Maryland Zoo in Baltimore Wedding | Felicia + Chris

January 11, 2017

This Maryland Zoo in Baltimore wedding is absolutely beyond words! Felicia and Chris had such an incredible and unique wedding, and I cannot wait to share it with you.

The Couple

Felicia and Chris have known each other for 20 years. Classmates at Princeton, then spent a week together in China in 2003, but after that, they didn’t see each other for 7 years. It wasn’t until their 10th and 12th college reunions that they reconnected. They talked about getting together, but it wasn’t until the 15th reunion that things came together. These two have such a great story and an incredible history together.

3D has been an important part of their relationship up to this point and played a starring role in their wedding as a result of their engagement–full of joy and fun. To set the stage, Felicia put together a photo album for Chris chronicling their lives together as a gift for their first Christmas. What made it really special was the vintage View-Master and related reels included on every page. Fast forward several months to Le Garage at dinner at the end of a day at the American Visionary Art Museum. After dinner, Chris hands Felicia a purple bag with the same View-Master she’d given him for Christmas. The only difference is the custom reel Chris gave her along with it. In the last slide, he asked her to marry him! When Felicia finished viewing it, Chris was down on one knee.

From their wedding website regarding the 3D: “…we see in it the perfect metaphor for what happens when two people join their lives together. Things are surprising, joyful and vibrant, and they never look the same again.

And also, you might get a headache.”

The Wedding

I can’t even begin to put into words how excited I was for this wedding, and how in every possible way imaginable, my highest expectations were exceeded. I knew that Chris and Felicia were amazing, I’d have fun being a part of their day, and that their theme would be amazing to play with. But what I didn’t know was how much love and joy I would feel on their day.

Chris and Felicia painstakingly went through over 1600 View-Master reels, of which nearly 1400 made it to the wedding. They deliberately selected each one and paired it with each guest based on their interests, how they know each other, etc. Felicia and Chris wanted to make sure their friends and family knew not only how much they mattered but also that they too were deliberately chosen to be part of their lives. When I got to the place card table and saw that all of the place cards were View-Master reels, I was excited because I knew the work they’d put into it. Each table also had reels on them that were appropriate for each set of guests!

But then I saw that there was one for me. I held it up to the light…and that’s the first of many times that I cried at their wedding. (And I’m crying now typing this.) I’ve only known Chris and Felicia for a few months, and we’ve only spent time together twice–once for the initial meeting and once for the engagement session. They took the time to get to know me and pick a series of images 100% appropriate for me. I felt so special and loved. That’s how wonderful and thoughtful these people are.

Every element of the day felt that way. Chris’s dad greeted me by name with a hug the first time we met. Their friends and families were all so warm, and everything felt unequivocally them. From their personal vows (Chris’s written across several View-Master reels, and Felicia’s including Mad Libs); to the readings and the people delivering them (one of whom was Chris’s high school chemistry teacher!); to the a cappella performance by a mis-matched group of friends and family for their first dance; and beyond. This day was unique and special in a way that words just can’t capture.

I am so happy that I got to be a part of such an amazing day, for a truly one of a kind couple.