“We were married after just six months of knowing one another,” says Lindsey Coleman of her courthouse wedding to Maurice Johnson. “Oddly enough, this was the same time frame for my parents, who are still happily married more than 40 years later.” Lindsey and Maurice met online and had their first date at Ram’s Head Tavern in Annapolis. “It was the day after my birthday, and she had brought me cupcakes from Baked & Wired. Who knew it was that easy to impress me?” says Maurice, who works for the State Department. Lindsey, who works for the US Agency for International Development, was equally impressed—she recalls instantly deciding he was the man she would marry.
Six months later, she got her wish: Maurice proposed to her at home, and they wed at the courthouse a mere ten days later. Before relocating to Rwanda, the couple threw a second wedding on June 2, 2013. The “great American sendoff” celebration at Nationals Park featured cocktail hour in the batting cages, baseball-inspired decor, and an appearance by Racing President Teddy Roosevelt.
Details:
Photographer: Love Life Images
Ceremony Venue: H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse
Reception Venue: Nationals Park
Officiant: Maureen Burke Ceremonies
Bride’s Gown: Badgley Mischka, Saks Fifth Avenue
Hair/Makeup: Kelli Fink
Groom’s Tux: Brooks Brothers
Caterer: Levy Restaurants
Cupcakes: Baked & Wired
Florist: The Enchanted Florist
Flowers: White calla lilies
Music/Entertainment: Mixing Maryland
First Dance Song: “Just Like Heaven” by Katie Melua (original by the Cure)
Invitations: Digby & Rose
Bride’s Favorite Detail: The baseball equipment Lindsey and her mother configured into centerpieces, which were later donated to a local charity for children.
Groom’s Favorite Detail: Seeing all of the faces of family and friends after being overseas for awhile.
Biggest Surprise: “Friends made signs for the cheering section, and guests sat in stadium seats and cheered us on.”
Decor Details: “Luggage tags as table numbers, guide cards to represent our overseas lifestyle, and postcards in place of a guest book, so that when we arrived back to the embassy we had love notes and well wishes from friends and family.”
Theme: The great American sendoff
Four Words That Describe the Wedding: Cocktail hour batting cages
Honeymoon Spot: Jamaica
Where They Currently Live: Kigali, Rwanda
