If you’ve read the newest issue of Washingtonian Bride & Groom, you probably checked out (and fell in love with) the oh-so-sweet real wedding of Sara (a former Washingtonian staffer) and Zack, who married at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay in Cambridge, Maryland. Well, today you’re in luck: We have photos of the couple’s amazing “yacht club casual” rehearsal dinner. We talked to Ritzy Bee’s Maria Cooke, who planned the event, to get the full scoop on the details.
“We were happy to help Sara and Zack kick off their wedding weekend with a more casual Friday night rehearsal dinner prior to their big day,” says Cooke. “Sara and Zack coined the phrase ‘yacht club casual’ to describe the vibe, since we held the event in a pretty outdoor space next to a marina.”
The menu was important to the couple (Sara is a writer for FoodNetwork.com), and they decided to blend the cuisines of New Orleans (Zack’s hometown) and Maryland (Sara’s home state). During cocktail hour, a Maryland blue crab picker was on hand, and fried oysters from Louisiana were served. For dessert, guests enjoyed a cobbler bar and a surprise groom’s cake depicting the logos of Zack’s favorite sports teams.
The decor included nautical escort card flags placed in sand and fabric sailboats that served as table numbers. The custom “placemats” were a highlight: They told the story of how Sara and Zack’s met, and explained the evening’s agenda.
“After dinner and the speeches, guests were given s’mores kits as favors and enjoyed the sweet treats at the venue’s outdoor fire pits,” says Cooke.
Vendors
Photographer: Maria Vicencio Photography
Venue and Catering: Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay
Event Design and Planning: Ritzy Bee Events
Paper Goods: Simplesong Design
Lighting: Frost Lighting
Groom’s Cake: Fancy Cakes by Leslie
