My favorite kind of wedding doesn’t rest on one style, one detail, intimate or grand… no, it’s a setting. And that setting is seaside time and again (I’m a little biased, yes). That’s exactly why this coastal fete from Charlotte Jenks Lewis gets my heart a racing. The tented reception thanks to Stamford Tent & Event Services is something out of a dream and when you’ve got portrait backdrops like this and a sweet film from eMotion Pictures, nothing can compare.
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From the Bride… Our love story began when we met at Miami University of Ohio, at the age of 20. The relationship blossomed, visiting each other over the summers, getting to know our respective close knit families and friends from home, and even included a romantic Paris trip during Pat’s junior semester abroad. I grew up in New York, and Pat in Michigan. With graduation approaching, he took a job in Manhattan while I lined up a job in the area, and we were ecstatic about the beginning the next phase in our relationship. Looking back, I think it was really a turning point. Seven years after our first meeting, Pat proposed at my family’s lake house in New Hampshire with both sets of our parents there to celebrate.
Planning a wedding is an exciting time but it can also be stressful while working, navigating expectations, communicating combined family members, while all the while working through multiple decisions and logistics. My advice to all the brides-to-be is to enjoy every moment, keeping the little things in perspective and making the important decisions in a fun, flexible and collaborative way. I enjoyed the special expeditions with my mom, the times celebrating with friends and the comical dance lessons with my soon-to-be husband. There is a point when all the parts start to come together and you realize the real purpose of the planning. It goes very quickly, but it’s all part of building a life together.
When planning our wedding, we wanted something that reflected our personalities. We chose to get married on the water in Rye, a place where I spent many of my summers and Pat quickly developed a connection to. We chose natural but elegant décor. Lots of greens, whites, and pastels filled our wedding tent set on the Long Island Sound. We were lucky to have one of the most spectacular days of the summer for the wedding day. The water was sparkling, the breezes were gentle and the sun was glistening. Pat and I shared our first dance, touched by a sense that the perfect weather was a special marriage blessing and beloved friends and family encircled us with a breathtaking sunset in the backdrop.
Everyone always says that your wedding day is the most amazing day of your life, and trust me, it exceeded all expectations. Our favorite part of the day was having everyone we loved in one room. It is so overwhelming to see that many people come together, from different stages of your lives, and know that they are there to support you in your marriage journey for many years to come.
Photography: Charlotte Jenks Lewis Photography | Floral Design: Diana Gould | Cake: Sweet Lisa's | Invitations: Alpine Creative Group | Ceremony: Rye Presbyterian Church | Reception Venue: American Yacht Club | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Makeup Artist: Frankie LoPriore | Hair Stylist: J Guerra | Lighting : Frost | DJ: DJ's @ Work | Band: Hank Lane Music | Groom's Suit: Suitsupply | Tent: Stamford Tent & Event Services | Bride's Gown: Anne Barge From Bustle | Bridesmaid's Robes: Etsy | End of Night Cookies: Sweet Lisa's | Groom's Tie: The Tie Bar | Hanging Orbs: Diana Gould | Photobooth: Peekaboo Photo Booth | Planning: carats and cake | Table Numbers: Rye Stationer | Video: eMotion Pictures - Wedding Films