By the Bay: Kristen & Rich in St. Michael's, MD

The couple’s alma mater, Virginia Tech, has a large student body — but not so big as to keep mutual friends from introducing Kristen Igelman to Rich Brittingham during their senior year. Four and a half years later, Rich surprised Kristen with a romantic proposal in the Caribbean and the wedding planning began. Neither felt strongly about getting married in their hometowns, so they explored areas along the Chesapeake Bay and fell in love with Wade’s Point Inn in St. Michael’s, Maryland.

By the Bay: Kristen & Rich in St. Michael
Rose petals and pomanders line the aisle with the inn in the background. “Most of our guests stayed at the inn for the entire weekend. People went kayaking, played Frisbee, napped in the hammocks and relaxed in Adirondack chairs—it was like having a big, beautiful backyard filled with our closest friends and family,” says Kristen.
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By the Bay: Kristen & Rich in St. Michael

The couple’s alma mater, Virginia Tech, has a large student body — but not so big as to keep mutual friends from introducing Kristen Igelman to Rich Brittingham during their senior year. Four and a half years later, Rich surprised Kristen with a romantic proposal in the Caribbean and the wedding planning began. Neither felt strongly about getting married in their hometowns, so they explored areas along the Chesapeake Bay and fell in love with Wade’s Point Inn in St. Michael’s, Maryland.

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By the Bay: Kristen & Rich in St. Michael
The beaming bride makes a grand entrance with the inn as a backdrop. The inn offered beautiful views for the outdoor ceremony and tented reception, as well as spectacular sunsets. “It was important that we find a location where loved ones could get to know each other,” recalls Kristen.
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By the Bay: Kristen & Rich in St. Michael
To complement the setting, the couple chose a palette of royal blue, pale peach and ivory. Here, a close friend says a few special words during the ceremony.
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By the Bay: Kristen & Rich in St. Michael
Kristen’s bouquet was made of pale pink and ivory roses, dahlias and stephanotis.
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By the Bay: Kristen & Rich in St. Michael
The happy couple share a kiss. “Immediately following the ceremony, Rich and I took a few moments to privately reconnect. This was important because we knew for the rest of the day, we’d be surrounded by our guests,” Kristen says.
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By the Bay: Kristen & Rich in St. Michael
The couple enjoy a relaxing moment together in a hammock. While Kristen and Rich had their photographs taken, guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres of jumbo shrimp, stuffed mushrooms and sips of crab and corn chowder.
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By the Bay: Kristen & Rich in St. Michael
The wedding cake by Bay Country Bakery was adorned with fresh coral and peach roses. At the reception, following some heartfelt toasts, the couple danced to an acoustic rendering of ‘It’s Your Love’ by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. Guests joined them, and everyone danced late into the night. “By the end of the evening, we felt that this perfect day represented how our lives together would always be,” says Rich.
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