I could go on and on about how beautiful a place Chatham Bars Inn is. There’s just something so gorgeous about the way the colors of the ocean, sea grass and blue skies meet. It’s utter perfection. So it’s no surprise that we’re slightly obsessed with this wedding from Joe Mikos Photographers. It has us dreaming of warm summer nights and good times with friends and family. Click here for the full gallery.
Don’t miss this fab film from Ryan & Heidi Studio:
From the Bride… There was a phrase that we used on our invites and other printed materials that embodied what we were trying to achieve: “The best things in life are meant to be shared.” It really helped frame a lot of our decisions on how we wanted the day to flow. The overall look that we were going for was classic, crisp and modern with organic details. We definitely shied away from many “traditional” wedding elements and really tried to make it our own and reflect our personal style. Most importantly, we wanted to ensure our guests had a great time and felt comfortable and festive!
We both grew up near the coast, and love the ocean, so the location of the South Lawn at Chatham Bars Inn was ideal as it borders the water. We wanted to embrace the ocean views but not compete with them, so we tried to keep the our colors mostly monochromatic — hints of white and different shades of gray, with pops of saffron yellow and green in the florals to tie it all together. The location of the wedding itself had special meaning to us, as the first time we ever lived together was the summer we spent at my family’s house in Chatham (right down the street from CBI), and we spent many afternoons at CBI soaking in the scenery and sipping cocktails. We have lots of happy memories there.
For our favors we whipped up and bottled some homemade limoncello — one of our favorites (and it didn’t hurt that it matched our color scheme!) — which also served as escort cards that waited for guests on a table among driftwood and succulents as they made their way from the ceremony to the reception. Also, to ensure everyone stayed cool and hydrated in the hot July sun, there were stations with citrus-infused water throughout the lawn. To keep in line with the theme of “The best things in life are meant to be shared,” we had guests sit at long tables, and we served dinner-family style to encourage comfort and conversation. Guests passed heaping bowls of truffle risotto, roasted veggies, lemon-infused chicken and other goodies back and forth to each other during dinner, which created a nice ice breaker for those who hadn’t met yet. We had collections of various smaller flower arrangements with bud vases and candles on each table to allow for easy sharing and chatting.
For our father/daughter and mother/son dances, our parents picked the songs and kept them a secret from us until it was time to dance. It was such a nice surprise to hear what they chose! The two maids of honor completely outdid themselves, as they both gave amazing speeches and then out of nowhere broke out pairs of sunglasses and busted into a full-on rap attack! They had all of the guests on their feet and really helped kick off the celebration. From there on out, the party was on, our band Night Shift was in full swing, and guests were either on the dance floor or on “the couch” (aka the photo booth) for the rest of the night. The celebrating carried on all the way up to the Monomoy Ballroom for an after party, complete with a Chatham Candy Manor candy bar (this candy is a staple for friends and family who have spent time on the Cape with us) and pizza stations, so guests could refuel and keep dancing as long as they could. It truly was the best day ever!
Wedding Photography: Joe Mikos Photographers / Wedding + Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Chatham Bars Inn in Chatham, Massachusetts / Wedding Coordination: Hopple Popple + Salter Frieze / Floral Design: Lilacs / Officiant: Drew Downing / Wedding Cinematography: Ryan & Heidi Studio / Catering + Dessert: Chatham Bars Inn / After-Party Candy Bar: Chatham Candy Manor / Wedding Invitations: Grapevine / Save-the-Dates, Menus + Guest Notes: brea.vie designs / Reception Music: Night Shift Entertainment / Tent: Sperry Tents / Linens: Table Toppers of Newton / Glassware, Plates, Flatware + Chairs: Be Our Guest / Lighting: Ormonde Productions / Limoncello Favors: DIY by the Bride & Groom / Wedding Dress: Elie Saab / Bride’s Shoes: Chanel / Bride’s Bracelet: Gemma Redux / Bride’s Headband: Deepa Gurnani / Hair: Violet Furxhi / Makeup: Dianna Quagenti / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Ivy & Aster / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Dolce Vita / Bridesmaids’ Necklaces: J.Crew / Men’s Suits: J.Crew / Men’s Ties: Nordstrom / Men’s Shirts: Brooks Brothers