Jillian & Matt’s Jaw-Dropping Baltimore Wedding

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At Maryland’s DJ, we truly believe that every wedding is special, whether it’s in a relaxed backyard or a brilliant cathedral. Still, it was a treat for Baltimore wedding DJ Steve Hartka to revisit one of our favorite local venues for this gorgeous event! 

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Jillian and Matt chose First & Franklin Presbyterian Church for their ceremony site. That rather ho-hum name belies one of the most visually intriguing churches in the United States. Built in the mid-19th Century, this Flamboyant Gothic Revival church is made from rose-colored stone that seems to stretch towards the sky. (And that’s not us throwing shade. “Flamboyant” is actually part of the style name.) Boasting the tallest spire in Baltimore, this church must have been quite the landmark in an era before high-rises!

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But it’s what is inside First & Franklin that really makes your jaw drop. Triple-vaulted ceilings are lined with a network of intricate ribbing, while plaster pendants seem to drip down over the congregation below. Behind the altar, narrow white arches contrast with the warm pink walls, reaching toward the peaks of each vault. 

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It was inside this work of art that Jillian and Matt joined hands and said their vows. Husband-and-wife duo Richard and Tara Photography caught every beautiful moment and all the gorgeous spaces!

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Such an epic ceremony site deserves an equally-impressive reception site, no? The couple delivered with a reception at the George Peabody Library. In the humbly-named Reading Room, 300,000 books tower six stories above the open atrium. A massive skylight lets in sun during the day, while string lights stretched from balcony to balcony create a warm ambiance at night. 

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Jillian looked stunning in a vintage-inspired gown with a simple bodice, long sleeves done up with delicate buttons, an open back, and a full tulle skirt. This classic and timeless look was the perfect choice for both the ceremony and reception sites. 

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The wedding party and newly-married couple entered to Rise (Sam Feldt Remix) by Calum Scott. This great dance mix got the reception started off right! Then Matt and Jillian had their first dance to the sweet song If You Love Her by Forest Blakk feat. Meghan Trainor. For the father/daughter dance, Jillian provided her own custom mix track, while Matt and his mom danced to Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion. 

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After the formal dances, Baltimore DJ Steve Hartka opened up the dance floor! The couple requested Forever Young by Rod Stewart for the first song, followed by “something hype,” which Steve was happy to provide. 

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DJ Steve knew that the bride was really into Disney songs, so he brought a few appropriate choices to the dance floor—namely Ultimate by Lindsay Lohan from Freaky Friday and Miracles Happen (When You Believe) from The Princess Diaries. Who didn’t want to be the plucky heroine of an early 2000s teen comedy? Both songs were played at peak times and brought everyone to the dance floor!

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After the festivities were over, there was still more to come…an after-party at the Hotel Revival rooftop bar, just a block away. 

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It was a joy to bring the tunes to this fantastic Baltimore wedding and to help Matt and Jillian start the next chapter of their lives together. All Maryland’s DJ couples get unlimited planning sessions with their DJ to make sure we know exactly what they’re looking for on their big day. So contact us today to start strategizing the soundtrack to your perfect wedding!

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All photos by Richard and Tara Photography

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