Emily Chan & Austin Michels
A Dental School Love Story
Married
Mar 23, 2024
Wilmington ,
North Carolina
Photo Credit
Amanda Holloman
Style Guide
Color Palette
Style
Whimsical
Season
Spring
The Proposal
Emily and Austin met during orientation week at the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. The couple clicked immediately and began dating soon after. During their fourth year of dental school, on December 31, 2021, Austin proposed to Emily. He surprised her by putting a sign around the collar of their Maltese, Tilly—the sign reading, “Will you marry my daddy?” When Emily finished reading the sign and looked up, Austin was on one knee with a beautiful radiant solitaire set on a platinum pave band. Emily said, “Yes!” and the couple planned to move to North Carolina after graduation.
In Preparation
Emily wanted their wedding venue to have a modern aesthetic with clean lines, neutral colors, natural light, and greenery. They decided on Wrightsville Manor, with its lush exterior and gorgeous reception space with a wall of glass. Inspired by the television series Bridgerton, the couple hired Deans’ Duets, a classically trained string quartet, to play modern songs as the guests arrived and during the ceremony. Since Emily and Austin, as well as many of the guests, are dentists, they decided to include a dazzling tooth escort display, reading “Extract your tooth.” The display had one hundred acrylic teeth adorned with the guests’ names, decorative gold trim, and tiny gold hooks.
The Big Day
On Saturday, March 23, 2024, Emily Chan and Austin Michels were married at the Wrightsville Manor in Wilmington, North Carolina. Wedding guests were greeted by modern string quartet music and an elegant champagne wall. The ceremony space was decorated beautifully with four columns of tall floral arrangements and a white square arch adorned with lovely florals. Austin and Emily exchanged their vows, with Austin’s heartfelt words drawing tears from the guests and Emily’s lighthearted vows prompting merry laughs.
The evening was filled with delicious food, a four-tier cake with cascading flowers, and a margarita bar. The upbeat music and energetic atmosphere prompted a fun-filled night of dancing and celebration. Emily and Austin’s wedding was a perfect day filled with love, friends, and family—brought together by their love of teeth!
The Retreat
Emily and Austin went on a cruise in the Mediterranean, stopping at Positano, Florence, Rome, and Barcelona. The newlyweds leisurely explored the European cities, eating delicious tapas and pasta. On the ship, they enjoyed the spa, relaxing by the pool, sampling the amazing restaurants on board, and watching the evening sunsets from their balcony.
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