome photos you see here on the blog!  They were so easy going and fun, plus these photos speak for themselves.  They Rock!

Don’t Katherine and Gene look like models?

The evening ended with a sparkler filled getaway as the bride and groom headed off into the night!

You can either face it with a smile on your face and embrace the day as your special day no matter what.  Or you can take the other path…

Obviously, I recommend the first.  There is no reason to let something completely out of your control, ruin a wonderful event.  So if you look at the forecast and see that it is predicting rain on your wedding day, use some of these photos as inspiration as how to not only enjoy your wedding day no matter what, but how to add some flair to it while you do!

So the moral of the story is, when there is nothing you can do to change a situation you should run with it (in this case wearing wellies)!

Jenny’s artistic touch was evident throughout the entire event and she did not miss a single detail.  From the last night of being single rehearsal dinner to the adorable gift bags she had created with a quote about love for every guest, they were perfect.  She even made mason jar chandeliers that she hung from the trees!

Shirley of Seasonal Flowers really went to town on this wedding.  Jenny and her mom had been collecting old jars, tins and containers for months and used them to create an effortless look of old time elegance for the centerpieces.  This effect was made complete with her menus that she printed on DIY invitations.

During cocktail hour they had a steel drum band that epitomized a beautiful, relaxing summer day.  While for the reception they used Anthony from My Deejay who kept this party going until the wee hours of the night.

The special touches didn’t just end there though.  You may have already seen my post about the super adorable invitations they had made… well here is the finished product that was hung on their clothesline of seating cards separated with vintage handkerchiefs that had their logo and the saying “for happy tears” on each one.  A traditional guest book would have looked out of place in surrounded by all these impeccable touches  so they invited The Clay Bakers to come out and had their guests each create tiles that they would use in a future home.

As always dinner was delicious.  A feast of steak and crabcake with a dijon cream sauce, a dessert buffet with smith island cakes, ice cream, berries and chocolate sauce and at the end of the night mini cheeseburgers for anyone who had danced up an appetite.

To help them remember this wonderful affair, Jenny and Seth used Phyllis Marsh Video as their videographer and Amy Raab who took all the exquisite

photos you see in this post.  You can also visit her blog for more of her incredible work from Jenny and Seth’s wedding.  After it was all said and done, I told the Bride and Groom that I would not be at all surprised if we saw their beautiful photos on next year’s Oaks wedding brochure.  After all, that is what happens when you hire a fantastic photographer and have a beautiful event!

This is from her invitation designer, Anna Bond from Rifle Paper Company and that adorable invitation in the center is a drawing of Jenny, Seth (the groom) and The Oaks!  I love, love, love it! Check her out folks, her work is stunning!

They went all out from fireworks (Yes, Adriane and Mark had the privileged of being the first couple of 2010 to have fireworks.  Despite the terrible wind storm that picked up, everything we off without a hitch!) to an Ice Cream Sandwich Station, where Chef Marcus made an abundance of different types of cookies, got out a variety of different flavors of ice cream and had lots of different decadent toppings for guests to choose from.

Dana of Petals was responsible for the beautiful flowers decorating the Inn, including some parrot tulips, that were like nothing I have ever seen before (and I lived in Holland!).  Joe Munson, their DJ,  showed us again why we love having him here at The Oaks.  He kept the crowd going all night long!  Bay Country Bakery, created the lovely blue and white 4 tier cake.  Deb Hemingway took some of the fabulous photos you see here. (The ones that look like an amateur took them are my work… Not to be confused with Deb’s lovely work!)

The entire event was a beautiful success sprinkled with Adriane’s special touch!

1. Hire a Day-of Coordinator – Oaks Brides have this under control!  I am there for you every step of the day!!!

You may have a ton of fun ideas for your reception lined up — say, a rockin’ entrance, an amazing band, and surprise late-night snacks — but the truth is it’s much harder than you’d think to keep each of those plans in check. If you already have an event planner, genius. If not, look into booking a day-of coordinator to oversee the details (trust us, it’s worth it).

2. Order Good Food (That’s Not Stuffy) – The Oaks kitchen rocks!  (and I am not just saying that because my Hubby is one of the Chef’s!)  Ask any bride, wedding guest or vendor who has been here before and they will tell you the food is where it is at!

Just ask yourself: What would you want to eat?  Think mini grilled-cheese sandwiches paired with tomato soup shooters, bite-size vegetable quiches, and a raw bar.  Dont forget the mini cheeseburgers as a late night snack!  or a pastry table for those of you with a sweet tooth!  Heck, one bride recently even had an ice cream sandwich station… Can you say delicious?

3. Keep the Toasts Short (And Prep Your Toasters)

As meaningful and wonderful as toasts can be, it’s important that you don’t let those toasting to drone on and on. Quite frankly, it’ll put a lull in the evening. When it comes to toasts, it’s really all about quality over quantity. So direct anyone who is speaking in advance to keep their speeches to two minutes max and ask them to share any other long-drawn-out stories at a prewedding party like the rehearsal dinner. I must admit I am with them on this one… I would also add do not have an open mic for toasts.  Everyone loves Drunk Uncle Joe, but no one wants to listen to him ramble on the mic for 10 minutes.

4. Have a Game Plan for Kids – Did somebody say Lynn Collier , The Oaks fabulous babysitter?

To keep the little ones entertained throughout the night (and to give their parents an opportunity to hit the dance floor!), set up an area specifically for them. In a separate room, arrange for a babysitter who can set up movies for them to watch. Or designate a couple tables just for the kids and pack them with coloring books, crayons, and small toys.

5. If You’ve Hired a Band, Make Sure There’s Good “Break” Music  Check out Doctor’s Orders… they are just what the Doctor Ordered!

We’ve all been to that wedding before: Just when the dance floor starts to get packed, the band takes a break and the party dies. Don’t let that happen to you. When you hire your band, ask specifically about how they plan to handle breaks. Some bands will take them in shifts and split off into a smaller 2- or 3-piece bands. Others will turn on filler music. If yours is planning to use filler music, ask whether you can provide the mix.  Anyone who knows me, knows I am a stickler for a great band, that doesn’t take a break every 15 minutes!  Baileks Music has great bands!  One of my favorites is Doctor’s Orders. They will make your wedding the envy of all other newlyweds attending!

6. If You’ve Hired a DJ, Make Sure You Share the Same Tastes

Okay, this is an obvious one, but it made the list because music is a major fun factor at the reception and it has a lot to do with how long your guests will stay. The last thing you want to see is your dance floor clear out when the “chicken dance” comes on. So, make sure to talk to your DJ about your do-not-play list.  This isn’t just a DJ thing, this is a must with any vendor.  You have to click, they need to see your vision and you need to feel comfortable.  There is nothing worse then spending your day worrying that all your wedding photos are going to look like they are from the 1800′s.  Shop around, have fun with it!

7. Add a Lounge to Your Reception – Living room (check!)

If at all possible, create a lounge-like area in your reception space. Why? People can get antsy. Instead of having your guests sit around the same dinner tables all night, a change of environment will promote conversation and keep even your nondancing guests entertained. Look into renting or borrowing couches, chairs, and other pieces of furniture that you can then stage with pillows and votive candles in your wedding colors. Okay it is true, The Oaks has a couple built in lounges.  One right next to the bar, and of course the living room, where guys often sneak off to check the score of the big game.  However if you really want to wow your guests, you can think about turning the back corner of the room into a lounge as well, with those huge ottomans, that work as a sofa or a bed.  Or have even more fun with it and put a portrait area back there complete with costumes and props!

8. Give Out Party Favors – Mint Tins and Soaps are out, get creative with your favors!

Don’t forget that a reception is a party! Let your guests know that it’s okay to cut loose after a formal ceremony by passing out crazy wedding favors at the reception. A few of our favorite ideas? Funky masks, noisemakers, or Silly String. We even know one couple who handed out neckties and encouraged their guests to tie them around their heads on the dance floor. Quirky, but definitely fun! So maybe a noisemaker isn’t what you imagine for your wedding favors, but what about flip flops for your guests to change into as they dance the night away, or maybe forgo the favors at the wedding itself and create “hang-over kits” that can be placed in each guests room for the morning after!

9. Keep Your Guests Fueled - Mini Cheeseburgers, Mini Pizzas, Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup… Oh MY!

If you want to ensure an all-night crowd, arrange for your catering staff to bring out trays of late-night munchies like French fries or a self-serve taco bar. If you stick with low-key, comfort foods like those, they’ll wish the party would never end. Another great idea: Offer a coffee bar complete with special syrups and toppings to keep them caffeinated.  Who hasn’t been dancing the night away and after several hours realized that they could use a little something to eat?  Talk to The Oaks chefs about the scrumptious goodies they can send out an hour before the reception ends to boost everyone’s energy levels and keep them on the dance floor!

10. Plan a Surprise

Sometimes the best parts of a reception are the things guests don’t see coming. Surprise your guests with unexpected entertainment during the cocktail hour or reception, like a belly dancer (a la Rachel Getting Married), a mariachi band, or even a salsa dancer.  Whether it is Fireworks, an Elvis Impersonator, or the Tasty Freeze truck pulling up outside (trust me, we’ve seen it all!) your guests are going to love it, remember it and rave about it.  Let’s be honest, who doesn’t want their guests saying that was the BEST WEDDING EVER at the end of the night.

So from The Knot and Nicole… 10 secrets to the perfect wedding reception!  Any other tips of suggestions?  Let’s hear them!

They used Mark Savage as their DJ who kept their guests up and dancing all night long, Shirley of Seasonal Flowers who created adorable sunny bouquets and centerpieces – making sure to include the brides favorite colors! Blue Sky filmed the entire event.  Beth Stephens of Acorn Photography captured the lovely photographs you see here and Julie of Julie Bakes made a scrumptious cake everyone went gaga over!  Their favors were personalized golf balls and tees they had placed at each setting.

Erin and Brandon’s wedding was a pleasure to host and we look forward to having them come back and stay for an anniversary trip!