Bare feet in the grass strolling down the aisle to your future husband with a harpist strumming in the background. Now that is how you do a backyard wedding. Tory Williams Photography captured this Gloucester affair from bare foot start to yummy cupcake eating finish. It’s casual in the most elegant of ways as all good New England beach weddings should be and you can see it all right here.
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From the Bride… Six years ago, Matt’s sister, Megan, set her big brother and me up on a blind date, thinking we would hit it off. Her instincts were right! Matt and I have been together ever since. Our family-oriented nature brought us together, and because of those shared values, we wanted our wedding to be very intimate and personal. We tried to involve family members at every step, and for us, that is what made our wedding such a special day. My Uncle Jerry and Aunt Ruth offered up their oceanfront yard as a possible location for our big day. We couldn’t have been more grateful for this — the romantic, sweeping views and shared memories of the peaceful spot made the day that much more heartwarming.
The laid-back style I wanted of my wedding would not have come together so beautifully without the fashion sense and good taste of my sister, Aimee. We did not want the traditional pinks and purples for our wedding colors. Instead I loved the blue and coral/orange color combination and the preppy charm of seersucker stripes. Thanks to Aimee’s design and the creative talents by many family members, every DIY project turned out perfect and added a very personal touch to the day. I walked down the aisle barefoot with my brother by my side and my coral-clad sister leading the way. Matt’s sister Megan, who introduced us, acted as our justice of the peace. As we exchanged vows, Matt’s older sister Melissa sang and played the guitar. There was not a dry eye in the crowd. As the ceremony ended, my cousin’s catering company passed around hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, and many of my second cousins did the serving. It felt amazing to have our families and friends there, supporting us and smiling along with us as we celebrated our love for one another. Then we headed to the reception, where we had an indoor celebration surrounded by spectacular ocean views. We wanted it to be informal and one big party, and it was! There was no assigned seating or formal dinner. My cousin’s catering company set up food stations, and our guests were able to mingle around high top tables or take a seat at a table surrounding the lively dance floor. The night was not just focused on us, but the opportunity to have our favorite people all hanging out and having great time.
Jessie, a good friend of mine, offered to set up a photo booth, and it was such a hit. I love all the pictures that came from it. They make me laugh and cry, thinking of the great memories all of us shared. Our main photographer, Tory, captured our wedding better than I could have ever imagined. The day was simple and perfect just as I wanted.
Wedding Photography: Tory Williams Photography / Ceremony: The Home of the Bride’s Aunt & Uncle in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts / Reception: The Elks at Bass Rocks in Gloucester, Massachusetts / Floral Design: Ward’s Florist and Greenhouse / Catering: Kelli Petri Catering / Cupcakes: Truly Jorg’s Patisserie / Harpist: Carol Littlefield McIntyre / DJ: Russ McQueen Entertainment / Seersucker Floral Bouquet Wraps, Thank You Notes, Wedding Invitations, Beach Rocks, Ceremony Programs, Decorative Vases + Water Bottles: DIY / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller / Bride’s Shoes: Nina