Sometimes all it takes is just one picture, one fabulously captured moment and you just know a wedding is going to be amazing. And that fabulously captured moment in this gorgeous Waltham wedding? For me, it was the oh-so-perfect image of a VERY happy bridal party dancing down the aisle towards the breathtaking ceremony. It’s awesome. As is every last moment of this sweet Gore Place affair from Lara Callahan, with its pretty, pretty blooms by Whole Foods and sweet Melissa Sweet masterpiece. See it all in the full gallery.
From the Bride… We had a pretty intimate Autumn wedding (139 guests) that was both budget friendly (around $20,000 total) and DIY. Everything was held on the same property, Gore Place. The ceremony was in an open field and we were married under a large tree.
My step-grandfather married us. We met because of him. When I decided to move to Boston from Florida over six years ago, my grandfather urged me to stay with his cousin’s family–Cathy and Pip Higgins. Despite my hesitations, I stayed with them while I interviewed for jobs. After accepting a position in Boston, the Higgins insisted I lived with them until I got to know the city better (who does that?). The rainy night I moved here, their daughter Peggy picked me up from the airport and their son Teddy took my luggage. And six years later…Teddy’s my husband! The funny thing is, he told all of his friends that “his cousin” was moving up to Boston. Hence the word bubble “Way to keep it in the family.”
The cocktail hour was in a hedge garden just around the corner from the field and it was if the bushes were walls– an outdoor room with no roof. During the cocktail hour we served a signature cocktail named by me, “The Appley Ever After” (apple flavored vodka and buttershots), and signature beers. The reception was held in a large white tent with a dance floor and a carpeted floor steps from the hedge garden.
The lighting was very important to me. I loved the paper lanterns hovering over the dance floor. The blue uplighting made transformed the tent into a party atmosphere. At each table, we placed a whiteboard in the shape of a word bubble. Originally, written on them was the table number and instructions to “Erase this and write whatever you want on me!” There were some very funny/sweet notes. Our guests had a great time using them.
The bracelets were my “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue”. They meant so much to me. Each piece of jewelry resembled the woman who allowed me to borrow it. For instance, my little sister chose a green bracelet with turtles to represent her young and quirky nature. My older sister let me borrow the watch her husband gave her on the day of her wedding just a year earlier than mine. I could look at my wrist and see each woman in my life. It became an impromptu ceremony as they took turns placing their bracelets on my wrists, one by one. This was one of my favorite moments of the day.
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Wedding Photography: Lara Callahan | Wedding Venue: Gore Place in Waltham, Massachusetts | Floral Design: Mioko Suzuki from Whole Foods | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Lighting: All That Music | Wedding Dress: Melissa Sweet | Headpiece for Ceremony: Vera Bellezza | Shoes: Seychelles via Zappos | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Watters | Flower Girl Tutus: Little Tutu Shop | Hair: Lauren Genatossio from Sarra| Makeup: Jennifer Opeka from Sarra