Travels to Paris Inspired This Couple's Romantic Big Day in Maryland

Megan Uhrich, a strategic growth director, knew from the get-go that her future groom Daniel Henriquez, a video producer and director, was exactly the partner she would want in her life when they connected back in June 2015. Their initial greeting, however, actually happened by chance. While visiting family in Seattle that summer, she decided to catch up with a college friend who asked to bring a coworker along when they got together. "I was sitting outside his hotel in my rental car, talking on the phone to my best friend (and co-maid of honor) when she realized I had stopped listening to her," Megan recalls—she saw Daniel walking by and immediately wished they could meet. Luckily for her, that is exactly what happened mere moments later. "As soon as I started describing him to her, I turned around and realized he was getting in my car along with my college friend," the bride shares. "We went all around Seattle that night and had dinner and visited some great cocktail bars—including Bathtub Gin Co. He made quite the impression on me that night and we started dating a few months later when we were both back in D.C."

Fast forward three years later: The couple had their eyes set on walking down the aisle. They talked in depth about getting married, and Megan designed her engagement ring, so she knew the proposal was coming. Daniel planned to pop the question during their trip to Ireland in April 2018—as it was their first trip there, Megan reconnected with distant relatives in the area, and the bride is also a competitive Irish dancer—so everything aligned perfectly for the destination proposal. "We were going to be spending some time in Donegal and I wanted to go to the Slieve League Cliffs, which are the highest accessible seaside cliffs in Europe and had been recommended by Megan's close friend, Catharine," Daniel says. The groom even hired a photographer to capture the moment he got down on one knee. The only catch? Daniel made the wrong turn on their drive to the site and they ended up in an entirely different spot. "Fortunately, I had my drone with me, and I used it to capture our engagement moment," he said. "It all really worked out wonderfully, because we were the only two on top of the cliffs, so it was really beautiful and intimate."

They drew inspiration for their wedding at Antrim 1844 from other sentimental trips: their annual vacations in Paris, France. "We used autumn tones, seasonal fruit, and macaron favors to decorate guest tables with classic café-style seating," Courtney Pino of Abby Garden, their creative director, florist, and planner, shares. On November 16, 2019, in Taneytown, Maryland, Megan and Daniel welcomed 143 guests to transport them to a French paradise and celebrate their nuptials.

Rhiannon Hare looked to antique-stamped love letters from Paris when creating the couple's invitation suite. She included a custom monogram of a vintage stamp on the reply cards and worked in illustrations of Megan and Daniel's cats.

The bride posed in a lace getting-ready robe—which nodded to her big-day look—on the morning of the wedding.

Megan wore a vintage, romantic-style Annasul Y. wedding dress with layers of lace, a low back, and a fit-and-flare design. The couple's venue actually inspired the choice. "I tried on many dresses and liked several before we picked our venue," she says. "Once we picked Antrim 1844 as our venue and the theme started to come together, I knew I wanted a more romantic dress, instead of the more modern ones I liked previously."

The bride opted for a flowing veil from David's Bridal, which complemented her ensemble.

A vintage purse previewed a tone seen throughout the big day—and served as the ultimate backdrop for her custom Green Lake Jewelry Work engagement ring.

Autumn eucalyptus, Westminster Abby garden roses, purity garden roses, cafe latte garden roses, white astrantia, navy privet, and gold-and-bronze ranunculus with French lavender filled Megan's bouquet by Courtney Pino of Abby Garden.

Daniel wore a classic black tuxedo from The Black Tux along with a Mont Blanc watch. The latter holds sentimental value for the groom. "[My dad] gave me the watch before he passed away in 2013," he says. "Before that, he wore the watch on a constant basis. It means a lot to me."

"The bridesmaids wore French blue dresses in their choice of silhouette," Megan shares of The Dessy Group gowns. "I wanted them to wear something simple, classic, timeless, and let them choose the silhouette so they could be comfortable." The groomsmen all wore classic black tuxedos from The Black Tux.

Before seeing her groom for their first look, Megan had one with her parents. "I'm so close with both my parents, so doing a first look with them was so fun," the bride recalls. "I was so excited to see them and infinitely more nervous to see Daniel—we hadn't seen each other since the rehearsal dinner the previous night."

After the couple's first look, the bride and groom made their way to towards the ceremony space together.

A lush arbor filled with autumn eucalyptus, Westminster Abby garden roses, quicksand roses, cafe latte garden roses, white delphinium, and Roseanne lisianthus became the centerpiece for the ceremony.

Daniel noted that he and Megan wrote personal vows for their ceremony. "In a conversation I had with my late dad a long time ago, I asked him, 'How do you know when you find your person?'" the groom shared in his vows. "He said, 'You'll know because it will feel easy.'"

With the help of their officiant, Leo Delgado, the pair exchanged wedding bands (the bride's from Green Lake Jewelry Work, the groom's from Marke New York) at the culmination of their personal service.

One of the couple's favorite moments from the day? "The moment after we both said 'I do' and looked out at everyone applauding," the bride says. "This was the first moment it really hit us both. We just felt a huge outpouring of love and support at that moment from our friends and family."

Guests found their table assignments on escort cards arranged on a vintage table, decorated with antique urns, boxes, and florals; boxes of macarons from Buttercream Bakeshop were waiting at each setting.

Though the couple didn't complete any DIY projects for the wedding, Megan says they "thrifted and collected more than 250 pieces of antique silver—including vases, bowls, pitchers, goblets, and more to use as our reception décor!"

Persimmons and seasonal berries topped natural muslin runners, Courtney notes. Wooden chargers—which spoke to the matching bistro chairs—and neutral taper candles completed the tabletops.

Megan and Daniel shared their first dance surrounded by their loved ones—and recommend that any soon-to-be newlyweds take as much time as possible with their family and friends on the big day. "If you have a large wedding like us, this will likely be the only time you get to have everyone you one love in one place," the couple shares. "Create as many opportunities as you can to soak up those moments with them."

SugarBakers Cakes baked a raspberry amaretto and red velvet cake with German buttercream for the pair's big-day confection. Courtney added a couple of fresh flowers as a finishing touch.

Creative Direction and Photography, Carrie Coleman Photography
After-Party Photography, Gabriele Stonyte
Venue, Antrim 1844
Creative Direction, Event Design, and Flowers, Courtney Pino of Abby Garden
Cinematography, Kyle Smith with 87 & Smith Films
Invitations and Other Paper Products, Rhiannon Hare
Officiant, Leo Delgado
Bride's Gown, Annasul Y.
Veil, David's Bridal
Bride's Earrings, Ben-Amun
Groom's Watch, Mont Blanc
Ceremony Shoes, Badgley Mischka
Reception Shoes, Kate Spade
Hair, Hala for Makeup by Ana B
Bridesmaids' Dresses, The Dessy Group
Groom and Groomsmen's Attire, The Black Tux
Engagement Ring and Bride's Wedding Band (Custom), Green Lake Jewelry Work
Groom's Wedding Ring, Marke New York
Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music, The Rick Olivarez Trio
Reception Music, DJ Ryan Mulsteff with Extraordinary Entertainment
Catering, Antrim 1844
Cake and Dessert Bar, SugarBakers Cakes
Rentals, Party Rental Ltd; Something Vintage Rentals
Favors, Macarons from Buttercream Bakeshop