Kristen Leigh Conklin has place a permanent smile on my face this morning thanks to her beautiful images from this classic Martha’s Vineyard wedding. That pretty little island off the coast of Massachusetts is the perfect host for this perfectly New England affair, and this couple just knew it was the only place for them to say I do. I couldn’t be more thankful they did, because it left us with a gallery that’s perfect parts preppy and stylish. See it all here.
From the Bride…In July of 2011, Jay proposed to me in front of the Edgartown Lighthouse on Martha’s Vineyard. It was early in the morning and we were sitting in the sand, sipping coffee in our pajamas. We knew that we wanted our wedding to have a similar vibe: intimate and casual, just like us, and preferably, on the same special Island. It was soon decided that the ceremony would take place at East Chop Lighthouse and the reception would be held at Atria in Edgartown. Our goal was to make the wedding a personal reflection of us. But we also knew that our guests were traveling long distances for our wedding, and we wanted them to experience our favorite aspects of the Vineyard. On our wish list: an intimate ceremony, a playful cocktail hour, a twinkly dinner, and touches of vintage Martha’s Vineyard.
Planning a wedding on Martha’s Vineyard was not without it’s challenges. We are based in the DC area, which meant we had some busy weekend trips to the Island, many hours of help from family, and a lot of faith in our vendors. My mother, my aunts, and my maid of honor all took a hand in planning and crafting. They made numerous trips to Michael’s and stayed up late assembling the table numbers that we developed around my dad’s vintage postcard collection. My mother made the wreath from shells that she collected on the Vineyard. My father, brother, and sister-in-law spent the week before our wedding tying bows, attaching homemade tags, and running to the Edgartown Library for last minute print jobs. Paired with our local vendors, most notably Kristen Leigh Conklin Photography, Atria, Mike Benjamin Band, Big Sky, and Boucle, we knew we were in good hands.
The result of everybody’s hard work was a classic Martha’s Vineyard wedding and a perfect reflection of our relationship. The ceremony was officiated by a friend of Jay’s family. The ambiance was set with acoustic guitar and flute, and a few surprises – buoy bells, a ferry whistle, and dragonflies and swallows, which flew through the ceremony overlook. My grandfather’s vintage Mercedes served as our getaway car (which my dad decorated himself and drove to the Island from Pennsylvania). Our signature cocktail was the “rum demon,” a drink crafted and named by my grandfather. The cornhole sets were built by Jay’s groomsman, who personalized them with our monogram and NFL teams. Atria’s garden swing provided a fun place for kids to blow off energy and for adults to mingle. For dinner, we served New England clam chowder and a plated lobster clambake. After dinner and dancing, the party moved to Atria’s Brick Cellar for more music, sliders with truffle fries, and a photobooth.
Everything about our wedding was perfect and we couldn’t stop soaking it in. On the day after our wedding, we drove the Mercedes back to East Chop Lighthouse for sunset, then back to Atria for burgers. We returned to the lighthouse again on Monday, that time on our bikes. It is truly a magical spot that we will visit for years. To us, the magic of Martha’s Vineyard is unmatched. We were lucky to have a beautiful afternoon in a special place, but most important was marrying each other, with our loved ones by our sides, and confirming what we already felt – we are family.
Wedding Photography: Kristen Leigh Conklin / Ceremony Location: East Chop Lighthouse in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts / Reception + Afterparty Location: Atria in Edgartown, Massachusetts / Floral Design: Flowers on the Vineyard / Wedding Cupcakes: Val Cakes (508-274-0396) / Lobster Cookies: Eleni’s New York / Rentals: Big Sky Tent and Party Rentals / Table Numbers: (Frames and Whales/Crabs) from Michaels + Postcards from the Bride’s Father; Painted by the Bride’s Aunt / Music: Mike Benjamin Band / Lobster Trap: B&B Woodworking / Mailbox + Ring Holder: BHLDN / Transportation: MV Sightseeing / Wedding Dress: Robert Bullock / Bridesmaids Attire: Joanna August / Bridesmaid Earrings: DIY by the Bride’s Mother / Groom + Groomsmen Attire: JoS. A. Bank / Ties: Vineyard Vines / Hair + Makeup: Boucle