Bettina and JP are getting married at my FAVORITE place, ever. The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. They are planning an elegant, classic, nautical wedding at Navy Point. They have hired some top notch vendors to make their day happen; it is going to be an amazing day and I can’t hardly wait! For now, get to know this sweet couple <3

How did you two meet?

We met at a summer BBQ through friends, very much the old fashioned way after online dating in a big city failed us both.  I brought veggie kebabs and approached the two guys manning the grill — one of them now my handsome fiance, and the other JP’s amazing cousin and best man — and asked if they wouldn’t mind adding a few green items to the mix.  The meat-lovers obliged.  Although JP and I are different in many respects, we were both instantly intrigued by one another.  That connection quickly grew into a relationship and it’s been the best journey together ever since.

How did he propose?

JP proposed at the Inn at Perry Cabin on the Eastern Shore of Maryland on a brisk December afternoon.  He surprised me with a weekend getaway touted as trip to relieve some stress before a big move we had planned the following weekend.  Before dinner, he suggested we enjoy a glass of wine on the grounds overlooking the Miles River.  He had a bench beautifully decorated and he handed me a small gift — I love Christmas ornaments and JP had worked with his dad to design two special ornaments — the first said “B” (my nickname) and the second “Marry me?”.  When I looked up (after bursting into happy tears), he was on one knee.  It was one of the happiest moments of our lives and a day we will never forgot.

What do you think will be your favorite part of the wedding day?

We feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to get married in beautiful St. Michaels, a town that holds such a special place in our hearts.  In many ways it’s where our story began — it’s where we took our first weekend trip as a couple and where JP proposed last December.  Having St. Michaels as the backdrop on our wedding day will definitely be one of the highlights for both of us.

Can you provide planning advice to brides in the thick of it right now? 

Our biggest piece of advice to couples embarking on the planning process is to take a moment before all the craziness begins to prioritize what are the most important aspects of your wedding and what, if push comes to shove, you can live without.  We picked 3 or 4 things at the start — e.g., a great band, delicious food (crab cakes!), beautiful photography, and of course, a wonderful planner — and they became guideposts as we navigated decisions about how to shape our big day.

What are you most looking forward to about married life?

Growing as a couple as we continue to build our life together.  We recently bought a house and are looking forward to making it our own, enjoying married life, and eventually starting a family.