Rich + Stephanie {Morningside Inn Wedding}

i'm in love with how you feel,
i don't see what anyone could see
in anyone else
but you
the moldy peaches

The day I met them was just like they day they were going to get married.  Peaceful sky and bubbly sun, it was magnificent.  And the weather was the least beautiful thing on both days.

I walked into the small Frederick cafe, and two little heads were in the back waiting for me.  Both were laughing at Rich's previous witty comment.  Before I even sat down they filled me in on the joke, so I could laugh too.  It was funny and I did laugh.  Following the laugh, I thought "Oh I hope they book me.  I want to see these two get married."

Stephanie, according to Rich, is "ridiculously funny and just enough of a geek to be exciting and attractive."  In their contract, he repeated over and over how she has such an enormous heart with a "patience and warmth that can't be learned."  So well said.

It had been almost a year since I had since Stephanie, but I walked into a friend's bridal room when I arrived - at least that is how it felt.  I felt like she was excited to see me - genuinely excited, not like "it's 2:00 and I'm paying for you to be here so get working."  Stephanie is just lovely.

She is a highly-detailed woman, who knows what works and what doesn't - but she doesn't have that high-strung, strict personality.  I don't how she folds the two together like she does.

(Yeah. Look at her.  Gracious.)

I mean, Stephanie, not to be weird... but you looked like an angel.  SO gorgeous.



And so smiling.  Thank you for smiling during your wedding. 

Um, yeah.  Her flowers?!?! Can I EAT them? They were delicious, perfect and so Stephanie.

When Rich was getting ready to propose to Stephanie, he wanted to plan a leisurely romantic dinner in their small town, where he hoped to recreate their first kiss.


He knew that his girlfriend had become his best friend, and it was time to make her his forever friend.

Buuut, timing wasn't exactly on his side.  Moving, stressful work and unclassy St. Patty's Day college kids threatened to ruin his proposal.  Or at least make it kind of awkward, he thought.

Plans have a way of never working out.  Like Sondre Lerche says "You better be prepared to be surprised, that's all I know."  Plans changed and Rich writes:

"So instead, it was a Tuesday night. We ate leftovers, we drank Smithwick’s, and we watched The Biggest Loser. It was the greatest night of my life."

Let's take this second to pause and meet Rich.

Rich is brilliant.  Rich is tender.  Rich is talented.

And Rich is just mad about Stephanie.  She drives him wild and it's written all over his face.  The poor guy doesn't have a chance, because when she looks at him, he's gone.  Cheeks are red, hands are quivering, eyes are sparkling - hey, the man is in love!

Their first look was adorable.



And I love that he high-fived her!  Lovers, and best friends. Perfect.

We ran around gorgeous Morningside Inn to take all the "formals" in the dreamy light.


HOT couple ALert! Wooo--e-oooo weee-ooo-ee!




I'm going to let the pictures do the talking.  It was amazing. They look amazing. They are amazing. Yeah. Amazing.




Stephanie walked down the aisle to string-set written by her man.  Yeah, he's a lawyer, he writes music, he sweeps girls off their feet... He's a keeper, Steph ;)

One of my favorite parts of their whole day was the "Emergency Box." Stephanie's uncle made it and they closed it during the ceremony.  The idea is that they close this box, with wine, glasses and love letters (as well as letters of advice from their parents) and if they ever get to "breaking point" or the "I feel like I can't do this anymore point" they are suppose to clear their night, open the box and enjoy it together.  If they never need it after 10 years, they will celebrate on their anniversary by opening and writing new letters to open on their 20th anniversary.  Romantic, huh?

Kisses are romantic!

And happy husbands and wives are romantic!

Ok, I'm running out of time so I have to rush through the end.  But golly cheese, how CUTE was their reception?  Everything was perfect.



At the end of the night, I noticed Steph and Rich having one of those "You are the only one I see and the rest of the world is a haze" moments.

After hosting their guests all night, they were just so captured with each other.

We went outside to take a little breather.  I thought it was so perfect.  They sighed and laughed.

They danced and talked.  As I watched them I thought about them doing this in 50 years.  When he has a hearing aid and she has wrinkles.  It will be beautiful.

Congratulations you two!