Avery and Mike, a Mansion at Valley Country Club Wedding

Brooke Tyson Photography

I am so excited to share Avery and Mike’s beautiful wedding today!!

Avery and Mike were married on September 10, 2021 at the Mansion at Valley Country Club.

Avery and Mike met almost nine years ago at a Halloween party at Looney’s Pub in College Park in 2012. Avery was a senior at the University of Maryland and Mike, who graduated the year before, was back visiting. They stayed friends for the next year and a half, running into each other at events and parties, and then started dating in February 2014.

On their five-year anniversary on Sunday, February 24, 2019, Mike proposed to Avery at Old Ebbitt Grill over brunch, and afterward, they went to Meridian Hill Park to celebrate, where disaster briefly stuck when the two decided to take electric scooters home! Avery took a turn too wide and crashed into a concrete wall. Luckily, everyone was OK and Avery and Mike still celebrated their engagement the rest of the day.

And now Avery and Mike are married!! Avery and Mike got married on September 10 at the Mansion at Valley Country Club on a beautiful and perfect 70 degree day.

Avery began the day by getting ready at her parents’ home in Columbia with her bridal party. Avery and Mike have so many beautiful wedding day details, and Avery and her mom, Tammy, had so many great tools for styling them! Avery’s details are GORGEOUS! Avery and her family also helped set up some beautiful photos with the dresses. Every bridesmaid had a custom wood-etched hanger for their bridesmaid dress that Tammy’s friend made for them (they were so cute!), and Avery had a matching one for her bridal gown. After some detail shots, we all went to the Mansion at Valley Country Club to get ready. There, Avery’s mom and sister, Hilary, helped her into her wedding gown and then it was first look time!

Avery and Mike shared their first look outside of the Mansion of Valley Country Club and it was so sweet! I always love that moment. It is so nice for the bride and groom to have a few minutes to soak in everything that is ahead of them on their best day ever. It is such an exciting time!

After the first look, Avery and Mike had their couples’ portrait session and then the wedding party joined us, and before long, it was time for their wedding ceremony!

Avery’s friends, Mary and Alexander played flute and guitar during the ceremony, and the song that Avery walked down the aisle to was Faure’s Morceau de Concours, which was Avery’s favorite flute solo that she played in college. Avery’s brother, Phil, officiated, and it was so sweet and special that he was the one that married them. The ceremony was so personal and unique to them. Mike’s mom, Rosa, also gave a special reading, and after, Avery and Mike had a unity ceremony – with a cocktail! Avery and Mike had a cocktail mixing during their ceremony, where they each combined ingredients to create two Moscow mules. They enjoyed the drinks during their ceremony and vowed to celebrate each anniversary with a Moscow mule! It was such a special and sweet idea and the start of a great tradition.

After their ceremony, we gathered for family photos and then some more pictures of Mike and Avery with the most beautiful golden hour light. Avery and Mike joined their friends to play cornhole before heading inside for their reception.

Avery and Mike made sure to include and share lots of important and special details on their wedding day with their family and friends. Avery is very creative and she put her skills to good use for her wedding day! Avery’s “Something Old” was lace from her mother’s wedding dress that was wrapped around Avery’s bouquet and also the bouquet that Hilary, Avery’s sister and maid of honor, carried. Her “Something New” was her dress, and Avery and Mike’s “Something Borrowed” was the cake knife and server set borrowed from Avery’s aunt and uncle. Their “Something Blue” was Mike’s new blue suit – with blue lining, too!

At the reception, Avery and Mike had photos of all of their immediate family members on their wedding day on display. It was so sweet! Avery and Mike also hand-wrote small notes of appreciation on the inside of all of the table place card table tents for each guest thanking them for celebrating with them. (They even had hand-written cards for me and Kelsey – SO thoughtful!). Avery and her mom took a flower arranging class from Lucky Penny Floral and used the techniques to create all of the arrangements on the tables for the reception!

Avery and Mike’s first dance was to the French song “La Vie En Rose,” which they chose because it always plays on the French Cooking Music radio station that Mike plays when Avery and Mike cook meals together. So sweet!

Mike and Avery’s dads gave such sweet speeches. Avery’s father even quoted “Stamping’ Up!” (It was so funny and such a sweet speech!). Avery’s sister, Hilary, gave such a touching and thoughtful (and funny!) speech, and then Mike’s brother, Chris, had everyone laughing when he recreated the exact same speech that Mike delivered at Chris’ wedding to his wife, Pooja, earlier this year!

During the reception, guests were given glow sticks (so fun!) and everyone danced late into the night. In addition to a wedding cake, Avery and Mike had a gorgeous display of different beautiful desserts for guests to enjoy. Avery and Mike ended the night with “Country Roads.” After the reception ended, the party continued with an afterparty. It was such a fun night!

It has been so wonderful getting to know Avery and Mike throughout their wedding planning. I first met Avery in early 2013 when I photographed Tammy, Peter, and their three kids: Phil, Avery, and Hilary. And Tammy and Peter have known my father much longer; my dad has renovated their bathroom, kitchen, and fireplace! There is something so, so special about celebrating with people that you know so well, and I really appreciate how welcoming and kind Avery and Mike’s families have been to Kelsey and I. It is such an honor to be part of such a special day, and we loved photographing Avery and Mike’s. Avery and Mike, you two are so wonderful and we are so, so happy for you! Congratulations on your marriage!! Have a great time on your wonderful honeymoon!!

Enjoy some favorite pictures from your beautiful wedding!! Congratulations, Avery and Mike!!

Such a beautiful bridal party!

First look time!
I love this twirl!! Such a favorite!

So beautiful!

I love these ones with the tall tree line!

SO PRETTY!!
Avery you are such a stunning bride!

Love this one of the bridal party!