Barbara Hinton and Matthew Klingbeil first met as students at the College of Mount Saint Vincent in New York. Their friendship blossomed into a romance that neither great distances nor durations of time could challenge.
In their 11-year courtship, four were long distance: Matt was earning his doctoral degree in Atlanta while Barbara was working in New York. But even across the miles, they remained steadfast in their love.
After a decade together (and not together, geographically), they were ready to make it official. It was simply a matter of when. They’d planned a trip to London and Ireland for March 2020, where Matt hoped to ask for Barbara’s hand in marriage. It would be their first trip together abroad—save for a few cruises—and she had “an inkling” her boyfriend might propose in the U.K.
Then the pandemic struck. Travel plans were canceled, but that was no hurdle for Matt. Mid-March, as they hoarded groceries and prepared for the lockdown, he decided he was going to ask anyway—even if it wasn’t the picturesque moment he’d imagined.
The perfect moment arose from a fridge cleanout: To make room for quarantine essentials, Barbara removed a bottle of champagne. Not wanting it to go to waste, they popped it open. And as she let go of the cork, she spun around to find Matt on one knee, holding a ring.
“I was completely shocked,” she says. It was not the picturesque moment she’d knew he’d been waiting for, after all.
They decided to marry 18 months later…a few hundred miles from home. The Delaware beaches were meaningful for them because Matt had been vacationing there with his family since he was a small child. And it had also become a tradition for him and Barbara.
Almost 11 years from their first date, the two tied the knot at Selbyville’s Signatures at Bayside, surrounded by friends and family.
“It was just the sweetest moment,” Barbara recalls.
It was destination wedding not only for the couple but also for many loved ones who were traveling from New York and Texas. As such, they made it into a multiday affair, complete with a welcome party and rehearsal dinner.
“The whole entire [weekend], in itself, is everything that I dreamed of,” Barbara says.
Afterward, they honeymooned in Hawaii. Next, they’ll take that trip to London and Ireland.
Details
Guests: 105
Ceremony and Reception: Signatures at Bayside; livebayside.com
Photographer: East Magnolia Photography; eastmagnoliaphotography.net
Videographer: Mid 80s Media; mid80smedia.com
Bride’s Gown: Kenneth Winston; kennethwinston.com
Bridesmaids’ Gowns: Revelry; shoprevelry.com
Groom’s Suit: Indochino; indochino.com
Groomsmen’s Suits: The Black Tux; theblacktux.com
Florist: J Starrs Flower Barn; jstarssflowerbarn.net
Entertainment: Wired Up Entertainment; justgetwired.com
First Dance: Wilco’s “Love Is Everywhere”
Makeup: Kara Waggoner Beauty; karawaggoner.com
Hair: Caleigh Era Hairstylist
Bakery: Sweet Disposition Bakery; sweetdisposition.com
Rehearsal Dinner: Salt Air Kitchen & Bar; saltairrestaurant.com
Occupations: Barbara is the head of facilities at a film-editorial company, and Matt leads product marketing for a tech company.
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