Bride and Groom
Brooke Reynolds, 29, a second-grade teacher for Montgomery County Public Schools, originally from Springfield, Va.; and Adam Simon, 29, who grew up in Arlington and now works as a graphic designer for Deloitte in Rosslyn. The couple lives in Gaithersburg, Md.
The wedding
June 23, 2012, at the Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, Va.
How they met
Playing co-ed soccer in 2008. Adam admired Brooke’s tenacity on the field. Brooke zeroed in on Adam because he seemed aloof and mysterious. “I wanted to find out more about him,” she says.
The proposal
On April Fools’ Day 2011, Brooke came home to a house full of flowers, with rose petals leading up to the bedroom. Adam had fallen asleep while waiting for her usual call to say she was on the way home (which never came). Caught off guard, he pointed Brooke toward a decoy (empty) ring box on the bed. When she opened it, he said, “April Fools!” Struggling to hide her disappointment, she turned around to find him on one knee with the real ring. She forgave him…and said yes.
The winning combination
Adam used his creativity to bring Brooke’s ideas to life, designing everything from the fan-shaped wedding programs to the tiny monogrammed flags that served as cocktail stirrers. He also designed the coasters, menus, matchboxes, wine labels, signage and lucky poker chips. “Brooke could point something out that she liked from a magazine, and I could make it happen for her,” Adam says. “We did all the details ourselves.”
Wedding theme
Black-and-white with pops of color—from the undercover superhero T-shirts that the groom and his party wore, to the bride’s orange Chuck Taylors at the reception
Number of guests
110
What made it special
“I was a little uncertain about the superhero T-shirts at first,” Brooke confesses. “I thought they might show through the tuxedo shirts.” But they ultimately stole the show. “By the end of the evening, all the groomsmen were on the dance floor in their T-shirts and suspenders,” Adam says, “their secret identities revealed.”
First dance
“You and Me” by the Dave Matthews Band
Gown
Strapless ivory with a sweetheart neckline, made of pearl organza, lace and tulle, by Jasmine Couture, from White Swan Bridal in Vienna, Va.
Honeymoon
Wailea Marriott Resort and Spa, Maui, Hawaii
Photographer
Daniel McGarrity Photography in Baltimore
Details
Wedding planner: Renee Russell for Lansdowne Resort; Flowers: Samantha Greenfield; Groom’s attire: Vera Wang Black Label; Hair: Kristin Pakenham, Luxuria Salon; Music: Jangling Reinharts Band, Sam Hill Entertainment; Videographer: Dan Wheelan, EMI Entertainment; Photo booth rental: Shutterbooth; Invitations: Paper Divas; Caterer and cake: Lansdowne Resort