Down on the farm

Mary Catherine Gilliam and Andrew Norman married May 27 at One Straw Farm, the family farm in White Hall where Andrew was raised. (Artful Weddings Sachs Photos)

The cake consisted of layers of chocolate, vanilla and raspberry. ( )

Guests received bottles of homemade One Straw Farm hot pepper sauce. ( )

DATE: May 27

HER STORY: Mary Catherine Gilliam, 29, was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Derwood. She’s a doctoral student in clinical-developmental psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. Her parents, Peggy and David Gilliam, live in Derwood.

HIS STORY:Andrew Philip Norman, 27, was born in Baltimore and raised in White Hall on One Straw Farm, his family farm. He works as a farmer raising vegetables, pigs and chickens. His parents, Joan and Drew Norman, live in White Hall.

THEIR STORY: The two met 10 years ago at Camp Mondamin in Tuxedo, N.C. Mary was working as a camp counselor at Green Cove Camp. Mary’s friend, a fellow camp counselor, brought her to the brother camp, Camp Mondamin. Mary wound up meeting Andrew just after he arose from a nap.

“He was bleary-eyed and grumpy,” she said. “Nonetheless, he caught my eye.”

The two ran into each other at Christmas parties and other events for a couple of years before they decided to date. They long-distance dated between White Hall and Pittsburgh, where Mary was attending graduate school. When Mary moved back to Maryland in May 2016, Andrew proposed shortly after her birthday.

The two live in Baldwin.

VENUE: Two hundred fifty people attended the wedding and reception at One Straw Farm. The theme of the wedding was “Farm to Chapel.”

FLOWERS AND DECOR: Alexandra Secor designed the flowers using peonies from the family farm as well as local, seasonal flowers and plants (rosemary, chard and peashoots).

BRIDE’S DRESS:Mary wore a DaVinci lace fit and flare dress found second-hand at Fairytale Brides on a Shoestring boutique, a Rockville-based nonprofit.

BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES: Bridesmaids wore Watters Blue Harbor long dresses in blue-lavender.

MEN’S ATTIRE: Andrew and the groomsmen wore charcoal gray suits by Brooks Brothers.

MUSIC: Jody Westerlund Band provided the music. The couple’s first dance was to “Brown Eyed Girl.”

FOOD AND DESSERT: Copper Kitchen catered the reception. Food consisted of taco and barbecue stations and passed hors d’oeuvres. The cake consisted of layers of chocolate, vanilla and raspberry. All of the produce and meat were provided by One Straw Farm.

FAVORS: Guests received homemade One Straw Farm hot pepper sauce.

SPECIAL TOUCHES: The couple honeymooned in Ocean City.

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