Real Weddings: Courtney & Aubrey

Black African American bride Courtney groom Aubrey marriage married wedding ceremony reception color palette gold green nude art museum modern contemporary elegant Baltimore Maryland

While Courtney and Aubrey each may have had a lonely Valentine’s Day in 2018, cupid struck a bit late – three days after February 14th that year, they happened to match up on The League dating app. Aubrey, a clinical psychologist Ph.D. with degrees from Loyola and George Washington Universities, arranged for a date with Courtney, who works for a private foundation and graduated from Georgetown University. On that first encounter they spent time bonding over things like their love of travel, music, and matcha lattes. After three hours of nonstop conversation and laughter, Aubrey felt compelled to ask “is it just me, or is there something real here?” Courtney gleefully nodded yes, as she too felt the undeniable sensation that something magical, that thing that so many people search for, was already happening between them. Needless to say, the two became a couple and Aubrey had a huge surprise planned for the woman he planned to marry when the duo took a trip to Santorini, Greece. During their relaxing vacation, they planned a few days to do some exploring in the cliffside village of Oia. Aubrey lured Courtney to various lookout spots featuring the sunset to have a local photographer capture their final night of the trip. At a beautiful, old church overlooking the water, Aubrey stopped, tapped Courtney on the shoulder and as she spun around, she saw he was down on one knee. In October of 2021, before 125 guests, Courtney and Aubrey recited hand-written vows to one another as they were surrounded by love and beauty, standing amongst stately masterpieces of art.

Wedding Details

LOCATION: Baltimore, MD

TIME OF YEAR: Fall

WEDDING STYLE: contemporary, artsy, elegant

CEREMONY & RECEPTION: The Baltimore Museum of Art

MENU: Beginning with passed hors d’oeuvres the menu included gruyere and steak tartlets, jump lump crap balls and duck cassoulet skewers. A cheese spread and Mediterranean antipasti table was set out. First course was a vineyard salad of mixed greens, chenin blanc poached pears, parmesan, aged balsamic vinegar and white truffle oil. Then plated entrees were a choice of braised short rib alongside a cherry wine gastrique, rosemary gremolata and micro-celery, or the apricot-glazed salmon with a chamomile scented port jus and fennel pollen, garlic chive mashed potatoes. Both options were offered with an heirloom rainbow carrots with mint chimichurri. The couple’s signature drink was an elderflower French 75 using elderflower liqueur and edible flowers

Desserts: Vanilla cake with lemon curd, raspberry jam and cream cheese icing, as well as green tea, rose and lemon flavors macarons

FIRST DANCE SONG: “Conversations in the Dark” by John Legend

INSPIRATION: Modern elegance with a Parisian touches

SPECIAL FEATURES: Black violinist who played live modern R&B hits; a custom escort card display; Tuscan-style table; couple did the jump the broom tradition; macaron dessert cart; custom-made monogram; large escort card wall display

HONEYMOON: A mini-moon in Charleston, SC

COLORS: