It probably comes as no surprise to you that Maryland’s Eastern Shore is a very popular spot for weddings in the DMV. After all, that side of the Chesapeake Bay is gorgeous and fills up every summer with tourists looking to enjoy the natural beauty. A lot of the most sought-after Eastern Shore wedding locations are close to the water – for obvious reasons! But it’s also not hard to find awesome venues farther inland. A great example is the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art in Salisbury MD. We recently had the pleasure to document Thea and Danny’s marriage celebrations at that Eastern Shore wedding location. And we loved how unique it was! The Ward Museum seamlessly marries a quirky vibe with the natural beauty of the Eastern Shore. That made it a perfect fit for Thea and Danny, and the perfect backdrop for unforgettable wedding photos!
The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art: A Unique Eastern Shore Wedding Location
So what is it that makes the Ward Museum such a special wedding venue? Partly, it’s the location’s history and reason for being. As the name suggests, the museum preserves and promotes wildfowl art. More specifically, it initially came into existence in 1968 to recognize the work of Lem and Steve Ward. These brothers were famous wildfowl decoy carvers, Eastern Shore institutions and the museum’s namesakes.
At the beginning, the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art lived on the campus of nearby Salisbury University. Eventually, though, the museum grew too large for its “house.” And in 1992, it moved to a new facility on the banks of Schumaker Pond.
So what do you get when you combine a facility dedicated to celebrating a very unique part of the Eastern Shore’s history with a woodsy setting whose natural beauty rivals that of any wedding venue in the DMV? A one-of-a-kind location that is going to give your marriage celebration a look and feel like no one else’s!
Getting Ready for an Eastern Shore Wedding in Salisbury MD
We’re pretty sure that untraditional mix is what attracted Thea and Danny to the Ward Museum. We had gotten to know the couple several months before. They came to DC for an engagement session at Enid A. Haupt and Mary Livingston Ripley Gardens near the Smithsonian Castle. And even in that short time, we could tell that they were not people who do things that others think they should. Thea and Danny are true to themselves, and not surprisingly, their wedding (and wedding venue) were a reflection of who they are and what makes their relationship unique.
Though most of their wedding took place at the Ward Museum, Thea and Danny’s day actually started elsewhere. The bride got ready at their house in Salisbury, whereas the groom prepped for the wedding at a friend’s home not far away. Accompanying Thea and Danny were just their siblings and closest friends. That made the atmosphere at both locations intimate and comfortable. The bride in particular laughed and joked constantly with the women who kept her company as she had her hair and makeup done.
The highlight of that part of Thea and Danny’s day for us, though, was getting to take pictures of their three adorable cats. We’re cat parents ourselves, so when the couple told us to make sure to get lots of shots of theirs, you know we didn’t hesitate! And even in just the couple of hours we were there, we got the full range of cat experiences. One investigated everything the makeup artist was doing. Another eyed everyone nervously and skittered away at the first movement. And the last slept peacefully in a sunbeam the entire time.
First Look and Wedding Portraits by Schumaker Pond
Shortly after the bride and groom arrived at the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, they shared a lovely first look on a deck looking out over Schumaker Pond. That body of water is the central feature of the property on which the wedding venue sits. It is absolutely gorgeous, particularly in the autumn. The trees on its banks change color, and their reflections in the pond are stunning.
Naturally, we made great use of that beautiful setting when we took wedding portraits of Thea and Danny. We brought them on a lap around Schumaker Pond along a lovely trail through the trees. From time to time, we stopped to take pictures of the couple. We started with some very romantic closeup shots of them by the water’s edge. Then we brought them to a spot where the path came very close to the pond. This was a perfect place for a wider shot of Thea and Danny with the trees and water around them. (And of some cute geese as well!) Finally, when we got around to the far side of Schumaker Pond, we created some gorgeous portraits of them with the Ward Museum in the background.
Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art Wedding Ceremony
Once Thea and Danny’s wedding portraits and family formals were complete, all of the guests took their seats on the expansive lawn between the Ward Museum and the pond. That was the site of the couple’s wedding ceremony. And they could not have asked for a more beautiful setting for it!
The exchange of vows and rings was relatively short. But it was very sweet, often funny and surprisingly emotional. The couple talked about what drew them together in the beginning. But more importantly, they talked about what sustains their love for each other. As a married couple ourselves, we very much appreciated their perspective on the mature love of nuptial life. Thea pointed out that just like good Texas barbecue, “low and slow” is always best.
Our favorite photos from the wedding ceremony, though, weren’t of the couple. At least not specifically of them. Both the parents of the bride and the parents of the groom got emotional at various points during the ceremony. And we managed to capture images of them wiping away tears, sometimes with the couple in the foreground. We’re particularly proud, though, of the ones we got of Danny’s father. The groom had specifically asked us to get pictures of his dad showing emotion, and we were thrilled to be able to deliver some to him.
Wedding Reception on Maryland’s Eastern Shore
After an outdoor cocktail hour that very much felt like a gathering of good friends, the wedding reconvened inside the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art. The site of Thea and Danny’s reception was the John A. Luetkemeyer and Thomas F. Mullan Jr. Legacy Center. This unique room is a fantastic spot for a post-ceremony wedding celebration. At 2200 square feet, it offers plenty of space for a good dozen dinner tables while still leaving room for a nice dance floor. It is also equipped with two 80-inch screens and a sound system with wireless microphones. The real selling point, though, is the view out of the massive windows that make up one wall. You get a great look at Schumaker Pond, the trees all around and on some evenings, gorgeous sunsets.
After a brief welcome speech and dinner, the couple took a lap around the room to chat a bit with their guests. Then they went out of the room and made their “grand entrance” into the Legacy Center. Thea and Danny went straight out into the middle of the room for their first dance. We knew that the newlyweds were accomplished swing dancers from their engagement session, when we got lots of awesome pictures of them showing off their moves. So we weren’t surprised that their first dance was quite the show.
What we didn’t expect, though, was for the entire dance floor to fill up with couples who could have been professional dancers. It turned out that many of the guests were part of the same dance class that Thea and Danny took. So we can say without hyperbole that this was one of the best collections of dancers we’ve ever photographed!
A Special Thanks
We want to send a big thank-you to Thea and Danny for trusting us to document their marriage celebrations. We absolutely loved being a part of your wedding day!
Vendor team:
Wedding venue: The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art
Planning: Eventfully Yours MD
Hair and Makeup: Ericka Nuñez, EKN Beauty
Florist: Masterpiece Flower Farm
Cake artist: The Ugly Pie
Catering: Chesapeake Culinary Services
Band: Darling Productions
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