Carlen & Matthew’s Maryland Wedding with Norwegian & Italian Traditions
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Nearly all of Carlen’s Norwegian family crossed the Atlantic for her October wedding to Matthew in Elkton, Maryland.
Carlen is half Norwegian, while Matthew has Italian roots and family ties to Pittsburgh. With family coming together from both sides, a few traditions made their way onto the guest list, too.
Small Good Things
In Pittsburgh, the wedding cookie table is serious business. The tradition calls for a generous spread of cookies, often homemade by family and friends, served alongside the wedding cake. Carlen and Matthew filled theirs with Italian favorites from Matthew’s side of the family.
They also offered an assortment of colorful candies for guests to mix and match, a Norwegian tradition called smågodt, meaning “small good things.”
Photo by Jason Mitchell Photography
October in Shades of Green
The bridesmaids wore shades of green from pale sage to richer greens, paired with burgundy dahlias, caramel and blush roses, small orange blooms and fresh greenery.
Tall floral arrangements on slender gold stands mixed with lower arrangements and glass lanterns across the reception tables. Gold chargers and crystal green goblets added more warmth.
Photos by Jason Mitchell Photography
The First Look
One of Carlen and Matthew’s favorite memories was their first look.
“It was like a breath of fresh air and a relaxing moment before the wedding,” Carlen said. “It was refreshing to have time with just each other before the chaos begins.”
We’re firmly on team first look. Beyond the photos, those few private minutes can give couples a chance to see each other, talk and take in what’s happening before joining everyone waiting to celebrate with them.
Photo by Jason Mitchell Photography
A Wedding Trend We’re Loving: Live Cigar Rolling
Live cigar rolling brings both craft and conversation to a wedding reception.
John of Blue Hen Torcedor rolled cigars by hand while talking with guests about the tobacco, the cigars and the process behind making them. Guests could watch each cigar take shape, ask questions and learn about the craft along the way.
Carlen called John one of her favorite vendors, noting that he “entertained a lot of guests and was a unique experience.”
We’re loving experiential wedding details like this. Live cigar rolling gives guests entertainment, interaction and a handcrafted favor to take home.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Carlen’s advice for couples still sweating every decision is simple:
“Don’t stress over every little thing or minor detail. Guests will not notice everything that you think may be off.”
Her recommendation is to put that energy into choosing vendors you trust.
“The number one thing is to book vendors that you know will do a good job.”</p?
Carlen credits their vendor team with keeping everything running smoothly. If something didn’t go according to plan, she and Matthew never knew about it.
Featured Vendors
Twisted Vine Florals
Burgundy, caramel, blush and green gave Carlen and Matthew’s October florals a rich, layered palette. Twisted Vine Florals mixed tall arrangements with lower centerpieces, bringing color and texture to the reception tables.
Blue Hen Torcedor
Blue Hen Torcedor turns cigar rolling into an interactive experience, with John rolling each cigar by hand while sharing his knowledge of the tobacco and craft with guests.
