A Warm and Opulent Winter Wedding at the Baltimore Museum of Art

Kerry Sheehan and Morgan Peerman worked for the same company for five years before they met in early 2015, after Kerry joined a team that sat near Morgan's. "Even then we barely spoke until she joined the team I was on," says Morgan. "From there, we slowly grew from co-workers, to acquaintances, to best friends, to walking down the aisle and spending the rest of our lives together—five apartments, three jobs, two cats, and two states later!"

But before walking down the aisle, Morgan had to pop the question, which he planned to do during a weekend trip to Hudson, N.Y., in November 2020. As the two of them sat together at a quiet table in the corner of a cocktail bar, Morgan asked Kerry, "Couldn't you do this for the next 50 years?" "I said, 'Uh, yeah, I guess,' not really following," says Kerry. "Then he pulled out a ring box and got down on one knee."

At first, the couple booked Baltimore's Peabody Library for their 120-guest wedding on January 15, 2022. "That's a one-of-a-kind space, and the people we worked with there were absolutely wonderful," says Kerry, but the space stopped allowing catered functions due to COVID-19. "When they called us in September, we were devastated," says Kerry. But with help from their planner, Elizabeth Gopal of East Made Co., the pair booked the Baltimore Museum of Art, keeping their original date. "It never felt like a second-best option," says Kerry. "It's an absolutely beautiful space that has so much specific character, while still being a blank enough canvas for people to really decorate how they want."

Kerry and Morgan wanted to decorate according to their "timeless, vintage, classic" vision, which their planner describes as "midnight in the garden, meets art museum inspired by classic literature—very much a luxe fairytale." Deep pine and navy shades were offset by crisp winter white and delicate blush tones; trailing greenery draped across antique busts and gold statues; and opulent fabrics, like velvet and jacquard, carried through from the invitations to the reception. "Because it was a winter wedding, we wanted it to feel warm and textured, with a low-key sophistication," says Kerry.

Lush and Timeless

For their invitation suite, Kerry and Morgan asked Megan Kenney of Ruby the Fox to incorporate the deep, timeless greens of winter foliage alongside pale blush and shimmering gold accents. Velvet envelopes, a gold wax seal, and a sketch of the venue on the details card added to the warm, opulent aesthetic. "We described the feel we wanted and she absolutely nailed it," says the couple. "We wanted to evoke the same lush winter vibe with the invites as the wedding as a whole."

A Perfect Fit

Kerry and her mother traveled to The Mews Bridal in New York City, where Kerry tried on five wedding dresses she selected in advance—including a Margaux Tardits that combined a tulle skirt and a floral embroidered tulle bodice with a scooped back and wide neckline. "I knew I wanted long sleeves, something romantic and old-fashioned without being fussy," says Kerry. "I'm a decisive person and I knew going into the experience the general idea of what I wanted, so it was an easy and stress-free experience for me."

Only one moment required an emergency call to her sister via FaceTime: "I had a hard time choosing between the Margaux Tardits and another that was really gorgeous and sophisticated, but a little more restrictive," says Kerry. "My sister immediately noticed that I moved more freely—and more like myself—in the Margaux Tardits. That was what clinched the decision and was my favorite thing about the dress: It was so comfortable and easy to move around in."

Family Ties

Kerry's bouquet from Sophie Felts Floral Design added rich pops of color and texture—tulips, roses, hyacinth, sweet pea—to the deep green, blush, and white palette. "For the bouquet, I didn't want something very structured—I wanted a wildness to it," says Kerry. "The ribbon that tied the bouquet together was strips of fabric from my mother's wedding dress."

Green Party

The bridesmaids carried smaller versions of Kerry's bouquet, while the mothers of the bride and groom wore a brass cuff with a bloom attached. The women in the bridal party donned deep green dresses from BHLDN with light pink faux fur wraps to combat the January chill.

Suiting Up

Morgan chose a bespoke navy suit and custom white textured shirt from Indochino, which he wore with a mauve tie from The Tie Bar. "In the theme of the wedding and in line with my personal style, I wanted something classic and timeless, with an emphasis on fit," says Morgan.

In the Navy

Morgan's groomsmen wore navy notch lapel Indochino suits in the same fabric as the groom's. The groom and his right-hand men also wore matching white shirts and blush-colored ties.

Home Sweet Home

Although they planned to have their first look outside, the cold temperatures forced the pair indoors. But their backup plan worked surprisingly well: "We rented out one of the common spaces in our apartment building," says Morgan. "The space had a very long hallway, so there was still a bit of drama as I turned the corner and saw Kerry in her dress for the first time, 30 yards away." The nerves and excitement they both felt turned into a sense of peace and relaxation once they were together. "Once we had seen each other, it felt like we were tackling the day together," says Kerry.

Flower Power

Though the couple planned to have both of Kerry's nieces serve as flower girls, one had to bow out at the last minute after being exposed to COVID-19. But 5-year-old May doubled her efforts and made a success of her solo job. "May wore a floral embroidered light pink dress and a floral crown handmade by my mother," says Kerry. "She got up to the front and did not want to sit down, so she stood up with the bridesmaids for the whole ceremony."

A Creative Welcome

As guests entered the ceremony, they were met by a welcome table thoughtfully curated to reflect the "midnight in the garden meets art museum" theme. Gold-rimmed glass boxes held programs and blush-colored face masks while rented antique busts and trailing vines sat atop pale velvet linen.

Stunning Space

Two oversized urns overflowing with flowers flanked the entrance to the aisle, while a slim floral arch and "growing" arrangements on the floor added to the indoor-garden atmosphere. "The lighting installation is such a modern contrast to the marble pillars, but it works so perfectly," says Kerry. "I think getting married right in front of a Rodin Thinking Man is a special detail."

Father Knows Best

Chesapeake Strings performed Taylor Swift's "Wildest Dreams" as Kerry's father escorted her down the aisle. "We had practiced and he told me to make sure I wasn't going too fast," she says. "Very helpful advice, because I was all adrenaline at that moment and it took a lot of concentration to go at the right pace."

The New Mr. and Mrs.

Morgan and Kerry were pronounced husband and wife by the bride's sister, Kristen, who served as their officiant. "She's an amazing public speaker with a warm, empathetic presence that was the exact right energy we wanted for our ceremony," says Kerry. "She took her officiant duties very seriously; she interviewed us separately and then together, asking us what we valued in each other, what some of our favorite memories together were, and what being a husband or a wife meant to each of us. She incorporated all of that into the ceremony so it was so special and specific to us."

Art All Around

After the ceremony, guests mingled in the galleries while the newlyweds joined them for cocktails and passed hors d'oeuvres (which included bacon-wrapped scallops, fried chicken dipped in waffle batter, and miniature macaroni and cheese cups). "It felt very laid back and casual as we were front group to group greeting everyone, and we were able to talk to everyone in a way that we probably couldn't have once dinner and dancing started," says Kerry.

Busted!

With inspiration from their planner, Kerry and her mother put together an escort display of miniature busts, sourced from Amazon and Etsy, which they spray painted and adorned with name tags. "It was a little tedious and messy at times—our balcony still has gold paint on it—but when I saw it all come together, the effect was spectacular," says Kerry. The bride also came up with the tagline "Bust a Move" for the top of the board, tying the entire display together.

Golden Touch

Each small bust was tied with gold string and a personalized name tag, calligraphed by the bride's cousin, Cait Lawville of Cait Made It. "We got so many compliments, and some of our guests still have their busts!" says Kerry.

Shimmering Warmth

Richly-textured fabrics, including velvet and jacquard table linens and silk shantung napkins, were embellished by wintery, jewel-toned accents within the tablescape: deep-sapphire taper candles in gold holders, glittering faceted glassware, and abundant emerald and snow-white florals.

Classic and Chic

Though they incorporated their floral aesthetic into the centerpieces on each table, Kerry and Morgan also added visual interest—and a dash of personality—by including vintage books, glass candleholders, and gold figurines. "We wanted the tables to each have a little tableaux of objects, not just flowers," says Kerry.

Round Here

To show off the gold and navy accents on their place settings, Kerry and Morgan chose custom round menus (using the same swooping font they chose for their invitations). The meal, provided by Classic Catering, included a winter salad with pears and cranberries, an entrée of juniper berry-brine short rib and Maryland crab cake, and a selection of desserts: white cake; yellow cake with chocolate mousse filling; and bite-sized chocolate donuts, Key lime tarts, s'more cookies, and vanilla bread pudding.

So Happy Together

Their private preview of the reception space was a favorite moment for Kerry and Morgan. "Seeing how magical the room looked, it was like being transported to a different time and world," they say. "The rows of long tables draped in velvet and florals, the head table with the arch that we were just married under in the marble-covered atrium of the classics section of the Baltimore Museum of Art—it was a sight to behold."

Hand in Hand

As the evening continued, the newlyweds chose "Someone Like You" by Van Morrison for their first dance. "We have very different music tastes, and my sister, again going above and beyond her officiate duties, made a playlist for us with possibilities," says Kerry.

After the reception ended, the couple and their friends stayed until closing time at a nearby hotel bar, before Kerry and Morgan called an Uber to return to their hotel—a peaceful moment they still look back on. "I just remember being in the back of the Uber together, and it was the first piece of quiet we had in 12 hours," says Kerry.

Sources

Photography, Stetten Wilson
Venue, Baltimore Museum of Art
Event planning, Elizabeth Gopal, East Made Co.
Catering, Classic Catering
Flowers, Sophie Felts Floral Design
Stationery, Ruby the Fox
Calligraphy, Cait Lawville
Music, Chesapeake Strings (ceremony);Brian Jones, MyDeejay (reception)
Rentals, Select Event Group; Something Vintage
Bride's gown, Margaux Tardits
Bride's accessories, Gamberdella veil; Etsy sandals; Ross Simons earrings
Hair and makeup, Caitlyn Meyer
Bridesmaids' dresses, BHLDN
Groom and groomsmen's attire, Indochino
Groom and groomsmen's ties, The Tie Bar
Lighting, Event Dynamics
Transportation, ZBest Worldwide
Rings, DeLage Jewelers