Abigail Churchill Bisbee and Patrick Lawrence Dean met in the summer of 2015 at the Red Lion Manhattan, where they were both out with their respective groups of friends from Georgetown. Even though they both attended the D.C. university, they hadn’t met before. After Abigail revealed she worked at Christie’s, Patrick mentioned that he had recently returned from Rome. He impressed her with his favorite Bernini work, and they started dating a few weeks later.
After nearly five years together, Patrick proposed on Gibson Island—a special place for Abigail and her family—over Memorial Day Weekend. On the Saturday of their trip, Patrick suggested they go for a bike ride, and Abigail’s mother convinced her that he just had organized a 30th birthday surprise Zoom at the Point—Abigail’s favorite place on the island. Once the two walked out to the tip of the island, he got down on one knee. “He surprised me twice-over by having professional photographers in the bushes to capture the moment and hid both of our families, who had quarantined for weeks beforehand, in the pavilion so that we could share the day together,” Abigail gushes.
“I knew I wanted to get married on the front lawn of the Gibson Island Club ever since I was a little girl,” the bride shares. The wedding, set for June, was inspired by the coastal nature of the island and the hydrangeas that bloom during the warm months. “We wanted it to be elegant with playful details.” To help bring their vision to life, the couple hired Aimee Dominick of A. Dominick Events.
The bride had also always dreamed of finding her dress in New York, but due to the pandemic, Abigail turned more local to Carine’s Bridal Atelier in Georgetown. Briana at the salon helped her find her dress, Monique Lhuillier’s Lakely gown, and matching veil. She loved the removable lace train on the design and made a few custom changes with the atelier like raising the neckline and adding pearls to the zipper. “I loved the translucent lace on the dress, and while it had a full skirt, I knew that it was light enough that I could dance the night away,” she says.
To complete her ensemble, Abigail wore custom Sarah Flint Perfect Wedding Pumps with her and Patrick’s names and wedding date engraved on the bottom. And she fastened her late great-grandmother’s gold and diamond turtle pin to her bouquet from Amaryllis Floral & Event Design, as her “something borrowed.” Abigail adds, “She and I were incredibly close, and turtles are a big part of the Gibson Island wildlife.”
On the day-of, the bride got ready with Amie Decker and Crystal Dorsey, who gave her a natural beauty look. Bridesmaids complemented Abigail in Amsale crinkle chiffon dresses in a light blue shade and Kate & Mari floral earrings. “I wanted something light and airy to mimic my dress,” the bride explains.
The groom worked with Ralph Lauren in Manhattan to create his custom Purple Label tuxedo, which he wore with a custom Suitsupply tuxedo shirt that had his initials embroidered onto it and Hugo Boss shoes. On the morning-of, Abigail gifted him custom meteorite and platinum studs and cufflinks, a nod to his love of all things outer space. “He was so surprised!” Abigail exclaims. “They matched his wedding band which is made from the same meteorite.”
On June 12, 2021, Reverend David Ware—from Abigail’s family church in Baltimore—led the Episcopalian ceremony, on the edge of the Chesapeake Bay. Patrick loves The Lord of the Rings, so their family and wedding party came down the aisle to Sage String Quartet’s performance of “Concerning Hobbits.” And then the bride made her way to the altar with her father to Pachelbel’s “Canon in D.” “I had been so nervous before the ceremony—due to a crazy rainstorm the day before, we had not been able to properly practice during our rehearsal,” Abigail says. “As soon as I saw Pat at the arch at the end of the aisle, though, all my concerns melted away, and I remember feeling elated.”
As June days in Maryland can get quite warm, the ceremony programs were designed on fans. “I am an avid collector of hand fans and worked closely with Cheree Berry Paper & Design to create my favorite fan yet, blue tassels and all,” Abigail reveals.
After exchanging their vows, the bride remembers laughing and smiling harder than she had ever before, as she and Patrick processed down the aisle to cheers and “God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys.
On the front lawn of the Gibson Island Club—just as Abigail had always dreamt—cocktail hour commenced, while the couple and their wedding party snuck away to take portraits. It was especially sentimental to have their photo session on the exact beach, where Abigail had grown up fishing and exploring.
For cocktails, Abigail’s father requested Champagne be served because he always says that “Champagne makes everyone happy,” and the bubbly became a theme of the evening with its own dedicated bar. There was also a beer canoe, which was highly appreciated by Patrick’s friends.
The newlyweds returned for dinner in the club house, which was decorated with blue and white florals, and were introduced by a jazz trio for their grand entrance. Of course, Maryland crab cakes were served with the elevated surf and turf meal, paired with Jayson pinot noir and a Newton unfiltered chardonnay—the latter bottle was one of the first wines the couple ever enjoyed together on their wine collecting journey.
Abigail and Patrick wanted to have a separate experience for dancing, so after dinner, guests moved back outside under a tent, from Loane Brothers, with twinkle lights and chandeliers next to the water. The couple cut their tiered cake from Buttercream Bakeshop, and everyone danced the night away to the sounds of the 17 musicians in Big Swing & the Ballroom Blasters from Atlanta.
The newlyweds had their first dance—a choreographed waltz—to Patrick’s suggestion, “Beauty and the Beast.” The film is one of Abigail’s favorites, and the couple had dressed up as Belle and the Beast for one of their first Halloweens together.
After the mother-son and father-daughter dances, the father of the bride led the couple to the water’s edge, where he surprised them with a spectacular fireworks display. “Our families watched the show together, and it was magical to see the fireworks shine over the bay,” the bride shares. “After that our guests were ready to dance the night away!”
About halfway through the reception, Abigail’s bridesmaids convinced her to sing on stage for Patrick. She chose “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys—one of the first tunes she sang to him early on in their relationship. “It was amazing—and unexpected—when the whole band came in to join me!” the bride says.
For those needing a break from dancing, a whiskey and cigar bar was available with custom labels and matches. And to exit the night, the new mister and missus left, as their loved ones waved sparklers in the night air, and got in a vintage fire truck driven by their Harbor master and close family friend, Denver Sanner. Abigail recalls, “That first moment alone together as husband and wife driving around the island was incredibly special.”
