Prepare yourself for pretty as far as the eye can see in today's real wedding! US couple Kelsey and Gavin (and fur-babies Sadie & Lola!) had an al fresco Maryland wedding in September 2019 that will have your heart singing. The couple worked closely with their wedding planner and stylist to design a beautiful nautical-inspired wedding at the Historic London Town & Gardens in Annapolis that was filled with dreamy details and fun oyster themed surprises for their guests. Paige Elizabeth Photo lovingly snapped all the swoon-worthy pics, and we're thrilled to share them with you all today!

So first things first, Kelsey fills us in on how they met, "We grew up in the same town, but did not meet until college when one of my very best friends introduced us. She went to elementary school with Gavin, and grew up next door to him. All those years and we never crossed paths."

ALL the heart eyes for Kelsey's Something Bleu pearl bridal shoes. A subtle nod to the oyster theme!

The couple's proposal took place while on vacation in Maryland. Kelsey reminisces, "Gavin planned to propose in St Michaels, Maryland on my birthday. Gavin and his family frequently vacationed in St Michaels growing up, so it was a very special place to both he and I. My birthday is in February, and I did not want to go on vacation on the Eastern Shore when the weather was cold. I was a bit of a “brat” you could say, and made him push the trip to May. Luckily, I have a very patient husband who was a good sport and waited an additional three months to propose on our rescheduled trip. I had no clue it was coming, except for some suspicions the day of, because he was acting like a nervous wreck. The proposal happened along the water at The Inn at Perry Cabin, a beautiful historic hotel (that you may recognize from the movie The Wedding Crashers)."

When it came to planning their wedding, the couple were keen to make it a family and friend-centered celebration with an emphasis on great food & drinks, dancing and a good time.

Just look at these cuties! Golden Retriever Sadie and Frenchie Lola made the pawfect bridal party attendants!

The perfect venue for Kelsey & Gavin's ceremony & reception was the spectacular Historic London Town & Gardens, a beautiful waterfront wedding venue with acres of gardens just minutes from downtown Annapolis, Maryland. When asked what made their venue 'the one', the couple tell us, "The lush greenery and perfectly landscaped gardens, tented reception space and spectacular views of the Chesapeake bay."

We're loving Kelsey & Gavin's colour palette which complimented their waterside venue perfectly. Kelsey tells us more, "We strove to achieve a relaxed, moody and nautical feel without the use of blues and found inspiration in the inside of an oyster shell with grey, tan and burgundy tones."

We're positive guests loved this interactive and edible portion of the evening! Since Kelsey & Gavin's wedding took place in Maryland, they couple wanted to highlight the local oysters from the Chesapeake Bay region.

So many fun oyster details!

As for the advice they would give other couples, this is what Kelsey & Gavin had to say, "Hire a wedding planner or coordinator! We did not realise how many pieces there were to planning a wedding, and having our planner (Lauren Corrigan Events) allowed us to unload some of the more stressful tasks from our plate. As an added bonus, our planner was able to help with design and making sure all of our choices would come together for a cohesive look. This was important to us, since our vision was, at times, was difficult to express to vendors. Having someone with design expertise, as well as the ability to plan logistics largely helped to reduce our stress throughout the process and allow us to enjoy every moment of our big day."

After the celebrations the couple enjoyed a Covid-friendly mini-moon at the Sagamore Pendry Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland which they would highly recommend. "We would highly recommend a stay at the Pendry, spring for renting a poolside cabana. You can’t beat the food and service! There’s lots to do within walking distance in Fells Point and Harbor East Baltimore." Kelsey & Gavin plan to do a bigger honeymoon in Europe when it is safe to do so.

Thanks so much to today's couple Kelsey and Gavin for sharing their stunning micro wedding with us and to Paige Elizabeth Photo for capturing their wonderful day.