1. Real Weddings

A Brittland Estates Wedding in Chestertown, Maryland

“I like to describe our wedding as eclectic, vintage and laid-back,” bride Erin says of her wedding to Danny. “I didn’t want anything too matchy-match

“I like to describe our wedding as eclectic, vintage and laid-back,” bride Erin says of her wedding to Danny. “I didn’t want anything too matchy-matchy, but I also wanted it to be all pulled-together.” A prominently green palette accented with bright flowers and lace achieved the easygoing vibe.

Lanterns filled with white candles were surrounded by a mix of vases filled with colorful flowers that matched those in the bride’s bouquet.
At the cocktail hour, guests enjoyed refreshing drinks and small bites, including veggies and dip, artisanal cheeses, corn fritters, mini BLTs, spicy shrimp and a fresh oyster bar.
The bride’s bright bouquet consisted of spray and garden roses, ranunculuses, dahlias, lavender and billy balls in pinks, oranges and white.
Erin and Danny love boats and the outdoors, so they served beer in a wooden boat filled with ice.
Decor at the ceremony was kept simple: Mason jars filled fresh pink and green flowers hung on the end of each row of chairs.
Erin picked a lace Lazaro dress with an ivory belt. “I loved how it had a vintage look with lace and beading, and it was so comfortable and easy to wear,” she says.
The three bridesmaids carried bouquets that were designed to mirror the bride’s colorful arrangement.
The traditional wedding ceremony was in Brittland Estates’ garden. The couple thought the space didn’t need much decoration, though they did hang mason jars of flowers in the trees above the altar.
Guests received small jars of local honey decorated with a “Love Is Sweet” tag. “The cute jars of honey added to our table decor, and we also personally use local honey frequently in cooking,” Erin says.
Bags printed with a rope (bringing in the tie-the-knot theme) and filled with local wine, snacks and guides were left in guests’ rooms at the venue.
The reception was held under a large tent on the brick patio. Eclectic decorations and ivory tablecloths gave the space a relaxed but energetic feel.
Inspired by cakes she saw on Pinterest, Erin chose and green and white cake with ombre ruffles, sugar flowers cascading down the side and bird toppers.
Bags of dried lavender were available at the entrance to the ceremony. Guests were encouraged to toss the dried flowers as the newlyweds walked back down the aisle.
The groom and groomsmen kept their looks casual by wearing light gray suits and Vans shoes.
Escort cards—which the bride’s aunt wrote in calligraphy—were tied to honey dippers as a complement to the honey jar favors.
As a nod to the knot the couple tied during their ceremony, the table numbers were made of small pieces of rope glue to a block of wood.
The groom wore a gray suit and neutral colored plaid tie from Men’s Wearhouse. His boutonniere included a white rose, billy ball and sprig of lavender.
The bride and her bridesmaids all wore natural makeup and loose hair to maintain an ethereal, laid-back vibe. For her own hair, Erin created a one-of-a-kind headpiece by stringing beads, crystals and pearls on a long wire, which her stylist incorporated into her curls.
To keep up the eclectic aesthetic, Erin chose long chiffon dresses in similar styles but in three varying shades of green for her bridesmaids.
Pink lemonade with vodka and mint, which was dubbed the Brittland Breeze, was the couple’s signature drink.
Invitations were printed in pale green on light brown paper to match the rest of the wedding’s color scheme.
During the ceremony, Erin and Danny tied a fisherman’s knot to symbolize the joining of their lives and the strength of their relationship. “We now have it framed and hanging in our home,” Erin says.