Visit Martha Stewart Weddings Real Weddings Wedding Styles Seasonal Weddings Winter Weddings The Couple Let the Symmetrical Grounds of Miami's Vizcaya Museum Set the Scene for Their Nighttime Celebration By Sarah Schreiber Sarah Schreiber Sarah Schreiber has been writing, editing, and producing lifestyle and weddings content for over 7 years. In that time, she has interviewed and worked with hundreds of leading experts to become an authority on all things homekeeping, flower arranging, home design, and wedding planning. Editorial Guidelines Published on January 14, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Ether & Smith Neah Alexandra Morton, a senior program manager at Microsoft HQ, met Geoffrey Bain Hutchinson online in April 2017; she was working at a nonprofit in Washington, D.C., at the time and he had just moved to Bethesda, Maryland, to begin a fellowship at the NIH's Vaccine Research Center (now a doctoral student at the University of Washington's Department of Immunology, Geoff was a core member of a coronavirus research team at the NIH). They swiped right on Easter Sunday and shared their first date five days later. Geoff proposed the day before their second anniversary. An avid photographer, he knew Neah wouldn't be suspicious if he set up his camera to snap a few portraits of the pair—which he did after they arrived at Bartholdi Park, a small garden close to the U.S. Capitol. "When the shutter started snapping, I just told Neah what was in my heart, how much I loved her, and dropped to my knee and proposed," recalls Geoff. "It's incredibly hard to surprise her, but that time I finally got her!" The duo ultimately decided to push back their original big-day date, April 24, 2021, to December; this gave their guests ample time to get vaccinated, they say. Ahead of their end-of-year nuptials, they primed guests with information on COVID-19 safety. "With so many people traveling to celebrate us, we felt a huge responsibility to keep everyone as safe and healthy as we could, and it worked!" they share. When their loved ones came together for their classic nighttime nuptials at the picturesque Vizcaya Museum and Gardens ("We're both really into architecture and we loved the way Vizcaya just makes you feel like you've stepped into another world," they say), they celebrated the sentiment that kept this duo going all along. "We stayed focused on the goal of all of it—marrying one another," says Neah. "I lost count of how many times we'd just look at each other out of the blue and say, 'I can't wait to marry you' or exclaim, 'We get to get married…to each other!' We've just always felt so lucky to have crossed paths and that feeling was always at the forefront." 01 of 25 Floral Preview Ether & Smith Digitally printed on ivory cardstock, the pair's neutral paper suite prefaced the classic palette of the event to come. The main invitation card featured a custom crest, which was created by stationer Claire Carstens of Sugared Fig Paperie; the emblem incorporated an illustration of the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens' South Terrace, where the reception took place. A taupe-hued ink, which matched Neah's bridesmaids' dresses "to a tee," she says, was used throughout; cotton-silk ribbons from Linen Lark were another near-exact shade match. A floral envelope liner from Lauren Yvonne Design and wax seals sourced via La Pomme et La Pipe completed the set. 20 Pretty Envelope Liners That Dressed Up Wedding Invitations 02 of 25 Touch of Glam Ether & Smith "I'm really into bridal styles from the 1950s—structured, feminine silhouettes with nipped in waistlines, capped sleeves, and voluminous-without-being-overwhelming skirts," says Neah, citing Carmen De Lavallade's big-day look as one of her all-time bridal moments. She tapped Jany M. Carrasco to create a hairstyle—subtly glam curls—that spoke to that idyllic aesthetic; Nordia Cameron-Cunningham handled her fresh makeup. 03 of 25 Clean and Classic Ether & Smith Her Reem Acra wedding dress delivered on the classic front—but Neah loved how the ensemble was a modern realization of her dream gown. "It made me feel exactly how I always hoped I'd feel as a bride: timeless, chic, and sexy," she says. The neckline was so beautiful, and the slit made it so easy to walk and dance in!" 04 of 25 Bridesmaids in BHLDN Ether & Smith Neah's bridesmaids stepped out in flowing satin charmeuse gowns from BHLDN; she was drawn to their champagne colorway. The specific style had always been on her radar—she saw it in passing and thought it might be a nice option—but didn't expect all of her attendants to feel the same way: "I gave them several options to choose from, thinking they'd all end up selecting a different style," explains Neah. "I never could have imagined they'd all fall in love with the same dress—and surprise, surprise, it was the 'Dylan!'" Badgley Mischka shoes and Swarovski crystal earrings by Villa Ville Kula, a mother-daughter team based in Washington, were their finishing touches. 38 Looks That Prove Bridesmaids' Dresses Can Be Chic 05 of 25 With Mom Ether & Smith Ahead of the ceremony, the bride—her all-white phalaenopsis orchid, ranunculus, and rose bouquet from Ever After Floral Design on display—posed with her mother, who later walked her down the aisle. 06 of 25 Suit and Tie Ether & Smith Geoff, resplendent in a Brooks Brothers tuxedo and diamond point bow from The Black Tux, admired his new Shinola watch—a wedding gift from his bride. 07 of 25 All the King's Men Ether & Smith Groomsmen matched Geoff in classic black tuxedos. "I wanted their attire to complement mine, and it was also super important to keep the shopping process easy since we all live in different states," notes the groom. "The Black Tux helped me do both!" 08 of 25 Ring Security Ether & Smith The pair's ring bearer carried a "ring security" box, which was "a DIY project my mom pulled together just a few days before the wedding," explains Neah. Dapper Ring Bearers Who Completely Stole Our Hearts 09 of 25 A First Look Ether & Smith The couple shared their first look on the stairs leading from the Parterres to the Garden Mound at Vizcaya. Neah was "so at ease, but so excited," she says, noting that the moment brought back memories from their relationship's early days: "I was literally bouncing with excitement!" 10 of 25 Simple Framework Ether & Smith A deconstructed floral arch perfectly framed the glass windows of the structure behind it. 11 of 25 On the Aisle Ether & Smith Small, grounded compositions of white florals marked each row of cane-backed chairs. 12 of 25 At Dusk Ether & Smith Guests sipped on the welcome cocktail—"Lavender Crisps," composed of vodka, elderflower liqueur, fresh lemon juice, thyme, lavender, and club soda—as they meandered their way through the garden to the ceremony locale. 13 of 25 A Special Performance Ether & Smith Neah's uncle, Raymond Boyland, is a professional musician and played "The Best Part" by Daniel Ceasar and H.E.R during the ceremony. "I was already pretty teary-eyed, but it was such a great moment—we all had tears in our eyes the entire time," says Geoff. How to Choose Between Pre-Recorded or Live Music for the Ceremony 14 of 25 The Time Was Right Ether & Smith Their Baptist service was officiated by Reverend Elijah McDavid III, one of Neah's childhood friends. During the proceedings, the bride and groom exchanged vows they'd written just nights ago, ahead of their welcome party. "That sounds crazy, but all the words and feelings were already there, and we didn't really feel the need to rush to write them out—we knew we'd jot them down when the time was right, and that's exactly what happened," shares the duo. "We sat on the balcony of our AirBnB 42 stories above the bustling streets of downtown Miami, and as we reveled in the moment, the words just kind of flowed." 15 of 25 Kicking Up Their Heels Ether & Smith Officially husband and wife, Neah and Geoff recessed back up the aisle to Mendelssohn's "Wedding March." 16 of 25 Cocktail Hour in the Garden Ether & Smith The cocktail hour afforded guests the chance to explore Vizcaya ahead of the reception; Neah and Geoff, who had squared most of their photo list away ahead of the ceremony, enjoyed most of the interlude, including the epic hors d'oeuvres. 17 of 25 Draped to Perfection Ether & Smith Under a white tent with a fully draped ceiling ("I was adamant about this one—I think people really underestimate how much beautiful draping can transform a space," says Neah), the newlyweds' reception vision—planned and executed by Jessica Campbell Events—was brought to life. Chandeliers trimmed in greenery hung above a series of round tables dressed in ivory linens. 18 of 25 Greenery Forward Ether & Smith Organic floral centerpieces were filled with white cymbidium orchids, ranunculus, and spray roses. The 7 Most Popular Types of Wedding Centerpieces 19 of 25 Table Number Touch-Ups Ether & Smith The pair's table number holders were a last-minute DIY: "They arrived the wrong color, so we ended up giving them a quick paint job the night before we left for the wedding!" 20 of 25 At Each Spot Ether & Smith White scalloped charger plates were flanked with matte gold flatware—a nod to antique gold wax seals seen on the invitation suites and escort cards. 21 of 25 Table for Two Ether & Smith Their ceremony arch was repurposed as a backdrop for their sweetheart table, which was positioned at the front of the dance floor. 22 of 25 What an Entrance Ether & Smith To whooping cheers of the crowd, the newly minted husband and wife made their party debut. "During our reception, we took so many moments to just look at our friends and families—people who have known us through ever single stage of our lives—partying like crazy and fellowshipping with one another," they say. "Nothing could have prepared us for that level of joy." 23 of 25 Sing It Loud Ether & Smith "During our first vacation together, we listened to Bill Withers' Still Bill album on repeat the entire time. 'I Don't Know' was playing the first time we said, 'I love you.' It's been our song ever since—we both know every single word," says Geoff. "I love seeing pictures of our first dance—we were just throwing our heads back, singing our hearts out to one another." 24 of 25 Classic Buttercream Ether & Smith The evening had a sweet ending: A classic three-tier wedding cake—filled with chocolate and vanilla layers interrupted by cream cheese frosting—coated in white buttercream. 25 of 25 Sources Ether & Smith Photography, Ether & SmithVenue, Vizcaya Museum and GardensWedding Planning and Event Design, Jessica Campbell EventsVideography, Martin and Eliska Kacvinsky of Kaco FilmsFlowers, Ever After Floral DesignInvitations, Programs, and Menus, Sugared Fig PaperieEnvelope Liners, Lauren Yvonne DesignWax Seals, La Pomme et La PipeRibbon, Linen LarkOfficiant, Reverend Elijah McDavid IIIBride's Gown, Reem AcraVeil, Luly YangJewelry, Ross Simons (bracelet), Fantasia by DeSerio (earrings)Shoes, Jimmy ChooHair, Jany M. CarrascoMakeup, Nordia Cameron-CunninghamBridesmaids' Dresses, BHLDNGroom's Attire, Brooks BrothersGroomsmen's Attire, The Black TuxEngagement Ring, Market Street DiamondsWedding Bands, Haute Carat, Valerie Madison Fine Jewelry (hers), Blue Nile (his)Music, RockWithUCatering, Bill Hansen Luxury CateringCake, Earth and SugarRentals, Decora Event Rentals (napkins, flatware, ceremony chairs, lounge furniture, tables), Nüage Designs (tablecloths, reception chairs), Different Look Rentals (chargers)Transportation, Florida ToursLighting, Evoga Events Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit