Annie and Taylor’s Relaxed Rehearsal Dinner on the Chesapeake Bay

Annie and Taylor, who call Washington, DC home, exchanged vows in a nearby town on the Chesapeake Bay, where they had grown up crabbing, fishing, and boating. On September 30, 2011, they invited 100 friends and family members to help kick off the wedding celebration with a relaxed rehearsal dinner by the water.

After falling in love with its natural beauty, the couple selected the Inn at Perry Cabin in the quaint bayside town of St. Michaels, Maryland, for their rehearsal dinner.

Guests received a colorful invite inspired by a watercolor painting of the Inn at Perry Cabin, designed by Cheree Berry.

Burlap-covered tables overlooked the water, offering guests an unobstructed view of the bay.

Friends and family mingled and relaxed while sipping cocktails and nibbling on light bites.

Taylor's favorite, Coca-Cola, was served in old-fashioned glass bottles passed in wooden crates. Bayside Breezes -- lime iced tea spiked with bourbon -- were also offered.

Old Bay-seasoned potato chips, spiced nuts, and dilled oyster crackers were set out with help from Allison Jackson of Pineapple Productions, who planned the evening fete.

Hand-stamped paper bags in which guests could store their salty snacks, rested beside the large glass canisters.

Escort cards, calligraphed by Arney Walker were clipped with clothespins to twine wrapped around a huge tree. Vines, greens, and flowers also wound around it for a lush look.

Annie and Taylor’s mothers spent hours collecting photos of the couple with friends and family members over the years. They strung the pictures from twine suspended between two trees.

Natural materials like burlap runners and wood created an elegant, no-fuss vibe and helped set off the floral arrangements.

Florist Jack Lucky of Jack Lucky Floral Design composed arrangements of ivory and camel garden roses, green hydrangea, and wildflowers. These were placed in rustic pots.

The elaborate, Chesapeake inspired menu was displayed on a chalkboard. It outlined the lobster salad that began the dinner, the buffet offerings, and desserts.

Taylor's family home on the Eastern Shore inspired this fun cake by Charm City Cakes. Little details, like the bride and groom’s dogs and Washington Capitols jerseys, made it a true conversation piece.

Guests ate at large, rectangular tables adorned with the bay served as a background.

Though it sprinkled throughout the evening, guests enjoyed dinner and dancing underneath a tent.

Homemade cookies were displayed on glass pedestals.

As the night drew to an end, the clouds cleared, giving guests yet another reason to smile.

Photography: Patricia Lyons

Location and catering: Inn at Perry Cabin

Event planning: Allison Jackson of Pineapple Productions

Flowers: Jack Lucky Floral Design

Cake: Charm City Cakes

Tent: Sugar Plum Tents

Rentals: Susan Gage Caterers

Music: The Woodshedders

Transportation: Linder and Associates