I didn’t want a lot to be traditional when planning my wedding because when it came to the five years leading up to the proposal, not much was ordinary. We met on match.com and had one date at Nats Park in Washington, DC before my future husband, a Marine, threw our relationship a curveball and got orders to Japan. Phone calls and Skype were our dates over the following few years before he returned to the States. Daniel proposed in the summer of 2012 and then deployed to Afghanistan leaving me with wedding plans as the perfect pastime while he was away.
The unforgettable day was punctuated by national landmarks, historic sites and our field of dreams. Our family and friends watched the wedding and felt as if they’d dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories were so thick, they had to brush them away from their faces. Taking photos around the monuments of the nation’s capital it was as if a rock band’s tour bus pulled up in front of admiring fans. As our bridal party, my groom and I got off the shuttle bus at various scenic locations for pictures, hundreds of complete strangers started taking photos of us. It was a true paparazzi moment. Some people even went to the extreme to ask our photographers to get in the photos with us! On Pennsylvania Avenue, our pose was reminiscent of an old Life Magazine cover.
Our celebration began at a base and continued at home plate. The ceremony was held at a little white chapel on Bolling Air Force base. Honoring the groom’s Irish heritage, a bagpiper provided the music as our wedding party walked the aisle and took their positions. Following an upbeat and spirited ceremony, the crowd went wild as we exited to the Marine Corps hymn under a saber arch. The wedding party (and guests) climbed aboard the team buses and headed to the stadium.
Deciding to have our reception at Nats Park was a fastball right down the middle. Reflecting back on the first date back in our rookie season, the wedding would be just like going home. Unique, fun, and not what you think when it comes to a wedding – a perfect triple play, exactly what I wanted. The food was delicious – hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, bbq, soft pretzels, popcorn and peanuts. Cocktail hour was hosted in the dugout and batting cages (with actual Nationals players throwing out pitches). Amazingly, my mom and I kept it a secret under our caps for a year and half so it could be a surprise for all the guests – especially my brother, a die-hard Nats fan. As we walked down to the field, he said “Kim, I literally have goosebumps all over my body” – that statement was worth the extra fee and the stress of keeping an 18 month secret. Seeing guests in suits and dresses taking batting practice, laughing and truly enjoying themselves was among my favorite memories of the day.
With the reception at the stadium, the view of the field was better than any decoration we could’ve added. To add a few personal touches, we asked our guests to autograph, errr sign a Nats jersey with the number 13 and our last name on the back. The wedding party was introduced with the enthusiasm of a professional sports starting lineup. The cake, sweetheart, jersey and cupcake table were all dressed in handmade table runners. In lieu of favors, we made a donation to the Semper Fi Fund, in honor of my husband’s service to the Marine Corps.
The day was simply a home run.
