Fall DIY Wedding at Ceresville Mansion in Maryland: Krystal + Aijné

Krystal and Aijné met at a wedding that Krystal was performing at with her band and where Aijné was working on the sound. The two clicked and although it took awhile for Krystal to stop fighting the attraction, they talked almost everyday after that wedding. Which has led to an Empire inspired vintage DIY wedding of their own where the music has only just begun.

Wedding Date: October 9, 2015
Wedding Location: Frederick, MD
First Dance Song: ”Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran
Favorite Item on the Menu:  A friend surprised us with crab cakes for everyone!

Tell us about how you met and all about the proposal!

The setting was a gorgeous wedding venue in Chesapeake, MD. Krystal was preparing to sing at the wedding reception with her wedding band and Aijné was setting up the sound equipment. They caught each other’s eye during set up and really began to speak when Aijné interrupted her conversation about failed relationships with,, “Oh you couldn’t date me then.” Insert record scratch. After a little sarcastic banter back and forth, Aijné and Krystal joked for the rest of the night. From that moment on, they spoke almost every day. Krystal denied it, fought it, and claimed they were just friends for months, but Aijné eventually swept her off her feet.

Aijné and his family had been planning a surprise 60th birthday party for his mother for months, they just needed me to arrive early the day of to help with the set up. Although I didn’t feel well and picked a “mediocre” outfit because it “wasn’t my day,” Aijné convinced me to get fancy for his mom. On the way to the event, I slammed on nail polish and makeup in the car. When we approached the entrance of the birthday venue, I heard “Shhh Shh” coming from the inside. I asked Aijné if he heard it. Of course he denied it.

He opened the door for me to walk in, and John Legend’s “You and I” started playing, cameras were flashing, and a video camera was right in my face. I was confused and then I saw my sorority sisters standing on chairs, cheesing with their phones out, a congratulations cake to my right and it hit me…It’s happening! My sorority sisters, our families, and closest friends were there to witness a magical proposal. Aijné and his family went all out. They rented a ballroom in the Renaissance Hotel along the Baltimore Harbor, catered the party, hired a dj, sound engineer, professional photographers and videographers, bought cake and champagne favors, and a penthouse suite for the after party.

Wedding Style

Our wedding theme was “The Williams Empire.” Since we met through music and are both performers, our wedding theme was based off the hit TV show, Empire with a little garden, vintage flare.

I originally saw my dream dress in a runway image online. Discouraged by the designer price tag, I searched for ways to get an affordable custom made dress. Aliexpress.com to the rescue! I sent a screenshot of the runway picture, went to a seamstress to get my measurements ($5), communicated via email to personalize the design, picked the lace, and ensured there were pearl details all over. My formal ceremony dress was…wait for it… $284 and my simple, comfortable, and sexy reception dress was $125.

I spent most of my time in Michael’s, thrift stores, etsy, and on google hunting for bargains and DIY ideas. My mother and I bounced ideas off of each other left and right. We made or bargain shopped for everything except for the flowers. I made the bowties and pocket squares for the groomsmen, the backdrop for the red carpet, spray painted the centerpieces, printed and cut the menus, favor tags, and much more. Some things were must haves – can’t cut corners – and others were less of a priority for us. We bought our wedding cake and individual cakes for each table, which also served as table numbers, from Wegmans. Delicious, under $150 total, and guests got to take home the leftover cake that their table didn’t eat.

Culture

We planted a unity tree and once it was planted, welcomed the presence and blessings of close loved ones who were no longer with us with the Ashe/Libation Ceremony.

Memories

Aijné and I both committed to taking time to take in everything on our wedding day. My best memory was panning the room and watching everyone have a ball! Our parents were cracking up and everyone, including our pastor, was on the dance floor dancing and sweating hard and smiling from ear to ear. It was the best night ever.

Help a bride-to-be out!

1. Wedding planning can get really hectic and stressful. Make sure you take time to date, be in love, and remind yourself of why you’re doing this. You’re getting married to the love of your life. Love each other.
2. Everything isn’t going to go as planned. It happens. Go with it and don’t let anything ruin your day.
3. On the day of, everyone will want your attention for pictures, congratulations, toasts, dances, etc. Stop for a moment to just take it all in. The decorations, atmosphere and energy in the room will come and go quickly.

Vendors:

Photographer: Memories of Bliss
Wedding Dress: Gardenia Wedding Dress Factory
Make-up: Tiyana Robinson
Shoes: Lola Shoetique
Venue: Ceresville Mansion
Invitation Photo and Videographer: The Umbrella Syndicate
Florist: Kallmyer’s Custom Florals
Cake: Wegmans Bakery
DJ: DJ Twin
Band: Nightsong
Transportation: A Touch of Class Limousines
Lighting: DMV Pro Djs
Photo Booth: Silly Shotz Photobooth