A Summer Wedding at the George Peabody Library
Natalie and Luke met at the University of Maryland twelve years ago. After college, he went to grad school in Chicago while she stayed in Maryland for medical school, so the two of them did long distance for five years (five years, can you imagine!). About two years ago, they were finally able to move back to the same city. So when it came time to plan their summer wedding at the Peabody Library, they knew exactly what they wanted: an easy, laid-back day where everyone, including them, could just relax and have fun. At Moore & Co., we’ve planned weddings all over Maryland, and we have to say, this one was such a treat to work on.
Why They Chose the Peabody Library for Their Summer Wedding
This couple wanted an all-in-one venue, somewhere their guests could stay in one place for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception instead of moving around. The George Peabody Library checked that box beautifully. We did flip the space between the ceremony and reception, which can be one of the trickier parts of planning a one-venue wedding, but it came together without a hitch. If you’re trying to decide whether an all-in-one venue makes sense for your wedding, this is a great example of how well it can work.
The Colors and Florals
Their design used sage green, ivory, blush, and lemon accents, which paired so nicely with the library’s existing gold details. The florals were roses in blush, peach, and white tones with lots of greenery, giving everything an organic, textured feel rather than a stiff, overly formal look. Honestly, it was gorgeous.
The bride wore a classic white off-shoulder gown with a lace-edged cathedral veil, and the groom wore a navy blue tuxedo with a bow tie. Their wedding party wore magenta, green, and blush gowns, and plenty of their guests showed up in floral prints and blue tones too, the whole room felt cohesive without looking like everyone tried too hard.
One personal touch we loved: the library’s card catalog displayed photos from both sets of parents’ weddings, such a sweet way to tie family history into the day.
Food and Drinks
Cocktail hour included butlered hors d’oeuvres like Maryland-style crab cakes, pulled barbecued beef brisket sliders, Nashville hot chicken sliders, hot date with a nut, herb-infused brie with raspberry coulis, and oysters on the half shell (basically a foodie’s dream lineup). Guests could order a dirty martini or a 3 Dots and a Dash as the signature cocktails.
For dinner, guests had cream of crab bisque and a strawberry fields salad, followed by a choice of roasted salmon, grilled chicken breast, or a Mediterranean cavatelli for vegetarian guests. Dessert was an ice cream bar plus cake, and at 10pm, a mac and cheese bar came out for anyone who needed a late-night bite.
One detail we loved scattered through this part of the day: the library’s card catalog displayed photos from both sets of parents’ & their grandparent’s weddings, such a sweet way to tie family history into the day while everyone mingled.
The Reception
Neither of them wanted to be the center of attention, so their reception matched that energy. It was romantic, formal, and colorful, but still laid-back, with no big grand entrance or surprise moments built in. And honestly? That suited them perfectly. Just watching the two of them together, how genuinely happy and easygoing they were with each other, was one of our favorite parts of the day. You could just tell.
What We Took Away From This Wedding
One thing this day reinforced for us is how much easier an all-in-one venue can make things, both for the couple and for guests. There’s no travel time between locations, and as long as you have a good team handling the room flip, it doesn’t have to feel stressful at all. We talk through this kind of decision with a lot of our couples, and we’ve written more about it in our post on keeping your wedding day stress-free.
Ready to Start Planning your Summer Wedding with Moore & Co?
If a summer wedding at the Peabody Library, or a historic, all-in-one venue like it, sounds like what you’re after, we’d love to help. At Moore & Co., we know Baltimore-area venues well, and we’re always happy to walk you through what your own day could look like. Reach out to Moore & Co and let’s get started.
Featured Vendors
Planning & Design | Moore & Co Events
Venue | George Peabody Library
Photography | Stone Weddings
Florals | Blush Floral Design Studio
Catering | The Classic Catering People
Rentals | Select Event Group
Production | Event Dynamics
Hotel | Revival Baltimore
Beauty | Brushed Beauty