Who doesn’t love a great love story!? Grab a box of kleenex and get ready to shed a joyful tear or two because this wedding by Meghan Sepe Photography is filled with love. Just reading the radiant bride’s words on her engagement story got me choked up, and then I looked through the exquisite images. The flowers, the flowers, the flowers…yes, Stoneblossom Floral and Wedding Design executed their design wonderfully, but then again this entire wedding is pure gorgeousness. Continue the love story in the full gallery here.
From the Bride… Ours is a story of love at first sight. Tony and I met on a blustery evening in Boston shortly before Christmas 2010. After a few minutes of conversation I now know that Tony told his sister “I’m going to marry that girl.” Within seven months, we were engaged. It was my 30th birthday, and like all other summer weekends, we were at my parents’ home in Narragansett, Rhode Island. Dinner in Newport was on the birthday agenda, but we were first to meet Tony’s parents for a drink at Castle Hill. We had a cocktail (or two!) on the lawn overlooking the bay, engaged in cheerful conversation and watched sailboats pass by. Mysteriously, Tony’s parents, the ever-punctual couple, never showed up. After announcing how shocked he was that his parents were so late, my prince charming dropped to his knee, photographer extraordinaire Megan Sepe sprung up from her hidden place among another group of guests, and Tony asked me to marry him. I can say with one hundred percent certainty that there has never been a time in my life where I felt happier, more blessed, or more at peace. But the surprises continued… A few minutes later one of the many boats we had been watching sail by was for me. The joyful group was complete with birthday banners, happy birthday song and air horns for all of Castle Hill to hear. When I got a closer look it was our families and my dearest friends, who surprised me with a visit to Newport to celebrate my 30th. So with Meghan leading the way, we walked down to the docks we went to wait for the boat. No one on the boat (except my father) knew that we just got engaged, but when they found out, all of Newport could hear. We shared an evening that none of us will ever forget and I will cherish forever.
Tony and I were engaged at Castle Hill, Meghan Sepe was part of our story, so both were natural choices for our wedding. One thing we both knew for sure was that we wanted the atmosphere of our monumental day to mirror our relationship: an enormously fun evening for our intimate group of friends and family filled with romance, love, laughter and candle light. The ceremony was held outdoors at the water’s edge and was performed by one of Tony’s closest friends. The arbor was decorated with spring’s finest blooms and the entire setting screamed fairytale. Our guests were each handed homemade ceremony programs and flags that said “Yay!” which were waved for our recessional as husband and wife. My gorgeous bridesmaids wore spectacular blush Amsale gowns and held smaller versions of my lush bouquet.
The floral played an enormous part in creating the atmosphere of our reception. I turned to the ever-amazing Joyce Holland at Stoneblossom Floral and Event Design to make my vision come to life. We created a palette centered around my favorite childhood bloom, the blush peony, and incorporated dreamy creams and whites to complement. To add height to the rectangular center table in the spectacular Sperry tent at Castle Hill, we filled tall silver vases with flowering branches dripping with twinkling tealights. The candle-lit ambiance was massively important, so we had candles of all heights and sizes — I couldn’t have enough. I handmade the place cards and the table cards, which were named after special towns in our beloved Rhode Island. Everything from the invitations to the band was totally us. The entire day was simply perfect. We laughed, we cried, and we danced the night away. We both feel so lucky to have celebrated our love, to have our parents’ incredible support and to have had our vision come to life in the spectacular way that it did.
Wedding Photography: Meghan Sepe Photography / Wedding Venue: Castle Hill Inn in Newport, Rhode Island / Floral Design: Stoneblossom Floral and Wedding Design / Event Planning: Rebecca White of Castle Hill Inn / Wedding Cake: Scrumptions / Save-the-Dates, Wedding Invitations + Place Setting Thank you Cards: Kelly Elizabeth Designs / Band: Splash! / Wedding Dress: J.Crew “Waterfall” / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bride’s Ring: Hearts on Fire “Beloved Band” / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale / Hair + Makeup: Jennie Kay Beauty / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss / Groom’s Shoes: Tod’s / Groom’s Ring: David Yurman “Sky Band”