A Billingsley House Wedding: Jo and Teresa
“It is beautiful to love and be free at the same time.” – Anaïs Nin
Having just recently celebrated our nation’s independence, I found it incredibly appropriate to dedicate this blog to one of my favorite couples and the celebration of their freedom to wed each other: after being together and raising a family over the course of 30 years, Jo and Teresa were thrilled to marry each other in a meaningful outdoor ceremony with a reception immediately following at the Billingsley House in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
I often work with couples who, while not under-appreciating their right to get married, naturally take it for granted. The process of planning those weddings revolves around selecting the best vendors and incorporating their vision into every aspect of the wedding so as to make it uniquely theirs. Jo and Teresa focused on similar goals, but after having fought for that right for so long, their excitement over just being able to share their love was genuine, touching, and infectious. Not once was their love or their long-deserved liberty overshadowed by flowers, cake, guest lists, or color schemes. And I was absolutely honored to contribute to creating the perfect wedding day for them.
With the intention of designing a day that was at once focused on the union of two soulmates and was also just plain fun, the brides opted for daytime ceremony followed by a heavy brunch. Putting on the Ritz displayed a rainbow of skewered fruits, assorted cheeses, and raw vegetable shooters during the cocktail hour, and then offered guests some of Jo and Teresa’s favorite brunch items: bagels with smoked salmon, spreads, and Muenster cheese (a must-have for the brides)
accompanied by cheddar cheese and scallion grits, a Belgian Waffle Station (including gluten-free waffles for Teresa) with toppings, and a breakfast buffet that included a scrambled eggs and a variety of toppings, bacon and sausage, and home-fried potatoes. Dessert was a delicious wedding cake featuring an adorable customized bride-and-bride cake topper.
Another fun aspect of the day was the couple’s use of colors. All of the colors of the LGBT Rainbow were represented, from the napkins to the food & beverage table linens, the personal flowers to the centerpieces (each of which were handmade by the brides and their closest friends during a centerpiece-making party), and the stationary to the food itself. Every color was embraced in such a way that even the slight rain that descended upon the reception couldn’t have put a damper on the festive mood.
Being a Maryland caterer was truly special this year. Our passion is making couples’ dreams come true, and we now have so many more couples coming to us with visions to turn into realities.
Congratulations to Jo and Teresa. Here’s to another 30 years of happiness and love!
To learn more about Jo & Teresa’s wedding, visit the following pages:
http://gma.yahoo.com/photos/gay-marriage-profile-jo-deutsch-and-teresa-williams-slideshow
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-05-31/lifestyle/39647000_1_memorial-day-weekend-fun-time-teresa-williams
Cheers,
Cate Buscher