A storybook day at Chatham Bars Inn is romantic enough, especially when Jen Huang is behind the lens. Lauren James ensured this Capeside affair went off in the prettiest way possible, and those Hatch Creative Studio blooms are sure to stop us in our tracks. We couldn’t possibly pack the prettiness into one post, so we’re dedicating the day to Jen Huang… Can’t wait? Join us in the gallery.
From Jen Huang… Marcel and Jamie met each other 10 years before they began dating. Marcel and her brother were fraternity brothers and quickly became great friends. The timing always seemed off, as they were living in separate cities and only saw each other a few times a year. All of that changed in August 2011, when Marcel visited Justin and Jamie for a weekend with friends at the Jersey Shore. It wasn’t long after that Marcel was faced with having to ask Jamie’s older and notoriously protective brother for his blessing of their budding relationship. Two years later he relocated to Philadelphia and, again, asked her brother for her hand in marriage. He proposal a few days before the July 4th holiday having arranged for close friends and family to join them “down the shore” that evening where it all began for an engagement celebration.
Jamie has been in the wedding industry since 2006. She began her career at The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia in Event Management where she remained for 8 years. Most recently Jamie opened her own wedding and event planning company in Philadelphia, Lauren James Events. With a career like hers, it comes as no surprise that every detail for Jamie’s wedding day was planned down to the smallest detail, with the exception of the venue, long before Marcel came into her life. She always knew she wanted a destination, tented wedding where she could build her dream from the ground up. Bringing all of their friends and family together for a getaway weekend would be the perfect way to celebrate. Luckily for her, Marcel is from Rhode Island and she’s always loved New England’s natural beauty. When she told Marcel she wanted to get married in New England he suggested Cape Cod. This felt like the perfect fit for their guests living on the east coast. Knowing that guests would be traveling far, Jamie and Marcel wanted to ensure that their destination selection was a place where most guests had not been and a place that offered much to explore and enjoy on their free time. Cape Cod had it all. When visiting the Cape, they chose a few venues to look at. After seeing Chatham Bars Inn there was no doubt that this was their wedding spot. Jamie and Marcel could picture their guests enjoying cocktails on the hotel terrace, catching up over lunch in the Beach House, and relaxing down by the ocean. When Jamie found Barb from Hatch Creative Studio she knew she was the one who could bring her visions to life.
Jamie loves weaving decorations with fashion to coordinate the perfect room for the audience. Much of her design inspiration stems from Anthropologie. For her cape-side wedding she gravitated towards a rustic feel to compliment the historic Inn with natural woods and soft colors to emulate the quiet Cape Cod beaches awash with driftwood. Style and decor was of high importance as the first impression would set the tone for all that was to come. Having been set on her menu early on her focus was on bringing the food to life and utilizing the stations as a focal point for decor. Guest’s arrived to a garden party for cocktails hour on a croquet lawn and entered through perfectly styled, distressed doors where they were greeted with the night’s specialty cocktail, a Moscow Mule served in a copper mug, Marcel’s favorite. The Bellini bar, which is the bride’s favorite drink, was perfectly vibrant and colorful with fresh fruit purees. The food stations and Bellini bar were displayed on wooden ladders and tables completed with hand painted signage custom-made to each station. Wanting to represent both Jamie and Marcel, a custom food station was created with New England Lobster Rolls and Philadelphia Cheesesteaks. Place cards hung off of lace twine on picture frames in the center of the lawn. Even with a large guest count Jamie sought to create a warm, intimate feel for her guests with the use of low tablescapes and romantic candlelight. Her dream was always to have her first dance under a tent, lit by bistro lights, to create a dreamy, whimsical setting. Mix-matched farm tables, chairs and vintage plates added to the fanciful nature of the setting. Water goblets offered a pop of color to each place setting, custom napkins displayed the night’s dinner menu and colorful tassels were draped above the dance floor and on the band’s backdrop.
Chatham Bars Inn and the Cape location had everything to offer for a four-day weekend filled with events. Most events could be hosted on property from the Thursday night rehearsal dinner lobster bake in the Boat House, to the private ferry trip to Nantucket for a luncheon at the White Elephant on Friday afternoon, to the welcome party Friday night in the Beach House, the pre-wedding festivities were not to be missed. On Saturday, their wedding ceremony took place under a floral chuppah with the blessings of a rabbi and a priest. Jamie’s sister in law in a black dress and brother in a Navy suit lead the bridesmaids and groomsmen and stood by the couple as they wed. (Jamie’s twin nieces and baby sister very nearly stole the show as they dutifully tossed petals to line the aisle for Jamie and her Father.) The ceremony was followed by cocktails, dinner, and dancing to The Elements. Jamie then slipped out of her Vera Wang and into an Alice and Olivia dress for the after party. The couple closed out the night with an after party with DJ Chris Devine. Brunch Sunday morning was hosted in the Boat House, where guests reminisced and bid farewell to the ocean view and wished Jamie and Marcel Mazel Tov!
Photography: Jen Huang Photography | Event Coordination: SD Events | Event Planner: Lauren James Events | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Ceremony Venue: Chatham Bars Inn | Reception Venue: Chatham Bars Inn | Makeup Artist: Deb Houghton | Makeup Artist: Julie Kate & Co. | Hair Stylist: Kristen Moshiek | DJ: DJ Chris Devine | Band: Elan Artists | Groom's Attire: Boyds Philadelphia | Officiant: Rabbi H. Hirsch Cohen | Officiant: Reverend James David | Transportation: Cape Destinations | Transportation: Kon Limousine Service | After Party Dress: Alice And Olivia | Bridesmaids' Gifts: Barbara Ellick Designs | Ceremony Musician: AJ Edwards | Cigar Roller: Boston Cigar Factory | Event And Floral Designer : Hatch Creative Studio | Flower Girl's Attire: Mischka Aoki | Jewelry: Rings And Earrings: Govberg Jewelers | Luncheon: The White Elephant | Nantucket Island Ferry: Freedom Cruise Line | Printed Materials: The Paper Perfectionist | Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Chatham Bars Inn | Rentals: New England Country Rentals | Rentals: Luxury Loo | Rentals: Be Our Guest | Rentals: Sperry Tents | Welcome Party: Chatham Bars Inn