There are certain perks to being a wedding planner: you know the local vendors by name, you’ve scouted out all the best locations numerous times, and you’re an expert at bringing a concept to life. That’s why we were thrilled to see how Cristina Calvert of Cristina Calvert Signature Weddings & Celebrations planned her nuptials to Justin Schoolmaster. The theme was “Shorely in Love” and these photos of the celebration by Maria Vicencio Photography embody everything we love in an Eastern Shore wedding: sunlight sparkling on the water, a gorgeous tent reception decorated in white and gold, and lots of personal touches—from the monogrammed handkerchief wrapped around the bride’s bouquet to the CDs created by the groom as escort cards—that a wedding planner would know how to pull off with panache.
Cristina was out at a restaurant in Annapolis with her girlfriends when she spotted a cute guy. As he struck up a conversation with the group, Cristina couldn’t help but notice how genuinely nice and engaging he was, and he couldn’t help but take note of her beautiful smile. When Cristina found out that Justin was originally from Illinois, she decided that was the reason he was so charming. “I now say he was ‘Midwest nice’ from the start,” she says.
Justin took Cristina on a first date to Founding Farmers, initiating their eight-year relationship. When the pair took a vacation to the Bahamas with Cristina’s family, Justin snagged some alone time with his girl on a private beach, and it was there that he got down on one knee and proposed before rejoining her family for an engagement party.
After their seaside proposal, it made sense that they would return to the shore after their church ceremony on September 27, 2014. They joined family and friends for an elegant tent reception at the Tred Avon Yacht Club, with a jazz second line setting the tone for the night as it played the bridal party into the tent.
At the end of the night, the guests snacked on Justin’s favorite dessert—churros and chocolate sauce—before Justin whisked Cristina off for her surprise honeymoon in Rome, Marrakech, and Santorini.
VENDORS
Ceremony Venue: St. Mark’s United Methodist Church | Reception Venue: Tred Avon Yacht Club | Photographer: Maria Vicencio Photography | Bride’s Gown: Monique Lhuillier | Groom’s Tux: Custom | Hair Dresser: Fern Hill of Hudson & Fouquet | Makeup Artist: Joanie Coffren of JH Makeup Artistry | Event Design and Planning: Cristina Calvert Signature Weddings & Celebrations | Day-of Coordination: Sarah Tucker Events | Cake: Cakes by Melinda | Florist: Dragonfly Wedding Flowers & Event Design | Caterers: Bartlett Pear Inn | Transportation: Vintage Limos and ZBest Worldwide | Videographer: Monachetti | Music/Entertainment: Amaretto | Invitations: The Dandelion Patch | Tent: Atlantic Sailcloth Tent | Rentals: Eastern Shore Tents and Events and Select Event Group | Calligraphy: Arney Walker Calligraphy | Custom Cookies: Kalorama Cookie Company | Bridesmaids Dresses: Jenny Yoo, Hitched
Caroline Cunningham joined Washingtonian in 2014 after moving to the DC area from Cincinnati, where she interned and freelanced for Cincinnati Magazine and worked in content marketing. She currently resides in College Park.
