This originally ran as The Back Story in the 2014 issue.
WEDDING DATE September 29, 2012
I own Sugar Farm Productions, a photography and video company, and Ruben is the lead singer and founder of Swampcandy, a Delta blues duo out of Annapolis. So, when it came time to plan our wedding last fall, we knew we had to create a piece of art. I took care of all things visual, Ruben took charge of the music, and the theme was born: “A Celebration of Sight and Sound.” We quickly began enlisting our artist friends, whose talents range from fire blowing and stunt work to creating custom cakes.
The wedding location was at a friend’s farm set along a river. As guests arrived, dressed in vintage clothing for a pre-ceremony cocktail hour, an old-time band greeted them and then led them to a very intimate ceremony along the water. Our guests surrounded us as we read our own vows, and then we placed them in an old wooden box with a bottle of whiskey and tied it all up with twine—not to be opened unless we need to remind each other of our vows. The reception was filled with details to entertain and create a fun, vintage, circus atmosphere: A large stage was set up under the tent with a painted backdrop declaring the theme of the night; tables were decorated simply, with slabs of wood and vintage vases with dried flowers; lanterns hung over the tables of food and desserts; and bistro lights hung from every pole.
Two bands rocked the tent all night long as guests danced on the homemade checkered dance floor. Old black and white films were projected onto one side of the tent while a popcorn machine and craft beer were offered up in another corner. A friend was integral in pulling together the theme and entertaining the guests. He dressed as the ringleader for the night and made announcements through a megaphone. During the reception, we also had him create a piece of live art, which became two giant cutouts of us kissing with details blowtorched onto the wood.
I wanted to keep my attire just as fun as the theme, so I chose a simple, short, strapless dress, a birdcage veil, and a feather hairpiece along with some yellow shoes. I wanted to keep my attire just as fun as the theme, so I chose a simple, short, strapless dress, a birdcage veil, and a feather hairpiece along with some yellow shoes.