Date: Sept. 27
Her story: Erin Smyth, 31, was born and raised in Hunt Valley. She's now a preschool teacher in Cockeysville. Her parents, John C. Smythand Geralynn D. Smyth live in Phoenix in Baltimore County.
His story: Matthew J. Tielsch, 30, was born and raised in Mount Washington. He works as an auto body technician. Matt's parents, Ellen MacKenzie and James M. Tielsch, live in Sparrows Point.
Their story: Matt and Erin met through a mutual friend six years before they started dating. Matt attended Boys' Latin School and Erin attended Notre Dame Preparatory School. In 2009, Matt discovered Erin was single and asked her to spend an evening with him. They ate dinner at Salt, where they had a great meal and conversation at the bar, and later attended a Johns Hopkins University lacrosse game. Throughout the evening, they both knew their relationship would never be the same, Erin said.
"I was very comfortable with him," she said. "You could tell in the ride from my house to the restaurant that things were more serious."
The proposal: Both are lovers of family, dogs, sun and sand, so Matt decided to propose to Erin at his parents' house on the deck atop their private beach in Sparrows Point, in the company of Erin and Matt'sdog, Millie, a rescue from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
"It was really lovely," Erin said. "We love the beach and the water. We go down there a lot. It will always be a familiar memory."
The couple now live in Mount Washington.
Venue: Two hundred people attended an evening wedding ceremony at Ss. Philip and James University Parish near the Johns Hopkins campus. The reception was held at Hillendale Country Club in Phoenix, which overlooks the golf course. The dance floor was on the outside patio with an elevated stage for the band. Elle Ellinghaus Designs planned the wedding.
Flowers and decor: Janda Florist in Cockeysville provided the flowers. The colors of the wedding were gold, blush, slate blue and ivory.
The seated, candlelight dinner featured glittering tablecloths, a pile of garden rose petals and gold metallic candled centerpieces. Cocktail hour was held on the first tee along with a fire pit and oyster bar outside, and cigar bar was set up in the garden grove off the 18th hole.
Her dress: Erin wore a Blush by Hayley Paige Ivory fit to flare strapless gown made of mikado fabric from Garnish Boutique in Ruxton Station. The dress had a twist illusion sweetheart neckline, ruched detail on the sides and a chapel train. She added a two-tiered cathedral veil from Sara Gabriel.
Bridesmaids' dresses: The women all wore long slate-blue chiffon gowns from Garnish Boutique.
Men's attire: Matt wore a classic black tuxedo with a satin white tie and vest from Men's Wearhouse. The groomsmen wore classic black tuxedos with black vests and ties, also from Men's Wearhouse.
Music: The Bachelor Boys Band performed at the reception. The couple's first dance was to "Just One Look" by Doris Troy.
Food and dessert: Hillendale Country Club provided 10-ounce New York strip steaks, crab-stuffed shrimp, roasted red potatoes and asparagus for dinner. The four-tiered pear cake from Baltimore Cakery in Canton featured gold ribbons of fleur de sel caramel and was iced with butter cream and fondant. Big blush garden roses atop gold foil adorned the cake.
Favors: In lieu of favors, Matt and Erin made a donation to Doctors Without Borders.
Special touches: Artist Patricia Bennett painted the evening sunset and first dance live during reception. The couple honeymooned in Hawaii for two weeks.