Story by Liesel Schmidt | Photography by Jan Michele Graves
A time of carefree adventurousness and feverish optimism, summer is notorious for romance—some lasting, some not. While the age difference between Katherine Joy and Christopher Taylor may have precluded any sort of love story when they met each other at a summer camp-style family resort in West Virginia, their friendship grew over the course of the following summers. Thirteen years later, the former summer camp mixed doubles tennis partners put down their rackets to walk hand in hand toward love.
Five years of dating proved that theirs was a romance that was meant to last, and on New Year’s Eve of 2017, Chris—a trial attorney for the Department of Justice—took his shot to make Katherine his partner in life. “Initially, he had an elaborate plan to propose near Independence Hall in Philadelphia, which is one of our favorite places in the city, but a friend of mine unexpectedly joined us,” recalls Katherine, who works as an accountant at EY. “Of course, this threw off his plans, but he adapted. I was planning on moving to DC on January 3rd, so I needed to clean out my apartment. He left me to keep cleaning and then came back later that night with cupcakes, ready to help me clean. At one point, I was in another room; and when I came back into the living room, he was on one knee with a ring in his hand. It was a complete surprise—I had trash in my hands, which I immediately dropped, of course!” she laughs.
Eighteen months later on June 1, 2019, Katherine’s hands clutched a bouquet as she walked down the aisle at Woodlawn Plantation wearing a lace fit-and-flare gown with a sweetheart neckline, ready to meet Chris at the altar. “As my dad was walking me down the aisle, I took a deep breath and accidentally inhaled the mint I had in my mouth. I essentially performed the Heimlich maneuver on myself with my bouquet without anyone really noticing—Chris just thought I was super emotional!”
After the two exchanged their vows and made promises of forever, they joined their family and friends for a reception on the grounds, dining on a delicious meal before cutting into a three-tier cake whose flavors truly reflected their fun personalities: cookie monster and funfetti with chocolate and vanilla frosting, served a la mode. And after an enthusiastic send-off from their guests, newly-married Katherine Joy and Chris Taylor began their first summer as man and wife.
The Details
Venue: Woodlawn Plantation
Photographer: Jan Michele Graves
Videographer: Doel/Delta Studio Productions
Planner: Added Touches by Terry (Terry Larkin)
Dress: Modern Trousseau
Shoes: Tieks
Hair + Makeup: Nadia Azaz + Bombshell by K
Engagement Ring: Barsky Diamonds
Tux: Reed's Custom Tailors
Flowers: Eight Tree Street Floral
Cake: Fluffy Thoughts
Catering: Design Catering
Entertainment: Bachelor Boys Band + Da Vinci Strings
Car Services: Fleet Transportation
Invitations: Added Touches by Terry
Getting Ready Location, Welcome Reception + Sunday Brunch: The Alexandrian Hotel
First Look Location: Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
Rehearsal Dinner: Virtue Feed and Grain