Stroll Through NYC With a Bride Planning an Art-Centered Wedding at the Baltimore Museum of Art
Planning your wedding can be stressful—it’s important to savor the fun moments. In that spirit, bride Kristina (Krisy) Temple went a step (or two) further, opting to forgo engagement pictures in favor of a wedding-planning photoshoot. With her photographer and two bridesmaids in tow, Krisy spent a productive day running around New York City from appointment to appointment. The first stop was the flower market to gather some inspiration blooms, then onto lunch with the maid of honor, professional stylist, and sister of the bride: Veronica Rogers. The second half of the day was all about fashion—the ladies spent time finding the perfect bridal gown at Carolina Herrera before venturing to Nova Octo to select couture gowns for both bridesmaids.
A long year-and-a-half later (with a postponement due to Covid-19), Krisy and her beloved, Christopher (Chris) Haughery, were more than ready to wed. With ample time to prep, the couple did a few DIY projects that were heavily featured in their wedding decor. “Chris is a printmaker and graphic designer—he made our invitations and all our signage, as well as our escort cards,” Krisy reveals. “It was one of my favorite things about our wedding day: he screen-printed each escort card to make it unique as a take-home gift art piece.” In fact, art was a central theme throughout the event. “Art has always been a huge inspiration for both of us. Chris’ work centers on color gradients and meshing ideas and personalities together. My father is also a painter (coincidence?) with a fine arts degree, and I grew up going to art museums on weekends and vacations worldwide.”
Appropriately, the bride and groom hosted their big day at the Baltimore Museum of Art on a sunny day in August. Collecting in an ornate room surrounded by beautiful pieces, friends and family looked on as Chris awaited his love’s arrival at the end of the altar. Finally, the bride floated down the aisle in a sleek, timeless Carolina Herrera gown, explicitly selected to, stylistically, “withstand the test of time.” Both note that this was the most anticipated moment of the day. “The ceremony was set in a long and narrow room in the Museum, framed by the most gorgeous old iron windows,” Krisy shares. “Walking down the long aisle and seeing all the faces of people who had traveled there to celebrate our love, framed by the most beautiful light streams shining through, was magical.”
After the heartfelt “I dos,” everyone shifted from the ceremony space into the main reception room. A modern light installation suspended above long and round tables was an engaging focal point for the art-centered event. Attendees began their journey at the striking escort card display, featuring the unique creations lovingly made by the groom, and found their seats for dinner. “Our flowers were one of the main features. Once we decided on the color palette (which included purple-red and cafe tan colors), we let our florist run wild,” Krisy notes. “They weren’t over the top and added the right amount of warmth and contrast to the space.”
Tablescapes included a mix of low arrangements flanked by candles and towering foliage displays. Long tables were unadorned, while round tables displayed soft blush linens. Friends and family sipped on signature cocktails and enjoyed dinner and conversation before heading to the after-party (which included a visit from a Maryland Crab Tot food truck—a nod to the bride’s hometown).
Post-nuptials, the newlyweds have some sound advice for other couples. “Therapy and pre-marital counseling during such a stressful season can help keep your focus on your goals for the marriage, rather than just the stress of the wedding. Weddings are often the first time you must be co-managers on a project, so it is bound to be stressful on some level. There will be growing pains and learning as you go.”