Vintage Vibes at This Smithville Inn Wedding

Their Story

Erica and Logan tied the knot on September 2, 2023 at the Smithville Inn in Galloway. “It took us nine years to make it to the aisle,” the bride says.

As kids, both were active in their churches’ youth groups in different New Jersey towns. Their senior year of high school, both of their groups were part of a retreat in Harvey Cedars, where they met and started talking. “Being that we lived in different towns about 40 minutes away from each other we continued talking over text and FaceTime until we managed to meet up in person,” she says.

Both went to college, Erica at American University in D.C. and Logan at Full Sail in Florida. They had a long-distance relationship for four years until they moved back to New Jersey after graduation.

The Proposal 

Logan popped the question on June 13, 2021 at the Brigantine Inlet Outlook.

Logan planned a photo shoot with their puppy, Fenway. “He knew that I would get dressed up if there were photos involved, and in the middle of the photo shoot he reached into a bag for a treat for Fenway and pulled out a ring instead,” Erica says. “I was completely shocked and immediately said yes!”

Choosing the Venue

“We loved the open outdoor ceremony space and how the space effortlessly flowed from ceremony to cocktail hour then to reception. We loved the how quaint the town was, the wood detailing in the reception space, and the knowledge and guidance of the Smithville Inn staff. We also loved that we could stay with our families at their bed and breakfast that is within walking distance of the Smithville Inn.”

Details of the Day 

The couple chose a theme of “vintage elegance” with a color palette of navy blue, neutrals, gold and white. Bridesmaids wore satin navy, while groomsmen wore stone khakis with navy accessories.

The florals were white spray roses with small touches of pale pink and blue. At the ceremony, the couple focused on the arch as the floral center point. There were small bud vases sprinkled around the cocktail hour space with floating candles in tall cylinder vases. At the reception, they used a mix of high centerpieces on gold stands and lower centerpieces in vases with bud vases around the table.

Their favors were customized shot glasses that also served as escort cards for guests to find their seats.

Favorite Moment

“My favorite moment of the day was the ceremony,” says Erica. “Our officiant, Lauren Applegate, has known both of us since we were in high school and and it made the ceremony so personal and meaningful. Looking out into the guests and then at my husband was something I will never forget.”

Detail They Couldn’t Live Without

The decor and the DJ. “I spent countless hours collecting and creating most of my decor and it truly matched the aesthetic I had in my mind,” says Erica. “I wasn’t sure how it would all come together, but seeing it for the first time was breathtaking. On top of the visual effects for the decor, our emcee, Kevin, and our DJ, Nick, kept the vibes going all night.”

Advice for Other Couples

“Once you walk back down the aisle together, stay together,” says Erica. “My husband and I committed to doing this, and it makes looking back on the memories even more special because we shared the same moments. It also allowed our schedule to flow nicely because we didn’t have to find each other before big reception moments.”