There are SO many things we love about this wedding! Oodles of emotion, the gorgeous seaside blues, the amazing old-fashioned cascading bouquet full to overflowing with enormous luscious orchids. Plus Tiffany's billowing veil! The run-away veil shots from the awesome Ryan Estes are, in our humble opinion, the best!
Their story ~ from Tiffany, today's stunning bride!
Combining the formal elements of a traditional Catholic wedding with a beach reception in the spring was challenging, so I started with my dress! I knew I wanted something simple and elegant. I wore an ivory, silk taffeta dress by Marisa Bridal, with ruching in the front and a large flower in the back. I loved wearing it! The train was perfect for the ceremony at the church, and I loved the way the bustle moved when I danced at the reception. My veil is my biggest regret - I loved it so much but I had to remove it soon after the ceremony because it was soooo windy outside! (You can see in some of the photos - the wind just took it away!). I wore a simple, ivory silk flower in my hair designed by Feathers and Frills (a fantastic Etsy discovery)! My earrings were designed by Noaki Jewelry - she suggested these earrings when I emailed a photo of my dress to her (thank you SMP for the recommendation)! They were a perfect compliment to my dress and added just the right amount of sparkle.
I used the flower from my dress and the sun/sand/sea as inspiration for the rest of the design elements for our wedding. Our invitations and wedding stationery were handmade by Dazzling Expressions (Etsy) and included a sea-blue flower on an ivory and gold background, which was repeated in the escort cards, programs, menus, and table numbers.
We wanted to have a traditional, Catholic church wedding while incorporating the casual, beach vibe of Cape May. Our Lady Star of the Sea church is well-known among visitors, because it is located at the end of the famous Washington Street mall in the center of town. The bell tower is visible from miles away, and the inside of the church is bright and beautiful.
See their whole gallery from Ryan Estes here!
The church was within walking distance to Congress Hall, so our out-of-town guests could enjoy the beach and experience the charming scenery between the ceremony and the reception. We loved that our cocktail hour was held outside on the veranda, facing the beach. We could listen to the ocean while mingling with our guests - it was perfect!
I wanted to keep our flowers a simple ivory color, with splashes of yellow here and there. The ballroom at Congress Hall has Tiffany-blue walls and a black and white checkered hardwood floor, so we were careful not to compete with the already decorative room. We included some orchids in the bouquets and on our wedding cake - a tribute to a vacation to Hawaii that we took during our engagement. Our reception favors were miniature bottles of Patron ... for some, a memory our summers spent with family and friends at the beach; and for others, a simple aid for a good night's sleep! We tied in the vintage feeling of Cape May on our gift table, by adding framed wedding photos of our parents, grandparents, and siblings.
Overall, our wedding was the most fun we've ever had! Ryan Estes (our photographer) and Cinemacake (our videographer) were amazing to work with and they did an incredible job capturing not only the little details, but also the happiness we felt on our wedding day. From the wind in my veil, to the sand on the beach, to the emotional hug exchanged between our mothers...we will never forget this amazing day!
LOVE IT ALL!
Congratulations Tiffany & Rob and many thanks to Ryan Estes Photography!
See more of Tiffany and Rob's beautiful day on Ryan's blog feature here!
Photography: Ryan Estes Photography / Cinematography: Dave Williams/Cinemacake / Flowers: Manic Botanic / Ceremony Location: Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church / Reception Location: Congress Hall / Reception Music: Midnight Hour / Invitations/Menus/Escort Cards/Programs/Table Numbers:Dazzling Expressions / Dress: Marisa / Veil: Toni Federici / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale / Bride's Jewelry: Noaki Jewelry / Bride's Hair Flower: Feathers and Frills / Brides & Bridesmaid Clutches: Davie and Chiyo