Sep 12, 20224 min read

Fall 2022 Cover in Cambridge

By Debra R. Messick

Styled Shoot | Photos By In His Grace Photography

Location: Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina | Cambridge, Md

From their first date to the moment they said, "I do," Chase and Dylan Nepert's love story never followed a traditional fairy tale script. But the surprising twists and turns seemed to only add magic to their journey together.

Offered a chance to revisit and share their memorable winter wedding for Chesapeake Bay Wedding magazine, without hesitation the couple said "we will!"

The venue may have changed, from the original remote country farm setting in Middletown, Del. (Thousand Acre Farm) to a scenic elegant enclave on the banks of the Choptank River at The Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Club and Resort in Cambridge.

But Chase was still excited to put on her wedding gown, as unconcerned now as she was then that the hem of her stunning white dress was a bit discolored from kicking up her matching bling laden cowgirl boots at the celebration following the ceremony.

"I remember having such a good time, picking up the skirt bottom and stuffing it into my pockets," she recalled, smiling at the happy memory.

After Chelsea Blake perfected her makeup, and as Amber Gray of Ooh My Hair delighted in styling the model bride's long brunette locks, Chase enjoyed the waterfront window view while sharing the couple's uniquely storybook saga, harkening back to their junior prom 7 years before, when she asked him to be her date.

"Fortunately, he needed a date, too," she laughed. They've been together ever since.

In the Fall of 2020, Dylan decided it was his turn to do the asking, and began shopping for an engagement ring. But before he got a chance to pop the question, the couple learned that come Spring, they'd be needing a baby crib.

Concerned she might think he was asking for her hand mainly from a sense of duty, Dylan doubled down to surprise Chase with an extra special proposal. (Later, when asked about the stress of wedding details, Dylan disclosed that for him, the proposal was way more challenging.

"Once that came together and she said, "Yes!", I was good with whatever she wanted to do for the wedding," he recalled, smiling.)

Searching for both a restful, relaxing beach getaway and romantic ambience, Dylan consulted his and Chase's mom's for ideas then reserved a Cape May, N.J. air bnb for an October weekend. He reached out to a photographer cousin, who, as luck would have it, was returning from a nearby vacation and assured him she'd swing by to help him capture the big moment. Making sure to keep a low profile so as not to arouse suspicion, she managed to meet up and keep her promise. The groom-to-be could finally exhale.

Thanks to the unlikely aligning forces of site availability and baseball, the couple settled on January 15, 2022, for their wedding day.

Having played and coached baseball at Washington College in Chesterton, math major and current police academy member, Dylan, wouldn't have many, if any, groomsmen able to attend "during the season," Chase explained. While adding that having the winter date open at the venue she'd fallen in love with at first sight, Dylan agreed that it had worked out for the best, all the way around.

Their son Bohannon, who had arrived April 30, 2021, as a birthday present for dad Dylan, was honorary ring bearer at the wedding. Present at the engagement, it was only fair he be part of the ceremony officially making them a family, Chase noted fondly.

Along with learning she was expecting a baby, getting engaged and landing her dream job as an art teacher at Easton High School, she somehow made room on her busy plate to plan the wedding with her mom and find a dress from David's Bridal in Bowie, and, of course, the perfect dressy cowgirl boots, via Amazon.

Crediting teamwork of family and friends, plus a 'take things as they come' attitude, the bride felt ready for her big day. Even when the person set to do her hair broke her leg skiing, someone else stepped right in, problem solved!

After the ceremony, as the celebration wound down, it turned out that Mother Nature had one more last surprise up her winter coat sleeve. As often happens only in Hallmark movies, snow magically began to fall. Fortunately, shuttle buses had been arranged to safely transport everyone across the remote roadway.

As the couple reflects back, they happily look forward to facing each future season together, with Dylan describing Chase as "just the best mother," and she admiring his "caring, protective" nature.