This Couple Kicked Off Their Winter Baltimore Wedding With Cat Snuggles and Ended It With Champagne

Taylor and Tyler, or TNT as their loved ones affectionately call them, knew from early on that an intimate microwedding was more their style. “We are very practical people. From a young age, both of our parents offered us contributions towards a down payment on a house or a wedding,” Taylor says. “We knew we were ready to have a house (being the homebodies we are) and to have a space of our own. We realized we could have both, it just may look slightly different than what is traditional, and we'd have to prioritize.”

The two first met thanks to Bumble and had their first date at 2 Silos in Manassas, where they both grew up, and they soon left the brewery to continue the date at Old Town Manassas, not wanting the night to end. Taylor and Tyler quickly found out they attended the same high school, just a year apart, their paths never crossing until the dating app brought them together. Three years later, the couple went shopping for engagement rings on a date night, but Tyler waited until the following summer, months after they bought their first house together, to pop the question. After many phone calls to Taylor’s family members to ask for their blessings, Tyler planned the proposal at their home. He says, “I had put together a sort of ‘walk down memory lane' that included notes along the way to a final destination, the notes had described memories and highlights throughout our relationship so far. At the end of ‘memory lane’ was rose petal wording that spelt out ‘Will you marry me?’ on our candle-lit island.”

Now living in Maryland, the to-be-weds wanted something close to home for their microwedding, a “joyous celebration,” they said, that would focus “all around love…romantic and intimate with lots of laughter.” Opting for a wintery day in January as their wedding date, they found the perfect, cozy indoor spot that fit the bill: Woodberry Kitchen. This tavern in Baltimore had the architectural elements they wanted, like stone walls and wooden arches, while being accessible for Taylor’s grandma. Taylor adds, “For themes, we like minimalistic, clean, timeless. We don't want anything to feel dated. For vibe, we like moody-esque, candle-lit with classic elements like white flowers with subtle black accents.”

Choosing to get ready together at their home the morning of the nuptials, Tyler and Taylor wanted to incorporate their five cats: Finn, Jett, Stella, Riley and Reece. Their photographer captured a few candid moments with one of their cats, as the rest hid from all the commotion of the day. Taylor, in her Stella York gown with a square neckline and long sleeves for the winter weather, and Tyler in a black Indochino tuxedo with a white tie to match his bride, posed beside their cat before sharing private vows.

Before their official ceremony, the couple had a portrait session at the Walters Art Museum. Walking around a rainy Baltimore with an umbrella, the nearlyweds made it to their intimate ceremony at Woodberry Kitchen, surrounded by their twenty closest friends and family, with Taylor’s brother officiating the ceremony. The space was decorated with string lights and candles to create a moody atmosphere, while greenery and white florals (some of which were DIY-ed by the couple) hung from the fireplace mantel and served as lovely centerpieces on the wooden tables.

To match the creamy florals of baby’s breath and white roses, the wedding cake was a simple, round cake in white with edible flowers and pearls. The pearls even matched Taylor’s Badgley Mischka shoes, gold-pearl necklace and pearl hair accessories. On the menu were elevated local favorites, like Maryland buttermilk fried chicken, and signature “his and hers” cocktails. Tyler’s cocktail was named the Finny and the Jett old-fashioned, while Taylor’s was the My Girls Poinsettia, both drinks honoring their five cats.

Sitting around the dinner table with their loved ones was the most anticipated part of the day for Tyler and Taylor. They say, “We are most looking forward to a day all about celebrating the next chapter in our relationship and reminiscing on our love story with our closest loved ones… We are just really excited about being married and spending the entire day together, soaking it all in. It's the day we officially start our family together, and we couldn't be more excited.”

For the couple whose shared love language is quality time, this close-knit wedding was exactly what they pictured, and the emphasis on good food and conversation gave the newlyweds and their loved ones a memorable experience. “It really doesn't matter what we're doing, we really just love to be together and that's what makes us, us. We are partners and prioritize always being there to support each other,” they add.