Morgan & Derek

This originally ran as a Local Love in the 2019 issue.

Wedding Date June 16, 2018

“Tropical garden sunshine oasis” was the unofficial theme of Morgan Ledford and Derek Mauldin’s summer wedding. It’s the nonsensical, perfect description of a day that had a Katy Perry cut-out, ice cream tacos, flawless weather, and the megawatt smile of a bride wearing pink.

When Morgan and Derek first met, it was also a bit unusual. She was 19 and working as a server at the now-closed Dark Horse Saloon in Bel Air; he was 11 years older and a manager at another bar. She was quickly infatuated with the guy who seemed to be everyone’s ally, but they remained friends and didn’t start dating until her 21st birthday. In those two years, they had gotten to know each other—and each other’s families—well. “He is genuinely the nicest person I have ever met,” says Morgan. “He wants the best for everyone that he meets.”

Fast-forward three more years, and Morgan was working at Lemon & Lime Event Design as an event producer. “Weddings are always on your mind,” says Morgan. And so was her engagement. “I’m a pretty big snoop. I don’t like surprises,” she says. But when Derek sent her upstairs late on Christmas Eve, she didn’t think it was anything more than last minute holiday gift  prep. At one point, he asked her to send down their dog. “Is it a dog house?” she wondered. Finally, at 10 p.m., Derek told her she could come down. “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” by Haley Reinhart was playing on the sound system, and Christmas lights had been strung up all around the house. He was in a shirt and tie (she was in sweatpants). “I was shocked,” she remembers. “I’ve never been surprised once in my life. I can’t remember what he said, I thought I was going to have a heart attack.” By the light of the Christmas tree, he proposed.

When it was go-time for planning, Morgan had one request: a new-to-her venue. “It was hard finding somewhere I hadn’t worked,” she explains. “I didn’t want someone else’s memories where I was creating my own.” During an online search, she stumbled on La Banque at the Seaplane Base, a waterfront venue in Havre de Grace, and on her first visit, she knew it was the place.

Morgan and Derek ended up with picture-perfect weather in a year that saw record rainfall. The whole day took on a sunshine-y feel, from the bright, gorgeous flowers to the holographic 8-foot-tall escort card display, to the 600 cocktail napkins filled with love quotes from their favorite movies and television shows, to being surrounded by so many vendors she considered dear friends. 

Says Morgan happily, “I think I bear-hugged everyone that day.”

BEAUTY Ariel Lewis BRIDESMAIDS Hayley Paige Occasions at Bella Bridesmaids Baltimore CAKE SugarBakers Cakes CATERER Rouge Fine Catering ESCORT DISPLAY Stephanie B. Design Floral Design Steelcut Flower Co. GROOM & GROOMSMEN Men’s Wearhouse HONEYMOON Sandals Royal Bahamian INVITATIONS mlc designs LIGHTING Loane Bros. LOCATION La Banque at the Seaplane Base MUSIC Chesapeake Strings (ceremony); Mixing Maryland (cocktail hour and reception) OFFICIANT Dave Merritt, friend of the bride and groom RENTALS White Glove Rentals and Select Event Group SIGNAGE mlc designs and Anchor Point Paper Co. TRANSPORTATION An Extraordinar Limousine VIDEOGRAPHER Just Hitched Wedding Films WEDDING DRESS Hayley Paige at Bella Bridesmaids Baltimore Photographer Anna Reynal Photography WEDDING PLANNER Lemon & Lime Event Design