‘We were so drawn to each other’ RSVP
DATE: April 1 HER STORY: Brittany Rae Beecroft, 26, was born in Fairfax, Va., and moved to Burtonsville when she was 7. She works as an account manager for Air Distribution at Havtech. Her mother, Sheri Stratigis, lives in Clarksville.
HIS STORY: Ryan Patrick McGurk, 35, was born and raised in Burtonsville. He is an electronics technician at Automotive Concepts. His mother, Bernice Richmond, lives in Burtonsville. His father, Peter McGurk, lives in Ellicott City.
THEIR STORY: The two met through a mutual friend at a bar in November 2011. “We had a lot of mutual friends and had never crossed paths,” Brittany said.
They were immediately drawn to each other like “magnets,” according to Brittany. “I felt nervous, but in a very good way,” she recalled, pointing out that she was attracted to Ryan’s tall, dark and intimidating presence. “Something about him just struck me. We were so drawn to each other. He just felt like home.” The two live in Columbia. THE PROPOSAL: Ryan proposed to Brittany in June 2015.
Ryan originally wanted to pop the question at the car show at Cruisin Ocean City, but the engagement ring came back a couple of times not properly sized. So one night, when the properly sized ring arrived, he decided to surprise Brittany.
The proposal couldn’t have come at a better day. Brittany came home after a “particularly frustrating workday.”
She decided to clean out her jewelry box because she recently purchased a watch box. While both were ranting about their days, Ryan revealed a gray Vera Wang bag.
He then launched into a speech about their life together that ended with him asking her to marry him.
“Of course I said yes,” Brittany said. “All that was going through my mind was ‘this is a big moment; I’m so excited for us.’ ”
VENUE: Sixty-four people attended the ceremony and reception at Patapsco Valley State Park Hollofield Shelter #300
FLOWERS AND DECOR: The couple chose ivory and gray colors. Brittany wanted to display more candles than flowers at her wedding.
“It turned out beautiful and didn’t break the bank,” she said.
Brittany purchased the flowers for her bouquet — white hydrangeas, eucalyptus leaves and baby’s breath — from Wegmans the day before. She assembled them a half-hour before she walked down the aisle.
BRIDE’S DRESS: Brittany wore a sweetheart ivory lace dress by Wtoo, which she purchased at Betsy Robinson’s Bridal Salon in Pikesville.
MEN’S ATTIRE: Ryan wore a gray three-piece suit by Apt. 9 at Kohl’s.
MUSIC: Brittany’s mother’s boyfriend, Mike Gerry, provided the music via a Bluetooth speaker. Per the venue, the couple could not have any amplified music. The couple’s first dance was to “Sideways” by Citizen Cope.
FOOD AND DESSERT: Well Crafted Pizza of Baltimore catered the wedding. Appetizers included a vegetable crudites tray, mini baked potatoes and a charcuterie platter. Dinner consisted of three hours of unlimited servings of four pizzas: white, chorizo, mushroom and Margherita. The couple served vanilla and chocolate cake pops from Jessica’s Cupcakes in Timonium.
FAVORS: The couple handed out vintage skeleton key bottle openers as favors. The tag read: “The Key to Happiness is Love & The Ability To Open A Bottle.”
SPECIAL TOUCHES: Although the they got married on April Fool’s Day, the occasion had a special meaning because it was their five-year anniversary.