Amanda and Mark met on their very first day of residency at Johns Hopkins, and the rest as they say is history. History in the form of a hometown wedding with Caroline Logan Photography behind the lens that’ll have you headed straight to THE VAULT for more. From the MLC Designs invitations, to the luxurious La Tavola, this is one gallery you’re going to want to see.
From Eventi By Diana Venditto…Amanda and Mark met on their very first day of residency at Johns Hopkins at a welcome party for new housestaff. Amanda thought, “Sharp guy… I wonder if he knows he’s handsome…” They chatted only briefly that night, then dove into the busyness of first year – he in anesthesia, she in ophthalmology. Sharing not just a workplace but a neighborhood, church, gym, and (the all-important) Whole Foods, Amanda and Mark ran into each other often. Finally Mark called her to go out to dinner and the rest was history!
From The Bride…Mark & I got engaged during a year apart, while we were finishing the last stages of our medical training. His surprise Christmastime proposal was a testament to the unparalleled care (and craftiness!) of our friends and family, from my sister (and maid of honor) secretly helping him design my gorgeous ring to my roommate orchestrating his unexpected appearance in North Carolina, all the way from Massachusetts.
As we started planning our wedding in Baltimore – my hometown and the city where we’d met as medical residents – we knew we wanted the day to highlight our faith, our closeness to our extraordinary families and friends, and the effervescent joy we’d found in loving one another. We wanted to strike a balance of warmth and casual beauty, while paying homage to Baltimore’s history, character, and cuisine. The ceremony site was decided quickly: I was baptized and grew up in Timonium Presbyterian Church and the traditional simplicity of its red brick and white steeple made us feel right at home. A whirlwind tour of local reception venues ended with a sigh of relief in the beautifully restored dye house of the Mt. Washington Mill, one of a series of old mill complexes along Baltimore’s Jones Falls that have been resurrected into welcoming lofts, restaurants, and event spaces while maintaining a slightly raw, industrial feel. The soaring windows would bathe our guests in the golden light of a late summer sunset, then twinkle after dark, reflecting café lights strung from the rough-hewn rafters. With the help of my family and an incredible team led by Diana of Eventi by Diana Venditto we were able to bring our vision to life.
Our watercolor invitation suite, featuring sage and rose florals by mlc designs, set the casually elegant tone. With my mom’s help, I found an exquisite lace gown (Marisa Bridals, by Betsy Robinson Bridal Collection), lightweight and perfect for dancing. My sister, Andrea, and bridesmaids would wear floor-length mint chiffon gowns from J. Crew in styles of their choosing and carry lace-bound bouquets centered on peach ranunculus, while Mark, our fathers, his brother, John, his groomsmen and ushers wore beautifully tailored grey suits from Allton’s, perfectly accessorized and adorned with cleanly elegant boutonnieres.
We each began the day surrounded by our families and bridal parties, just blocks from one another in the Harbor East neighborhood that is now our home. Our inspiring photographer, Caroline Logan, and the amazingly talented team from ClickSpark Films flawlessly captured those moments, followed by our first-look, along the Baltimore Harbor waterfront where we’ve walked countless miles together. Then we were whisked away to the church where, before an audience of loved ones, long-time friends read scripture and performed a flawless vocal rendition of “In Christ Alone” before we exchanged our vows before the two pastors who have fostered our respective faiths across more than a decade.
As the sky started to turn golden, we made our way to the Mill, where cocktail hour featured the Apple Scruffs, a playful local jazz band known to double as a Beatles-tribute band, and a meticulously chosen array of Baltimore-brewed beers, wines, and craft liquors. Guests circulated past a sweet photo of Mark & I embracing in Paris, engraving their well-wishes into the pewter frame that served as our guest book, before making their way into the breathtaking reception hall, bathed in warm light and graciously set with gold-embossed china around loose, garden style floral centerpieces atop textured, ivory linens. The free-flowing space invited guests to move as they pleased from the dance floor, where Mark and I shared our first dance to the Beatles “In My Life,” to the Pixilated photobooth, to the serving stations where Copper Kitchen caterers served mouthwatering Maryland crab cakes, rockfish, succulent beef tenderloin and delicious house-made cavatelli & ricotta gnocchi. DJ Dan Goldman of Bialek’s Music kept the crowd on their feet most of the evening, spinning a combination of classic hits and modern favorites, and indietronica we couldn’t help but dance to. Despite truck trouble, local sensation Taharka Brothers ice cream came through with a sweet addition to our scrumptious cake by SugarBakers. And in a moment that came all too soon, Mark and I shared one last private dance, then glided through the balmy evening air, between jubilant, cheering columns of family and friends, and into our shared life.
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Photography: Caroline Logan Photography | Cinematography: Clickspark | Coordination: Eventi Floral & Events | Event Design: Eventi Floral & Events | Floral Design: Eventi Floral & Events | Wedding Dress: Marisa Bridals | Invitations: mlc designs, llc | Ceremony Venue: Timonium Presbyterian Church | Reception Venue: Mt. Washington Mill Dye House | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: Copper Kitchen | Hair & Makeup: Behind The Veil | DJ: Bialeks Music | Groom's Attire: Allton's | Groomsmen Attire: Allton's | Bridal Boutique: Robinson's Bridal | Linen Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Party Rental Ltd.